DE20103657U1 - Training device - Google Patents

Description

Training device

The invention relates to a training device, in particular for training the feet and/or the limbs near the feet, wherein the training device has a base plate with at least one receiving area arranged thereon for a foot to be trained, wherein a heel support part is provided on the top of the base plate at the rear end area of the foot receiving area, wherein an abutment for the front foot area supported against the base plate is provided on the front end area of the foot receiving area, which abutment comes to rest on the top of the front foot area in the position of use, and wherein the base plate has a rear tilt support.

Such a training device is known from DE 40 00 428 A1. It has a base plate with a support surface for a pair of feet to be trained. On the base plate, two upwardly protruding, rigid pins are arranged at the front end of the support surface, which are arranged between the big toe and the adjacent toe in the position of use. The pins carry a crossbar, which connects the two pins with its middle area like a bridge and

with its end areas projecting laterally over the pins. The crossbar forms a rigid abutment against which the front foot areas of the two feet of the pair of feet rest with their upper side in the position of use. According to the disclosure document, the training device is intended to strengthen the foot and toe muscles of the human foot in order to treat various foot deformities, in particular the hallux valgus symptom, i.e. a misalignment of the big toe towards the outside of the foot with the formation of a ball on the inner edge of the foot. The user of the foot plate first stands with his feet on the contact surface of the base plate so that the crossbar supports the forefoot or the toes.

^ overlaps. The toes are then lifted slightly by tensing the upper foot muscles and pressed against the abutment, which is intended to strengthen the muscles. The training device has the disadvantage that the feet are fixed to the training device during training, which means that only an isometric activation of the foot muscles is possible. In addition, the lower and thigh muscles are only strengthened to a limited extent by treatment with the training device.

DE 43 01 180 A1 already provides a training device for

^ Strengthening of the entire musculature of the front of the lower leg and the foot, which has two pivoting or tilting pedals, the top of which is designed with raised areas to adapt to the shape of the bottom of the foot and on each of which a foot is held by means of a bow-shaped strap. This device uses the leverage effect on the pedals to train the long foot extensors that pull towards the front of the lower leg, and the toe extensors only move slightly as part of the overall movement. The training device is therefore only suitable to a limited extent for foot muscle-specific prophylaxis or therapy. The device also has a relatively complicated structure.

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The task is therefore to create a training device of the type mentioned above that is simply constructed and yet enables effective training of the foot and/or leg muscles.
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The solution to this problem consists in that the abutment is designed as an elastic, stretchable tension element which is arranged transversely to the direction of extension of the foot receiving area and is connected to the base plate at at least one fastening point on both sides of the foot receiving area.

™ The abutment is therefore designed as an elastic tension element that can be stretched by the foot and/or leg muscles, which in the position of use spans the toes or the forefoot transversely to the length of the foot and rests on it. By tensing the upper muscles of the foot and the front lower leg muscles, the forefoot and/or the toes can be lifted from the foot receiving area of the base plate against the resting force of the material of the tension element. During training, the toes and/or the forefoot are alternately lifted from the resting position against the resting force of the elastic tension element and then lowered back into this position. In an advantageous

^ In this way, the training device enables the foot and leg muscles to be actively moved during exercise with the training device, whereby the muscles shorten and/or stretch when subjected to the restoring force of the pulling element. The training device therefore enables dynamic training of the muscles in a simple way, thereby strengthening them.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the base plate has open-edge slots at the fastening points, and the elastic tension element is guided through these slots in the position of use in such a way that at least a partial area of the tension element located below the base plate bears at least part of the weight

the base plate and the user standing on it. This results in a particularly simple and inexpensive training device in which the length of the part of the tension element running between the two sides of a foot on the top of the base plate and spanning the forefoot in the position of use can be easily adjusted and adapted to the dimensions of the forefoot. It is even possible to attach the tension element to the slots in the base plate in such a way that the section of the tension element spanning the foot receiving area is under pre-tension, so that when the toes or forefoot are lifted during training, an additional

™ force acts on the toes and forefoot. The slots also allow the tension element to be easily replaced if it should become defective or lose its tension after a long period of use.

It is advantageous if at least two elastic tension elements with different spring constants are provided and if these tension elements can be connected to the base plate selectively or alternately. Training can then begin with the tension element with the smaller spring constant and which is easier to stretch. If the muscles are then pre-trained,

^, training can be continued with a tension element with a larger spring constant and which is harder to stretch.

