Physical therapy and fitness device

Abstract

A physical therapy device includes one or more balance pedals. The balance pedals are slidable along one or more resistance bands.

1 . A physical therapy and fitness device, comprising:
 one or more balance pedals, adapted to removably support a foot of a user during use of the device, wherein each of the one or more balance pedals includes an elongated slot running longitudinally through the balance pedal, the elongated slot being adapted to receive one or more resistance bands which are slidable through the elongated slot, wherein during use of the device the user's foot rests on or pushes against the one or more balance pedals, allowing the one or more resistance bands to slide relative to the one or more balance pedals, while the user maintains resistance on the one or more resistance bands.   
     
     
         2 . The physical therapy and fitness device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more handles graspable by the user and connected to the one or more resistance bands. 
     
     
         3 . The physical therapy and fitness device of  claim 3 , wherein the elongated slot is ovoid in cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         4 . The physical therapy and fitness device of  claim 3 , wherein the elongated slot has smooth inner edges providing relatively frictionless sliding contact between the slot and the resistance band passing through the slot. 
     
     
         5 . The physical therapy and fitness device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more balance pedals comprise two balance pedals which are slidable along a single resistance band. 
     
     
         6 . The physical therapy and fitness device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more balance pedals remain in contact with the user's foot due at least in part to upward forces generated by the user's hands acting upwardly on the one or more resistance bands and the one or more pedals, and not due to tying in or otherwise attaching the user's feet to the pedals. 
     
     
         7 . The physical therapy and fitness device of  claim 1 , wherein a top surface of the one or more balance pedals includes a raised ledge which facilitates holding a foot of the user of the device in place on the one or more pedals during use of the device. 
     
     
         8 . The physical therapy and fitness device of  claim 7 , wherein the raised ledge is moveable relative to an upper surface of the balance pedal. 
     
     
         9 . The physical therapy and fitness device of  claim 1 , wherein a top surface of the one or more balance pedals includes frictional grooves or pads adapted to provide a gripping action between the top surface of the balance pedal and the user's foot. 
     
     
         10 . The physical therapy and fitness device of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom surface of the one or more balance pedals includes frictional grooves or pads adapted to provide a gripping action between the bottom surface of the balance pedal and the ground. 
     
     
         11 . The physical therapy and fitness device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more resistance bands are color-coded to denote different lengths for seating or standing use. 
     
     
         12 . The physical therapy and fitness device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more bands are color-coded to denote differing resistances. 
     
     
         13 . The physical therapy and fitness device of  claim 1 , wherein a top surface of the one or more balance pedals has a convex curvature in cross-section, sized to accommodate a foot of a user of the device. 
     
     
         14 . The physical therapy and fitness device of  claim 1 , wherein opposing ends of the elongated slot are tapered to facilitate guiding of the resistance bands into the elongated slot. 
     
     
         15 . The physical therapy and fitness device of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the elongated slot is less than the untensioned diameter of the resistance band. 
     
     
         16 . The physical therapy and fitness device of  claim 1 , further comprising a break in a bottom surface of the one or more pedals, the break forming a longitudinal trough to accommodate the resistance band, and wherein a diameter of the trough is less than a diameter of the band. 
     
     
         17 . The physical therapy and fitness device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated slot is positioned at or closely adjacent to a center-of-mass location of the pedal. 
     
     
         18 . The physical therapy and fitness device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pedals has a lattice structure and is relatively lightweight, such that each of the one or more pedals is at about or less than 6 ounces. 
     
     
         19 . A physical therapy and fitness device, comprising:
 one or more balance pedals adapted to removably support a foot of a user during use of the device, wherein each of the one or more balance pedals includes a slot running longitudinally through the balance pedal, the slot being adapted to receive one or more resistance bands, to thereby permit the one or more resistance bands to be slidable through the slot, wherein during use of the device the user's foot pushes the one or more balance pedals so that the one or more balance pedals move relative to the one or more resistance bands when a lateral force is exerted on the pedal by a foot of the user of the device, the one or more balance pedals thereby moving in a lateral direction generally perpendicular to a length of the foot while the user maintains resistance on the one or more resistance bands.