Abstract:
The present invention relates to a device for improving and developing the strength, coordination, balancing and proprioception of a user. Especially the present invention relates to an exercising device ( 10 ) comprising a balancing means ( 12 ) and a vibration means arranged to vibrate said balancing means ( 12 ).

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a device for improving and developing the strength, coordination, balance and proprioception of a user. Especially the present invention relates to an exercising device comprising a combination of balancing means and vibration means. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Development of a good sense of balance, proprioception and coordination is usually a matter of practice. Many sports activities require a user to develop a well developed sense of proprioception or body awareness, including balance, in order to become proficient. 
   Further, people of the society of today have sometimes problems with dizziness, and strains and injuries of joints and muscles. In order to overcome these problems and to improve a user&#39;s motor skills different kinds of balancing boards are commonly used. Many prior art balancing boards comprises a platform for supporting a user and that is pivotable around a single axis. Other prior art balancing boards comprises a hemispherical pivot point, whereby movement in all directions is provided. By standing on the balancing board a user can improve his balance, proprioception, strength and coordination. 
   The research study “Postural and symptomatic improvement after physiotherapy in patens with dizziness of suspected cervical origin”, Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabil. 1996; 77:874-82, shows that vibration-induced body sway is larger for people suffering from dizziness of suspected cervical origin as compared to a healthy control group. This indicates that the postural control is impaired in people suffering from dizziness of suspected cervical origin and suggests that the cervical disorders may affect the human balance function. The study also discloses that physiotherapy, e.g. soft tissue treatment, stabilization exercises of the trunk and cervical spine, passive and active mobilization, relaxation techniques, home training programs and minor ergonomic changes, aimed to decrease cervical discomfort, objectively improved the distributed postural performance and reduced the subjective symptoms of dizziness and neck pain. 
   The inventor of the present invention has realized that a combination of balancing and vibration induced training can be used to improve the strength, coordination, balance and proprioception of a trainer. Further, the present inventor has realized that such a combined training would result in a training that is quicker, improved and more effective as compared to the training using a conventional balancing board. 
   However, as far as known to the present inventor, research on such a combined balancing and vibration induced training does not exist today and no combined balancing and vibration device is available today. 
   Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide such an exercising device comprising both balancing means and vibration means, whereby the balancing training is improved as compared to conventional balancing boards. 
   An aspect of the invention is to stimulate and activate different senses, groups of muscles and receptors susceptibility, whereby the effect of the training is increased and the result of the training is improved. 
   Another aspect of the invention is to increase the stability of the joints of a user, whereby a more efficient training or rehabilitation is obtained. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The object and aspects described above amongst others are obtained by a device according to the accompanying independent claim. Embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims. 
   The exercising device according to the invention is designed to improve and develop the strength, coordination, balance and proprioception of a user. 
   Further, the exercising device according the invention is constructed to give optimal training for e.g. patients and athletics having injuries after distortions and fractures but also to other injuries affecting the balance capability of the patient, such as dizziness due to a Whiplash injury after a traffic accident. 
   By means of the vibrations the susceptibility of different senses, muscles groups and receptors is increased, whereby the effect and the result of the balancing training are improved. The vestibule-ocular reflex will also be stimulated, whereby the balancing training will be more effective. 
   Further, the vibrations give an increased activation and stimulation of muscle groups and tendons located around ligaments, whereby the sensory bodies in ligaments are stimulated and the joint is stabilized. The stabilization of the joint implies that the exercise centralizes the joint, which gives an optimal function of the joint. This can for example be seen at training of pectoralis or deltoideus using e.g. dumbbells. In the beginning of the training it will be difficult to obtain a linear movement. However, after some training it will be easy to obtain the linear movement due to the centralization of the joint. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a first embodiment of the exercising device according to the invention; 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  schematically show views taken from above of a platform and a base contacting member of the exercising device of  FIG. 1  with a plate of the balancing means removed, and a plate of the exercising device of  FIG. 1 , respectively; 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  schematically show perspective views of the solid base contacting member of  FIG. 2A  and a hollow base contacting member having reinforcement means, respectively; 
       FIG. 4  schematically shows an exploded view of a vibration means according to the invention; 
       FIG. 5  schematically shows a circuit diagram of the exercising device according to  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 6  schematically shows a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the exercising device according to the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention will now be described in more detail by reference to the accompanying drawings in which the same reference numerals indicate the same or similar components. It should be understood that the described embodiments of the invention are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, but only to illustrate the invention. Further, modifications can be made without falling outside the scope of the invention. 
     FIG. 1  schematically shows a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the exercising device  10  according to the invention. The exercising device  10  comprises a balancing means  12  and a vibration means  20  arranged to vibrate the balancing means  12 . The vibration means  20  is arranged to provide horizontally and/or vertically directed vibrations of the balancing means  12 . The balancing means  12  comprises a plate  15  configured to support at least a body part of a user (cf.  FIGS. 2A and 2B ). For example the plate  15  can be configured to support the feet of a user standing on the exercising device  10 . The plate  15  can be exchangeable arranged at a platform  14  of a base contacting member  16 , whereby the plate can be exchanged for a soft or jelly-like plate, which gives the user a more uncontrolled feeling when balancing, or an angled plate or platform. Thus, the degree of exercise can be varied in many ways. 
