Recumbent stepping exercise device with stimulation and related methods
First Claim
1. A device for use by a human subject in performing a recumbent exercise using their hands, arms, legs, hips, knees and feet with the assistance of stimulation, comprising:
- a base;
a seat supported by the base for receiving the subject;
a pair of lower receivers adapted for independently engaging the subject'"'"'s feet, the lower receivers constrained for moving alternatively and relative to the base along a first path of travel between a first, extended position with the corresponding leg at least partially bent and the corresponding knee positioned farther from the subject'"'"'s upper torso and a second, retracted position with the corresponding leg more bent than in the first position and positioned closer to the upper torso;
a pair of upper receivers adapted for independently engaging the subject'"'"'s hands, the upper receivers pivotally connected to the base and constrained for alternately moving toward and away from the subject'"'"'s body; and
a stimulator adapted for electrically stimulating at least one muscle of at least one of the subject'"'"'s legs as the first receivers move along the first path of travel in an alternating pattern.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one aspect, a device facilitates performance of a recumbent stepping exercise using stimulation. The device may include a seat for receiving a human exercise subject and foot receivers for alternately translating to and fro relative to a stationary base along a path of travel between a first position in which the legs are at least partially bent and a second position in which the legs are less bent than in the first position. An electrical stimulator is provided for facilitating the performance of the exercise by the subject moving the foot receivers alternately along the path of travel. In another aspect, adaptive feed-forward control may also be used to enhance the stepping exercise performed using the device. Related methods of performing stepping exercises are also provided.
6 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A device for use by a human subject in performing a recumbent exercise using their hands, arms, legs, hips, knees and feet with the assistance of stimulation, comprising:
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a base; a seat supported by the base for receiving the subject; a pair of lower receivers adapted for independently engaging the subject'"'"'s feet, the lower receivers constrained for moving alternatively and relative to the base along a first path of travel between a first, extended position with the corresponding leg at least partially bent and the corresponding knee positioned farther from the subject'"'"'s upper torso and a second, retracted position with the corresponding leg more bent than in the first position and positioned closer to the upper torso; a pair of upper receivers adapted for independently engaging the subject'"'"'s hands, the upper receivers pivotally connected to the base and constrained for alternately moving toward and away from the subject'"'"'s body; and a stimulator adapted for electrically stimulating at least one muscle of at least one of the subject'"'"'s legs as the first receivers move along the first path of travel in an alternating pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for assisting a human subject in performing a recumbent exercise using their hands, arms, legs, hips, knees and feet with the assistance of stimulation, comprising:
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positioning the subject on a seat; placing the subject'"'"'s feet on corresponding lower receivers constrained to move reciprocally along a first path of travel between a first, extended position with the corresponding leg at least partially bent and the corresponding knee positioned away from the subject'"'"'s upper torso and a second, retracted position with the corresponding leg more bent than in the first position and positioned closer to the subject'"'"'s upper torso, such that the hip joint corresponding to each leg is being exercised during the movement; placing the subject'"'"'s hands in contact with upper receivers pivotally mounted on a base and constrained for alternately moving toward and away from the subject'"'"'s body; and electrically stimulating at least one of the leg muscles of the subject while the receivers move alternately along the path of travel. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of performing a recumbent exercise on a human subject, comprising:
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electrically stimulating at least one leg muscle at a predetermined level as the legs move alternately along a path of travel between a retracted position and an extended position during the exercise; measuring a position of the leg; comparing the measured position with a predetermined position to determine a variation; adjusting the predetermined level of electrical stimulation to a revised level based on the variation; and electrically stimulating at least a portion of the leg muscles at the revised level; wherein the subject'"'"'s hands each associate with a moveable upper receiver, said upper receivers being pivotally mounted to a base and constrained to move in a reciprocating fashion, toward and away from the subject'"'"'s body. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification