Abstract:
An exercise machine for strengthening the foot and for treating plantar fasciitis includes a foot pad for receiving a patient&#39;s foot and a resistance member associated with the foot pad. As the patient pivots the foot pad on a pivot pin located near the heel section of the foot pad, a resistance is applied to the toe section of the foot pad thereby providing strengthening for the plantar fasciitis band of tissue.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a division of U.S. Ser. No. 14/066,233 filed Oct. 29, 2013 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,900,102, which is a division of U.S. Ser. No. 12/845,083 filed Jul. 28, 2010 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,574,134, which claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 61/229,433 filed Jul. 20, 2009, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated by reference herein and priority is claimed thereto. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The invention relates generally to an apparatus and device for strengthening the foot and more particularly for rehabilitating plantar fasciitis using weights or resistance. 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for rehabilitating a person having plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It involves pain and inflammation of a thick band of tissue, called the plantar fascia, which runs across the bottom of the foot, connecting the heel bone to the toes. Plantar fasciitis causes intense pain which usually occurs with the first steps in the morning. Once the foot limbers up, the pain of plantar fasciitis normally decreases, but it may return after long periods of standing or getting up from a seated position. 
     Plantar fasciitis is particularly common in runners. People who are overweight, women who are pregnant and those who wear shoes with inadequate support are at higher risk of plantar fasciitis and, if left untreated, it can interfere with walking and daily living activities as well as athletic activity. Non-surgical treatment of this condition involves anti-inflammatory agents as well as lengthening of the plantar fascia through a stretching routine designed to remove tension on the muscle tissue. Unfortunately, traditional active and passive stretching techniques only supply temporary relief of the pain and not a permanent relief or cure. As in most cases of injury, rest is only one part of a comprehensive plan to heal damaged muscle tissue. Today&#39;s therapies include a rigorous strengthening regimen. The present invention strengthens the plantar fascia to a point of total rehabilitation as long as the user is faithful to the exercises prescribed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an apparatus and method of use for helping to strengthen the foot and more particularly for treating plantar fasciitis. The device can be used in commercial gyms similar to weight strengthening machines such as bench presses, leg strengthening machines, and other devices that include the movement of weights or resistance through cams and pulleys. The present invention also contemplates the use of a lateral resistance device that can be used for smaller in-home use. 
     In one embodiment, a weight machine includes a stack of weights having five pound increments or less, stacked vertically and attached to a pulley system. At the other end of the pulley system is a rotating plate or platform that the patient can put his foot on and move laterally in a sideways direction against resistance of the weight stack. A foot pad on the platform is configured to receive the patient&#39;s foot and hold it firmly while the patient exercises. The heel remains firmly planted in a stationary position while the toes and the rest of the foot move laterally on an arc line (circular) from side to side against the resistance of the weights on a rotating platform. The foot movements are in both directions, right to left and left to right, with the resistance of the weight being in both directions. The rotation of the plate or platform is on a pivot pin located in the area of the heel of the foot. An adjustable pin can be used to adjust the angular motion of the rotating plate to accommodate for persons having less range of motion from side to side. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the weight stack is replaced by resistance bands, hydraulic arms, or similar known resistance devices for imparting resistance to the rotating plate. Importantly, the amount of resistance is adjustable and the heel remains stationary on the rotating platform while the remainder of the foot moves laterally from side to side against the opposing resistance. 
     In another embodiment, an apparatus is provided for treating and strengthening the foot, and preferably for treating plantar fasciitis. In this embodiment, a foot pad has a heel section and a toe section and the foot pad is pivotally mounted on the frame. There is a resistance member associated with the foot pad in order to add resistance to the foot pad as it pivots on the frame. The foot pad is mounted on a first pivot pin positioned closer to the heel section than to the toe section so that as the foot pad pivots at the heel section the toe section moves on an arc line against the resistance of the resistance member. In one embodiment, the resistance member is a coil spring that provides resistance both to the right and to the left as the toe section moves laterally along the arc line. Thus, starting from a neutral position, the foot pad pivots on pivot point located in the heel section so that the toe section moves on an arc line up to 120° of motion to the right, or 120° of motion to the left against the resistance of the coil spring. The resistance as the foot pad moves to the right, for example, remains constant through the movement from the neutral position from the right and back to the neutral position, where there is no longer resistance. The same holds true for movement to the left. The coil spring is adjustable in order to increase or decrease the amount of resistance against the movement of the toe section of the foot pad. The amount of resistance that can be adjusted ranges from about one pound up to about eighty pounds. In one embodiment, the foot pad is mounted on a second pivot pin so that the foot pad can tilt at an angle of up to 90° so that the toe section is higher than the heel section. This embodiment provides the option of permitting the patient to sit in a chair and tilt the foot pad so that the toe section is higher than the heel section and comfortably operate the device while in a seated position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a front view of a weight machine having a movable weight stack to cause resistance to the rotating platform. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the weight machine depicting the movable weight stack and pulley arrangement attached to the rotating platform. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view depicting the weight machine including the rotatable platform having lateral movement from side to side while the heel portion remains stationary. 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the foot exercise machine. 
         FIG. 5  is an end elevational view of the foot exercise machine. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the foot exercise machine. 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the foot pad. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the foot pad. 
         FIG. 9  is an end view looking at the heel section of the foot pad. 
         FIG. 10  is a side elevational view of the foot pad mounted on a pivot pin. 
         FIG. 11  is an end elevational view of the foot pad mount on the pivot pin looking at the heel section of the foot pad. 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic of the gauge in pounds representing the resistance applied to the foot pad. 
         FIG. 13  is an elevational view of the pivot pin. 
         FIG. 14  is a side elevational view of the frame upon which the foot pad is mounted. 
         FIG. 15  is a top view of the frame upon which the foot pad is mounted. 
         FIG. 16  is a side elevational view of a mounting plate upon which the foot pad is mounted. 
         FIG. 17  is a top view of a foot pad mounted on a frame and base on which the foot pad can tilt up to 90° with the toe section higher than the heel section. 
         FIG. 18  is a side elevational view of the foot pad mounted on the base and showing the foot pad tilting with the toe section higher than the heel section. 
         FIG. 19  is a side elevational view of a tilt plate for use in tilting the foot pad through about a 90° arc. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     One embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . A weight machine  10  similar to those found in commercial gyms, includes a weight stack  12  comprising movable five-pound plates  14 . The plates  14  can be any incremental weight such as two pounds, four pounds, five pounds, or any combination of these increments, depending upon the total amount of weight required for a particular patient. The plates  14  are supported and can move vertically (up and down) along one or more support rods  15 . A first pulley  16  and a second pulley  18  are connected together by a cable  20 . A first end of the cable is attached to the weight stack and the second end of the cable is attached to rotating platform  22 . Alternatively, a third pulley (not shown) can be used to change the direction of the cable from vertical to horizontal. A foot sleeve  24  is positioned on the rotating platform and is configured to receive a person&#39;s foot for use during the exercises. Preferably, the foot sleeve includes a heel support  26  which remains stationary during the exercising. In this embodiment, the rotating platform  22  is supported by and rotates on pedestal  27 . The pedestal  27  is positioned beneath the heel support  26  so that the heel of the foot remains stationary as the platform  22  rotates or pivots on the pedestal  27 . The pedestal  27  is anchored to a base of the machine. The rotating platform  22  includes indexed holes  28 , with a pin extending through the holes, in order to adjust the amount of lateral movement of the rotating platform. A pull-pin  30  extends through the indexed holes in order to limit the amount of lateral movement of the rotating platform. Alternatively, the range of rotation or pivoting can be unlimited. 
     In use, a patient will place their foot through the foot sleeve  24  and rest their foot on the rotating platform  22 . The patient uses the other foot for support. The patient&#39;s heel will be supported by heel support  26  which remains substantially stationary throughout the exercise. The patient selects the appropriate amount of weight on the weight stack  12  and then moves the foot in the foot sleeve in a lateral direction ( FIG. 3 ) along an arc line that is circular against the resistance of the weight stack. Importantly, the heel of the foot remains substantially stationary in the heel support  26  while the rest of the foot moves in a lateral right to left and left to right motion, with resistance from the weight stack in both directions. The motion of the toes is substantially circular, while the foot pad and platform rotate or pivot at the heel. The pull-pin  30  can be placed in any of the indexed holes  28  in order to adjust the starting point for the rotating platform. Preferably, the patient will keep their shoes on (gym shoes or tennis shoes) during the exercise for added support. The shoes are not necessary, however, it is preferable. Support arms  30  extend from the machine  10  so the patient can hold onto the arms and maintain balance during the exercise. After the patient completes a number of repetitions with one foot, he can remove that foot from the foot sleeve  24  and insert the other foot and continue the repetitions. The device strengthens the foot in general and the plantar fascia in particular to a point of total rehabilitation as long as the user is faithful to the exercises prescribed. 
     In another embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 4-15 , a foot exercise machine  50  includes a base  52  which typically is placed on the floor and provides support for the foot exercise machine. A frame  54  extends upwardly from the base  52  and has a foot pad  56  mounted on the top of the frame  54 . The foot pad  56  includes a heel section  58  and a toe section  60  and has a flange  62  extending around the foot pad. In use, the patient places their foot on top of the foot pad  56  with the heel of the foot being in the heel section  58  and the toe of the foot being in the toe section  60 . The flange  62  that extends around the foot pad helps to keep the foot positioned on the foot pad during use. A restraint  64  also can be placed on the foot pad in order to hold the foot on the foot pad during use. The restraint  64  can include a strap, sleeve or any type of securing restraint in order to hold the foot on the foot pad  56  during use. The foot pad also has a heel edge  66  and a toe edge  68  which define the longitudinal extremities of the foot pad  56  and through which longitudinal axis  70  extends. The foot pad is attached to mounting plate  71  which in turn is attached to the frame  54 . A first pivot pin  72  extends through the mounting plate  71  and provides the basis for the foot pad  56  to pivot during use. It is contemplated that the foot pad  56  can be mounted with a quick release (not shown) in order to substitute different sized foot pads for different sized feet. Also, it is contemplated that the length and width of foot pad  56  be adjustable to accommodate different sized feet. 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 4-15 , the foot exercise machine also includes a resistance member  80  which can be any type of resistance member that provides a resistance to the foot pad during use. In this embodiment, a coil spring  82  is positioned in a bore in the frame and surrounds the first pivot pin  71 . The coil spring  82  is restrained at its top and bottom by a top compression plate  84  and a bottom compression plate  86 . The coil spring  82  is further restrained by coil spring restraint arm  88  which extends from the bottom compression plate  86  into the base  52  of the machine in order to keep the coil spring in a compressed configuration and to provide the appropriate resistance to the foot pad  56 . In one embodiment, an adjustment screw  90  is provided through the base  52  of the machine in order to adjust the resistance of the coil spring  82 . A resistance gauge  92  is indexed in pounds and can range from one pound up to eighty pounds in any increments determined to be appropriate for a particular patient. For example, turning the adjustment screw  90  either clockwise or counterclockwise, will increase or decrease the length of coil spring  82 , thereby adjusting the amount of resistance the coil spring will apply to the foot pad  56  during use. 
