Therapeutic exercise apparatus

A therapeutic exercise apparatus for use by a patient comprises a base and a tubular post pivotally mounted at a lower end thereof to the base for pivotal, back and forth movement about a pivot axis. Springs are used to urge the tubular post toward a substantially upright position. A handle is mounted distal from the lower end. The tubular post and the springs are adapted to provide only nominal (light) resistence to the tubular post pivoting about the pivot axis to allow the therapeutic exercise apparatus to be used by weak patients, such as accident victims, to regain use of a limb.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to medical devices and in 
particular relates to a therapeutic exercise apparatus. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
For many medical patients, it is an important part of their therapy and 
recovery that they exercise. In particular, it can be important in many 
situations to extend and retract one's arm in order to regain use of the 
arm. For example, it commonly occurs that victims of cerebrovascular 
accidents experience flexor synergy. Moderate exercise can go a long way 
to help such a patient recover. 
Unfortunately, typical known exercise equipment is primarily designed for 
use by persons who are already reasonably fit. Indeed, most exercise 
equipment is designed to allow a person who is reasonably fit to increase 
the person's strength or conditioning. In this regard, typical known 
exercise equipment usually have a moderately high resistance to movement 
(in order to build muscle tone or muscle mass). Unfortunately, for many 
medical patients, such moderately high resistence to movement presents an 
absolute barrier to the use of the equipment because at the moment the 
patient lacks the strength to move the equipment. 
Accordingly, it can be seen that a need yet remains for an therapeutic 
exercise apparatus which can be used by medical patients and which 
presents very little resistence to movement. It is to the provision of 
such a therapeutic exercise apparatus that the present invention is 
primarily directed. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Briefly described, in a preferred form the present invention comprises a 
therapeutic exercise apparatus for use by a patient. The therapeutic 
exercise apparatus includes a base and a tubular post pivotally mounted at 
a lower end thereof to the base for pivotal, back and forth movement about 
a pivot axis. The tubular post has a handle distal from the lower end. 
Further, the tubular post is mounted to the base in such a manner that 
there is only very light resistence to the tubular post pivoting about the 
pivot axis. 
Preferably, the tubular post is biased by spring means toward a 
substantially upright position. Also preferably, the base and the tubular 
post are each made of plastic. Further, preferable the handle comprises a 
central upright portion and two additional upright portions straddling the 
central upright portion. 
A therapeutic exercise apparatus according to the invention has numerous 
advantages. It can be used advantageously to reduce flexor synergy found 
in patients following cerebrovascular accidents. The therapeutic exercise 
apparatus helps the patient to regain lost freedom of movement. In this 
regard, the very low resistence to pivotal movement of the apparatus 
enables such patients to use the apparatus, in contrast to known exercise 
equipment which is intended primarily for persons who are already 
reasonably fit. 
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a 
therapeutic exercise apparatus which is simple in construction, durable in 
use, and economical to manufacture. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a therapeutic 
exercise apparatus which can be used to reduce flexor synergy found in 
patients following cerebrovascular accidents. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a therapeutic 
exercise apparatus to allow horizontal adduction and abduction. 
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention 
will become more apparent upon reading the following specification in 
conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now in detail to the drawing figures, wherein like reference 
numerals represent like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows a 
therapeutic exercise apparatus 10 according to a preferred form of the 
invention. The therapeutic exercise apparatus 10 includes an upright 
tubular post 11 having a handle end 12 and a lower end 13. At the lower 
end 13 of the upright tubular post 11, the upright tubular post 11 is 
pivotally connected at a pivotal connection 14 to a base 16. The pivotal 
connection 14 will be explained in more detail in connection with drawing 
FIG. 2. 
The handle end 12 of the upright tubular post 11 includes a handle 
generally indicated at 20. The handle 20 includes a central handle grip 21 
and two side handle grips 22 and 23. An upper connector portion or beam 24 
connects the top of the center handle grip 21 and the side handle grips 22 
and 23. Similarly, lower connectors 26 and 27 connect the side handle 
grips 22 and 23 with the upright tubular post 11 at the lower ends of the 
side handle grips. 