In an expedient embodiment of the invention, the elastic tension element is a rubber or latex band. Such bands are commercially available at low cost in different thicknesses.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the heel support point is arranged higher than the front end region of the foot receiving area. This can be achieved in particular by providing between the heel support and the front end region of the foot receiving area

at least one step or heel is arranged. This allows a greater lift of the toes or forefoot when exercising with the training device, which means that the muscles are trained even more effectively.
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It is advantageous if the heel support point is adjustable in height relative to the front end area of the foot support area and if, for this purpose, at least one additional plate is preferably provided, which can be placed on the base plate at the rear end area of the foot support area. Training can then initially begin without the additional plate. If the muscles have been pre-trained, the additional plate can be placed on the base plate to enable a greater lift of the toes and/or forefoot during further training. The additional plate also reduces the risk of the user tipping backwards during training, which is particularly advantageous for users with limited mobility.

In an expedient embodiment of the invention, two steps or ledges that can be grasped with the toes are arranged side by side on the base plate, which are approximately V-shaped with respect to one another with their longitudinal extension directions.

^ are arranged and their longitudinal extensions form an angle of 120° to 150° in the plane of the base plate or a plane running approximately parallel to it. The training device then enables a further exercise in which the feet are positioned on the base plate in such a way that the toes each reach over the step or heel assigned to the relevant foot. The step or heel can then be grasped with the toes in order to pull the foot standing on the base plate forwards towards the step or heel using the toe muscles. This strengthens the muscles of the sole of the foot and the muscles for toe flexion. The angle formed by the longitudinal extensions of the steps or heels preferably corresponds to the angle formed by the

When the feet are in a normal position and standing next to each other, enclose the line connecting the big toe and the little toe of the left foot with the line connecting the big toe and the little toe of the right foot.
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In an expedient embodiment of the invention, the steps or heels are formed by strip-shaped projections arranged on the top of the base plate. Such toe strips are particularly easy to grip with the toes.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the steps or ledges are formed by the edge area of the base plate. The training device then allows for a particularly simple construction and can be manufactured inexpensively.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a toe spreader that can be inserted between the toes is arranged on the upper side of the base plate, which toe spreader tapers towards the top and is preferably approximately conical or truncated cone-shaped.

The toe spreader is inserted with its most protruding end between the big toe and the adjacent toe and then moved axially towards the toes to separate the toes from each other.

^ to spread. This mobilizes the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe and prevents malalignment of the big toe (=hallux valgus).

In an expedient embodiment of the invention, at least three areas are provided on the top of the base plate, each with several receiving recesses located next to one another, into which pins or similar elements can be inserted, which protrude above the surface plane of the base plate in the position of use, with a first of these areas being arranged on the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe, a second on the metatarsophalangeal joint of the little toe and a third on the heel. The position of the heel and the metatarsophalangeal joint of the little toe and big toe can then be recorded, for example, by means of a footprint and transferred to the base plate.

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by inserting the pins or elements into the recesses or holes at the appropriate points on the base plate. The user of the training device can then train the correct position of his feet by positioning his feet on the base plate in such a way that the three pins or elements arranged on the big toe joint, the little toe joint and the heel bone can be felt on both feet. This can prevent incorrect body statics and/or posture caused by a foot misalignment. The training device enables proprioceptive training with correct foot rolling.

^ movement.

In the following, embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. They show:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a foot training device, with the receiving area for the feet outlined in dashed lines,
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Fig. 2 is a longitudinal side view of the base plate of a training device, with the outline of a foot also indicated schematically ^,

Fig. 3 a top view of the base plate of a training device,

which has two V-shaped toe strips on its upper side that can be grasped with the toes,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the base plate of a training device, which has two V-shaped

has orderly edge areas that can be grasped with the toes,

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a base plate, which is

. has several areas, each with a large number of adjacent receiving recesses,

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where the outlines of two feet are also indicated schematically, and

Fig. 6 is a side view showing the training device and a user training with it.

A training device, designated as a whole with 1, for training the human foot and/or leg muscles has a base plate 2, the underside of which rests on a base, for example the floor or ground 3. The base plate 2

^ is preferably made of wood or another skin-friendly and/or sweat-absorbing material. On its upper flat side, the base plate 2 has two support areas 3 for a pair of feet 5 to be trained. In Fig. 1, these support areas 3 are schematically delimited by a dashed line. At their rear end area, the foot support areas 3 each have a heel support part 6 and at their front end area a forefoot support point.

