Abstract: A method for gait rehabilitation, comprising, identifying at least one deficient gait element; exercising said deficient gait element individually using a rehabilitation apparatus; and exercising said deficient gait element in concert with at least one other gait element using said rehabilitation apparatus.

Abstract: A dynamic foot plate assembly structured for therapeutic use adjacent the ankle area of the body comprising a base element, at least one side element extending along the ankle area, and at least one joint movably and adjustably connecting the base element to the side element for variable displacement of the base element and side element into different operative orientations. The dynamic foot plate assembly may also comprise a plurality of strut members disposed in an interconnecting relationship between either a support member and a side element, or the support member and the base element. The strut members, if present, facilitate the variable relative displacement of the base element, side element and support element into different operative orientations.

Abstract: A method for reducing an exerted energy associated with muscles acting across a joint is provided. The method including: storing energy during one or more periods of a periodic motion of the joint in which energy is absorbed by the muscles; and at least partially returning the stored energy to the muscles during one or more periods of the periodic motion in which the muscles are performing work.

Abstract: A foot pain relief device can advantageously provide multiple angles of inclination, directed pressure against the plantar fascia, as well as ease of manufacturing and assembly. A toe strap, which is fastened around the ankle and the toe(s), ensures that the toes are flexed up. This toe flexing tenses the plantar fascia of the foot. A ball strap can be threaded through a hole in a ball and then operatively coupled with the toe strap. When operatively coupled to the toe strap, the ball strap keeps the ball positioned on the bottom of the foot while allowing ball mobility. The mobility of the ball can provide directed pressure on at least one component of the plantar fascia. Notably, the simultaneous combination of tension to the plantar fascia and directed pressure to the component(s) of the plantar fascia can be particularly effective at relieving foot pain.

Abstract: A toe massage device is constructed from a rotating body while being supported on a base by a supporting shaft; a rotation drive device for rotating the rotating body in the normal and reverse directions; and toe fixation means provided on the rotating body and fixing toes of a subject. The toes are fixed on the rotating body by the toe fixation means and the rotating body is rotated in the normal and reverse directions. When the rotating body is rotated in the normal direction, the toes are pulled forward and downward. That is, the toes are pulled in the direction in which they are bent toward the sole. When the rotating body is rotated in the reverse direction, the toes are bent upward while being caused to move backward.

Abstract: The present invention is for the rehabilitation of stroke, brain or nerve damaged patients whose feet are paralyzed or unresponsive and must relearn lower leg and foot muscle control. A foot box can support a patient's foot with the foot box mounted above a flat base plate for movement by the patient. The foot box can be pivotally mounted by a swivel bearing to a shaft on the base plate with a forward end of the foot box supported by a wheel. A hemisphere support on the lower surface of the foot box permits movable support of the foot box when the swivel bearing is disengaged from the shaft and the wheel is raised. Attachments for the ends of handled pull cords are provided on the front corners and sides of the foot box. Pulleys on the base plate guide the pull cords.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are generally related to the manipulation of a joint to provide therapy. More specifically, some embodiments of the present invention use inflatable members and a three point bending concept to cause flexion in a toe joint for the purpose of increasing the range of motion of the toe joint. In one embodiment, a user's foot is placed in a frame with at least one toe atop a toe bar. An inflatable member is positioned atop the user's foot and held in position with a strap attached relative to the frame. As the inflatable member is inflated, the strap increases in tension urging the toe toward the toe bar and causing actuation of the joint at the base of the toe.

Abstract: A body elongator includes a container in which a heel elongator and a calf stretcher are fixed. The heel elongator has a leg support slide selectively movable for a predetermined distance by a driving mechanism for elongating a user's heels secured to the leg support slide. The calf stretcher has a toe bar supported between and by two carrier posts. The carrier posts, along with the toe bar, can be rotated from a horizontal position to a vertical position with respect to the frame body. When the user's toes are leaned tightly against the toe bar, with heels secured to the leg support slide, making the feet plantar flexion along the movement direction of the leg support slide, the Achilles tendon and the calf muscles groups can be stretched when the leg support slide is driven to move into the container.

