Device for assisting therapeutic lower leg, calf-muscle, ankle, foot and toe exercise for reducing the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Abstract

A lower leg exercise device ( 1 ) has an upper panel ( 2 ) and a lower panel ( 3 ) which are hingedly attached together along opposing longitudinal sides. A pair of elliptical forming panels ( 8 ) are hingedly attached to the lower panel ( 3 ) and are each foldable between a first position in which they lie substantially flat against the lower panel, whereby the upper panel may be collapsed flat against the lower panel for compact storage, and a second position in which they engage between the first and second panels in an upstanding manner so as to maintain the panels in spaced apart relationship. In said second position, the loading applied by the convexly curved upper and lower edges of the forming panels ( 8 ) to the upper and lower panels ( 2, 3 ) results in said panels each adopting a convexly curved shape. In use, the device is placed on the floor in its erect configuration, the user placing their feet on the upper panel and rocking the device back and forth on the curved lower panel.

1 . A lower leg exercise device comprising a first and a second panel which are hingedly connected together along a first pair of opposing edges, and at least one forming panel which is movable between a first position in which said first and second panels lie substantially flat against each other, and a second position in which at least one of said first and second panels adopts a convexly curved shape.  
     
     
         2 . A lower leg exercise device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one forming panel is a rib member which, in said second position, engages between said first and second panels substantially perpendicularly thereto so as to maintain said panels in spaced apart relationship.  
     
     
         3 . A lower leg exercise device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one forming panel is pivotally connected to one of said first and second panels for pivotal movement between said first position, in which the at least one forming panel lies substantially coplanar with said one of said first and second panels, and said second position in which the at least one forming panel projects substantially perpendicularly between said first and second panels.  
     
     
         4 . A lower leg exercise device according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one of said first and second panels includes at least one integrally formed actuating flap which is connected to its associated panel along a hinge line and which is foldable about said hinge line between a first position in which the at least one flap engages in a complimentary shaped access opening formed in its associated panel, and a second position in which the at least one flap extends substantially vertically between said first and second panels, the at least one forming panel being attached to the at least one actuating flap.  
     
     
         5 . A lower leg exercise device according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one forming panel is hingedly attached to an end edge of one of the first and second panels.  
     
     
         6 . A lower leg exercise device according to  claim 5 , further comprising at least one forming panel disposed on each end of the device.  
     
     
         7 . A lower leg exercise device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one forming panel includes at least one convexly curved edge, which, in said second position, engages against one of said first and second panels so as to deform said one panel into a convexly curved shape.  
     
     
         8 . A lower leg exercise device according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one forming panel is elliptical in shape such that, in said second position, both said first and second panels are deformed into a convexly curved shape.  
     
     
         9 . A lower leg exercise device according to  claim 1 , further comprising stop means disposed on at least one of said first and second panels for facilitating positioning of the at least one forming panel in said second position.  
     
     
         10 . A lower leg exercise device according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second panels are hingedly connected along said first pair of opposing edges by a web of flexible material.  
     
     
         11 . A lower leg exercise device according to  claim 10 , wherein the flexibility of said hinge material is greater than the flexibility of said first and second panels.  
     
     
         12 . A lower leg exercise device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of forming panels which are spaced longitudinally along the device.  
     
     
         13 . A lower leg exercise device according to  claim 1 , wherein when the at least one forming panel is in its first position, the first and second panels are collapsible substantially flat against each other for compact storage.  
     
     
         14 . A lower leg exercise device according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second panels are connected together along a second pair of opposed edges spaced apart from said first pair of opposed edges.  
     
     
         15 . A lower leg exercise device according to  claim 10  where said first and second panels are hingedly connected along each of said first and second pair of opposed edges by a web of flexible material.