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WO1998033561A1 - Procede et dispositif d'etirement - Google Patents

Procede et dispositif d'etirement Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1998033561A1
WO1998033561A1 PCT/AU1997/000757 AU9700757W WO9833561A1 WO 1998033561 A1 WO1998033561 A1 WO 1998033561A1 AU 9700757 W AU9700757 W AU 9700757W WO 9833561 A1 WO9833561 A1 WO 9833561A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
user
joint
limb
leg
stretching
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/AU1997/000757
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Liam Ellis
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AUPO4874A external-priority patent/AUPO487497A0/en
Priority claimed from AUPO7625A external-priority patent/AUPO762597A0/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to AU48564/97A priority Critical patent/AU4856497A/en
Publication of WO1998033561A1 publication Critical patent/WO1998033561A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B23/00—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body
    • A63B23/035—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body for limbs, i.e. upper or lower limbs, e.g. simultaneously
    • A63B23/0355—A single apparatus used for either upper or lower limbs, i.e. with a set of support elements driven either by the upper or the lower limb or limbs
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
    • A61H1/00—Apparatus for passive exercising; Vibrating apparatus; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones
    • A61H1/02—Stretching or bending or torsioning apparatus for exercising
    • A61H1/0237—Stretching or bending or torsioning apparatus for exercising for the lower limbs
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
    • A61H1/00—Apparatus for passive exercising; Vibrating apparatus; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones
    • A61H1/02—Stretching or bending or torsioning apparatus for exercising
    • A61H1/0274—Stretching or bending or torsioning apparatus for exercising for the upper limbs
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B21/00—Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices
    • A63B21/02—Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices using resilient force-resisters
    • A63B21/055—Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices using resilient force-resisters extension element type