Abstract: A method for exercising muscles acting across a joint is provided. The method including: absorbing energy during one or more periods of a periodic motion of the joint in which the muscles are performing work; and at least partially transferring the absorbed energy to at least one of the muscles and another device during one or more periods of the periodic motion in which energy is absorbed by the muscles.

Abstract: An exercising apparatus includes a base, two supporting brackets, a driving assembly, a pedal assembly and a case. The supporting brackets are mounted on the base. The driving assembly includes a motor, an eccentric wheel and a lifting bracket. The motor has a motor shaft. The eccentric wheel is mounted eccentrically on the motor shaft. The lifting bracket has a wheel slot and two pivoting brackets. The wheel slot is defined through the lifting bracket and engages the eccentric wheel. The pivoting brackets are formed near two ends of the lifting bracket. The pedal assembly includes two pedals and two pedal pads. The pedals are mounted respectively and pivotally on the supporting brackets and the pivoting brackets of the lifting bracket. The pedal pads are mounted respectively on the pedals. The case is mounted on the base and has two openings corresponding to the pedal pads.

Abstract: An exercise device for exercising the lower legs of airline passengers. The device includes a support structure, and a foot platform that is movably mounted to the support structure. A motor is interconnected with the foot platform by a crank arrangement to provide powered reciprocation of the foot platform. The exercise device has a low profile, enabling the exercise device to fit under an airline seat. Elastic straps or other suitable restraints are provided on the moving foot platform to hold a passenger's feet in place. The ankle motion resulting from the reciprocation of the foot support stretches and/or relaxes the lower leg muscles to alleviate blood stasis of the lower leg.

Abstract: A massage device has a close-packed presenting structure of massage elements, mounted on a working unit. The presenting structure is sufficiently closely packed to prevent insertion of an adult's digit, e.g. finger or toe, into the spaces between respective ones of the massage elements. Such close packing, in a drum-type structure of closely-packed massage elements, prevents a user from accidental injury to his/her fingers or toes if and as the presenting structure is rotating about an axis of rotation. The massage device can have a heel rest, a variable speed drive, and/or a heater which heats the massage elements.

Abstract: A lower limb function training device which the patient themselves can use safely with no sense of fear, which is used to prevent or improve a drop foot contracture or to expand the excursion of a joint while preventing the patient from using it over an appropriate amount of exercise to the utmost, which allows the patient to select the type of exercise, and which enables measurement of state of the body.

Abstract: A foot-immersing massaging machine includes a body and an immersing vessel combined on the body. The body has a housing, a motor, a switch, a power cord, and a vibrator. The vibrator is fixed on an upper end of the shaft of the motor, and produces vibration when rotated by the motor. The immersing vessel has a vessel body and a soft massage cushion. The vessel body has a through hole in the bottom center for an upper portion of the vibrator to extend through upward, and the massage cushion is placed on the bottom of the vessel body and closes up the through hole, covering the vibrator with a gap between itself and the vibrator. Then a user can put the feet in the immersing vessel and receive massage performed by the vibrator at the same time.

Abstract: A foot mobility device includes a base, a foot rest hingedly coupled to the base, and an inflatable lifting bladder between the base and the foot rest. The footrest preferably has a massage sock which contains a plurality of inflatable massage bladders. Each of the bladders is provided with a pressure sensor and is selectively coupled to a pressure source (including an air pump) by an electrically operated valve. A control circuit is electrically coupled to the valves, the sensors, and the pump. The control circuit selectively inflates and deflates the bladders according to a cycle which raises and lowers the foot rest and inflates/deflates the massage bladders. The control circuit is preferably provided with a synchronization link which is used to electrically couple two foot mobility devices (one for each foot) such that they operate in an alternating rhythm.

Abstract: A portable physical therapy apparatus for providing physical therapy for selected portions of a user's body. The portable physical therapy apparatus includes a support base; and also includes a lever being hingedly attached to the support base and being adapted to support a user's appendage near a user's joint such as a foot; and further includes a plurality of strap members being attached to the lever for fastening the user's appendage to the lever; and also includes an assembly of pivoting the lever upon the support base.

