Abstract:
A wheeled walker for training an individual to walk by enabling hip flexion. The walker is equipped with a pulley located between two anchors points to which the ends of an elastic cord are attached a middle portion of the elastic cord runs over the pulley. A first harness for receiving a foot of the user is slidingly coupled to the segment of the elastic cord located between the first anchor point and the pulley. A similar harness for receiving the other foot of the user is slidingly coupled to the segment of the elastic cord located between the second anchor point and the pulley.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of priority of Canadian Patent Application No. 2,608,259 filed Oct. 26, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to training apparatuses for users with limited mobility. Particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for training a person to walk by assisting their hip flexor muscles. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the aging population in the Western world, there is an increase in the number of people with limited mobility. These may be people post a neurologic or orthopedic trauma or even people whose muscles weaken and atrophy with disuse. They would typically rely on assistive devices to allow them to ambulate but the assistive devices are generally stabilizers and support structures—they do not typically provide a solution for specific gait problems. The resulting loss of mobility greatly interferes with the quality of life of these individuals and can lead to psychological and financial hardship. 
   Many of the individuals with limited mobility have the aptitude to regain some measure of mobility but lack the appropriate equipment to do so. Existing equipment such as standard walkers can help support an individual&#39;s weight bearing as he walks but does little with respect to training the muscles responsible for elevating or progressing the limb. As for existing types of body building equipment, they can help in strengthening targeted muscles but usually offer only resistance training, i.e., they provide an opposing force to the muscles being trained, they do not assist in flexing these muscles in any way. This constitutes a major hurdle for individuals who have lost most of their ability to control some key muscles used in walking, such muscles being, for example, the hip flexor muscles. Further, the existing equipment does not lend itself well to help individuals regain coordination of the different movements required in walking. Even with the help of assistive devices like walkers and canes, individuals who are not able to lift and progress their legs due to weak flexors, would not be able to ambulate and hence, would typically continue to atrophy and deteriorate. Strengthening the hip muscles in supine or in standing position is very important but even more important is to setup a training situation which is part of walking and coordinates in sequence the movements required for walking. 
   Therefore, it is desirable to provide an apparatus for training an individual to walk by assisting the individual in flexing the hips and by assisting in the coordination of the sequence of movements associated with walking. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least one disadvantage of previous equipment used in training or assisting individuals to walk. 
   In a first aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for training an individual to use muscles required for walking. The apparatus comprises a frame, an elastic cord and a coupling structure for coupling the elastic cord to the frame. The elastic cord has a first segment hanging from one side of the coupling structure, the first segment for coupling to a first lower extremity of the user. The elastic cord also has a second segment hanging from an opposite side of the coupling structure, the second segment for coupling to a second lower extremity of the user. A third segment of the elastic cord connects the first segment and the second segment, is in contact with the coupling structure and is movable with respect to the coupling structure. The elastic cord is for applying a first force to the first lower extremity, the first force having an upward vertical component and a forward horizontal component upon the first lower extremity being vertically and horizontally distant from the coupling structure, the first force for assisting the first lower extremity in an upward and forward movement upon the user attempting to lift the first lower extremity. The elastic cord is also for applying a second force to the second lower extremity, the second force having an upward vertical component and a forward horizontal component upon the second lower extremity being horizontally and vertically distant from the coupling structure, the second force for assisting the second lower extremity in an upward and forward movement upon the user attempting to lift the second lower extremity. 
   In a further aspect, the present invention provides walker for assisting an individual to use muscles required for walking. The walker comprises a frame, an elastic cord and a coupling structure for coupling the elastic cord to the frame. The elastic cord has a first segment hanging from one side of the coupling structure, the first segment for coupling to a first lower extremity of the user. The elastic cord also has a second segment hanging from an opposite side of the coupling structure, the second segment for coupling to a second lower extremity of the user. A third segment of the elastic cord connects the first segment and the second segment, is in contact with the coupling structure and is movable with respect to the coupling structure. The elastic cord is for applying a first force to the first lower extremity, the first force having an upward vertical component and a forward horizontal component upon the first lower extremity being vertically and horizontally distant from the coupling structure, the first force for assisting the first lower extremity in an upward and forward movement upon the user attempting to lift the first lower extremity and the walker being moved forward by the individual. The elastic cord is also for applying a second force to the second lower extremity, the second force having an upward vertical component and a forward horizontal component upon the second lower extremity being horizontally and vertically distant from the coupling structure, the second force for assisting the second lower extremity in an upward and forward movement upon the user attempting to lift the second lower extremity and the walker being moved forward by the individual. 
