Versatile health care apparatus

Abstract

A versatile health care apparatus that can be used for physical therapy, or to exert a desired pulling force on a patient's body and maintain the pulling force, is disclosed. Beneficially, in a first aspect, the apparatus includes a power spring, a pull-line connected to the power spring, and mounting apparatus for securing the apparatus to varied support structures. Beneficially, this apparatus further includes when used for physical therapy, a pair of ergonomically spaced apart guide wheels. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes a pull-line, and a rotatable pull-line wheel mounted on an axle and operatively connected to a power spring in connection with the axle, and the pull-line has an end in connection with the pull-line wheel. In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the exercise load for physical therapy may advantageously be increased or a desired pulling force may be exerted on a patient's body, by rotating the axle in an appropriate direction so that energy is applied to the power spring, and an axle rotation-preventing element of the apparatus is thereafter engaged to maintain the increased load or to maintain the pulling force.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.