ES2544862T3 - Exercise apparatus to stretch the calf muscle - Google Patents

Abstract

Exercise apparatus (2) for stretching the calf muscle of a leg of a person performing the exercise, comprising a foot support (4) having an upper side (6) for the support of a foot of the person performing the exercise and a lower side (8) provided to be arranged against a base (10), in which the upper side is arranged with an inclination (α) compared to the base so that the first part (12) of the foot support, for the support of a part of toes, is arranged at a distance (D) with respect to the base, and in which the foot support has fixing means (14) in a second part (15) of the foot support for holding a heel part of the foot, characterized in that on one side (18) of the foot support (4), on the second part (15) of the foot support, it is arranged a bar (22) extending in a vertical direction in a joint (20), because the bar (22) is arranged so which can rotate in the support (4) for the foot in said joint (20), the bar (22) comprises a handle part (23) and a support part (24), support part (24) that is arranged between the handle part (23) and the joint (20), a support part that is intended as a support for the calf of the person performing the exercise, the support part extends at least about a part of the calf, wherein the stretching of the calf muscle of the person performing the exercise can be achieved by carrying the bar (22) while rotating in the joint (20) in one direction (R1) towards said first part (12) of the support for the foot while the heel part of the person performing the exercise is held in the support (4) for the foot and the calf rests on the support part (24) and is carried in the direction of rotation (R1), so that a sufficient stretch of the calf muscle is achieved.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Exercise apparatus to stretch the calf muscle

Technical Field 5

The present invention relates to an exercise apparatus for stretching the calf muscle.

Background

 10

When practicing exercise, gymnastics and rehabilitation activities, it is common for a person who performs the exercise to perform a so-called stretching, to stretch different muscle groups such as, among others, the calf muscle. The calf muscle consists of two parts: the twin (gastrocnemius) with its two extensions from the posterior side of the condyles of the femur and the soleus, a flat muscle on the posterior side of the fibula. The muscular parts join in the Achilles tendon that attaches to the heel bone (calcaneus). To stretch the calf muscles, a common exercise is to place the leg that will stretch in a direction behind the body as far back as possible, with the heel in contact with the base. The other leg is properly placed a distance in front of the body. The person either leans against the wall or the like, or tries to maintain balance with the hands around the body's waist. The stretching of the calf muscle is activated by forcing the foot blade against the base a few seconds, then slowly bending the ankle joint forward so that the calf muscle is stretched. With the straight knee, the gastrocnemius is stretched and with the bent knee the soleus is stretched.

Shorted calf muscles can cause the foot to decide to adopt a position with the fingers pointing down. This can cause discomfort such as periostitis, compartment syndrome, difficulties in climbing stairs normally, and also weakness in shortened muscles. The problem related to the stretching of gastrocnemius and soleus is that it is difficult to relax because the muscle must balance, tense and relax. It is also difficult to find the correct stretching movement.

An exercise to stretch the calf muscle such as the one described above may therefore be difficult or even impossible to perform properly only without means of help, for example for non-experienced athletes or people who are performing rehabilitation training, and for There is so much a need to facilitate the stretching of the calf muscle.

Various means are known to facilitate the stretching of the calf muscle. These known devices 35 have in common that they are either relatively complicated or do not work satisfactorily in the desired manner.

From US-A-5,611,770, an assist device for calf muscle stretching for rehabilitation patients is previously known. 40

Document US 2006/0058719-A discloses an apparatus for mobilizing the ankle.

Description of the invention

 Four. Five

An object of the present invention is to provide an assistive device for stretching the calf muscle groups that at least partially eliminates the inconveniences associated with devices according to the state of the art. An additional object is to obtain an assistive device for stretching the calf muscle that can provide sufficient intensity during stretching, to effectively stretch the calf muscle. An additional object is to obtain an equipment for stretching the calf muscle that is easy to use and that avoids the risk of incorrect stretching of the calf muscle.

This object is achieved by an exercise apparatus for stretching the calf muscle of a leg of a person performing the exercise according to the present invention as defined in claim 1, which comprises a foot support that has a side upper for the support of the foot of the person performing the exercise and a lower side intended to be arranged on a base, in which the upper side is arranged with an inclination compared to the lower side so that a first part of the support for the foot, for the support of a part of the toes, it is arranged at a distance from the base, and in which the foot support has fixing means in a second part of the foot support to hold a heel part of the foot. On one side of the foot support, on the second part of the foot support, a bar is arranged that extends in the vertical direction in a joint, the bar is arranged so that it can rotate in the foot support in said joint. The bar comprises a handle part and a support part, a support part that is arranged between the handle part and the joint, a support part that is provided as support for the calf of the person performing the exercise. The support part extends at least around a part of the calf, a calf muscle stretching of the person performing the exercise can be provided while carrying the bar, while rotating in the joint, in a direction against said first part of the support for the

foot while the heel part of the person performing the exercise is held in the foot support and the calf rests on the support part and is worn in the direction of rotation, so that a sufficient stretch of the muscle is achieved of the calf.