   In yet a further aspect, the present invention provides a kit for modifying a walker to provide a hip assist walker to train an individual to use muscles required for walking. The kit comprises an elastic cord and a coupling structure for coupling the elastic cord to the frame. The elastic cord has a first segment hanging from one side of the coupling structure, the first segment for coupling to a first lower extremity of the user. The elastic cord also has a second segment hanging from an opposite side of the coupling structure, the second segment for coupling to a second lower extremity of the user. A third segment of the elastic cord connects the first segment and the second segment, is in contact with the coupling structure and is movable with respect to the coupling structure. The elastic cord is for applying a first force to the first lower extremity, the first force having an upward vertical component and a forward horizontal component upon the first lower extremity being vertically and horizontally distant from the coupling structure, the first force for assisting the first lower extremity in an upward and forward movement upon the user attempting to lift the first lower extremity. The elastic cord is also for applying a second force to the second lower extremity, the second force having an upward vertical component and a forward horizontal component upon the second lower extremity being horizontally and vertically distant from the coupling structure, the second force for assisting the second lower extremity in an upward and forward movement upon the user attempting to lift the second lower extremity. 
   Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  shows a side view of an embodiment of the present invention as it is being used; 
       FIG. 2  shows a side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  but at rest; 
       FIG. 3  shows a rear view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  shows a side view of another embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 5  shows a rear view of yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Generally, the present invention provides an apparatus for training an individual to use muscles required in walking. The apparatus includes an elastic cord slidingly coupled to a frame that can be either fixed or mobile. The elastic cord attaches to each of the individual&#39;s lower extremities and exerts an upward and forward force on the lower extremities, thereby assisting the individual in flexing the muscles required in walking. The mobile version of the apparatus allows the individual to walk about while assisting the individual in flexing the required muscles. The apparatus described herein can be referred to, amongst others, as a hip-assist walker, a walking assist, a mobility assist, a mobility training apparatus, a muscle conditioning assist and, as a walking or mobility therapy device. 
     FIG. 1  shows a side-view of an in-use exemplary embodiment of a hip assist walker (HAW)  20  of the present invention. The HAW  20  includes a frame unit  22  having wheel assemblies  24 , which can includes castor wheels or any other suitable type of wheels, and handles  26  that can be griped by a user  28 . The frame unit  22  further includes a bungee cord  30  coupled to the frame unit  22  through a coupling structure including a pulley unit  32  secured to the frame  22  and anchors  34 . As will be understood by a worker skilled in the art, any type of elastic cord, resilient cable, surgical tubing or elastomer material that is both elastic and resistive can be used instead of the bungee cord  30 . The anchors  24  can be any suitable type of device or arrangement that can be used to fix the bungee cord  30  to the frame  22 . Also shown at  FIG. 1  are harnesses  36  slidingly coupled to the bungee cord  30  and to the feet of the user  28 . For the purpose of the description, it is to be understood that the harness  36  can be any type of holder, loop, rest, sling or binding that allow the user&#39;s feet to couple to the bungee cord  30 . 
     FIG. 2  is side-view of the HAW  20  (when not in use) where the bungee cord  30  is in its un-stretched state.  FIG. 3  is a rear view of the HAW  20  shown at  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 3  shows a first end portion  38  and a second end portion  40  of the bungee cord  30  secured to the frame  22  at the anchor points  34  (not visible in  FIG. 2 ).  FIGS. 2 and 3  also show a first segment  39  and a second segment  41  of the bungee cord  30  to which the harnesses  36  are slidingly coupled and a third segment  42  connected to the frame  22  through the pulley  32 . 
   The following describes an exemplary method for a user to train using the HAW  20 . To use the HAW  20 , the user, perhaps with the assistance of a trainer or physical therapist, grabs the handles  26  and inserts each of his feet in respective harnesses  36 . With his harnessed feet on the ground and next to each other, and therefore with the bungee cord  30  taunt, the user  28  pushes the HAW  20  forward and then, within his capabilities, shifts his weight to one leg and flexes his hip to lift the other leg, which can be referred to as the leading leg (in  FIG. 1  the leading leg is the left leg and the leg to which the weight is shifted is the right leg. Further, the right leg can, in the example of  FIG. 1 , be referred to as the trailing leg). As forward motion of the user  28  and the HAW  20  progresses, the force produced by the tension in the bungee cord  30  assists the user  28  in moving the leading leg forward and up. Then, as in an unassisted walking motion, the user progressively shifts his weight forward and towards the side of the leading leg to push down on the harness  36 . Simultaneously, the trailing leg (right leg) becomes progressively unloaded and, upon the left making contact with the ground, the user flexes his hip to lift the right leg, which is assisted in its movement by the bungee cord  30 . In the course of training, the harness  36  coupled to the first segment  39  slides with respect to the first segment  39  and the other harness  36  coupled to the second segment  36  slides with respect to the second segment  36 . As for the third segment  42  of the bungee cord, it moves over the pulley  32  during training. These relative movements of the first, second and third segments of the bungee cord  30  with respect to the harnesses  36  and the pulley  32  ensure that the tension along the bungee cord is substantially evenly distributed during training of the user  28 . 