Abstract: A transmission device for a swing exercising device and includes two shafts respectively and eccentrically connected to two gears. One of the shafts pivotably connected to a support member and the other shaft is reciprocatingly retained in a slot of a frame in the support member.

Abstract: An apparatus for bending and stretching a foot of a living person by pressing at least an arch of a sole of the foot and stopping the pressing of the arch.

Abstract: A reciprocating bed as a one size fits all from small children to the tallest of people by adjusting, and a frame designed to accommodate anyone regardless of weight that reciprocates approximately four times a minute per cycle of reciprocation. This bed can exercise any limb or joint of the body and up to 5 limbs per cycle of reciprocation and also a mobile unit with wheels to be located anywhere with a frame that can be assembled and disassembled with little effort and also can be enclosed with curtains for privacy and also an appealing piece of furniture.

Abstract: A portable intelligent stretching device for use by patients suffering from spastic and contractured joints and limbs. The intelligent stretching device has a motor and a motor shaft for rotating the joint or limb. The variable velocity and stretch distance of the device is determined by a torque sensor on the joint or limb that communicates information to a controller which subsequently instructs the motor as to the variable velocity and stretch distance.

Abstract: Both feet independently supported and circularly rotating exerciser including a base seat, a driving motor, a pair of driven wheels, a transmission member, a pair of linking members and a pair of foot support members. When the driving wheel of the driving motor rotates, the transmission member is driven to make the pair of driven wheels rotate and further make the pair of linking members deflect and swing up and down. At this time, the foot support members move in a circular or substantially circular path to exercise both feet. The rotation mode of the exerciser can be changed to excerise both feet in different specific patterns.

Abstract: A foot drop support arrangement including a leg member and a strap having a first end supportable between the big toe and an adjacent end and a removable attachment mechanism for attaching the second end to the leg member whereby a user can support his or her toe end of the foot from a leg support without necessity for a shoe and with ease of installation for a foot drop patient upon getting up after sleeping.

Abstract: An ankle rehabilitation device includes a foot platform movably disposed on a support arm coupled to and extending upwardly from a base. The foot platform is configured to pivot along a restricted pivot path configured to limit the user's ankle movement to plantar flexion, inversion and internal rotation in one direction along the restricted pivot path, and dorsi flexion, eversion and external rotation in an opposite direction along the restricted pivot path. A ball and socket type joint is coupled between the foot platform and the support arm, and has an aperture sized and shaped to limit movement of a coupling arm, and thus to limit movement of the foot platform. The device also includes resistance means, such as piston/cylinders, coupled to and between the base and the foot platform, for resisting movement of the foot platform with respect to the base. The piston/cylinder may be oriented transverse to all pivot axes of the foot platform to resist all movement of the foot platform.

Abstract: A roller massaging apparatus includes a massaging portion having a plurality of bar-shaped rotatable rollers. The rollers are circumferentially mounted to the massaging portion at a certain interval. The roller massaging apparatus also includes a driving mechanism for rotating the massaging portion around an axis thereof and a stimulating member disposed at an upper side of the massaging portion. The stimulating member is pushed up by the rollers. A mutual positional relationship between the massaging portion and the stimulating member is changed by moving as least one of the massaging portion and the stimulating member.

Abstract: A training device is proposed having a crank for a training device for the physically disabled includes a crank, an electric motor which is connected to the crank, power electronics which are designed at least for driving the motor, and means for regulating and/or controlling the rotation speed at the crank. The training device for the physically disabled, makes it possible to use their residual movement capabilities and residual muscle power, in order to ensure a training sequence that is as effective as possible. The means for regulating and/or controlling the rotation speed are designed for a rotation speed change .DELTA.n as a function of the torque M.sub.K on the crank .DELTA.n=f(M.sub.K), a new rotation speed n.sub.new being obtained from the old rotation speed n.sub.old in accordance with the relationship n.sub.new =n.sub.old +.DELTA.n, and the function .DELTA.n=f(M.sub.K) being different for specific value ranges of M.sub.K defined in advance.

