Ankle and lower leg exerciser for proprioceptive rehabilitation

• US 4,635,932 A
• Filed: 04/12/1985
• Issued: 01/13/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation of Kansas, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation of Kansas, Inc.
• Inventors: Dewees, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/722,606
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 272/111, 272/146, 272/96, 272/78, 272/54, 272/110
• US Class Current: 482/79
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0033 Lower limbs performing together the same movement, e.g. on a single support element
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/028 made of material having high internal friction, e.g. rubber, steel wool, intended to be compressed resistance provided by plastic deformable materials A63B21/00189
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/18 with elements, i.e. platforms, having a circulating, nutating or rotating movement, generated by oscillating movement of the user, e.g. platforms wobbling on a centrally arranged spherical supporthoop exercising apparatus A63B19/00; eccentric weights put into orbital motion by nutating movement of the user A63B21/0608; pots rotating or rocking by moving the whole body A63G23/00

Abstract

An ankle and lower leg exerciser for use in the strengthening and proprioceptive training of an ankle and lower leg. The exerciser having an oval-shaped table adjustable in height and specifically designed to enhance and limit specific ranges of motion of the ankle thereby promoting and preventing normal and abnormal stresses.

Claims

1. An ankle and lower leg exerciser, the exerciser comprising:

a base adapted for receipt on a floor, the base including a base flange having a threaded aperture therein;

an oval-shaped foot table having an aperture through the center thereof for receiving a mounting plate attached thereto, the mounting plate having a rubber bushing therein; and

a table flange having an upper post and a lower post, the lower post threadably received in the threaded aperture of the base flange for adjusting the height of the table above the base, the upper post received through the rubber bushing and attached to the mounting plate, the rubber bushing allowing, through its resilience, limited movement of the table against the upper post, the table having a forward or toe portion, a rear or heel portion, a right side portion and a left side or arch portion.

2. The exerciser as described in claim 1 wherein the toe portion and heel portion have a length less than the arch portion and right side portion so the arch portion and the right side portion do not have as great an angle of motion as the toe and heel portions.

3. The exerciser as described in claim 1 wherein the arch portion has a length greater than the right side portion so the arch portion does not have as great an angle of motion.