   As mentioned with respect to the HAW  20  and training method described above, the third segment  42  of the bungee cord  30  slides back and forth over the pulley  32  as the user  28  walks with the HAW  20 . As will be understood by a skilled worker, the pulley  32  can be supplemented by additional pulleys to control the arrangement of the bungee cord  30  with respect to the frame  22 . Further, a compound pulley can be used to divide the force applied by the bungee cord  30  to the legs of the user  28 . Further yet, the pulley  32  can be replaced by an eyelet bolt (not shown) through which the bungee cord  30  passes or by any other suitable device allowing the third segment  42  of the bungee cord  30  to slide from one side of the HAW  20  to the other as the user walks with the HAW  20 . The pulley unit  32  and any additional pulleys, eyelet bolts, or other suitable parts or devices used in coupling the bungee cord  30  to the frame  22  can be generally referred to as a coupling structure. 
   The pulley  32  and the anchor points  34  can be located anywhere on the frame  22  that will allow a user  32  to train with the HAW  20  in a manner that allows assisted use of hip flexor muscles. For example, the anchor points could be located on the frame  22  at location  35  ( FIG. 2 ). Additionally, with the anchor points  34  located at location  35 , additional pulleys (not shown) could be located at location  37  ( FIG. 2 ) to guide the bungee cord  30  to location  35 . Further, since users can come in all heights, the frame  28  can be made adjustable (not shown) through any suitable means to accommodate users of different heights. The arrangement of the pulley  32  and anchor points  34  can also be made adjustable in height to accommodate users of different heights. 
   The HAW  20  can be fitted with bungee cords of different lengths and strengths to provide training of adequate intensity for a user. The length of the bungee cord  30  can be made adjustable through any suitable means, shown as adjustment means  80  at  FIG. 3 , to provide further adjustment capability to the HAW  20 . These types of adjustments allow a user to progressively decrease the degree of assistance provided by the HAW  20  by, for example, lengthening the bungee cord as he gains improved gait ability. Of course, once the user  28  becomes used to walking with the HAW, he can use the HAW to train in running. 
   The harnesses  36  shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3  can be made of a closed loop of fabric defining a first aperture through which the bungee cord can be threaded and slide, and a second aperture dimensioned to receive a foot of the user  28 . Any other suitable harness can also be used with the HAW  20 . Further, as will be understood by the skilled worker, the user&#39;s feet can be coupled directly to the bungee cord  30  by having the user place the arch of his foot directly on the bungee cord. Further, even though the harnesses  36  are shown as coupled to the feet of user  28 , it is possible to have similar harnesses coupled to any part of the user&#39;s lower extremities (legs). For example, harnesses could be used to couple the bungee cord  30  to the thighs, the knees, the lower legs and/or to the feet of the user  28 . 
   Although not shown, the HAW  20  can be equipped with standard brakes to allow the user to stop the rolling motion of the HAW  20 . 
   The HAW  20  embodiment of  FIGS. 1 to 3  can also be used with the wheel assemblies  24  in locked position. That is, the user  28  can train while the HAW  20  remains stationary (this is similar to having a HAW without wheels or to having the pulley  32  and anchor points secured to an immobile structure). This option allows a beginner user to train with his legs coupled to each other through the bungee cord  30  and harnesses  36  without having to worry about the movement of the HAW  20 . Once the user becomes used to moving his legs with the HAW  20  stationary, the wheel assemblies  24  can be unlocked and the user can begin to train his muscles by walking with the HAW  20 . 
     FIG. 4  shows another exemplary embodiment of the present invention where a hip assist treadmill (HAT)  50  is shown. As for the HAW  20 , the HAT  50  includes a frame  52  to which a bungee cord  30  is coupled through pulley  32  and anchors  34 . The HAT  50  also includes a treadmill  54  which can be powered and controlled by the user  28 , or by a therapist/trainer, in any suitable manner. The HAT  50  provides all the training advantages available to conventional treadmills. As will be understood by the skilled worker, these advantages include, for example, setting a treadmill speed, setting a training duration and setting a training intensity profile. 
   Yet another exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown at  FIG. 5  where a HAW  60  has a pulley  32  and a bungee cord  30  with first segment  62  and second segment  64  secured to harnesses  36 . As will be understood by the skilled worker the first and second segments  62  and  64  could be attached directly to the user&#39;s posterior limbs (lower extremities) without the use of harnesses  36 . 
   The present invention can also be embodied in the form of a kit for retrofitting to a standard walker or to an existing treadmill. As will be understood by the skilled worker, the kit in question would include a bungee cord  30 , harnesses  36 , a pulley  32  and any additional anchors and materials required to adapt a standard walker or existing treadmill into the training apparatuses described above. 
   As described, the present invention provides an apparatus for training (and/or conditioning, assisting etc.) an individual to use muscles required in walking. The apparatus includes an elastic cord slidingly coupled to a frame that can be either fixed or mobile. The elastic cord attaches to each of the individual&#39;s lower extremities and exerts an upward and forward force on the lower extremities, thereby assisting the individual in flexing the muscles required in walking. The mobile version of the apparatus allows the individual to walk about while assisting the individual in flexing the required muscles. 
   In the above description, for purposes of explanation, numerous details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details are not required in order to practice the present invention. 
   The above-described embodiments of the present invention are intended to be examples only. Alterations, modifications and variations may be effected to the particular embodiments by those of skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto.