Exercise devices – User manipulated force resisting apparatus – component... – Utilizing resilient force resistance
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-18
2003-04-01
Donnelly, Jerome W. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
User manipulated force resisting apparatus, component...
Utilizing resilient force resistance
C482S079000, C482S125000, C482S129000, C482S904000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06540651
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to equipment for physical therapy, rehabilitation and exercise, and more specifically to novel apparatus and methods for use by a person to exercise specific muscle groups and/or associated tendons and ligaments.
2. Background
Treatment and recovery from accidents or injuries often requires strengthening particular muscles and connective tissues through exercise. Many specialized exercises have been developed to strengthen particular muscles and connective tissues. Some of these exercises require a physical therapist or other person present to assist during the exercise. In addition, some exercises require a particular exercise machine or device which is typically only found or available at physical therapy clinics. A need therefore exists for an appropriate exercise device for use by the patient in his home, outside the clinical setting, unaided by another person.
Rehabilitation of particular skeletal or soft tissue injuries is facilitated by a structured and supervised strengthening, stretching, and range of motion exercise program. Rehabilitation is most effective when the exercise program can be periodically performed by the patient on a frequent basis. Patient participation in the exercise program is usually increased if the patient can perform the exercises within the framework of his or her daily activities without the necessity of traveling to a special facility for ongoing supervision or specialized equipment. Thus, exercise programs are desirable which can be performed in the home or the workplace with safe, simple, and inexpensive equipment once the supervising physician or therapist has adequately structured and demonstrated the exercise program to the patient.
Exercise or physical therapy equipment for personal use can be large and very expensive. This type of equipment, usually for strengthening exercises, may require a significant amount of floor space and storage space. Moreover, it is not always portable. Other types of equipment, such as gentle strengthening or stretching equipment, are designed to be compact, portable and inexpensive. However, this type of equipment typically utilizes uncomfortable hard plastic handles and cords which may pinch the body or cause bruises by diminishing blood circulation. An inexpensive, portable, comfortable exercise device is needed.
There are numerous existing exercise and/or rehabilitative devices and systems known in the prior art. In particular, it is common for exercise and/or rehabilitative systems to use elastic resistance to apply force to target muscle groups.
Additionally, many elastically resistant exercise and/or rehabilitative systems utilize fixed points of attachment to the patient's body. Still other elastically resistant exercise and/or rehabilitative systems are crudely adaptable such that they can be attached to more than one part of the patient's body.
Moreover, these systems range from mechanical fixed position equipment to lightweight portable devices. The more complex fixed mechanical devices generally satisfy the full clinical exercise requirements, but seldom satisfy the need for inexpensive, lightweight systems that can be used by an unaided patient. Conversely, the current available inexpensive and lightweight systems designed for use by the unaided patient are not capable of providing the full range of clinical exercise requirements.
Many systems have attempted to satisfy the need for systems that an unaided patient can use and that can be attached to various points on the patient's body in order to exercise various target muscle groups and provide the full range of clinical exercise requirements. One such system is U.S. Pat. No. 3,659,846, issued May 2, 1972 to Walter J. Kanicki. Therein is disclosed a device containing two straps that anchor around the desired part of the patient's body and a third strap positioned between the two anchoring straps, that attaches to an elastic member which is in turn anchored to a fixed object. The third strap is also attached to a pad which is designed to protect the patient's body from the forces exerted by the elastic. There are some disadvantages to this type of a system. For example, to transfer the device to another part of the same appendage, the patient must release the two attaching straps, reposition and reattach the device in the desired location. In order to transfer the device to another part of the body not on the same appendage, the patient must release the two anchoring straps and then step out of the third strap which is attached to the elastic, and repeat this procedure in reverse on the desired body part. Additionally, this device is incapable of attaching to various critical portions of the patient's body.
Additionally, since this device utilizes a single strand of elastic material, it allows for torsional concentric force application during exercise, thus creating the potential that the patient's body part will rotate and defeat the hoped for advantage of the exercise. Further, because of the limited attachment points to the patient's body, there is an inadequate loading point displacement when force is applied during exercise. Moreover, because of the limited attachment points there is a greater risk of abrasion and discomfort during exercise.
A shortcoming from a clinical perspective is that, because of the inexact attaching procedure, it is not possible for the patient, exercising by himself or herself, to target the exact and necessary muscles for an adequate rehabilitation and/or exercise program. Therefore, this system does not appear to provide the full range of necessary clinical exercises.
Another relevant reference is U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,129, issued on Mar. 31, 1992 to E. Illene Porter and Stephen R. Spencer. Therein is disclosed an elastically resistant exercising device that attaches through a series of straps directly and solely to the patient's foot for the purpose of exercising and strengthening the forward lower leg musculature. The elastic portion of this device consists of a single elastic tube attached to the bottom and anterior portion of the foot allowing the patient to apply force as the foot is rotated upward in the vertical plane.
This device appears to be adequate for its intended use, but it may be limited in its scope and application. It can only be attached to the patient's foot and its only practical application is in exercising and strengthening the forward musculature of the lower leg. Additionally, the fact that this device utilizes a single elastic tube allows the foot to rotate out of alignment during the exercise making the exercise and strengthening of specific muscles difficult.
Other references that employ elastically resistant systems are U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,683, issued on Jan. 11, 1994 to Chester Wilkins; U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,494, issued on Jun. 7, 1994 to Krikor Santighian; U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,373, issued on Sep. 6, 1994 to Allison K. Green; U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,698, issued on Feb. 16, 1993 to Bradley R. Mason and Jeffrey T. Mason; U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,601, issued on Dec. 1, 1992 to John F. Frappier and assigned to Red River Valley Sports Medicine Institute, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The foregoing prior art does not appear to provide an inexpensive, lightweight system that can be used by an unaided patient that also provides for the full range of clinical exercise requirements. In addition, the prior art does not appear to utilize a system that allows the patient to anchor the exercising system to a scientifically predetermined anatomical position in order to specifically isolate and exercise both general and specific muscle groups for prophylactic or rehabilitative purposes. Moreover, it appears that the prior art does not allow a patient to follow a precise sequence of exercises prescribed by a physician or physical therapist by attaching the exercise system to specific sites on the patient's body in order to best serve the patient's parti
Aberton Mark J.
Anderson Cory W.
Bourne Michael H.
Mariani E. Marc
Donnelly Jerome W.
Hwang Victor
Parsons Behle & Latimer
Physician Therapy Supply, L.C.
Pierce Vanessa B.
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