Abstract: A pedal structure mainly including a pair of bases each having a facing-inward long recess with toothed side walls, a pair of adjusting supports each including an upper shaft holder portion for receiving one end of a shaft and a lower coupling rod portion having toothed side walls for engaging with the long recess of the base, and a pair of pedals pivotally rotatably assembled to the shaft extending between the two shaft holder portions of the adjusting supports.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus including a platform for a user to stand or sit upon, mounted on a body formed of two wedge-shaped parts which are turned relative to each other so that the platform is inclined relative to a base. The platform is coupled to the top of the body via a first bearing, and the body is coupled to the base by a second bearing: the platform is prevented from rotating relative to the base by a gimbal arrangement. A motor coupled to a shaft rotates the body so that the direction of tilt of the platform sweeps around in a corresponding circular manner.

Abstract: The present invention provides continuous passive motion (CPM) devices for joints. An ankle CPM device includes a lower leg support attached at its lower end to a semi-circular track. An actuator slides along the track and can be locked in any desired position on the track. A shaft is pivotally connected at one end thereof to the actuator and a shoe is attached at the other end thereof. When the actuator is positioned at the bottom of the track the ankle joint of the patient undergoes inversion/eversion motion. When the motor housing is rotated 90.degree. and positioned near the top of the track plantar/dorsi flexion movement is obtained. A combination of both types of joint movement are obtained for the actuator in intermediate positions. A wrist CPM device includes a brace for the forearm attached to a semi-circular track on which an actuator is mounted. A hand grip is mounted on a semi-circular bracket and a shaft extends between the actuator and a coupling slidably mounted on the semi-circular bracket.

Abstract: A massager with rotary and resilient action includes a base, a movable cover, drive motor means, two worm gears and a massaging means. The worm gears and the massaging means consisting of multiple rows of massaging units are disposed intermediate the base and the movable cover. By means of the drive motor means which drive a belt pulley to rotate the worm gears, multiple screw pinions at the lower portion of the massaging units are driven. The screw pinions are insertably connected to multiple connecting heads so that the connecting heads may be rotated therewith. Each screw pinion has an upper side provided with four insert slots for receiving a plurality of pins on the lower side of each connecting head so that the position of a massaging head fitted on the connecting head may be adjusted to achieve inwardly and outwardly massaging actions.

Abstract: A system for isolating, evaluating and exercising the muscle groups of the human hand which includes structure for detecting the cardinal movements of the hand and translating the movements into rotational data for the system, the structure for detecting effectively isolating the movements of the hand so that the movements of other muscle groups of the body are not detected by the system. The system also generally includes an assembly for providing a selective variable resistance to the structure for detecting and for ascertaining the force applied to the structure for detecting by the movements of the hand.

Abstract: A foot massaging apparatus comprising a base having a hollow interior and an opening for allowing access to the interior; an axially rotatable roller coupled to the base and extended across its interior such that it projects from the opening; and a foot rest coupled to the base at a location remote from the interior such that it faces the roller.

Abstract: An ankle calf exerciser/phlebo pump adapted to reduce the development of deep vein thromboses (DVT), leg edema, muscular atrophy and ankle joint stiffness in postoperative orthopedic patients. An efficient and simple driving mechanism is provided from imparting an alternating and reciprocating movement of a pair of foot paddles. The foot paddles are coupled to the driving mechanism such that only the patient's ankles will be flexed while the knee and hip remains stationary. This device is ideally suited for patients with hip fractures, and hip replacement with prosthesis. The speed of paddle reciprocation can be selected, as can the arcuate path of travel of the foot paddles by adjusting the length of a driving rod.

Abstract: An apparatus for exercising the upper and/or the lower joint of an ankle has a frame which can be placed on the floor or can be mounted on or in a bed and supports an adjustable first support of the lower leg of a patient. The first support movably carries a second support for the foot, and the second support can be moved relative to the first support by two discrete prime movers defining pivot axes one of which can be caused to coincide with the axis of the upper joint and the other of which can be caused to coincide with the axis of the lower joint of the ankle between the lower leg on the first support and the foot on the second support. The operation of each prime mover can be programmed, one of these prime movers can be mounted directly on the first support, and the other prime mover can be mounted on a yoke which is carried by the first support.