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for stretching a given part of a user's body and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for use in passive stretching.
  • the invention will be described primarily with reference to its use in stretching muscles and muscle groups in or adjacent to the limbs of a user but it should be appreciated that the invention has broad application to stretching many different types of muscles and muscle groups, tendons etc in a user's body.
  • Apparatus and techniques for stretching various muscles, muscle groups, tendons etc in a user's body are known.
  • typical apparatus and techniques rely upon the active or dynamic stretching of the user's body, and may result in injury.
  • the present invention in a first aspect provides apparatus for stretching a given part of a user's body adjacent to a joint in the body, comprising fixing means for fixing one part of the body on one side of the joint in relation to another part of the body on the other side of the joint, wherein both parts can be moved together relative to a datum so that the given part of the user's body is stretched.
  • the fixing means includes a pair of opposing supports interconnected by a frame, in use, one support being positionable on the body on said one side of the joint and the other support being positionable on the body on the other side of the joint, with the frame extending therebetween.
  • a first of the supports is arranged in the frame to be positionable adjacent to either an anterior or posterior region of the limb on one side of the joint, and a second of the supports is arranged in the frame to be positionable adjacent to either a posterior or anterior region of the limb respectively on the other side of the joint.
  • the first support can be positioned adjacent to the quadriceps and the second support can be positioned adjacent to the calves/ankle of the user.
  • the hamstring muscles can be stretched, although stretching of adjacent gluteal, rectus spinae and calve muscles and muscle groups can also be achieved.
  • the first support can be positioned adjacent to the triceps and the second support can be positioned adjacent to an anterior region of the forearm.
  • the biceps can be stretched, although stretching of adjacent shoulder, chest and forearm muscles and muscle groups and can also be achieved.
  • the supports are each scalloped for receiving the respective portion of the limb therein, and these scalloped portions may in turn be padded.
  • at least one of the supports is slidably mounted to the frame to render the apparatus adjustable for different sized users.
  • the present invention provides a method for stretching a given part of a user's body adjacent to a joint in the user's body, comprising the steps of:
  • the given part of the user's body is located in a limb and the datum is located at the region of attachment of the limb to the user's torso.
  • the limb is the leg
  • the joint is the knee joint
  • the datum is located in the region of the hip socket.
  • the thigh portion of the leg is fixed relative to the lower leg portion such that when the thigh and lower leg portions are moved together by pivoting the leg about the hip, a muscle or muscle group in the thigh portion of the leg is stretched.
  • the hamstring muscles can be stretched (although adjacent muscles are also, to some extent, stretched) .
  • the joint is the elbow joint and the datum is located in the region of the arm socket.
  • the upper arm portion is fixed relative to the forearm such that when the upper arm portion and forearm are moved together by pivoting the arm about the shoulder, a muscle or muscle group in the upper arm portion is stretched (although again adjacent muscles are also, to some extent, stretched) .
  • the above method for stretching typically employs the apparatus as defined for the first aspect. Brief Description of the Drawing Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, a preferred form of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
  • Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one preferred type of apparatus for stretching according to the invention
  • Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a variation of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.
  • leg stretcher 10 apparatus for stretching is shown in the form of leg stretcher 10.
  • the leg stretcher includes a first support in the form of thigh cradle 12 and a second support in the form of ankle/calf cradle 14.
  • Both cradles are provided with padding 16 for the comfort of the user.
  • Thigh cradle 12 is pivotally mounted to frame 18, via pivot pins 19, to accommodate various inclinations of the thigh portion of the user's leg relative to the lower leg portion (as described below) .
  • the frame 18 includes a curved handle 20 fixedly mounted thereto, a pair of opposing and bent extensions 22, and a curved end 24.
  • the handle 20 enables the frame at the thigh cradle end to be held during use by a user of the apparatus.
  • the handle 20 can be angled towards the user to make it easier for the user to apply a downward force during stretching (as described below) .
  • the curved end 24 at the ankle/calf cradle end enables the frame (and user's leg when placed therein) to be pivoted upwardly by a therapist for appropriate stretching, (again as described below) .
  • the cradle 14 is adapted for slide mounting to the extensions 22, and can be slid therealong (as indicated by double-headed arrow A) to accommodate users' legs of differing lengths.
  • the slide mounting of cradle 14 to the frame is facilitated by opposing c-section sleeves 26, which receive therein and engage with respective extensions 22.
  • the cradle 14 can be sized so that it sits between the extensions and engages therewith in a sliding interference manner.
  • a spring-loaded pin arrangement, a ball-detent arrangement or other suitable releasable fastening mechanism can be employed to fasten cradle 14 at a predetermined or desired position along the frame.
  • An arrowhead 28 is provided on each sleeve and can be aligned with gradations 30 along each extension, so that each user's requirements can be recorded.
  • the travel of cradle 14 along the frame is halted by stop pins 29, which extend inwardly from the extensions 22, and which stop cradle movement by engaging a respective c- section 26 when slidingly moved thereagainst .
  • Figure 1 also schematically shows the leg of a user arranged in the leg stretcher in phantom outline.
  • the thigh cradle 12 sits on top of the user's upper leg portion (ie. adjacent to the quadriceps of the user's leg) and the ankle/calf cradle 14 sits adjacent either to a lower calf region of the user's leg, or behind the user's ankle (ie. adjacent to the user's achilles tendon).
  • the leg stretcher 10 differs from the leg stretcher of Figure 1, primarily in that the thigh cradle 12' incorporates the handle 20' as an integral part thereof.
  • the cradle 12' can be formed (eg. injection moulded) as a single unit, and thus the separate attachment of the handle 20 to frame 18 is not required.
  • frame 18 is provided with a loop portion 40 at curved end 24 and such a loop portion can receive a strap hook, or the loop of a strap therethrough. This then enables the user themselves, by pulling on the strap with one hand, and holding handle 20' with the other, to perform the stretch themselves (ie. without the aid of a therapist) .
  • the unit can be used by a single user.
  • the user In use, the user typically lies on the ground, and the leg stretcher 10 is placed on the user's leg and is set to a comfortable configuration.
  • the user pushes downwardly on handle 20,20' and a therapist (or the user) then lifts the curved end 24 of the frame upwardly in an arcing motion (ie. in the direction of arrow P) with the frame tending to pivot around a datum, in this case the user's hip joint.
  • Such an arrangement provides for the application of an extremely effective primary passive stretch to the user's hamstring muscles, and secondary stretches to the user's gluteal and rectus spinae (lower back) muscles. At the same time, some stretching of calf muscles will be achieved.
  • the user can slightly bend their leg at the knee joint and this bending can be accommodated by the pivoting of thigh cradle 12 in the frame (optionally also by moving cradle 14 to a new position) .
  • the above described user and/or therapist stretch procedure is then performed/reperformed.
  • the leg stretcher shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a portable unit, but the same configuration can be adopted in a machine whereby the thigh cradle end of the frame is pivotally mounted in the machine, and the curved end 24 is replaced by a lifting mechanism (eg. a hydraulic, mechanical, electromechanical, pneumatic, or other type of actuable mechanism) .
  • a lifting mechanism eg. a hydraulic, mechanical, electromechanical, pneumatic, or other type of actuable mechanism
  • a strap that completely surrounds the user's thigh can be employed to fix the thigh cradle 12 on the user's thigh, although this is more cumbersome and hence less desirable.
  • the leg stretcher shown in Figures 1 and 2 can also be readily adapted for use with a user's arm, and can be adapted for stretching muscles, tendons etc adjacent to other joints in the user's body (eg. the ankle joint, the hip joint, the shoulder joint, the wrist, the neck etc) .
  • the same technique is employed, with the apparatus being modified to suit the shape of the body parts on either side of the joint.
  • the leg stretcher is typically formed from metal and/or polymeric materials (eg. a bent steel tube frame and reinforced polymers such as glass-fibre reinforced resins for the cradles, with the padding typically being formed from a foamed polymeric material (eg. polyurethane foam adhered to the respective cradle) ) .
  • the cradles 12,12' and 14 are injection moulded