At the lower end 13 of the upright tubular post 11, the base 16 is 
pivotally connected, as previously mentioned. The base includes side 
portions 31 and 32 and end portions 33 and 34 extending and connecting 
therebetween. A pivot axle 36 extends from one side 31 to the opposite 
side 32 half way between the end portions 33 and 34. Springs 36 and 37 
help to provide a counter-balance biasing force, as will be described in 
more detail below. 
Referring now in detail to FIG. 2, the pivotal connection 14 will be 
considered in greater detail. The upright tubular post 11 is received in a 
T-shaped collar 41 which provides a pivotal connection between the pivot 
axle 36 and the upright tubular post 11. The T-shaped collar 41 has an 
upper section 41a and a lower section 41b. The collar section 41b is 
rigidly secured to the upright tubular post 11 and is pivotally received 
over the pivot axle 36 to allow the upright tubular post 11 to pivot about 
pivot axle 42. In this way, the upright tubular post 11 can be pivoted in 
the direction of direction arrow 43 or in the direction of direction arrow 
44. The springs 36 and 37 are each secured at a hook-shaped small end 
thereof, such as 47, 48, which are held in place by retention fasteners 51 
and 52. The opposite ends of the springs are larger hook-shaped portions, 
such as 53, for receiving part of the upright portion 41a of the T-shaped 
collar 41. In this way, the first spring 37 provides a biasing force in 
the direction of direction arrow 44, while the second spring 37 provides a 
substantially equal biasing force in the opposite direction, that is, in 
the direction of direction arrow 43. In this way, the biasing forces 
exerted by the two springs are equal when the springs are in their 
equilibrium position with the tubular post in its substantially upright 
configuration. In this way, from this neutral configuration, very little 
resistence is presented to the user of the therapeutic exercise apparatus, 
while still providing some slight force to return the upright tubular post 
to its upright position as shown in FIG. 1. 
FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment of a therapeutic exercise apparatus 
110 which is substantially identical to the therapeutic exercise apparatus 
10 of FIG. 1, with the exception that the biasing springs have been 
deleted in favor of a slight friction or interference fit between the 
T-shaped collar 41 and the pivot axle 36. 
The therapeutic exercise apparatus according to the present invention can 
be constructed according to several techniques. For example, in the 
prototype apparatus constructed and tested, the individual components are 
made of PVC. However, other materials could be used, including other 
plastics or metals (such as aluminum, aluminum alloys, or steel). What is 
important is that a base is provided for allowing pivotal motion of the 
upright post with the handle, which at the same time providing very light 
resistence to movement in order to allow rehabilitation patients to use 
the therapeutic exercise apparatus. 
The innovative therapeutic exercise apparatus according to the present 
invention can be used to reduce flexor synergy seen in patients following 
cerebrovascular accidents. Several neurodevelopmental theorists have 
stated that the strongest component of the flexion synergy is elbow 
flexion. The therapeutic exercise apparatus is a purposeful piece of 
equipment that allows the elbow to be extended, thereby lengthening the 
triceps and reducing the flexion pattern. When the patient pulls back, the 
biceps contract allowing active elbow flexion. 
The therapeutic exercise apparatus can also be positioned to allow 
horizontal adduction and horizontal abduction. Horizontal adduction can be 
completed by allowing the patient to pull the therapeutic exercise 
apparatus in towards the body crossing over the chest. Horizontal 
abduction can be completed by pushing the therapeutic exercise apparatus 
away from the body until the arm is out to the side. 
The therapeutic exercise apparatus allows patients to work through flexor 
synergy encouraging correct movement patterns with muscle re-education. 
Initially, the therapeutic exercise apparatus configuration of FIG. 3 can 
be used with new therapy patients to allow exercise with the barest amount 
of resistance. Thereafter, springs can be attached (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) 
to upgrade the amount of resistance creating a progressive resistive 
exercise program. These movements are used regularly to complete 
activities of daily living such as feeding, grooming, hygiene, dressing 
and bathing. 
While the invention has been disclosed in preferred forms, it will be 
apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, additions, 
and deletions can be made therein without departing from the spirit and 
scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.