Therapeutic exercise apparatus

Abstract

Exercise apparatus suitably adapted for use by handicapped persons for exercising their hips and legs. In one embodiment, an apparatus with a supporting structure and a seat mounted on the supporting structure. A cushion comprising a pad for splaying the knees of a user is mounted on the supporting structure. In another embodiment, there is a docking station suitably adapted for wheelchair users with a supporting structure protruding therefrom. A cushion is mounted on the protrusion for splaying the knees of the user. In yet another embodiment, a semispherical to shaped seat is mounted on a supporting structure that can be adjusted to position a user near a handlebar structure with a supporting structure protruding therefrom. A cushion is mounted for splaying the knees of the user. Optionally, the cushions in the example embodiments may further comprise a patella pad. A knee spreader ball detached from the exercise apparatus permits training without the fixed cushion and, in a further form permits transport of a user without tangling the feet of the user.

1 . An exercise apparatus configured to be selectively attached to the legs of an associated user whereby the apparatus maintains the user's knees in a desired splayed relative orientation while exercising by rising and lowering the user's body relative to the user's feet, the exercise apparatus comprising:
 a central body portion having opposite first and second ends, the first end being configured to engage an inside portion of a first leg of the associated user, and the second end being configured to engage an inside portion of a second leg of the associated user;   anterior leg stabilizing members on the central body portion and extending outwardly from the first and second ends of the central body portion, a first anterior leg stabilizing member being configured to engage an anterior leg portion of the first leg of the associated user, and a second anterior leg stabilizing member being configured to engage an anterior leg portion of the second leg of the associated user;   posterior leg stabilizing members on the central body portion and extending outwardly from the first and second ends of the central body portion, a first posterior leg stabilizing member being configured to engage a posterior leg portion of the first leg of the associated user, and a second posterior leg stabilizing member being configured to engage a posterior leg portion of the second leg of the associated user, wherein the central body portion and the anterior and posterior leg stabilizing members hold the knees of the associated user in the desired splayed relative orientation;   outer leg stabilizing members integrated with the anterior and posterior leg stabilizing members, a first outer leg stabilizing member being configured to engage an outside leg portion of the first leg of the associated user and hold the first leg of the associated user against the first end of the central body portion, and a second outer leg stabilizing member being configured to engage an outside leg portion of the second leg of the associated user and hold the second leg of the associated user against the second end of the central body portion;   a first adjustable strap portion extending between the first anterior leg stabilizing member and the first posterior leg stabilizing member; and,   a second adjustable strap portion extending between the second anterior leg stabilizing member and the second posterior leg stabilizing member,   wherein the first and second strap portions are configured to be selectively opened to permit reception of the legs of the associated user into elongate channels defined collectively by the central body portion and the anterior, posterior, and first and second outer leg stabilizing members, and the first and second strap portions being configured to be selectively releasably attached for securing the legs of the associated user within the elongate channels for holding the knees in the desired splayed relative orientation during the exercising by the rising and lowering of the user's body relative to the user's feet.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second adjustable strap portions comprise a hook and loop portion for selective adjustment thereof for holding the first and second legs of the associated user in the elongate channels and against the first and second ends of the central body portion, respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second strap portions comprise a single continuous adjustable strap surrounding the central body portion in a single continuous loop. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a handle member operatively coupled with the central body portion, the handle member being grippable by an associated assistant user to lift the exercise apparatus with the legs of the associated user being coupled therewith in the elongate channels wherein the exercise apparatus is configured to assist in preventing the legs of the associated user from being tangled during transport of the associated user by carrying the associated user and the exercise apparatus using the handle member. 
 
     
     
         5 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the central body portion is formed of a resilient foam material. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein the anterior, posterior, and first and second outer leg stabilizing members are formed of the resilient foam material of the central body portion. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the central body portion is a hollow bladder selectively inflatable to a selected pressure for engaging the inside portions of the first and second legs of the associated user by the first and second ends thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the anterior, posterior, and first and second outer leg stabilizing members are formed of the hollow bladder of the central body portion being selectively inflatable for surroundingly engaging the legs of the associated user received in the elongate channels of the exercise apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . A therapeutic exercise apparatus comprising:
 a substantially planar base configured to rest stably on an associated floor;   a seat supported vertically relative to the base;   a boom member configured to enable an associated user of the therapeutic exercise apparatus to grip a grippable portion of the boom member and, by using the arms, to raise and lower the body of the associated user relative to the base and seat; and,   a knee spreader device configured to selectively engage the legs of the associated user whereby the knee spreader device maintains the knees of the associated user in a desired splayed relative orientation while exercising by rising and lowering the body of the associated user relative to the base with the user's feet on the base and with the user's buttocks contacting the seat portion during the lowering.   
     
     
         10 . The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 stirrups on the base and being configured to selectively releasably receive the feet of the associated user, whereby the stirrups restrain the user's feet in a defined fixed position relative to the base while exercising by the rising and lowering the body of the associated user relative to the base with the user's feet held in the stirrups.   
     
     
         11 . The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the seat comprises:
 an elongate support member having opposite first and second ends, wherein the first end of the elongate support member is attached with the base; and,   a flexible convex portion configured to support the buttocks of the associated user during the exercising.   
     
     
         12 . The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the elongate support member comprises:
 a first adjustable portion for enabling the associated user to position the seat at a desired vertical and lateral position relative to the base; and, 
 a second adjustable portion for enabling the associated user to position the seat at a desired angular orientation relative to the base. 
 
     
     
         13 . The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible convex portion configured to support the buttocks of the associated user during the exercising comprises a Bosu ball. 
     
     
         14 . The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the knee spreader device comprises:
 a central body portion having opposite first and second ends, the first end being configured to engage an inside portion of a first leg of the associated user, and the second end being configured to engage an inside portion of a second leg of the associated user; 
 anterior leg stabilizing members on the central body portion and extending outwardly from the first and second ends of the central body portion, a first anterior leg stabilizing member being configured to engage an anterior leg portion of the first leg of the associated user, and a second anterior leg stabilizing member being configured to engage an anterior leg portion of the second leg of the associated user; 
 posterior leg stabilizing members on the central body portion and extending outwardly from the first and second ends of the central body portion, a first posterior leg stabilizing member being configured to engage a posterior leg portion of the first leg of the associated user, and a second posterior leg stabilizing member being configured to engage a posterior leg portion of the second leg of the associated user, wherein the central body portion and the anterior and posterior leg stabilizing members hold the knees of the associated user in the desired splayed relative orientation; 
 outer leg stabilizing members integrated with the anterior and posterior leg stabilizing members, a first outer leg stabilizing member being configured to engage an outside leg portion of the first leg of the associated user and hold the first leg of the associated user against the first end of the central body portion, and a second outer leg stabilizing member being configured to engage an outside leg portion of the second leg of the associated user and hold the second leg of the associated user against the second end of the central body portion; 
 a first adjustable strap portion extending between the first anterior leg stabilizing member and the first posterior leg stabilizing member; and, 
 a second adjustable strap portion extending between the second anterior leg stabilizing member and the second posterior leg stabilizing member, 
 wherein the first and second strap portions are configured to be selectively opened to permit reception of the legs of the associated user into elongate channels defined collectively by the central body portion and the anterior, posterior, and first and second outer leg stabilizing members, and the first and second strap portions being configured to be selectively releasably attached for securing the legs of the associated user within the elongate channels for holding the knees in the desired splayed relative orientation during the exercising by the rising and lowering of the user's body relative to the user's feet. 
 
     
     
         15 . The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the first and second adjustable strap portions of the knee spreader device comprise a hook and loop portion for selective adjustment thereof for holding the first and second legs of the associated user in the elongate channels and against the first and second ends of the central body portion, respectively. 
     
     
         16 . The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the first and second strap portions of the knee spreader device comprise a single continuous adjustable strap surrounding the central body portion in a single continuous loop. 
     
     
         17 . The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the knee spreader device comprises:
 a first U-shaped cushion defining a pair of laterally spaced apart side walls configured to engage the inside of the associated user's legs below the knees when seated on the seat; and,   a support member configured to attach the first cushion with the base at a desired relative position.   
     
     
         18 . The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the knee spreader device comprises:
 a set of spaced apart patella pad members extending outwardly in opposite directions relative to the first cushion, the patella pad members defining forward knee engagement surfaces configured to engage the front region of the knees of the associated user during the exercising.   
     
     
         19 . The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the support member configured to attach the first cushion with the base at a desired relative position comprises means for mounting the seat relative to the base, wherein the seat and the first cushion are coupled with the base at a single attachment location. 
     
     
         20 . The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the boom member comprises a grippable ring member supported by an associated overhead structure relative to the therapeutic exercise apparatus to enable the associated user of the apparatus to grip the grippable ring member and, by using the arms, to raise and lower the body of the associated user relative to the base and seat.