   The balancing means  12  comprises a base contacting member  16  having a substantially semicircular or an elliptic cross-section and configured to provide a pivoting motion of said exercising device  10 . The base contacting member  16  is preferably configured to accommodate a two dimensional pivoting motion, that is a pivoting motion in any direction in the space defined by the pivot axes X and Y shown in  FIG. 2A . Thus the exercising device  10  can be pivoting in several directions and it is not necessary that the balancing is performed in a direction around one of the pivot axes but the balancing can also be performed in a circular motion around the centre C of the exercising device, that is a pivoting motion in a direction around the pivot axis Z shown in  FIG. 2A . The base contacting member  16  can for example have a hemispherical or an ellipsoidal shape providing a tilting movement in all directions around a pivot point. According to this embodiment, the base contacting member  16  is configured to maintain the exercising device  10  in a fixed position and orientation with respect to a base surface  18 . For example, the base contacting member  16  can be manufactured of a material providing a sufficient friction against a base surface  18  to prevent the exercising device  10  from gliding over the base surface  18 . The base surface can for example be the ground, a floor, a carpet or a mattress. 
   According to one embodiment of the invention, the base surface is configured as a mattress  18  manufactured of an elastic material, e.g. a jelly-like material or a foam rubber material, whereby the mattress shapes itself to the shape of the exercising device when the exercising device is placed on the mattress. Thus, dependent on i.e. the choice of material and the thickness of the mattress, the mattress can function as a support to the exercising device, whereby the pivoting motion of the exercising device can be varied. By replacing a mattress with a less supportive mattress, the pivoting motion is increased and thereby the difficult of the exercise. 
   The balancing means  12  further comprises a platform  14  arranged at an upper part of the base contacting member  16 . The platform  14  is for example tubular and has a cylindrical shape, and configured to support the plate  15 . The outer diameter of the platform is usually in the range of approximately 360-400 mm. 
   The distance between the upper edge of the platform  14  and the base surface  18  is for example less than 150 mm and the angle between the base surface  18  and the platform  14  in tilted position is less than 25 degrees. 
   The given dimensions and measures can however be varied in order to vary the degree of difficulty of the training. 
     FIG. 2A  is a schematic view taken from above of a platform  14  and a base contacting member  16  of the exercising device  10  of  FIG. 1  with the plate  15  removed. As shown in the figure, the base contacting member  16  has a recess  32 , e.g. a central rectangular recess, configured to retain a part of the vibration means  20 . The platform  14  has at its upper edge along its inner circumference a recess  17  arranged to support the plate  15 . The outer edge of the plate can for example rest on the recess or the plate can be provided with a circular protrusion (not shown) dimensioned to fit in the recess, whereby the plate in the latter case can have a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the platform. 
     FIG. 2B  shows a schematic view taken from above of the plate  15  of the exercising device  10  of  FIG. 1 . As mentioned above the plate is arranged to support a body part of a user and can for example be provided with a groove pattern (not shown) or a rough surface in order to e.g. prevent the feet of the user to slide over the plate when the user is standing on the exercising device. 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B  show perspective views of the platform  14  and the base contacting member  16 . The recess  32  for the vibration means is also shown. Further,  FIG. 3A  schematically illustrates a solid base contacting member  16  and  FIG. 3B  schematically illustrates a hollow base contacting member  16  having reinforcement means  19  extending from the container walls defining the recess  32  for the vibration means  20  to the inner surfaces of the base contacting member  16  and the platform  14 . The platform  14  is further provided with holes  13  for electric cables or an electric socket. 
   The exercising device according to the invention can also comprise a balancing means provided with one or several supports  102  ( FIG. 1 ) arranged to limit the pivoting motion of the exercising device in one or several directions. The support can for example be constituted of a cushioning, air bellows or an air collar  104  which e.g. can be lowered from the upper part of the exercising, device towards the base surface. 
   The exercising device or the mattress can be configured with means arranged to provide one or several pushes or shocks to the part of the exercising device supporting the user, whereby the degree of difficulty is increased and whereby the user improves his balancing skills by counterbalancing the push. 
     FIG. 4  shows an exploded view of parts of the vibration means  20 . The vibration means  20  comprises an electric motor  22  arranged to rotate an eccentrically arranged load  24 , whereby the rotation of said load  24  gives rise to said vibration of said balancing means  12 . 
   The vibration means  20  is configured to provide vibrations having frequencies above 0 Hz, preferably in the interval of approximately 0-100 Hz and usually in the interval of approximately 20-100 Hz, whereby the receptors of the body part to be trained, e.g. the foot, the calf and the neck, are stimulated. 
