Lower extremity exerciser device for exercise and support

Abstract

An exercise system can include an exercise device and a sliding board that when used together may help patients regain strength and mobility during lower limb rehabilitative exercises. The exercise device may include a foot support body; a support wall extending vertically upward on one side of the foot support; a divider wall extending vertically upward from the support body and extending transversely from an opposing side of the foot support body; an ankle bed rest defined by a space from the support wall and around the divider wall; and a smooth bottom surface. The sliding board can have a smooth top surface that is slidable relative to the smooth bottom surface of the exercise device.

1 . An exercise system comprising:
 an exercise device comprising:
 a foot support body; 
 a support wall extending vertically upward from the foot support body and located along a first side of the foot support body; 
 a divider wall extending vertically upward from the support body and extending transversely toward the support wall from an opposing second side of the foot support body; 
 an ankle bed rest between the rotational restraint wall and second side around the divider wall; and 
 a smooth bottom surface on the foot support body; and 
   a sliding board having a smooth top surface such that the bottom surface of the foot support body is slidable over the top surface of the sliding board.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the exercise device further comprises a slider having the smooth bottom surface, wherein the slider is attached to a base of the foot support body opposite of the support wall and divider wall. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the smooth bottom surface of the exercise device and the smooth top surface of the sliding board are cooperatively configured for slidability of the smooth bottom surface of the exercise device relative to the smooth top surface of the sliding board. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding board includes at least one fold line that partitions the sliding board into at least two sliding board segments such that the sliding board is foldable. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein at least one sliding board segment of the at least two sliding board segments has a surface area that is about the same as a surface area of the smooth bottom surface. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the smooth bottom surface of the exercise device is located on a sliding board segment of the folded sliding board. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding board includes a substrate with a slidable layer thereon, wherein the slidable layer includes the smooth top surface. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding board is a single member with or without a coating, wherein the smooth top surface is a top surface of the single member. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding board includes a weighted body. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding board includes a bottom surface that is configured to be rough or non-slidable. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the exercise device is devoid of a weighted slider attached to a base of the foot support body opposite of the support wall and divider wall. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the exercise device includes a compressible pad on a top surface of the foot support body to form the ankle bed rest. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the compressible pad extends from the support wall and around the divider wall. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the compressible pad is memory foam, gel in pocket, bead bag, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding board is corrugated cardboard with or without one or more folds. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the exercise device further comprises a smooth slider member having the smooth bottom surface, wherein the smooth slider member is attached to a base of the foot support body opposite of the support wall and divider wall. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the smooth slider member is plastic. 
     
     
         18 . The system in  claim 1 , further comprising a recess in the foot support body located in the ankle bed rest, wherein the recess extends horizontally between the divider wall and the support wall and the recess extends vertically at least a length equal to a width of the divider wall. 
     
     
         19 . A method for supporting and restraining a patient's ankle, the method comprising:
 providing the system of  claim 1 ;   positioning the exercise device under an ankle region of the patient with the sliding board under the exercise device;   placing the patient's ankle on the ankle bed rest of the exercise device, thereby supporting the patient's ankle while the exercise device is on the sliding board; and   maintaining another leg of the patient in a neutral position.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising one or more of;
 with the patient lying on a side, the patient performing with one leg and one foot one or more of hip flexion, hip extension, knee flexion, and knee extension with the patient's foot inserted into the exercise device that is sliding on the sliding board, and the patient's foot in a side position; or   with the patient lying in a supine position, performing with one leg and one foot of the patient one or more of hip abduction, hip adduction, knee plus hip flexion, and knee plus hip extension, with the patient's foot inserted into the exercise device and the patient's foot pointing generally upward, wherein the exercise device slides on the sliding board.   
     
     
         21 . A method for supporting and restraining a patient's ankle, the method comprising:
 providing the system of  claim 1 ;   positioning the support wall of the exercise device under a knee region of the patient; and   performing flexion and/or extension of the knee of the patent while the knee is on the support wall of the exercise device.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising positioning the sliding board under the exercise device before positioning the support wall of the exercise device under the knee region of the patent.