Rehabilitation and Mobility Improvement Apparatus and Method of Use

Abstract

The present invention is a rehabilitation and mobility improvement apparatus (RMIA) and method of use for use in providing increased mobility in persons having reduced strength and mobility due to for instance injury or illness. The apparatus is adapted so as to allow a person who could not readily slide or move their arm or other mobility reduced appendage (MRA) to slide or move their MRA, such as across a flat surface such as a table top or a floor, so as to provide exercise for such MRA, and so as to increase strength and mobility in such MRA.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rehabilitation and mobility improvement apparatus (RMIA) comprising a base having a low friction sliding surface, a handle mounted to said base, and a retention device removably attached to said base, wherein said base includes at least one rim member adapted to prevent objects from striking a user's hand when a user moves said RMIA across an interface surface. 
     
     
         2 . The RMIA of  claim 1 , wherein said low friction sliding surface further defines at least one roller device mounted to said base. 
     
     
         3 . The RMIA of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one roller device further defines a plurality of roller devices, each of said roller devices further defining a singular ball rollingly enclosed in a housing. 
     
     
         4 . The RMIA of  claim 1 , wherein said retention device further defines a VELCRO mounting strap, and wherein said handle further defines a spherical knob handle. 
     
     
         5 . The RMIA of  claim 1 , wherein said base is attached to an appendage of a human user. 
     
     
         6 . The RMIA of  claim 1 , wherein said RMIA further includes a cradle flexibly connected to said base and adapted such that when said base is moved across an interface surface said cradle may be in an off-axis position relative to said base. 
     
     
         7 . The RMIA of  claim 6 , wherein said cradle is attached to an appendage of a human user. 
     
     
         8 . A rehabilitation and mobility improvement apparatus (RMIA) comprising a base having at least one roller device fastened thereto and a retention device removably attached to said base, wherein said RMIA is adapted so as to provide for reduced friction between said RMIA and an interface surface when said RMIA is moved along an interface surface. 
     
     
         9 . The RMIA of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one roller device further defines a plurality of roller devices, each of said roller devices further defining a singular ball rollingly enclosed in a housing. 
     
     
         10 . The RMIA of  claim 8 , wherein said retention device further defines a VELCRO mounting strap, and wherein said handle further defines a spherical knob handle. 
     
     
         11 . The RMIA of  claim 8 , wherein said base is attached to an appendage of a human user. 
     
     
         12 . The RMIA of  claim 8 , wherein said RMIA further includes a cradle flexibly connected to said base and adapted such that when said base is moved across an interface surface said cradle may be in an off-axis position relative to said base. 
     
     
         13 . The RMIA of  claim 12 , wherein said cradle is attached to an appendage of a human user. 
     
     
         14 . A method of using a rehabilitation and mobility improvement apparatus (RMIA) comprising providing a RMIA comprising a base having a low friction sliding surface, and a retention removably attached to said base, mounting said RMIA to a user's appendage, and moving said RMIA across an interface surface so as to provide for rehabilitation and improved mobility of said appendage. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said low friction sliding surface further defines at least one roller device mounted to said base. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one roller device further defines a plurality of roller devices, each of said roller devices further defining a singular ball rollingly enclosed in a housing. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said retention device further defines a VELCRO mounting strap, and wherein said handle further defines a spherical knob handle. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said base is attached to an appendage of a human user. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said RMIA further includes a cradle flexibly connected to said base and adapted such that when said base is moved across an interface surface said cradle may be in an off-axis position relative to said base. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said cradle is attached to an appendage of a human user.