Apparatus for use in exercising

Abstract

Apparatus for use in exercising, including means for engaging the foot of one leg of a user of the apparatus, wherein the means for engaging is adapted to retard movement of the foot as the foots moves from a first position towards a second position.

1 . Apparatus for use in exercising, including: 
 (a) means for retarding movement of the foot of one leg of a user of the apparatus as the foot moves from a first position towards a second position; and    (b) means for limiting movement of the means for retarding with respect to said foot, wherein the means for retarding is couplable to the foot and the knee of said leg.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means for retarding is arrangable to underly engage the foot of the user of the apparatus and overly engage the knee.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said means for retarding is an endless loop, the loop being at least partially elastically deformable.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the means for limiting substantially prevents movement of the portion of the loop that is arrangable to underly engage the foot.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the means for limiting is arrangable to receive and at least partially extend around a lower portion of the leg of the user.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the means for limiting is a strap coupled between first and second sections of the loop.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the strap includes first and second straps coupled between the first and second sections of the loop, the straps being positionable for mutual engagement around a lower portion of the leg of the user.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the first and second straps include -corresponding hook and loop velcro portions positionable for mutual engagement.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means for limiting is at least partially-elastically deformable.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means for limiting is adjustable so as to change the size of the means for retarding.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the peripheral length of the loop is adjustable so as to change the size of the loop.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the peripheral length of the loop corresponds to the degree to retarding effected by the means for retarding.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus claimed in  claim 3 , including means being arrangable to underly engage the knee for substantially preventing movement of a portion of the apparatus with respect to said knee.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus claimed in claims  3 , wherein the portion of the means for retarding that is arrangable to overly engage the knee includes a surface that at least partially reduces the ease with which said portion moves with respect to the knee during use of the apparatus.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the means being arrangable to underly engage the knee includes a surface that at least partially reduces the ease with which said means moves with respect to the knee during use of the apparatus.  
   
   
       16 . Apparatus for use in exercising, including: 
 (a) means for retarding movement of the foot of one leg of a user of the apparatus as the foot moves from a first position towards a second position, the means for retarding being couplable to the foot and the knee of said leg, and    (b) means being positionable under said knee, said means substantially preventing movement of a portion of the apparatus with respect to said knee.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the means for retarding is arrangable to underly engage the foot of the user of the apparatus and overly engage the knee.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said means for retarding is an endless loop, the loop being at least partially elastically deformable.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the portion of the means for retarding that is arrangable to overly engage the knee includes a surface that at least partially reduces the ease with which said portion moves with respect to the knee during use of the apparatus.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the means being positionable under said knee includes a surface that at least partially reduces the ease with which said means moves with respect to the knee during use of the apparatus,  
   
   
       21 . A method for effecting a muscle pump action in a leg of a person, including the steps of: 
 (a) fitting the apparatus claimed in any one  claims 3  to  15  to said leg;    (b) alternately pivoting the foot of said leg about the ankle joint between first and second positions,    wherein the step of fitting includes the steps of arranging a first section of the loop to underly engage the foot, stretching the loop so that a second section of the loop overly engages an upper portion of the leg, and arranging the means for retarding around a lower portion of the leg.    
   
   
       22 . A method for effecting a muscle pump action in a leg of a person, including the steps of: 
 (a) fitting the apparatus claimed in  claim 16  to said leg;    (b) alternately pivoting the foot of said leg about the ankle joint between first and second positions,    wherein the step of fitting includes the steps of arranging a first section of the loop to underly engage the foot, and stretching the loop so that a second section of the loop overly engages an upper portion of the leg.    
   
   
       23 . A method of inhibiting the development of deep vein thrombosis by performing the method steps of  claim 21 .  
   
   
       24 . A method of mitigating the development of thrombosis inducing conditions by administering to a subject the apparatus claimed in  claim 1 .  
   
   
       25 . A method of promoting blood circulation in the body of a subject by administering to the subject an apparatus claimed in  claim 1 .  
   
   
       26 . A method of promoting blood circulation in the body of a person by performing the method steps of  claim 21 .  
   
   
       27 . A method for prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis including the step of administering to a subject the apparatus claimed in  claim 1 .  
   
   
       28 . Use of the apparatus claimed in  claim 1  in the prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis.  
   
   
       29 . A method of alleviating the symptoms of restless legs syndrome by performing the method steps of  claim 21 .  
   
   
       30 . A method of alleviating the symptoms of restless legs syndrome including the step of administering to a subject the apparatus claimed in  claim 1 .  
   
   
       31 . Use of the apparatus claimed in  claim 1  to alleviate the symptoms of restless legs syndrome.  
   
   
       32 . A method for alleviating the symptoms of restless legs syndrome by administering to the person an apparatus including means for engaging the foot of one leg of a user of the apparatus, wherein the means for engaging is adapted to retard movement of the foot as the foot moves from a first position towards a second position.  
   
