Abstract: A sit-up exercise apparatus includes a substantially inverted-U shaped handle bar and a support bar provided with a head rest firmly secured to the side arms of the handle bar. A shaft is provided at each end of the handle bar and is fitted with a roller having a sector-like slot, a spring capable of rotation with the shaft and the roller, and a bolt for limiting rotation of the shaft and roller. Each roller is also tightly fitted with a cover. The rollers are capable of rearward or forward rotation with the forward push or rearward pull of the handle bar to a suitable extent. By means of the springs and the bolts, rotation of the rollers as well as the forward displacement of the handle bar may be controlled, achieving an excellent exercise apparatus which is safe and comfortable to operate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing therapeutic intermittent pneumatic pressure to a body portion. An air reservoir receives a substantially steady flow of pressurized air from a pump. Pressure is applied as a rapid pulse from the reservoir to a cuff means in contact with the body portion so as to promote acceleration of venous blood flow in the body portion. In a preferred embodiment, the pneumatic pressure is applied in a graduated manner and/or sequentially distally to proximally along the body portion. A simplified carrying arrangement is provided for the system.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the angle of flexure between an elongated body limb and the portion of the body to which the limb is affected. The apparatus can be used to monitor flexure between a thigh and lower portion of a human leg. The apparatus is useful during the performance of rehabilitative knee-bends includes means for coupling the apparatus to the thigh, and two gravity actuated switches for monitoring the angle between a long axis of the thigh and vertical axis. The apparatus indicates when the extreme points of the knee-bend have been crossed.

Abstract: There is provided an orthopedic device for therapy and rehabilitation of knee joints and the like which includes a flexible wraparound style boot which substantially supports a user's foot and ankle. The boot includes an interior for receiving the user's foot, heel and toe portions, and a substantially open front portion for easy insertion and withdrawal of a user's foot. An adjustable closure spans across the open front portion to help conform the boot to the user's foot without unnecessary binding, and a pair of manipulation straps extend from opposite sides of the toe portion of the boot adjacent the substantially open portion. A pair of grasping handles are attached to respective manipulation straps to provide exercise and flexion control by the patient. The device insures proper line of pull and anatomically correct splay. In a preferred embodiment, the flexion straps are adjustable in length adjacent the handles to facilitate adjustment by the patient for optimal use.

Abstract: A jaw exercising apparatus includes an elongated plate having a pair of bite pads projecting from the rearward surface of opposing ends of the plate. An aperture is formed through the plate intermediate the bite pads so as to permit air flow therethrough. Each bite pad has a pair of upper and lower ridges projecting therefrom generally parallel with the plate with upper and lower biting surfaces extending between the plate and the ridges. Preferably, the entire exercising apparatus is formed as a single integral piece of resilient compressible and stretchable material such as silicone rubber. The biting surfaces of each bite pad are preferably either parallel to one another, or diverging from outward ends towards the center of the exercising apparatus.

Abstract: A frame for hanging exercise equipment includes a base having front and rear sides and opposite ends for resting on a floor. The base is further equipable with inclineable end extensions. Crossing first and second overhead supports have generally horizontal bars connecting vertical legs which are attached to the base sides in the case of the first support and the ends in the case of the second support. Fixed and slideable types of anchors are disposed on the supports for pivotally hanging exercise equipment. Horizontal guide bars are demountably attached between a pair of cross members which are height adjustably mounted on the legs of the first overhead support. The distance from the legs of the first overhead support to each horizontal guide bar is also adjustable. The guide bar ends are mounted to a tubular slide which slides over the end of the cross member. The slide can be selectively secured by a removable pin to any one of a plurality of spaced apart mounting holes in the cross member.

Abstract: Assistance in the restoring of genetic loss of function is achieved by a method providing incremental controlled movements of the head and neck muscles and wherein the body assumes the supine, prone and left and right lateral positions, all in a horizontally aligned disposition while atop a plane surface. Head/neck lift movements are executed in an exercise series involving successive movements in a vertical and left to right direction, initially terminating with a rest pause following each head/neck lift. Following a sequence of a plurality of levels, the full muscular range of motion is obtained, in an incremental manner, through the use of a firm support element inserted beneath the upper back in certain of the levels involving the supine position, beneath the chest in certain of the levels involving the prone position and beneath the head in certain of the levels involving the left and right lateral positions.

Abstract: The abdominal exerciser device is made of a one piece skeletal frame. The frame defines a pair of support rails, a pair of arcuate rocker portions, a pair of arm rest portions and an arch-shaped portion connecting the support rails together. Removable cushions are disposed on the arm rest portions to receive the elbows of the user when in a supine position. The head and neck of a user are supported on a head rest which is secured to the arch-shaped portion. The rocker portions are curved on a circular arc to mimic the curvature of the spine of the user.

Abstract: A method for vascular exercise involves the subject performing physical exercise to raise his heart rate at least 25% above his normal rate. Then a series of air-inflatable bladders (cuffs) on the subject's limbs are inflated in sequence, starting with the bladder furthest from the trunk, to force blood toward the trunk. Preferably a nose clip feeds oxygen to the subject during the physical exercise, and the subject lies prone with his legs raised, during the inflation of the bladders on the legs.

Abstract: A small, transportable, and rollable device for lifting and supporting patients undergoing partial weight bearing gait training (over treadmill or over ground) is provided. The carriage underlying this device is "U"-shaped with a pair of low horizontal rails making up the arms of the "U" and the lifting equipment being mounted at the closed end of the "U". Low profile for movement through doors and in low-ceiling rooms is achieved by a vertically telescoping height adjustment to the top of which is connected a horizontal "Y"-shaped connection to provide two connection points at the ends of the "Y" (and above and between the rails) for a patient harness. The harness construction provides sufficient adjustability for a therapist to achieve equal division of support among groin, abdominal, and chest areas, while permitting full leg extension of the patient. The low rails enable unobstructed access to the patient's legs during gait training.

