Exercise devices – Isometric
Patent
1996-02-02
1997-09-02
Reichard, Lynne A.
Exercise devices
Isometric
482907, A63B 2600
Patent
active
056625626
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relate to a device for the exercising of a leg, and although not necessarily limited to assisting a patient to straighten a leg in post-operative physio therapy, the invention is specifically useful in such a situation. The invention further extends to a method of exercising a leg which tends to remain bent at the knee.
The knee is the joint which is frequently damaged in injuries for example sport injuries, and quite often needs major surgery. Frequency, after the surgery has been completed the knee has moved to a bent position instead of the stretched out position and it is necessary to subject a patient to considerable physiotherapy before full use is resumed. In order to achieve straightening of the leg at the knee, it is common practice to subject the knee to a considerable weight or force which tends to slowly straighten the leg, but this is painful and has been found to be less effective than being able to "work" the knee joint and thereby achieve the required physical changes to make the knee once again useful.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In an embodiment of the invention there is provided means which support the ankle or heel of a patient and apply pressure downwardly near the knee joint intermittently, and enable the knee joint to "work", that is, to articulate so as to reduce resistance to use.
A particular useful embodiment of the invention utilises an elongate lever having a cradle at one end which can cradle the heel or behind the ankle of a patient's leg, and intermediate the ends a fulcrum member is carried adjustably for position on the lever and shaped to bear against the patient's leg near the locality of the knee while the other end of the lever is provided with a handle so that a user can use his hand and arm to effect articulation of the knee joint.
PRIOR ART
No prior art is known to the Applicant wherein use is made of an elongate bar having a cradle at one end to accept the heel of a patient, a handle at the other end, and a fulcrum between the ends which can engage a patient's leg near the knee joint. The closest art appears to be in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,463,947 Kloenne, and 4,844,454 Rogers.
Specifically, the invention consists of an elongate lever having a cradle at one end of shape to cradle a lower portion (the heel or ankle) of a patient's leg, a fulcrum member carried on said lever intermediate its ends and shaped to bear against a patient's said leg near its knee joint when said one end cradles said lower leg portion, the other of said ends comprising a handle useable by a patient to effect articulation of said knee joint.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS
Two embodiments of the invention are described hereunder in some detail with reference to, and are illustrated in, the accompanying drawings, in which
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a leg exercising device, according to a first embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a cross-section on plane 2--2--2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section on plane 3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 shows use of the first embodiment device with the fulcrum below the knee;
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but with the fulcrum above the knee; and
FIG. 6 depicts an alternative arrangement wherein components can be "knocked down" to occupy less packaging space than the first embodiment.
Referring firstly to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5, a leg exercise device 10 comprises an elongate lever 11 which has a depending hook like cradle 12 at the lower end arranged to engage either the heel to behind the ankle of a patient's leg, while intermediate the ends of the lever 11 is provided with a saddle 13 which is slidable along the lever 11 but can be located in alternative positions by means of an insertion pin 14 which is selectively inserted in any one of a plurality of apertures which extend through a wall of lever 11 for part of its length. A strut 15 extends from the saddle 13 and is joined at its other end to a shallow U shaped bracket 16 which carries a pressure plate 17, by pivot pin 18, such that plate 17 and pin 18 combine to form a
REFERENCES:
patent: 2058563 (1936-10-01), Campbell
patent: 4463947 (1984-08-01), Kloenne
patent: 4599996 (1986-07-01), Seith et al.
patent: 4784121 (1988-11-01), Brooks
patent: 4844454 (1989-07-01), Rodgers
patent: 5074549 (1991-12-01), Harvey
patent: 5236333 (1993-08-01), Barba, Jr.
patent: 5328426 (1994-07-01), Vendette
patent: 5333604 (1994-08-01), Green et al.
Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Products Pty Ltd
Reichard Lynne A.
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