DEVICE FOR STRENGTHENING, IMPROVING RANGE OF MOTION, IMPROVING FLEXIBILITY IN ANKLE JOINTS AND REHABILITATING INJURED ANKLE JOINTS
First Claim
1. A device for exercising an ankle joint, the device comprising:
- a frame comprising a base, the base having a first major surface;
at least two opposing side walls extending upwardly from the base, the two walls comprising a first wall and a second wall opposite and parallel to the first wall;
a front wall extending upwardly from the base;
a rear wall extending upwardly from the base, the rear wall opposite and parallel to the front wall;
at least one resistance mechanism adjustably and releasably attached to each of the first and second walls, and to the front wall and the rear wall; and
a support platform for supporting a patient'"'"'s foot thereon, the support platform connected to each of the resistance mechanisms and suspended between the first wall and the second wall and between the front wall and the rear wall, wherein force applied to the support platform increases or decreases the tension in the at least one resistance mechanism.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention comprises a device for strengthening, improving range of motion and/or improving flexibility in ankle joints and/or rehabilitating injured ankle joints. The device comprises structure or frame, at least one resistance mechanism connected to the structure or frame and a support platform connected to the at least one resistance mechanism for supporting the patient'"'"'s foot. Rotating, flexing, inverting and/or everting the foot connected to the ankle of interest, which results in pressure applied to the support platform by the subject foot, increases and/or decreases the tension in the at least one resistance mechanism. A variety of stretches and/or strengthening and/or rehabilitating exercises may be performed with the device. The support platform is suspended within frame on the at least one resistance mechanism and, as a result, the support platform may be rotated, flexed, inverted and/or everted in an infinite number of directions.
35 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for exercising an ankle joint, the device comprising:
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a frame comprising a base, the base having a first major surface; at least two opposing side walls extending upwardly from the base, the two walls comprising a first wall and a second wall opposite and parallel to the first wall; a front wall extending upwardly from the base; a rear wall extending upwardly from the base, the rear wall opposite and parallel to the front wall; at least one resistance mechanism adjustably and releasably attached to each of the first and second walls, and to the front wall and the rear wall; and a support platform for supporting a patient'"'"'s foot thereon, the support platform connected to each of the resistance mechanisms and suspended between the first wall and the second wall and between the front wall and the rear wall, wherein force applied to the support platform increases or decreases the tension in the at least one resistance mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for exercising and/or rehabilitating a patient'"'"'s ankle joint, comprising:
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providing a frame comprising a base, the base having a first major surface; providing at least two opposing side walls extending upwardly from the base, the two walls comprising a first wall and a second wall opposite and parallel to the first wall; providing a front wall extending upwardly from the base; providing a rear wall extending upwardly from the base, the rear wall opposite and parallel to the front wall; providing at least one resistance mechanism adjustably and releasably attached to each of the first and second walls at a positional height above the base, and to the front wall and the rear wall; providing a support platform for supporting a patient'"'"'s foot thereon, the support platform connected to each of the resistance mechanisms and suspended between the first wall and the second wall and between the front wall and the rear wall, wherein force applied to the support platform increases or decreases the tension in the at least one resistance mechanism; positioning the patient'"'"'s foot on the support platform; and instructing the patient to move the foot to engage and manipulate the ankle joint by applying directional pressure to the support platform and engaging at least one of the resistance mechanisms. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification