System for Knee Extension Therapy

Abstract

The present invention concerns a system that is useful to apply controlled, gradual muscular stretching, and is particularly useful for knee extension therapy.

1 . An system for knee extension therapy, comprising:
 an elongated base;   a thigh strap configured for strapping a patient's thigh to the base   a boot member;   an expandable member connected to the boot member and supported by the base away from the thigh strap and configured so that expansion of the expandable member causes movement of the boot member away from the base, thereby forcing extension of the knee.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the expandable member is an inflatable bladder. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein system is configured so that expansion of the expandable member causes rotation of the boot member as the boot member moves away from the base and so that the thigh strap prevents the patient's thigh from moving away from the base. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the expandable member is a bladder that is connected along a length of the boot member and is configured to expand between the boot member and the base by a varying amount along the length of the boot member. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the boot member includes a strap for securing the user's foot within the boot member. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  including a remote control for controlling expansion of the expandable member. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  including a control for permitting contraction of the expandable member. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the expandable member is an inflatable bladder and the remote control includes a pump for inflating the bladder. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the remote control also includes valving that is operable for deflating the bladder. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the remote control is manually operated by the user. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the base is hinged for reducing its length for storage. 
     
     
         12 . A method for knee extension therapy for a patient comprising the steps of:
 securing to an elongated base a patient's thigh;   placing the patient's foot in a boot member on the base; and   gradually moving the boot member away from the base to thereby produce forces in the leg for extending the knee.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of gradually expanding an expandable member between the boot member and the base. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the expanding step includes inflating an inflatable bladder; and
 linking together the boot member with a plate, thereby to guide movement of the boot member. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the expanding step comprises the step of manually pumping fluid into a bladder to inflate the bladder; and
 manually controlling the occasional deflation of the bladder to allow the boot member to return toward the base, thereby to reduce the forces in the leg.