   
       33 . Use of an apparatus to alleviate the symptoms of restless legs syndrome, the apparatus including means for engaging the foot of one leg of a user of the apparatus, wherein the means for engaging is adapted to retard movement of the foot as the foot moves from a first position towards a second position.  
   
   
       34 . A method of alleviating the symptoms of restless legs syndrome in a person during a period of rest, including the step of said person exercising before said period of rest using an apparatus including: 
 (a) means for retarding movement of the foot of one leg of a user of the apparatus as the foot moves from a first position towards a second position; and    (b) means for limiting movement of the means for retarding with respect to said foot, wherein the means for retarding is couplable to the foot and the knee of said leg.    
   
   
       35 . The method claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the means for retarding is arrangable to underly engage the foot of the user of the apparatus and overly engage the knee.  
   
   
       36 . The method claimed in  claim 34 , wherein said means for retarding is an endless loop, the loop being at least partially elastically deformable.  
   
   
       37 . The method claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the means for limiting substantially prevents movement of the portion of the loop that is arrangable to underly engage the foot.  
   
   
       38 . The method claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the means for limiting is arrangable to receive and at least partially extend around a lower portion of the leg of the user.  
   
   
       39 . The method claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the means for limiting is a strap coupled between first and second sections of the loop.  
   
   
       40 . The method claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the strap includes first and second straps coupled between the first and second sections of the loop, the straps being positionable for mutual engagement around a lower portion of the leg of the user.  
   
   
       41 . The method claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the first and second straps include corresponding hook and loop velcro portions positionable for mutual engagement.  
   
   
       42 . The method claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the means for limiting is at least partially elastically deformable.  
   
   
       43 . The method claimed in claims  3 , wherein the means for limiting is adjustable so as to change the size of the means for retarding.  
   
   
       44 . The method claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the peripheral length of the loop is adjustable so as to change the size of the loop.  
   
   
       45 . The method claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the peripheral length of the loop corresponds to the degree to retarding effected by the means for retarding.  
   
   
       46 . The method claimed in  claim 36 , including means being arrangable to underly engage the knee for substantially preventing movement of a portion of the apparatus with respect to said knee.  
   
   
       47 . The method claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the portion of the means for retarding that is arrangable to overly engage the knee includes a surface that at least partially reduces the ease with which said portion moves with respect to the knee during use of the apparatus.  
   
   
       48 . The method claimed in  claim 46 , wherein the means being arrangable to underly engage the knee includes a surface that at least partially reduces the ease with which said means moves with respect to the knee during use of the apparatus.  
   
   
       49 . A method of alleviating the symptoms of restless legs syndrome in a person during a period of rest, including the step of said person exercising before said period of rest using an apparatus including: 
 (a) means for retarding movement of the foot of one leg of a user of the apparatus as the foot moves from a first position towards a second position, the means for retarding being couplable to the foot and the knee of said leg, and    (b) means being positionable under said knee, said means substantially preventing movement of a portion of the apparatus with respect to said knee.    
   
   
       50 . The method claimed in  claim 49 , wherein the means for retarding is arrangable to underly engage the foot of the user of the apparatus and overly engage the knee.  
   
   
       51 . The method claimed in  claim 50 , wherein said means for retarding is an endless loop, the loop being at least partially elastically deformable.  
   
   
       52 . The method claimed in  claim 50 , wherein the portion of the means for retarding that is arrangable to overly engage the knee includes a surface that at least partially reduces the ease with which said portion moves with respect to the knee during use of the apparatus.  
   
   
       53 . The method claimed in  claim 49 , wherein the means being positionable under said knee includes a surface that at least partially reduces the ease with which said means moves with respect to the knee during use of the apparatus.  
   
   
       54 . A method for alleviating the symptoms of restless legs syndrome in a person, including the step of administering to the person, before a period of rest, an apparatus including means for engaging the foot of one leg of a user of the apparatus, wherein the means for engaging is adapted to retard movement of the foot as the foot moves from a first position towards a second position.  
   
   
       55 . A method of alleviating the symptoms restless legs syndrome in a person during a period of rest, including the step of the person exercising, before said period of rest, using an apparatus including means for engaging the foot of one leg of a user of the apparatus, wherein the means for engaging is adapted to retard movement of the foot as the foot moves from a first position towards a second position.  
   
   
       56 . A method for alleviating the symptoms of restless legs syndrome in a person during a period of rest, by administering to the person, before a period of rest, the apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the FIGS.  17  to  26  accompanying drawings.  
   
   
       57 . A method for alleviating the symptoms of restless legs syndrome by administering to the person the apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the FIGS.  17  to  26  of the accompanying drawings.  
   
   
       58 . Use of the apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS.  17  to  26  to alleviate the symptoms of restless legs syndrome.