Abstract: The pivotable cervical traction/stretch and neck curve support device comprises a base portion having an upper inclined surface for supporting a person's upper body or torso, a table or platform situated adjacent the base portion and having an upper surface and a bottom surface, a pivotable mounting mechanism attached to the base for pivotally and rotatably mounting the platform to the base in a manner allowing rotation of the platform about any one of or all of an X-axis, a Y-axis and a Z-axis. The mounting mechanism includes structure for securing the platform in a desired position, a head portion having an inner surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface being in sliding contact with the platform, the head portion also having specially contoured surfaces for receiving a person's head, and a mechanism for incrementally moving the head portion on the platform away from the inclined surface.

Abstract: A therapeutic device, with which during inhalation or exhalation an oscillating air resistance is generated, for improving breathing and expectoration of a patient has a bent tube section with a first and a second end. The tube section has an inner wall surface. A first mouthpiece is connected to the first end. An elastically deformable hose section having a first and a second end, the first end connected to the first mouthpiece, is positioned inside the tube section so as to rest at its inner wall surface. The second end of the elastically deformable hose section is open. To the second end of the tube section a second mouthpiece may be connected.

Abstract: The rehabilitation therapy apparatus of the present invention includes a support bar cantilevered generally horizontally outwardly from a vehicle which is operable in a forward direction, the support bar being adjustably mounted for selective vertical adjustment on the vehicle. A frame with a horizontal arm is connected to the roof of the vehicle, while a vertical leg depends from the arm, upon which the support bar is adjustably connected. A tube mounted on the roof of the vehicle receives the frame arm on either end, to permit use of the arm on either side of the vehicle. The rehabilitation therapy includes the initial step of loosely strapping a patient's nonambulatory leg to the leg of a trainer such that movement of the trainer's leg will appropriately move the patient's leg. The therapy apparatus of the invention is then positioned with the support bar forwardly of the patient and trainer so that the patient and trainer may grip the bar for support.

Abstract: An exercise device comprising a housing with walls, a lever rod with a spring attached to one end, a movable fulcrum and a second end for attaching a device to couple the second end with the hand or arm of the user. Movement of the hand or arm will be transmitted through the movable fulcrum to the spring to provide resistance against which to exercise.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating air pressure pulses delivered to a vest accommodating a person. A diaphragm located within the housing is connected to a wave generator and amplifier operable to vibrate the diaphragm. The vibrating diaphragm produces air pressure pulses which are delivered to the air accommodating receiver to subject the person to repetitive force pulses.

Abstract: A system (100) particularly directed to exercising gluteal and thigh muscles is provided. System (100) includes a longitudinally extended handle member (110) and an assembly (150) for engaging a heel portion of a user's foot. A resistive force assembly (120) is coupled on a first end to a central portion of the handle member (110) and on an opposing second end to the heel engagement assembly (150). The resistive force assembly (120) includes an inelastic resistive force subassembly having an inelastic strap member (132) coupled on a first end (138) to handle member (110) and a second end (136) formed in a closed contour. Inelastic resistive force subassembly (130) includes an adjustment buckle (135) for adjusting an overall length dimension of the inelastic strap member (132).

Abstract: Rehabilitation method of a patient by constraining part of an impaired limb of a patient to part of a corresponding unimpaired limb of the same patient. This is done to cause the impaired and unimpaired limbs of the patient to remain symmetrically disposed. The constrained parts of the unimpaired and impaired limbs are then moved together, relative to the trunk of the patient by the muscles of the patient. The movement may be performed repetitively in series of identical repetitions, and the movement may be repeated more than one hundred times daily. The legs of the patient may be rehabilitated in this way, and the limbs may be constrained with a rehabilitative device.A rehabilitation device that includes a left cuff to receive a left limb of a patient, and a right cuff to receive a right limb of the same patient. The right cuff is rigidly attached to the left cuff. The cuffs include constraining surfaces to prevent longitudinal and lateral motion of the limbs with respect to the cuffs.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating bowlegs, which is simple in structure and easy in operation, gives no pains to the patients, while keeping the patient in a very stable and safe condition. The apparatus comprises a stationary platform 1, a tilted rotary plate 3 being located inside the platform 1 and having, on its top, a tilted surface 4 in the form of an inverted cone, a motor 2 for turning the tilted rotary plate 3 together with a patient standing upright on the tilted surface 4, and a control panel 7 for controlling the speed of rotation of the motor 2. The tilted rotary plate 3 is connected to the motor 2 in such a way that the plate 3 can be replaced with one of other tilted rotary plates having different angles of inclination.

Abstract: An aerobic exercise device includes a central portion having a flat upper surface which comprises a central aerobic exercise platform. A wing section is connected to and is offset from the central portion on each side thereof. Each wing section has a flat upper surface to provide an auxiliary aerobic exercise platform. The upper surface of the wing sections is co-planar with the upper surface of the central portion so that a continuous aerobic exercise platform is formed.

Abstract: An apparatus for creating traction in a user back and is securable to an apparatus support structure having an apparatus engaging rim and an apparatus upright support face includes an elongate suspension member having a first member end and a second member end, a hook structure extending from the first member end in a first lateral direction for engaging the engaging rim, a support arm secured to and extending from the suspension member in a second lateral direction substantially opposite from the first lateral direction to project away from the upright support face, so that downward loading on the arm member causes the suspension member to pivot on the hook structure to abut and find support against the upright support face.