Abstract: Hip and knee joint exercising apparatus (100,, 300) are adapted for use by a patient (218) to exercise selective muscle/skeletal groups in the hip, upper leg, knee and lower leg regions. The exercise apparatus (100, 300) include rectangular bases (102, 302) having cushions (104, 304) mounted thereon, In the hip joint exercising apparatus (100), an exercise bar assembly (112) is pivotably coupled to the base (102) and cushion (104) and includes an elongated outer tube (126) with a power slide (134) having a friction mounting on the tube (126). In the knee joint exercising apparatus (300), an exercise bar assembly (326) is pivotably coupled to a pair of tubular bars (308) extending downwardly from the base (302). In each exercising apparatus, a saddle assembly (138, 338) is mounted to the respective power slide (134, 334) so as to be slidable therewith with respect to the outer tube (126, 328).

Abstract: A wrist/ankle exercising apparatus (100) is adapted for use by a patient (254) to exercise selected muscle/skeletal groups in the wrist, lower leg and ankle regions. The apparatus (100) includes a portable structural frame (102) having an adjustably mounted saddle assembly (108). An elongated outer tube (138) is coupled to the frame (102) and a power slide (142) is friction mounted on the tube (138). Actuating members (120, 226, 234, 242) selectively connectable to the apparatus (100) are coupled through a cable (232) to the power slide (142). Rotation of the actuating members (120, 226, 234, 242) results in axial movement of the power slide (142 ) on the outer tube (138) and linear movement of the outer tube (138) with respect to a stationary rod (190) axially coupled to the outer tube (138) and rigidly mounted to the structural frame (102).

Abstract: A shoulder exercising apparatus (100) is adapted for use by a patient to exercise selected muscle/skeletal groups in the shoulder regions. The apparatus (100) includes a rectangular bracket (102) having an adjustably mounted saddle assembly (108). An exercise bar assembly (116) is pivotably coupled to the bracket (102) and includes an elongated outer tube (122) with a power slide (128) having a friction mounting on the tube (122). In use, a patient (136) secures his or her arm within the saddle assembly (108) and moves the power slide (128) along the outer tube (122), thereby exercising various muscles in the shoulder region in accordance with the patient's position relative to the exercising apparatus (100). A force measuring mechanism (124) is coupled to the tube (122) so as to measure external forces exerted in moving the tube (122) relative to a handle rod (138) connected to the bracket (102) and partially received within the tube (122).

Abstract: An exercising device which yields a variable, programmed speed for regulating the user's movement is disclosed. The device includes a user interfacing device for input of the user's efforts, a variable speed regulator connected to and driven by the interfacing device, a user position sensor also connected to the interfacing device, and a speed programmer connected to both the position sensor and the variable speed regulator. By means of a varying references voltage which it delivers to the speed regulator, the programmer establishes a preselected pattern of varying speed to regulate the user's movement. The user position sensor may take a variety of forms. It may sense the absolute position of the user in the range of motion of the exercise, it may measure the distance of the user from the starting point, or it may calculate the user's position according to time elapsed from the beginning of movement in the exercise.