Aquatic exercise and rehabilitation device

Details Aquatic exercise and rehabilitation device Aquatic exercise and rehabilitation device

1999-12-10

2001-10-23

Donnelly, Jerome W. (Department: 3764)

Surgery: kinesitherapy

Kinesitherapy

Exercising appliance

C601S026000, C482S111000, C482S145000, C482S055000, C482S053000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06306108

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An aquatic exercise has been used in particular with unilaterally or bilaterally diminished mobility or range of motion of the upper or lower extremities as well as by amputee as well as by other musculoskelatal and neurologically challenged individuals. A person, for example, is substantially lighter when under water and thus able to perform exercises under water that could not be otherwise performed. Studies on the benefits of aquatic exercise indicate that cardiac volume increases by nearly one-third with emersion to the neck. It has also been established that water exercise could be aerobically efficient. Water helps patients with diseased hearts and those with joint disease as well as patients with hypertension. Aquatic exercise programs have also been beneficial to restore fitness in obese patients. Because of the protective effects against heavy joint loading with such individuals a program may start in water and eventually move to land as the tolerance builds thus achieving effective conditioning and weight loss.
One of the difficulties with aquatic exercise particularly for patients having unilaterally or bilaterally diminished mobility or range of motion is in assuring that the arms and/or legs will move in the desired exercise. My U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,316,532 and 5,487,713 disclose variations in an aquatic exercise and rehabilitation device which includes having interconnected pivoted handle bars and rotatable pedals on an exercise cycle which is lowered into a water containing vessel. With such devices arm movement and foot movement are achieved by rotating the pedals and/or pivoting the handlebars of the device back and forth under power from the user. My U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,826 also discloses variations which include different types of exercise devices in addition to cycles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is to provide an aquatic exercise and rehabilitation device which is motorized to assist the user in arm and leg movements.
A further object of this invention is to provide such a device which is of simplified construction having minimal moving parts and which permits the maintenance of the device while the main components are out of the water.
In accordance with this invention an aquatic exercise and rehabilitation device of the type disclosed in my above noted U.S. patents and in co-pending application Ser. No. 08/888,860, filed Jul. 7, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,447, is modified to incorporate a motor for providing the drive to rotate the pedals which in turn are linked to the handlebars so that there is joint pivotal movement of the handlebars. Thus, the device does not depend upon input from the user to provide the moving force.
In a preferred practice of the invention the motor is a hydraulic reversible motor having a neutral position and using vegetable oil as its fluid. In one embodiment the motor itself could be mounted within the vessel directly to the exercise cycle. The hoses from the motor lead to an external pump. In an alternative device the motor is mounted outside of the vessel operatively connected to a drive shaft within the vessel for rotating the pedals.
In a preferred practice of the invention the handlebars of the device are adjustable in length. The seat for the exercise cycle preferably includes a swivel mount. The device might also include various restraint members such as straps and gloves and a vest for assuring that the user's arms and legs are firmly mounted to the pedals and handlebars and the user is securely in the seat thereby assuring the proper exercise benefits.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5554801 (1996-09-01), Watanabe
patent: 5674453 (1997-10-01), Watterson et al.

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