Abstract: A system for coupling a user to a support apparatus includes a harness for the user, a hoist, and frame. The harness and the hoist have co-operable attachment means for releasably coupling the harness to the hoist. The frame is configured to receive the user, where the harness and the frame have co-operable attachment means for releasably coupling the harness to the frame.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for automatically adjusting the speed of a treadmill system. The system periodically receives outputs from the range sensor indicative of the position of a user on the treadmill belt. The system calculates an average location when a defined number of outputs have been received, identifies a “zone” corresponding to the average location, and determines a speed adjustment based on the identified zone. After waiting for a defined delay period after receiving the first output of the range sensor, the speed adjustment command is used to adjust the speed of the treadmill motor. The delay period may be defined by the amount of time necessary to receive the defined number of outputs from the range sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing sectional (cervical, thoracic and/or lumbar spine as individual parts) and global spinal (full-total spinal: cervical/thoracic/lumbar simultaneous as a single part) decompression including a head harness that has: a rigid member which extends into the mouth cavity of a user; and an attachment point located substantially at the same distance from the center of the skull as the end of the rigid member; wherein the rigid member comprises a U-shaped mouth guard, the u-shaped mouth guard contacting at least the “rear most” upper set of teeth during use; the attachment point is configured to attach to an external force providing apparatus; the attachment point is configured to provide a force in the direction of the user's height via the mouth guard. The location of the attachment point provides an optimal force vector when the device is pulled away from the head in a direction parallel with the user's height for medical applications associated with decompression of the spine.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing therapeutic rehabilitation exercise to bedridden individuals and patients, including comatose individuals. A vertical support column extends upwards from a base, with one or more arms extend from the vertical support column, each providing a rotary mechanism at the distal end, with pedals or handles attached thereto. The individual's feet or hands are secured to the pedals or handles, respectively. Straps, brackets, or other fastening means may be used to secure the feet and hands. An electric motor causes the rotary mechanism to move the pedals or handles in a rotary fashion, thereby providing movement and exercise for the individual's legs and arms.

Abstract: Disclosed is a muscle toning garment with resistance elements, which may be fluid filled dampers. The garment provides resistance to movement throughout an angular range of motion. The garment may be low profile, and worn by a wearer as a primary garment or beneath conventional clothing. Toning may thereby be accomplished throughout the wearer's normal daily activities, without the need for access to conventional exercise equipment. Alternatively, the device may be worn as a supplemental training tool during conventional training techniques. Sensors may be provided for sensing any of a variety of biometric parameters and for determining exerted power or calories consumed.

Abstract: A method for treating patients with sensor agnosia is described that uses a gaming system with a specialised two handed game controller that can provide isolated haptic feedback to the patient's hand that has the greatest sensory agnosia. The controller is designed to be easy to use for patients with limited dexterity and requires the user to use both hands to control the controller. The gaming system provides a range of interactive computer games that provide contextually relevant haptic feedback of varying durations and intensities. Haptic feedback is provided in response to events in a game, and whilst the controller requires two hands, each hand is vibrationally isolated so that haptic feedback is only provided to the desired hand. The system logs usage statistics of the patient and these can be sent back to a clinician for analysis. The system and controller is particularly suitable for children with Cerebral Palsy, but may be used to treat patients with sensory agnosia due to range of conditions.

Abstract: An exercise system comprising: an exercise mat; a plurality of sensors integrated into the exercise mat, each of the sensors configured to sense when a force is applied to a respective portion of the exercise mat; a plurality of displays coupled to the exercise mat and configured to display indications corresponding to desired locations for body parts of a user in accordance with an exercise routine; at least one processor disposed in communication with the plurality of sensors and the plurality of displays; and memory storing at least one exercise routine for use with the exercise mat and instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, configures the exercise system to: display on one or more of the displays indications corresponding to desired locations of a user's body part in accordance with a form of one of the exercise routines stored in memory; sense by one or more of the sensors an application of force to the exercise mat; determine that a location of the sensed application of force is

Abstract: An exercise apparatus includes a base frame, a swing unit including a pair of swing arms pivotally mounted at the base frame, a pedal unit pivotally mounted at the swing unit, a travel path constraining unit including a pivot axle pivotally connected to the base frame, a pair of upper crank arms respectively affixed to two opposite ends of the pivot axle in reverse directions and a pair of links respectively pivotally connected between the upper crank arms and the swing arms for limiting the swinging range of the swing unit, a first damping unit for providing a damping resistance to the pedal unit, and a second damping unit for providing a damping resistance to the swing arms.

Abstract: An improved exercise bench for effectively and efficiently training the core portion of the user's body. The core training bench comprises a bench having an upper section and a separate lower section, a frame for supporting the bench above a surface, leg members interconnecting the frame and the bench and pivoting mechanisms interconnecting the leg members and the bench or the frame to allow the sections of the bench to pivot or tilt relative to the leg members. In the preferred embodiment, the upper section is able to pivot independent of the pivoting lower section so the user can place the bench in any one of a plurality of different tilt positions so he or she may selectively exercise different muscle groups at his or her core. The core training bench can include an oblique stand, grip bar, tension cable hooks and/or a removable section for an AB ball.

Abstract: A retention insert (1), for connecting a dental prosthesis structure to a dental implant or capping structure having a head designed for a press-fit connection, comprises a substantially circular disc-shaped end face (12), and a substantially ring-shaped retention edge (11), which protrudes from the end face (12) and has an outer surface (114). The end face (12) has an opening (121), and, starting from an end (11b) of the retention edge (11) directed away from the end face (12), a substantially axial slit (14) extends through the retention edge (11) and the end face (12) to the opening (121) of the end face (12). Connected to the opening on the end face, the slit of the retention insert according to the invention is a relatively simple structure which ensures that the retention insert, and in particular the retention edge thereof, has an elasticity sufficient for snap-fitting it onto the head or the patrix head.

