“Figure-eight” track, apparatus and method for sensory-motor exercise
OwnerDeborah T. Sunbeckinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A track for cognitive and physical training has a figure-eight surface with both or alternate inner and outer borders. Adjustable weight-bearing rails inside and outside the track assist rehabilitation. Gates in outer rails admit users to the track. Oppositely swinging gates at a center of track between the two loops provide supported direction from one track loop to another. Coordinated walking with bodily rotation and turning is promoted by a single off track focus point in a plane through the center separating the two loops. Increased motor, sensory, cognitive and other challenges are added to the walking, turning and lateral rotation.
Claims62
Therapeutic integration walking track apparatus comprising a flat therapeutic integration walking track for human sensory-motor exercise, the walking track, having a flat continuous ambulation walking surface, the walking track having a figure-eight configuration, the walking track having opposite outer and inner boundaries and the walking track having walking track borders along the opposite outer and inner boundaries of the walking surface, the walking track borders delineating the walking track for human sensory-motor exercise, the walking track and the walking track borders providing a guide for walking and therapeutic integration of motor, sensory and cognitive functions to walkers on the walking track.
A therapeutic integration walking method comprising providing a therapeutic integration walking track for continuous sensory-motor exercise, providing a walking surface on the walking track, providing a figure-eight walking track configuration on the walking track, providing opposite elongated outer and inner boundaries on the walking track, providing walking track borders along the boundaries and above the walking surface, delineating the track with the borders walking on the track, using the borders as guides and practicing walking and therapeutic integration of motor, sensory and cognitive functions while walking on the walking track.
A physical and cognitive training method comprising walking on connected loops of a figure-eight therapeutic integration walking track while being guided by borders of the walking track, while focusing on an off track object and while turning and rotating for remaining within the borders of the walking track while continuing focusing adapted for the practice of walking and the therapeutic integration of motor, sensory and cognitive functions.
A therapeutic and exercise ambulation figure eight sensory walking track and handrail apparatus for human sensory-motor exercise, therapeutic integration and assistive ambulation, said track comprising:
- a flat walking track surface, said track surface comprising two annular curves joined linearly and configured into a continuous figure-eight pathway, said track further having opposite outer and inner laterally defining boundaries,
- track borders for providing a guide for walking, said borders positioned along said outer and inner boundaries for delineating a figure-eight track with interior open areas,
- one or more posts mounted near said track borders and weight-bearing rails connected to said posts,
- a point of sensory focus for visual and auditory focus, said point positioned outside of said track,
- whereby said track and handrail apparatus automatically engage bilateral neural priming and reflex development/recovery while walking on the figure eight track and said track and handrail continuously facilitate retraining of the natural bilateral shifts that occur during walking demands.
A figure eight sensory walking method for ambulation and sensory motor integration practice, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a figure eight sensory walking track for continuous sensory-motor exercises and therapeutic integration,
- providing a walking surface on the walking track where said track has a figure-eight configuration,
- providing opposite outer and inner laterally defining boundaries on said track,
- providing track borders along said boundaries, where said borders include one or more curved rails and providing supports connected to said rails for supporting said rails above edges of said track,
- delineating the track with said borders,
- using the borders as guides for practicing walking,
- continuously circling said figure-eight track in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction for a specified length of time to provide a walker with symmetrical usages of both lateral halves of a user's body,
- providing a point of sensory focus for the user while walking said track, thereby equally training lateral halves of a users body and bilateral motor reflexes such as neck turning and eye tracking, and including full range of torso rotation, visual and auditory sensory attention toward the designated point of sensory focus and cognitive skills.
A physical and cognitive sensory walking training method for use on a figure-eight track comprising the steps of:
- walking on connected loops of a figure-eight therapeutic integration walking track,
- guiding a user using track borders while walking on said track,
- focusing on an off track object while walking,
- turning and rotating a user's body while being guided within track borders and while continuously focusing on said off track object,
- practicing walking and practicing the integration of motor, sensory, and cognitive functions,
- using hand rails along one or more borders of said track,
- moving gates in said handrails for entering and leaving said track.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.