Assistive movement training apparatus for the disabled

An apparatus for assisting the movement of a subject during a training session comprising:

• a frame having an elongated base and an upright support member positioned at the front of the apparatus;
• a support unit comprising a bottom support, a back support, an upper body securing device and a switching mechanism configured to selectively switch the position of the bottom and back supports between at least two states, a seated state wherein the bottom support is substantially perpendicular to the back support, and a standing state wherein the bottom support is substantially parallel, optionally aligned, with the back support;
• a movement assistance unit comprising, for each of the subject's legs, a foot fastener, a leg securing device, and a movement mechanism consisting of an assembly of elongated bars hingedly connected to each other, including at least one vertical bar that is pivotally coupled to the upright support member and extends downward therefrom in a substantially vertical manner, and at least one horizontal bar that is pivotally coupled to an opposite end of the apparatus and extends along the elongated base in a substantially horizontal manner, wherein an elliptical leg movement path can be realised with the assembly;
• wherein the foot fastener and leg securing device are arranged on the horizontal bar;
• and,
• wherein the leg securing device comprises a shackle and a height-adjusting mechanism configured to adjust the height of the shackle to a position adjacent to, or below, the subject's knee joint;
• wherein the shackle secures the subject's leg at the pivot point of the knee when the switching mechanism switches between the seated and standing states;
• and wherein the movement assistance unit comprises a pulling mechanism that is connected to each shackle and is configured to pull one shackle back when the other shackle moves forward, thereby providing an alternating leg movement.