   The vibration means can be configured to provide vibrations starting at a central or inner part of the balancing means and then propagate outwards. 
   The load  24  is connected to the motor  22  by means of a shaft  26  having a diameter larger than the diameter of the shaft  28  of the motor  22 . The motor  22  is rigidly arranged at a first fixation means  30 , e.g. a solid metal piece. The first fixation means  30  is fitted in the recess  32  in the interior of the balancing means  12 , which recess  32  has dimensions adapted to the dimensions of the first fixation means  30 . By this arrangement the vibrations of the motor, during operation of the vibrations means, is eliminated or reduced, whereby the risk of damaging the motor is also eliminated or reduced. 
   Further, a first bearing  34 , e.g. a ball bearing, is arranged at the shaft  26  between the first fixation means  30  and a second fixation means  36 , e.g. a metal piece, and a second bearing  38  is arranged at the shaft  26  between the second fixation means  36  and the load  24 . The bearings  34 ,  38  are arranged to take up the forces radially in order to stabilize the shaft  26  and not to load the motor  22 . When the vibration means  20  is mounted in the recess  32  of the balancing means  12 , the second fixation means  36  can also be fitted in the recess  32 . 
   It should be understood that the vibrations can be accomplished by means of another type of vibration means. For example, the shaft of the motor can be arranged to directly rotate the eccentric load or the shaft of the motor can, by means of a belt or gear wheels, be arranged to drive another shaft which rotates the eccentric load. 
     FIG. 5  shows schematically a circuit diagram of one embodiment of the exercising device  10  according to  FIG. 1 . As indicated in the figure, the exercising device  10  comprises a balancing means  12 , a power supply  40  and a control means  50 . Further, the balancing means  12  comprises a motor  22  connected to a printed circuit card  41  of the power supply  40 , a light source  21  configure to emit light towards the shaft of the motor, a reflector (not shown) arranged at the shaft of the motor configured to reflect the emitted light once per revolution, and a detector  23  configured to detect the emitted light and measure the number of revolutions per minute of the shaft. The light source  21  and the detector  23  are connected to a power supply  51  of the control means  50 . The printed circuit card  41  of power supply  40  is connected to a transformer  42  also comprised in the power supply  40 . The control means  50  comprises the power supply  51 , e.g. realized as a battery, and an interactive device  52  connected to the printed circuit card  41 . The interactive device  52  comprises a display means (not shown) configured to display the measured number of revolution per minute and a potentiometer (not shown) or the like by means of which a user can set a desired number of revolutions per minute. Thus, by means of the control means  50  communicatively connected to said motor  22  the rotational speed of said motor  22  can be controlled, whereby the frequency of the vibrations can be adjusted. The control means can for example be realized as a handheld control unit such as a remote control. 
     FIG. 6  shows a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the exercising device according to the present invention. In the figure a user  62  is lying down on the exercising device  10 . In this embodiment, the exercising device  10  is configured to fit in a chair or a bed, whereby exercising can be accomplished while sitting or lying down. The base contacting member  16  is configured to provide a pivoting movement of the exercising device  10  by sliding over a base surface  18 , e.g. a frame. In  FIG. 6  the direction of the sliding movement is indicated by an arrow. In order to improve the sliding motion of said base contacting member  16  and thereby increase the balancing exercise, a means for providing a sliding movement  60  can be arranged between the base contacting member  16  and the base surface  18 . The sliding means  60  can for example be constituted of a mattress having a smooth surface on which the base contacting member  16  easily can slide. 
   In the figures the shown exercising device has hemispherical base contacting member and circular platform and plate. However, the dimensions and the shape of the exercising device can be varied in many ways and it should be understood that the shape of the base contacting member, the platform and plate also can be modified in different ways without falling outside the scope of the present invention. For example, the platform and the plate can be rectangular, quadratic or oval, but they can also have other suitable shapes or combinations of the above mentioned. The base contacting member is suitably designed to provide pivoting movements in several directions around a fulcrum. The base contacting member can for example have a hemispherical or an ellipsoidal shape having a semicircular or an elliptic cross-section. The exercising device can also comprise means for determining and displaying the degree of tilting of the exercising device. Further, the exercising device can be configured vertical adjustable whereby the degree of difficult of the exercise can be varied by varying the distance between the plate and a base surface. 
   The exercising device according to the invention can also be configured with one or several brushes at the plate, i.e. at the upper part supporting the user. The brushes can be configured for tactile stimulation .of the proprioception of the user. The stimulation can for example be accomplished by a movement of the brushes, e.g. an oscillating movement or a rotating movement. The movement of the brushes is preferably accomplished by one or several shafts connected to the motor. 
   The exercising device according to the invention can also comprise means for simulating a virtual reality to a user. In such an embodiment, display means, e.g. glasses or the like, can display different surroundings to the user, whereby the user will get the feeling of e.g. walking in the mountains or on a golf course. Further, the exercising device is configured to simulate the pattern of the ground of the surroundings, whereby a user will experience height differences and irregularities of the surroundings.