     The location of the first pivot pin  71  with respect to the foot pad  56  is one important aspect of the invention that will determine not only how much lateral movement is applied to the toe section  60 , but also the location of the application of force to the toe section. For example, in one embodiment, the first pivot pin  72  is located along longitudinal axis  70  in the heel section  58  of the foot pad  56 . The first pivot pin  72  is located anywhere along the longitudinal axis extending from heel edge  66  up to about four inches along the longitudinal axis  70  moving toward the toe section. Importantly, the first pivot pin  72  will be located on the foot pad closer to the heel edge  66  than to the toe edge  68 . In one embodiment, the first pivot pin  72  is located on the foot pad along the longitudinal axis  70  within two inches of heel edge  66 . 
     In another embodiment of the invention, as shown in  FIGS. 16-18 , the foot pad  56  is mounted so that the foot pad can tilt to accommodate someone sitting in a chair. In this embodiment, one or more tilt plates  100  support the foot pad and allow the foot pad to tilt up to 90° by rotating on second pivot pin  102 . As can be seen in  FIG. 17 , for example, the dotted line shows the foot pad elevating from a horizontal toward a vertical position and up to 90° in order to accommodate someone sitting in a chair. The toe edge  68  will be higher than the heel edge  66  when the foot pad  56  is rotated upwardly on pivot pin  102 . A locking knob  104  is used to prevent the foot pad from tilting, and when unscrewed, allows the foot pad to tilt upwardly and then knob  104  is turned to lock the foot pad in the tilted angular position. An arcuate slot  106  in the tilt plates  100  allow the foot pad to move along the arcuate path as described. The second pivot pin  102  extends through bore  108  and is positioned near the heel section  58  of the foot pad  56 . 
     While not shown in the drawings, it is contemplated that foot pad  56  can be mounted on the frame so the foot pad can tilt in any direction including with the toe section being above the heel section, or laterally from side to side. 
     In use, the foot exercise machine  10  as shown in  FIGS. 4-18  is used to generally strengthen the foot and in particular to treat plantar fasciitis. A patient places their foot on the foot pad  56  and adjusts the restraint  64  on the foot pad to firmly secure the foot to the foot pad. A suitable amount of resistance is selected so that the patient can do multiple repetitions moving to the right or to the left. The longitudinal axis  70  represents a neutral position where there is no resistance on the foot pad or the patient&#39;s foot. As the patient moves his foot to the right, for example, he will encounter resistance as the foot pad pivots at the pivot point located closer to the heel section than the toe section of the heel pad. The patient can move the foot up to 120° to the right and encounter resistance throughout the movement to the right. When the patient completes the movement to the right, he will then move the toe section along the arc line back toward the neutral position. In moving left back to the neutral position, the patient also encounters resistance on the foot. Similarly, the foot pad can be moved to the left through an arc of 120° encountering resistance moving both to the left and back to the right. Again, there is no resistance at the neutral position. The flange  62  on the foot pad helps to secure the patient&#39;s foot during the lateral movements to the right and the left during use. 
     If the patient is unable to stand during the exercise routine, the patient can sit in a chair and the foot pad  56  can be tilted at an angle to accommodate the patient&#39;s sitting position. Thus, referring to  FIGS. 16-18 , the patient, from a seated position, places his foot on foot pad  56  and attaches the restraint  64  as previously described. Using locking knob  104 , the locking knob is turned thereby releasing the foot pad so that it can tilt by pivoting on second pivot pin  102  along an arcuate slot  106  in tilt place  100 . The foot pad can tilt up to an angle of about 90° to accommodate the seated patient. After tilting the tilt pad  56  so that the toe section  60  is higher than the heel section  58 , the locking knob is returned to a closed position thereby locking the foot pad at an angle and so that the patient can then begin the exercise. 
     The above-described apparatus and use is not limited to a device for use in a gym or health club, but also can be used and modified for use at home. Further, while a weight stack has been described, it is contemplated that other forms of resistance can be substituted for the weights, such as stretchable bands, hydraulic pistons, and the like. Also, references herein to a patient is broadly defined so that anyone seeking to strengthen their foot, whether or not they have plantar fasciitis.