Patent ID: 7996080

Claim:
A device for use by a human subject in performing a recumbent stepping exercise using their legs, hips, knees and feet with the assistance of stimulation, comprising: a base; a seat supported by the base for receiving the subject; a pair of receivers adapted for independently engaging the subject's feet, the receivers constrained for moving alternately and relative to the base along a path of travel in a stepping pattern between a first, extended position with the corresponding leg at least partially bent and the corresponding knee positioned farther from the subject's upper torso and a second, retracted position with the corresponding leg more bent than in the first position and positioned closer the subject's upper torso, such that the hip joint corresponding to each leg is being exercised during the stepping pattern; at least one stop located at the distal end of the path of travel for retarding the movement of at least one of the receivers to simulate the foot making contact with the ground; and a stimulator adapted for electrically stimulating at least one muscle of at least one of the subject's legs as the receivers move along the path of travel in an alternating pattern.