Exercise devices – Isometric
Reexamination Certificate
1993-09-23
2001-01-30
Mulcahy, John (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
Isometric
C482S131000, C602S024000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179756
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to exercise equipment and exercise therapy. More specifically, this invention relates to an exercise apparatus to relieve or eliminate hip and back pain and a method for its use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Back pain can be a chronic, very painful, frustrating experience for its sufferers. It also is a costly problem for society, causing millions of dollars to be expended annually in worker's compensation claims, lost time, etc.
Back pain can result from injury, disease, obesity, overuse, aging, childbirth, or any number of other reasons. Back pain can be caused by abnormal mechanical loading of certain joints and soft tissue (ligaments and tendons) in the pelvic girdle, including the pelvis itself. Specific regions which can be affected include:
(1) Ligament structures in the anterior pelvic region such that the pubic symphysis ends up elevated or depressed.
(2) The front or anterior pelvic region can be sprained by sudden deceleration activity when a linear force is exerted through one side of the pelvis from an extended braced lower extremity such as during braking of a car or, when the car is struck from the front or rear. This same force that is transferred through the hip is initially taken through the pelvis anteriorly and, secondarily, can create a posterior ilio-sacral joint or lumbo-sacral joint problem.
(3) The posterior iliac region can be tilted in a rotational dysfunctional position called “torsion”.
(4) Sacral/lumbar dysfunction can occur in the anterior and posterior direction causing either excessive flat back or excessive lordosis (sway back).
(5) Sacral/lumbar dysfunction can also occur in a rotational/diagonal relationship placing increased strain on the ligament structures on the upper side of the sacrum and the opposite lower side.
(6) The sacral/coccyxgeal ligament may be traumatized causing pain in the tailbone (coccyx) and increased tension.
(7) Ilio-lumbar ligament tension problems are created by backward rotation of the affected pelvis. This creates tension on the affected side from the pelvis to the lower lumbar spine. This causes the fifth lumbar to rotate to the affected side compressing the supporting joint on that side creating excessive joint loading. This results in spasms.
(8) Lumbar disc disease creates a flattening effect of the vertebral column causing abnormal joint loading and compression.
(9) Lumbar osteoarthrosis.
(10) Lumbar postural strain/sprain.
Because of its many causes and the environmental, sociological, and individual morphological factors affecting back pain, there has been no panacea for its treatment. The usual and customary treatments for back pain have included drugs, physical therapy using a machine (electrical, traction, ultrasound and/or diathermy), hydrotherapy, massage, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, micro-current stimulation, postural positioning, joint mobilization, exercise, and joint manipulation by a chiropractor. Surgery is also an option as a last resort. The myriad of options illustrates the inadequacy of any one of these treatments for relief.
Accordingly, there has been a need for a novel method and apparatus which is easy to be used by the back pain sufferer. There is a further need for a method and apparatus which can alleviate joint and soft tissue loading and tensile forces in the region of the pelvic girdle thereby relieving pain in the back and hip. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention resides in an exercise method and apparatus which uses resistance to activate the adductor and piriformis (external hip rotator) muscles in isometric contractions. The apparatus comprises, generally, a firm, nondeformable or substantially nondeformable block contoured to comfortably fit between a seated patient's thighs just above the knees and against which resistance is applied by compressing the knees inwardly or by pulling them apart outwardly. This exercise corrects specific joint and soft tissue dysfunctions in the pelvic girdle and lumbar region thereby relieving back and hip pain.
In a preferred form of the invention, the block is utilized transversely between the inside of the thighs just above the knees and includes side surfaces having concave depressions to fit the contour of the inner thighs. The apparatus also includes a pair of straps to firmly hold the block to the thighs and a timer to indicate the elapsed exercise time. The patient's legs are caused to be astride each side of the block while the patient is exercising with the apparatus.
One exercise therapy method of the present invention comprises the steps of:
Placing the apparatus having concave side surfaces between the inner thighs just above the knees in a transverse direction between the legs so that the inner thighs are each fit into the respective side surfaces of the apparatus;
Compressing the knees inwardly toward each other against the apparatus to activate the adductor muscles in an isometric contraction; and
Repeating said compression for prescribed periods of time.
The second exercise therapy method is identical to that described above except that the knees are pulled outwardly to activate the piriformis muscles. It is recommended that the prescribed period of exercise time be six sets of the exercise for six seconds each with a minimum of six times per day.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1635638 (1927-07-01), Rogers
patent: 1973240 (1934-09-01), Werness et al.
patent: 2589322 (1952-03-01), Archer
patent: 3063443 (1962-11-01), Wahl
patent: 3111317 (1963-11-01), Cituk
patent: 3427023 (1969-02-01), Silberman
patent: 3819177 (1974-06-01), Spiro
patent: 4045033 (1977-08-01), Schuman
patent: 4088326 (1978-05-01), Bifulco
patent: 4449708 (1984-05-01), Humphrey
patent: 4466610 (1984-08-01), Israel
patent: 4607629 (1986-08-01), Lerman
patent: 4830366 (1989-05-01), Ruden
patent: 4889109 (1989-12-01), Gifford
patent: 4909051 (1990-03-01), Lee
patent: 4910818 (1990-03-01), Grabill et al.
patent: 4943047 (1990-07-01), Noble
patent: 5180386 (1993-01-01), Kennedy, Jr.
patent: 5216771 (1993-06-01), Hoff
patent: 1123647 (1984-11-01), None
Bertolucci Joan M.
Bertolucci Lawrence E.
Hwang Victor K.
Kelly Bauersfeld Lowry & Kelley, LLP.
Mulcahy John
Woodside Biomedical, Inc.
LandOfFree
Exercise method and apparatus for relieving hip and back pain does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Exercise method and apparatus for relieving hip and back pain, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Exercise method and apparatus for relieving hip and back pain will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2552945