In the area of the forefoot support points, an abutment 7 is provided for the front foot area, supported against the base plate 1. The abutments 7 are made of sections of an elastic

^ stretchable tension element 8, which are arranged transversely to the direction of extension of the foot receiving area 3 and are connected to the base plate 2 at a fastening point 9 on both sides of the foot receiving area 3. In Fig. 1 and 2 it can be seen that the sections of the tension element 8 forming the abutments 7 come to rest on the upper side of the forefoot and/or the toes in the position of use. By tensing the toe extensor muscles 0 or the upper foot and possibly the front leg muscles, the forefeet can be lifted from the foot receiving area 3 of the base plate 2 against the restoring force of the elastic tension element 8. This dynamically trains the foot and leg muscles.

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In Fig. 6 it can be seen that the user 10 of the training device can, if necessary, do squats with the forefeet before, during or after raising the abutments 7 in order to train the leg muscles additionally. The rear end area of the base plate 2, which extends beyond the foot receiving area 3, forms a tilt support which prevents the base plate 2 from tipping over during training.

At the fastening points 9, the base plate 2 has an open-edge slot through which the elastic tension element 8

_ is passed through. As can be seen in Fig. 1 and 2, sections of the tension element 8 are arranged below the base plate 2, whereby these sections are clamped between the base plate 2 and the floor or ground 4 or the base on which the base plate 2 rests by part of the weight of the base plate 2 and the user 10. The two ends of the tension element 8 are led out laterally under the base plate 2.

The training device 1 has several tension elements 8 designed as rubber or latex bands, of which only one is shown in the drawing. These tension elements 8 are optional or

^ can be alternately connected to the slots of the fastening points 9. The tension elements 8 have different cross-sections.

This results in different restoring forces when training with the individual tension elements 8 on the abutments 7.

In Fig. 1 and 2 it can be seen that the heel support point 6 is adjustable in height relative to the front end area of the foot receiving area 3 and that at least one additional plate 11 is provided for this purpose, which can be placed on the base plate 2 at the rear end area of the foot receiving area 3, so that at least one step or a heel is formed between the front and rear end areas of the foot receiving area 3. It is sufficient if the additional plate 11 is loosely

rests on the base plate 2. However, it can also be detachably connected to the base plate 2 via positively interlocking connecting elements and/or other connecting elements that transmit holding forces. The additional plate 11 enables a greater lift of the forefoot during exercises with the training device 1 and thus an even better training of the muscles. The training device 1 can, if necessary, have several additional plates 11 of different thicknesses, which can be optionally or alternately connected to the base plate 2. However, several additional plates 11 can also be arranged to form a plate stack on the base plate 2 in order to achieve an even greater difference in height between the forefoot support point and the heel support point 4.

In the embodiment according to Figures 1 and 3 to 5, a step or a heel 13 is provided on the top of the base plate 2 for the right and left foot 6, which is arranged and designed in such a way that it can be grasped with the toes of the foot 6 assigned to the step or heel 10 when the feet 6 are standing next to each other on the base plate 2. The steps or heels 12 are arranged approximately in a V-shape with their longitudinal direction of extension and

^ run essentially in the plane of the base plate 2 (Fig.

4) or parallel thereto (Fig. 1, 3 and 5). In the plane of the base plate 2 or the plane running parallel thereto, the longitudinal extension directions of the steps or ledges 12 enclose an angle α between them which is approximately 126°.

In the embodiments according to Fig. 1, 3 and 5, the steps or heels 12 are formed by strips arranged on the base plate 2, which protrude completely or partially over adjacent surface areas of the base plate 2 and thus form projections that can be grasped by the toes. In the embodiment according to Fig. 4, the steps or heels 12 are formed by edge areas of the base plate 2 that are arranged in a V-shape relative to one another.

As can be seen in Fig. 3 and 4, the feet 6 are placed on the base plate for practice with the steps or heels 12

2 is positioned so that the toes overlap the step or heel 12 associated with the respective foot 6.

The step or heel 12 is then grasped with the toes to place the foot 6 with the toe muscles on the foot receiving area

3 to pull forward. This strengthens the muscles of the sole of the foot and those responsible for bending the toes.