An advantage of this solution according to the present invention is that a stretching of the calf muscle can be performed in a correct manner so that the stretching becomes sufficiently effective and is performed with intensity. A further advantage is that a stretch can be performed in a safe and reliable manner, so that the risk of injury can be avoided. A further advantage is that the present invention eliminates the need for an instructor for proper stretching. The exercise apparatus according to the present invention is also easy to use. The stretching of the calf muscle can be done with the knee straight or bent and 10 it is also possible to incline the foot laterally on the foot support, to stretch different calf muscles. As the foot platform is arranged with an inclination against the base, the person performing the exercise can stand stably with the foot support located on the upper side of the foot support and, additionally, the person who Doing the exercise does not have to tilt the leg so much forward, during the stretching of the calf muscle, during the use of the exercise apparatus, which makes the stretching of the exercise apparatus according to the present invention easy to use, safe and effective By means of the apparatus according to the present invention, the calf muscle can be stretched in a relaxed state without presenting tension in the other muscles, called antagonists, that influence the stretching capacity. It is also possible to maintain the stretching position longer, since other muscles are not subjected to effort.

 twenty

Advantages and additional features according to embodiments of the invention are apparent from the claims, and also in the following description of the embodiments.

Description of the drawings

 25

The present invention will now be described in more detail in embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, without an interpretation of the invention limited thereto, in which

Figure 1A is an oblique perspective view from the front showing an exercise apparatus according to the present invention, and

Figure 1B is a straight line view from behind showing the exercise apparatus according to Figure 1A.

Detailed description of achievements

 35

In Figures 1A and B, an embodiment of an exercise apparatus 2 for stretching the calf muscle of a leg of a person performing the exercise, according to the present invention, is shown. The exercise apparatus 2 comprises a support 4 for the foot that has an upper side 6 for the support of the foot of the person performing the exercise and a lower side 8 provided to be arranged against a base 10. According to the embodiment shown in the figures 1A-B, the foot support 4 is designed with a raised part 11, comprising the inclined upper side 6, and two protruding flat side portions 11 'extending to each side of the central part 11. This design has been achieved by folding a metal sheet. Obviously, the foot support can be designed and produced in another way, for example by molding in one piece. The upper side 6 is arranged with an inclination  compared to the lower side 8 so that the first part 12 of the foot support, for the support of a part of toes, is arranged with a distance D with respect to base. In the embodiment 45 shown in Figures 1A and B, the inclination of the upper side of the footrest with respect to the base cannot be adjusted, and thereby the distance D. Obviously, it falls within the scope of protection of the present invention. that the upper side can be arranged in an adjustable manner in the footrest so that the inclination  and the distance D with respect to the base can be adjusted. The foot support 4 has fixing means 14 in a second part 15 of the foot support to hold a heel part of the foot. The fixing means 14 may be in the form of a strap (not shown) or the like disposed in the foot support 4, or a U-shaped clamp 16 disposed firmly in the foot support, as is evident in the Figures 1A and B.

On a long side 18 of the foot support 4, in said second part 15 of the foot support, suitably in close connection with a foot joint of the person performing the exercise when the foot is placed 55 on the support for the foot, a bar 22 is arranged in a joint 20 that extends in a vertical direction. The bar 22 is arranged so that it can rotate in the support 4 for the foot in said joint 20. The bar 22 comprises a handle part 23 and a support part 24 provided for the calf support of the person making the exercise. The support part 24 is disposed between the handle part 23 and the joint 20. The bar 22 suitably has a straight longitudinal extension, preferably vertical, in a first part 60 that extends from the joint 20 to the part 24 of support, which constitutes a second part 28 of the bar 22. The support part 24 is designed so that it extends at least about a part of the calf. As is evident from the embodiment shown in Figures 1A and B, the bar may have the shape of a round post, which in the center in the second part 28 has been designed with a partially helical curvature 29. If the bar 22 is observed in an elevation view in a straight line from above or below, 65 that is to say perpendicular to the horizontal plane, the curvature has a semicircular shape or a

U shape, which adapts to the shape of a calf. From the point of view of comfort and to adapt to different calf sizes, the support part can be suitably provided with a soft non-rigid material. The handle part may suitably have a straight, essentially vertical longitudinal extension, in a third part 30 of the bar extending from the connection with the support part 24. As is evident in the embodiment shown in Figures 1A and 1B, the bar 22 is designed such that the bar 5 extends in the first part 26 along a side of the leg of a person performing the exercise and of such that the third part 30 comprising the handle part extends at least along a part of the opposite side of the leg of the person performing the exercise, when a person performing the exercise in the exercise apparatus has placed the foot on the support 4 for the foot and the calf of his leg in contact with the support part 24. 10

According to a second alternative embodiment (not shown), a second bar can be arranged so that it can rotate in a joint on a second side 18 'long of the foot support 4, opposite to the first long side 18, second bar that is arranged in part 24 support. According to this second embodiment, the exercise apparatus may then be shaped so that the two bars essentially extend vertically to each long side of the footrest and the support portion 24 is disposed between the bars.

