Low impact exercise machine for improving balance and stable mobility

Abstract

Exercise equipment designed to provide low impact exercise for the lower body muscles that are critical for maintaining balance and stable mobility designed for both healthy individuals and those with decreased strength and endurance such as the elderly. The apparatus and method includes a horizontally oriented balance platform on which an exercising individual may stand and a hand rail to provide extra balance support. Once initiated, the balance platform gently tilts up to 30 degrees in any radial direction requiring the exercising individual to respond by contracting the various muscles in the legs, hips and core to counter the changed orientation of the balance platform. The balance platform may then return to a horizontal orientation and tilt again in a new radial direction. The motion of the balance platform may be controlled by a programmable controller.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A low impact exercise apparatus for strengthening the lower body muscles required for balance and stable mobility, the apparatus comprising:
 a balance platform on which an exercising individual may stand;   a plurality of support members capable of adjustable length supporting said balance platform, wherein the orientation of said balance platform may be manipulated by manipulating the relative length of said adjustable length support members; and   a controller in electromagnetic communication with said support members wherein said controller may direct said support member to adjust in length and thereby direct the orientation of said balance platform.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising:
 A handrail for providing support to an exercising individual while standing of said balance platform. 
 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as in  claim 2  wherein said controller is a programmable controller capable of receiving and executing instructions from an exercising individual. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as in  claim 3  wherein said support members manipulate the orientation of said balance platform within the range of horizontal to 30 degrees off horizontal. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as in  claim 2  wherein said controller is a programmable controller that is preprogrammed with balance platform motion profiles an exercising individual may select. 
     
     
         6 . A method of strengthening and toning the lower body muscles required for balance and stable mobility comprising the steps of:
 standing on a horizontally oriented balance platform;   maintain balance while said balance platform inclines to a non-horizontal orientation;   maintaining balance while said balance platform returns to a horizontal orientation.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further including the step of
 grasping a hand rail to assist in the maintenance of balance. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said balance platform inclines to an orientation of no more than 30 degrees off horizontal.