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Orthopedic Medicine & Surgery (AREA)
  • Pain & Pain Management (AREA)
  • Rehabilitation Therapy (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Biophysics (AREA)
  • Rehabilitation Tools (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé et un dispositif permettant d'étirer une partie considérée du corps d'un utilisateur au voisinage d'une articulation du corps. Ce dispositif comporte un organe de fixation (10) permettant d'assujettir une partie du corps d'un côté de l'articulation par rapport à une autre partie du corps se trouvant de l'autre côté de l'articulation. A l'utilisation, les deux parties peuvent être mues ensemble par rapport à un point de référence de façon à faire subir un étirement à la partie considérée du corps de l'utilisateur.
PCT/AU1997/000757 1997-01-30 1997-11-07 Procede et dispositif d'etirement Ceased WO1998033561A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU48564/97A AU4856497A (en) 1997-01-30 1997-11-07 Method and apparatus for stretching

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPO4874 1997-01-30
AUPO4874A AUPO487497A0 (en) 1997-01-30 1997-01-30 Method and apparatus for stretching
AUPO7625 1997-06-30
AUPO7625A AUPO762597A0 (en) 1997-06-30 1997-06-30 Method and apparatus for stretching

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1998033561A1 true WO1998033561A1 (fr) 1998-08-06

Family

ID=25645353

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/AU1997/000757 Ceased WO1998033561A1 (fr) 1997-01-30 1997-11-07 Procede et dispositif d'etirement

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO1998033561A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2019060650A1 (fr) * 2017-09-21 2019-03-28 Shelbourne K Donald Appareil de thérapie et procédé d'utilisation pour extension du genou

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3834694A (en) * 1973-09-11 1974-09-10 R Pridgen Leg muscle exercise apparatus
US5122106A (en) * 1988-10-20 1992-06-16 Duncan F. Atwood Stretching apparatus
US5460596A (en) * 1994-03-03 1995-10-24 Brady; Thomas L. Method and apparatus for stretching tight muscles

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3834694A (en) * 1973-09-11 1974-09-10 R Pridgen Leg muscle exercise apparatus
US5122106A (en) * 1988-10-20 1992-06-16 Duncan F. Atwood Stretching apparatus
US5460596A (en) * 1994-03-03 1995-10-24 Brady; Thomas L. Method and apparatus for stretching tight muscles

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2019060650A1 (fr) * 2017-09-21 2019-03-28 Shelbourne K Donald Appareil de thérapie et procédé d'utilisation pour extension du genou

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