As can be clearly seen in Fig. 1, the top

_ the base plate 2 has a toe spreader 13 arranged thereon, which is approximately conical and tapers towards the top. By inserting the toe spreader 13 between two toes, these can be spread apart. The toe spreader 13 is particularly intended to spread the big toe away from the adjacent toe and to prevent or treat a big toe misalignment (hallux valgus). The hallux muscle is stretched and the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe is mobilized.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 5, at least three areas 14a, 14b, 14c are provided on the top of the base plate 2, each with a plurality of receiving recesses 15 located next to one another, into each of which a pin (not shown in detail in the drawing) can be detachably inserted, which, in the inserted position, projects with its upper end area beyond the laterally adjacent surface area of the base plate 2 and forms a raised area that can be felt with the sole of the foot. In the use position, the area 14a is arranged on the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe, the area 14b on the metatarsophalangeal joint of the little toe and the area 14c on the heel of the foot 5. For the exercise with the areas 14a, 14b, 14c, the position of the heel, little toe and big toe metatarsophalangeal joints is first determined, for example by manually feeling the underside of the foot. The relative position of the heel, little toe and big toe metatarsophalangeal joints is then transferred to the base plate 2.

transferred by inserting a pin into the receiving recess 15 located at the corresponding point in each area 14a, 14b, 14c of the base plate 2. The user 11 of the training device 1 can then train the correct position of his feet 6 by positioning the feet 5 on the base plate 2 in such a way that the three pins or elements arranged on the big toe joint, the little toe joint and the heel joint can be felt on both feet 5.

0 /Claims

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Claims (11)

1. Training device ( 1 ), in particular for training the feet ( 5 ) and/or the limbs near the feet, the training device ( 1 ) having a base plate ( 2 ) with at least one receiving area ( 3 ) arranged thereon for a foot ( 5 ) to be trained, a heel support point ( 6 ) being provided on the top of the base plate at the rear end area of the foot receiving area ( 3 ), an abutment ( 7 ) for the front foot area being supported against the base plate ( 2 ) being provided on the front end area of the foot receiving area ( 3 ), which abuts against the base plate (2) and comes to rest on the top of the front foot area in the position of use, and the base plate ( 2 ) having a rear tilt support, characterized in that the abutment ( 7 ) is designed as an elastic, stretchable tension element ( 8 ) which extends transversely to the direction of extension of the foot receiving area ( 3 ) and is connected to the base plate ( 2 ) at least at one fastening point ( 9 ) on both sides of the foot receiving area ( 3 ). 2. Training device ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the base plate ( 2 ) has open-edge slots at the fastening points ( 9 ), and the elastic tension element ( 8 ) is guided through these slots in the position of use in such a way that at least a partial area of the tension element ( 9 ) located below the base plate ( 2 ) can be loaded with at least part of the weight of the base plate ( 2 ) and of the user ( 11 ) standing on it. 3. Training device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least two elastic tension elements with different spring constants are provided, and that these tension elements can be connected selectively or alternately to the base plate. 4. Training device ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the elastic tension element ( 8 ) is a rubber or latex band. 5. Training device ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the heel support point ( 6 ) is arranged higher than the front end region of the foot receiving region ( 3 ). 6. Training device ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the heel support point ( 6 ) is adjustable in height relative to the front end region of the foot receiving region ( 3 ) and that for this purpose preferably at least one additional plate ( 11 ) is provided which can be placed on the base plate ( 2 ) at the rear end region of the foot receiving region ( 3 ). 7. Training device ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that on the base plate ( 2 ) two steps or heels ( 12 ) which can be grasped with the toes are arranged side by side, which are arranged with their longitudinal extension directions approximately in a V-shape to each other, and with their longitudinal extension directions in the plane of the base plate ( 2 ) or a plane running approximately parallel thereto enclose an angle of 120° to 150° between them. 8. Training device ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the steps or shoulders ( 12 ) are formed by strip-shaped projections arranged on the upper side of the base plate ( 2 ). 9. Training device ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the steps or shoulders ( 12 ) are formed by edge regions of the base plate ( 2 ). 10. Training device ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a toe spreader ( 13 ) which can be inserted between the toes is arranged on the upper side of the base plate ( 2 ), which toe spreader tapers towards the top and is preferably approximately conical or frustoconical in shape. 11. Training device ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least three areas ( 14a , 14b , 14c ) are provided on the base plate ( 2 ), each with a plurality of receiving recesses ( 15 ) located next to one another, into which pins or similar elements can be inserted which, in the position of use, protrude above the surface plane of the base plate ( 2 ), and that a first of these areas ( 14a ) is arranged in the position of use on the big toe joint, a second area ( 14b ) on the little toe joint and a third area on the heel ( 14c ).