Abstract: A therapeutic treatment table having a lifting mechanism to allow lowering of the therapeutic treatment table close to the ground support surface and having a releasable connecting means to automatically connect or release the oscillating means from the therapeutic treatment table and an adjusting means to vary the degree of oscillation of the therapeutic treatment table.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of water therapy in which a person is buoyantly supported in a prone position on a top membrane of a waterbed mattress containing heated water. A water pump recirculates the water, which is drawn out of the mattress through outlets and associated piping and which is then reintroduced through inlets and associated piping as an array of water jets. Air is introduced by a valve in the water piping on the return side of the pump or by means of a separate air pump connected to air inlets leading into the mattress. Also disclosed are a distributor fitting for insertion into the mattress to mix air and water and a base and frame assembly for concealing the plumbing and air recirculation piping.

Abstract: An arm wrestling and curling exercise apparatus comprises a rectangular frame having oppositely disposed side walls joined by end walls. The apparatus further comprises a handle assembly having a pivotally mounted T-shaped handle support member comprising a horizontally aligned pivot shaft carrying a lever arm extending perpendicularly therefrom for the purpose of mounting the handle support member. The pivot shaft carries a pair of sleeve members mounted on either side of the lever arm. Each of the sleeve members carries a downwardly extending cable post. The lever arm is slidably receptive of a cylindrical housing member which passes over the upper cap bushing, the spring biasing means and the slidable bushing to be threadably received by the lower cap nut. The lever arm is also provided with a grip member which is releasably secured to the cylindrical housing.

Abstract: Foot holding apparatus for use in performing sit-up exercises has a pair of foot holding devices which are preferably separate and with each provided with a clamping device by which it can be secured to the bottom of a door. Each device has a convex seat against which the arch section of a foot is held by a strap overlying the instep section thereof. The seats are so dimensioned and disposed that when the feet of the user are so held and the user is lying on the floor, the ball portions and toe of both feet engage the door and the heels thereof rest on the floor with the plane inclusive of the ball portions and the hubs defining an acute angle with the floor such that the knees of the user are bent to an extent enabling abdominal muscles to be exercised with minimum risk to the lower back. In the preferred embodiment the foot holding devices are vertically adjustable relative to their clamping devices.

Abstract: A hand held exercise device for strengthening the hand and arm muscles with means to vary the resistance having a pair of handles one of each of said handles secured to one end of a coiled spring, a flexible tube with the coil of the spring and an axial rod positioned in the coil and extending beyond both ends thereof threaded on both ends containing washers and wingnuts on the threaded ends of the rod.

Abstract: A therapeutic appliance for improving the functions of an individual's carpal joints, hand and fingers includes a palm splint cloth shaped so as to accommodate a hand with its fingers spread apart. Finger retainer members are disposed on the front surface of the splint cloth for holding the fingers individually in their spread apart positions. A plurality of first bladders are disposed on the front surface of said palm splint cloth and positioned between each adjacent fingers except between the thumb and forefinger in a palmiped configuration for spreading the fingers apart form each other. A plurality of second bladders are disposed on the opposite surface of said palm splint cloth for extending the fingers, hand and the carpal joint and fluid supply and discharge tubes are connected to the first and second bladders for supplying and discharging fluid to and from the bladders.

Abstract: A physical training apparatus includes a support frame, a horizontal member pivotally and rotatably mounted to the support frame and a vertical member rotatably mounted on the horizontal member, while on the lower portion of the vertical member there is a revolving disc which is slidable on the vertical member and rotatable about a central axis thereof.

Abstract: An automatic massaging machine is capable of giving various kinds of massage, adapted to massage the human back in different massage modes such as rubdown, patting, rolling, rubdown-rolling, and patting-rolling. The massaging machine includes two electric motors. One motor rotates a shaft in either direction so as to provide an up-and-down motion to an elevating plate including massaging balls. The other motor actuates one of two output shafts, each causing different motion to the massaging balls. An automatic switching device in the massaging machine includes three switches to control the rotation of the two motors and thereby achieves the various massage modes.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a non-invasive technique and apparatus for artificially stimulating the venous-return flow of blood from the foot by inducing sharply pulsed squeezing or necking-down of the vessels of the venous-pump mechanism within the foot. The stimulation results from transient flattening of the plantar arch, in that an induced transient spread of the heel with respect to the ball of the foot stretches, and therefore necks-down involved blood vessels; stimulation also results from such a squeeze of the plantar-arch region as to concurrently squeeze the involved blood vessels. Cyclically inflatable devices, local to the foot-pump region, are disclosed for inducing either or both of the indicated actions.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a non-invasive technique and apparatus for artificially stimulating the venous-return flow of blood from the foot by inducing sharply pulsed squeezing or necking-down of the vessels of the venous-pump mechanism within the foot. The stimulation results from transient flattening of the plantar arch, in that an induced transient spread of the heel with respect to the ball of the foot stretches, and therefore necksdown involved blood vessels; stimulation also results from such a squeeze of the plantar-arch region as to concurrently squeeze the involved blood vessels. Cyclically inflatable devices, local to the foot-pump region, are disclosed for inducing either or both of the indicated actions.

