Abstract:
A self-assisted shoulder passive range of motion (SA-PROM) apparatus. The apparatus includes a forearm support adapted to receive the forearm of the affected arm, a double pulley assembly, a single pulley connectable to an elevated support such as an upper door edge, and a main support rope, one end of which is attached to the double pulley, the other end having an enlarged handle. A central portion of the main support rope is engagable over the single pulley. A secondary rope arrangement which is preferably formed of a single length of rope, is attached to each of a plurality of holes formed through said forearm support in proximity to each end and each side margin of the forearm support and arranged over the secondary pulleys to self-regulate pitch and roll movement of the forearm support. The affected arm may be passively raised and lowered through a range of motion by pulling on the handle with the unaffected arm.
Abstract:
Therapy and exercise unit (10) for restricted-guidance knee joint motion, having two lower leg receivers (35, 36), which are disposed on a guiding arrangement (11) and connected by articulated devices (23, 24) to a transmission element (28) of the guiding arrangement, which transmission element connects the lower leg receivers to one another in a motionally coupled manner such that a swivelling motion of the one lower leg as a result of bending of the knee initiates an oppositely directed swivelling motion of the other lower leg, wherein, for connection of the lower leg receivers (35, 36) to the articulated devices (23, 24), a lever (34) is provided which produces a restoring moment (Gxh), which in terms of the direction of rotation counteracts a leg extension, about a pivot (45) of the respective articulated device (23, 24).
Abstract:
The apparatus provides active and passive exercise to the hand, wrist and forearm of the patient. It has dual handles and an attached inertia apparatus such that both the affected arm and the non affected arm are subjected to the therapy. It is theorized that in the retraining of nerve, muscle and ligament/tendon function there is cross-training of right-left part of the systems and the healthy system can assist the afflicted part of the system in retraining. The apparatus addresses specifically the range of motion of the wrist, both for flexion-extension and pronation-supination. For pronation-supination, two conical handles, one for each hand is attached through an axis to a gear system connected to a flywheel. The gear/flywheel system allows for clockwise and counterclockwise rotations of the flywheel. The patient puts the system in motion by rotating the handles in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The rotary (oscillating) motion is transferred to the flywheel through the gears. Adjustment of the starting position of the handle allows the patient to establish the starting point as the point where the patient's strength is maximal. The flywheel stores sufficient energy during the starting input of the patient to continue rotation after the patient's strength and range of motion decreases to the point that no further active rotation is produced by the patient. The inertia in the flywheel then continues the rotation of the patient's wrist, and effects a decrease in the tendon overload which normally occurs in normal physical therapy. An alternative embodiment includes a handle attachment for flexion and extension of the wrist with the orientation of the handle effectively at right angles to the flywheel gear drive of the prior embodiment, whereby the wrist is flexed and extended in causing oscillating rotary movement of the flywheel.
Abstract:
A knee and leg orthopedic exercising device is shown for use by a person that is seated in a chair. The device itself is a wide leg rest that may accommodate both legs of the user, although it could be used for one leg at a time. This leg rest has a side profile of an inverted capital T having a vertical shank portion that is supported from a generally perpendicular crown portion. The edge of one end of the crown portion is provided with an elongated roller which is adapted to roll upon a floor surface. The top side of the side of the crown portion which is remote from the roller serves as a footrest, while the side of the shank portion of the leg rest which is remote from the roller serves to support the shank of at least one of the legs of the user. This leg rest is provided with holding straps for holding the shank portion of the leg rest against the underside of the shank portion of the user's leg as the user flexes the leg between a vertical and an inclined, outstretched position. Two modifications of these holding straps are shown. One modification includes a pair of hand straps to be engaged by the user's hands for exerting a pulling force and ensuring that the crown portion of the leg rest remains against the foot or feet of the user. A second modification of holding straps is the use of a pair of leg straps which are wound around the user's legs and around the shank portion of the leg rest to bind the leg to the leg rest so that they move in unison.
Abstract:
A rehabilitation robot integrated with patient mobility and transfer includes a moving carrier, a posture adjustment assembly, and an exercise assembly. The moving carrier includes a main frame. The posture adjustment assembly includes a chair seat and a chair seat adjustment assembly. The chair seat adjustment assembly is connected to the chair seat and the main frame and is configured to move the chair seat with respect to the main frame to a sitting posture position and a standing posture position. The exercise assembly includes a pair of pedals and a driving assembly. The driving assembly is connected to the pedals and the main frame and is configured to drive the pedals into coordinated displacement and thereby produce a desirable rehabilitation effect.
Abstract:
A system for stretching the piriformis muscle may comprise a thigh strap, calf strap and one or more handles. A handle may be pulled to urge the piriformis muscle into a more elongated position. The thigh strap and calf strap may be of equal or unequal length. An optional knee void may be used for alignment purposes and may be found beneath a handle.
Abstract:
A lower extremity mobilizer for use in rehabilitation is provided. A seat is slidably maintained upon a base, with a foot support brace being provided at an end of the base to receive the foot of a leg provided for arthrokinematic treatment. A cord and pulley system is provided between the seat and the end of the base. In use, a patient is seated with a foot received by the foot support brace. The patient provides arthrokinematic motion to his leg by pulling himself and the seat toward the end of the device having the foot support brace. The procedure is undertaken in a closed chain motion, with the foot constantly engaging the foot support brace, and is done so as a rate, timing and extent under the control of the patient.
Abstract:
A rolling footrest is provided and a method of using such by a wheelchair occupant. The footrest may optionally include a foot retainer, a platform and freely rolling castors. In some embodiments, replacing a fixed footrest will shorten the length of the wheelchair enabling the wheelchair to traverse sharp curves. In some embodiments, the footrest may include a swivel lock and/or a ratchet. In some embodiments the footrest may be used for therapeutic exercise. In some embodiments, the footrest may be used for propelling a wheelchair.
Abstract:
A bimanual arm trainer that provides therapeutic bimanual repetitive exercise to improve upper body movement and flexibility has a top support that is elevated relative to a ground surface. The trainer further includes: (a) first and second arm holders that are pivotable relative to the top support; and (b) first and second arm holder housings that are pivotably coupled to the top support and can be moved into a plurality of different positions and locked in place in one of the plurality of different positions relative to the top support. The first arm holder is pivotably coupled to the first arm holder and the second arm holder is pivotably coupled to the second arm holder. A reciprocating translation mechanism operatively connects the first and second arm holders such that the motion of one of the first and second arm holders is mirrored in the other of the first and second arm holders.
Abstract:
An exercise system/device for exercising a user's upper limb is described. The exercise system/device is intended for use in rehabilitating patients suffering hemiparesis that causes one upper limb to be at least partially paralyzed. For example, the exercise system/device can be used for neuroplastic retraining rehabilitation techniques for enabling patients to regain control of their paralyzed upper extremities, including shoulders, elbows, wrists and fingers, but primarily their shoulders and elbows via larger arm movements. This is achieved through the use of an elongate handle and a motion sensing device associated with the handle for communicating the user's movements of the handle to a gaming system. Although the exercise system/device is primarily for rehabilitation of patients suffering hemiparesis, it may also be used by any person for bilateral training and exercising upper limbs.