According to a preferred embodiment, the exercise apparatus according to the present invention comprises a stop element 32 which is arranged so that the bar can be carried far enough forward to achieve a correct and intense stretching, while preventing the bar from being carried away. too far forward, to prevent injuries from being misused. Preferably, the stopper member 32 is arranged in an adjustable manner on the bar so that the desired movement of the bar in a direction R1 towards said first part 12 of the foot rest can be set to a desired degree. Suitably, the abutment element 32, for example in the form of a threaded pin, can be disposed and adjustable in a disc-shaped plate 34, a plate that is arranged vertically around the joint on the side of the support 4 for the 25 foot. The bar 22 can rotate along the disc-shaped plate, which has indications of the inclination in degrees, the bar being able to rotate from the initial position to a substantially vertical extent. The stop element 32 may be set at a desired inclination in degrees to a position where the bar 22 will be brought forward to the maximum. The bar can comprise two arms 36 that form a U-shaped part at its end against the joint, the free ends 38 of the arms being arranged in the joint 20, respectively. 30 In the U-shaped part, between the arms, the disc-shaped plate 34 is arranged.

The upper side 6 of the foot support 4 is also suitably wide enough so that the foot can be tilted laterally, inwardly or outwardly, to be able to decide the effect of stretching inside or outside the musculature of the foot. calf with the knee joint bent or extended. It is also possible according to an embodiment not shown that the upper side 6 is arranged in an adjustable manner in the foot rest to establish the inclination laterally.

A total height suitable for the exercise apparatus, from the base to the end of the handle part of the bar, can be approximately 100 cm and a suitable height until the connection of the handle part in the support part 24 It can be about 45 cm. The first 26, second 28 and third 30 parts of the bar 22 can be suitably adjustable to each other in the longitudinal extension. The distance D of the foot support 4 can be suitably 7-8 cm. Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the dimensions mentioned above.

 Four. Five

A stretching of the calf muscle of a person performing the exercise, with the knee straight or bent to stretch the gastrocnemius or the soleus of the calf, can be achieved by bringing the bar 22 in a direction R1 towards said first part 12 of the support for the foot, while rotating in the joint 20, while the heel part of the person performing the exercise is held in the support 4 for the foot and the calf rests on the support part 24 and is carried in the direction of R1 rotation, so that a sufficient stretch of the calf muscle can be provided.

Claims (10)

1. Exercise apparatus (2) for stretching the calf muscle of a leg of a person performing the exercise, comprising a foot support (4) having an upper side (6) for the support of a foot of the person performing the exercise and a lower side (8) provided to be arranged against a base (10), in which the upper side is arranged with an inclination () compared to the base so that the first part (12) of the foot support, for the support of a part of toes, is arranged at a distance (D) from the base, and in which the foot support has fixing means (14) in a second part (15) of the foot support to hold a heel part of the foot,  10 characterized in that on one side (18) of the foot support (4), on the second part (15) of the foot support, a bar (22) is provided that extends in a vertical direction in a joint (20) , because the bar (22) is arranged so that it can rotate in the support (4) for the foot in said joint (20), the bar (22) comprises a handle part (23) and a part (24) of support, support part (24) that is arranged between the handle part (23) and the joint (20), support part that is provided as 15 calf support for the person performing the exercise, the support part It extends at least around a part of the calf, in which the stretching of the calf muscle of the person performing the exercise can be achieved by carrying the bar (22) while rotating in the joint (20) in one direction (R1 ) towards said first part (12) of the foot support while the heel part of the person performing the exercise is held in the support (4) for the foot and the calf is supported on the support part 20 (24) and is carried in the direction of rotation (R1), so that a sufficient stretch of the muscle of the calf 2. Exercise apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the support part (24) is designed with a helical curvature (29). 25 3. Exercise apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the helical curvature (29) has a semicircular shape seen perpendicular to a horizontal plane. 4. Exercise apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a stop element (32) to prevent the bar (22) from being carried too far forward during the rotation of the bar. 5. Exercise apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the stop element (32) is arranged in an adjustable manner on the bar, so that a desired movement of the bar in one direction (R1) 35 towards said first part (12 ) of the foot support can be set to a desired degree. 6. Exercise apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the stop member (32) is arranged in a disc-shaped plate (34), a plate that is arranged vertically around the joint (20) on the side of the support (4) for the foot. 40 7. Exercise apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the bar (22) at its end against the joint comprises two arms (36) forming a U-shaped part, the ends (38) being free, respectively, of the arms arranged in the joint (20).  Four. Five 8. Exercise apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the disc-shaped plate (34) is arranged in the U-shaped part between the arms (36). 9. Exercise apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bar (22) is designed so that it has an extension in the first part (26) along a side of the leg of a person performing the exercise, while placed in the exercise apparatus, and because the third part (30) comprising the handle part has an extension along the opposite side of the leg of the person performing the exercise. 10. Exercise apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a second bar is arranged so that it can rotate in a joint on a second side (18 ') long of the support (4) for the foot and because the part (24) Support is arranged between the bars.