Exercise apparatus for the knee
AssigneeIsotechnologies, Inc.
InventorDonald R. McIntyre
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A knee exercise apparatus which provides for movement about three axes which correspond to and are coaxial with the knee joint axes of flexion/extension, tibial rotation and abduction/adduction. A specific arrangement for independently measuring torque and concomitant angular position changes about the knee joint axis of flexion/extension and tibial rotation as well as angular position changes about the axis of abduction/adduction is shown and described as are associated restraints to minimize superfluous movement about joints adjacent to the knee joint of interest.
Claims10
An apparatus for exercising the knee of a user and comprising:
- a stationary frame:
- a knee exercise assembly pivotably mounted to said frame and including a pivotably movable support member and means depending downwardly therefrom for securing a foot of a user said support member being pivotably movable relative to said frame about a horizontal axis which corresponds to an axis of rotation which is coaxial with the axis of flexion/extension movement of the knee, and said means for securing the foot being pivotably movable relative to said support member about an axis of rotation which is generally perpendicular to said horizontal axis and coaxial with the axis of tibial rotation movement of the knee so as to permit simultaneous multi-axial pivotal movement of the knee about its natural axes;
- first resistance means operatively connected to and cooperating with said support member of said knee exercise assembly for resisting flexion/extension movement of the knee of a user;
- second resistance means, which can act simultaneously with said first resistance means, operatively connected to and cooperating with said foot securement means of said knee exercise assembly for resisting tibial rotation movement of the knee of a user;
- and
- restraint means for securing the knee of a user relative to said knee exercise assembly during exercise of the knee.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.