Abstract: A joint structure of an endless treadmill belt of a treadmill is provided. The treadmill belt is a sandwich-type laminated rectangular treadmill belt. Two ends of the treadmill belt are cut to form serrations. Two ends of a bottom layer of the treadmill belt are meshed with each other. At least one plastic piece is placed on the joint of the two ends of the bottom layer. The serrations of two ends of a top layer of the treadmill belt are connected with each other in a cross-knitted manner, and the pointed portions of the serrations of the two ends of the top layer are inserted into and covered by the plastic piece and then the two ends of the treadmill belt are joined together by hot melting to form an integral flat joint of the treadmill belt.

Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of stationary exercise machines having reciprocating foot and/or hand members, such as foot pedals that move in a closed loop path. Some embodiments can include reciprocating foot pedals that cause a user's feet to move along a closed loop path that is substantially inclined, such that the foot motion simulates a climbing motion more than a flat walking or running motion. Some embodiments can further include reciprocating handles that are configured to move in coordination with the foot via a linkage to a crank wheel also coupled to the foot pedals. Variable resistance can be provided via a rotating air-resistance based mechanism, via a magnetism based mechanism, and/or via other mechanisms, one or more of which can be rapidly adjustable while the user is using the machine.

Abstract: A curved treadmill has a frame, a handrail assembly, and a belt assembly. The frame has a support frame, two arced guide tracks and multiple guide wheels. The two arced guide tracks are downwardly concave, and the multiple guide wheels are disposed at a front end and a rear end of the support frame. The belt assembly is mounted around the frame and has at least one connection belt mounted around the guide wheels and multiple pedals fixed with the at least one connection belt. The pedals are adjacent and connected to each other, the pedals are covered on an outer side face of each of the at least one connection belts, and each pedal has a plate fixed to the at least one connection belt and multiple bearings mounted on two ends of the plate and selectively abutting against the two arced guide tracks.

Abstract: Disclosed is a functional chair having acupressure balls. The chair includes a chair seat; a back of a chair coupled to one side of the chair seat; a pair of acupressure plate rotary shafts which is parallel to a vertical axis at a position ambilaterally spaced at predetermined distance from the center of rear surface of the back of the chair; a pair of acupressure plates which rotate around the rotary shaft of the respective acupressure plates; and a pair of armrests fixed to one side of the respective acupressure plates, and extended to the front of the back of the chair. A plurality of operating holes is formed on the front of the back of chair. A sleeve for covering the acupressure plate rotary shaft is positioned along a lengthwise direction on the respective acupressure plates and the acupressure rotary shaft penetrates the respective acupressure plates.

Abstract: An exercise device includes a frame and a crank assembly. A pair of foot links each has a forward end, a rearward end, and a mid-portion. Each foot link has a crank attachment at the forward end that is connected the crank assembly. A foot receiving area is defined at the rearward end of each foot link. Each foot receiving area is longitudinally fixed with respect to the respective foot link and the mid portion of each foot link has a defined support location. The frame supports the support locations of the support links at a generally constant vertical height while allowing horizontal motion relative to the frame. The rearward length of the foot links is at least 1.5 times the forward length such that the foot receiving areas move in a path of travel having more vertical travel than horizontal travel.

Abstract: An exercise and flexibility assessing apparatus includes a handle having a flexible member opening and a latch opening formed therein. A shaft support is mounted in the handle. The shaft support has a first wall and a second wall, distal from the first wall. A spool is rotatably mounted between the first wall and the second wall. A flexible member with indicia for assessment has a first end fixedly connected to the spool and a second end extending outwardly from the handle through the flexible member opening. A latch mechanism has an activating portion that extends outwardly of the spool toward the latch opening and a latching portion pivotally engaging the first wall. The latching portion is movable between a first position wherein the spool is rotatable with respect to the handle and a second position wherein the spool is fixed with respect to the handle.

Abstract: A support belt for stabilizing lower back and abdominal muscles during heavy lifting, comprising: an elongated body that wraps about the waist of a person, with overlapping abdominal support sections toward the ends of the body and a lumbar support section midway between the ends, stiffener panels on the lumbar and abdominal support sections, a strap on the outer side of the body for securing the body about the waist, and means for limiting vertical movement and pivotal movement and/or skewing between the overlapping sections without impairing lengthwise movement between them.

Abstract: An exercise device for performing a variety of movement patterns. The exercise device has a pair of linkages, each including an upper link pivotally mounted to a frame and a lower link pivotally coupled to an upper link. A foot support is provided on a distal end of each lower link. A transfer system is coupled to the frame and both upper links for transferring both tensile and compressive forces. Separate torque elements are operably coupled to the frame and each lower link via a transfer member for independently resisting movement of the associated lower link.

Abstract: An exercise machine includes a joint assembly. The joint assembly includes a pivot rod, a first component connected to the pivot rod, a second component connected to the pivot rod, and a bushing mounted on the pivot rod between the first component and the second component. The bushing includes a body with a first side and a second side, the body comprising an elastic, flexible material; a first plate connected to the first side of the body; and a second plate connected to the second side of the body.

Abstract: A treadmill deck may include a first side rail, a second side rail aligned with the first side rail, a first pulley connected to a first end of the first and second side rails, and a second pulley connected to a second end of the first and second side rails. A tread belt is disposed around the first pulley and the second pulley. Further, a first cover is connected to the first rail that spans at least a first portion of a first mid-region of the first rail and cantilevers over a portion of the tread belt that provides an unstable footing. Also, the tread belt moves with respect to the first cover.