Abstract: This device is for exercising a person's back and spine. Primarily, it consists of a tubular frame, having an upper rear handle grip and a lower front handle grip. It further includes a pad on its top for the user and it also includes hooks for the placement of a bar bell, for use by person using the device.

Abstract: A rod is disclosed for use by joggers and runners wherein the rod has a hollow body with opposing apertures permitting access to the interior of the body for the storage of personal items. The apertures are threaded to receive threaded arm members which extend outwardly and are grasped by a user during the act of jogging and/or running.

Abstract: A device is provided for tractioning a finger having a fractured bone and at the same time continuously flexing and extending the joint to which the fractured bone is proximally attached in order to prevent joint deterioration. A cast-like support structure is attachable to the forearm and hand for substantially immobilizing the wrist joint and joints of the hand proximal to the joint which is immediately proximally connected to the broken bone. Connected to the support structure is an actuator movable in a substantially arcuate path which is substantially in the plane of the natural movement of the finger, outward of the tips of the fingers and with the proximal connecting joint substantially at the radial center. The preferred actuator includes a motor driven carriage which is carried by the frame and is movable first in one direction and then in the other direction along the arcuate path.

Abstract: Exercise equipment is disclosed which comprises a spherical sector-shaped member with an upright column erected therein, a base plate mounted on the upper end of said column, an arm with the base end rotatably carried on said column and the free end projecting outwardly from the gap between the spherical sector-shaped member and the base plate. When the user stands on the base plate bodily movement rotates the rotatable arm. The number of rotations of the rotatable arm is indicated by a display device connected to an electric detection circuit while at the same time an audible signal is sounded every time the rotatable arm makes one rotation so that the user can detect his or her progress related to the dynamic equilibrium while practicing a willful exercise with pleasure.

Abstract: An inner sole-like base plate is provided of stiffly flexible material provided with a grid of a multiplicity of mounting sites, e.g. small holes. A plurality of different podiatric appliances are provided, each in a range of graduated sizes or intensities and/or in an adjustable manner. Each of the appliances is provided with securement devices, such as two or more wire tabs, which extend from the appliance and are adapted for connection to the base plate at such of the mounting sites as are prescribed or otherwise determined to best suit the resulting construction to the individual wearer. In some instances the resulting construction is meant to be worn as an insert for conventional footwear or orthopedic footwear, and in other instances sandal-fashion either by itself or inside or outside a wearer's socks, possibly then enclosed in a shoe or other covering. Some of the appliances are adapted to be worn on the foot without a base plate.

Abstract: An exercise device having a container formed from two mated halves releasably connected to one another and a flexible strap ending in loops capable of encircling one of the container halves which thereby provides a convenient, lightweight foot restraint, easily stored and quickly assembled for use in performing sit-ups in the home or in the office is disclosed.

Abstract: The massager (10) comprises a substantially parallelepiped shaped graspable body having a leading edge which includes a curved central notch (13) with a rounded projection (14, 15) on either side thereof. The curvature of the notch and of each of the projections is such that, when said leading edge of the massager is applied to the back of a person to be massaged, the two projections rest on either side of the spinal column in such a manner as to massage the paravertebral muscles in a manner identical to that provided by the thumbs of a masseur whose shape is imitated by the projections. The rear edge (16) is advantageously provided with a concave curve extending from one side of the massager to the other and suitably dimensioned for providing effective massage of the lower limbs.

Abstract: A portable clamp and anchor to restrain feet during sit-up exercises having two clamp pieces which are adjustably positioned on the bottom of a door and a foot restraining piece which is adjustably positioned relative to the clamp pieces. Hook and loop fasteners are used to connect the pieces together during use.

Abstract: An exercise walkway has a pair of aligned stairways that are arranged end to end and have a horizontal section therebetween so that a person may walk up one and down the other. Each stairway has a central handrail and the stairs on either side of it are of differing height and length so that a user may select which side he wishes to use of the walkway.

Abstract: In exercising and in competition with another using like captive apparatus of a type having a shaft rotated by the user, performance is measured by utilizing the rotation of the shaft to effect the pumping of a predetermined volume of a fluid as one objective and, as other objectives, timing the interval required to attain that volume or to establish a time limit for operating the apparatus.