Patent Document ID: 20100210978
Application ID: 12667994
Patent Flag: 0

Claim One:
1. A system for functional rehabilitation of at least one of strength and balance in a mammalian subject, the system comprising: (a) a substantially flat surface plate capable of supporting a mammalian subject in a substantially supine position; (b) a frame operably connected to said surface plate by at least one air bearing disposed on said frame, the frame structured to be attached to the mammalian subject and the at least one air bearing being adapted to provide a uniform or substantially uniform air pressure exerted on said surface plate; (c) an exercise tool operably connected to said surface plate, said exercise tool positioned along an axis perpendicular to said surface plate and in operable contact with said subject; (d) an air compressor for providing air at a predetermined controllable pressure to the plurality of air bearings; (e) a cable having first and second ends, said first end connected to said frame and said second end threaded through a pulley system and connected to a force actuator for simulating a pseudo-gravitational force on the mammalian subject in the supine position; and (f) a system of pulleys supporting said cable and operably connected to a linear bearing assembly, said linear bearing assembly operably attached to an edge of said surface plate, said linear bearing assembly allowing unrestricted mediolateral movement of the cable thereby providing a gravity-like load that maintains a direction perpendicular to the exercise tool with which the mammalian subject is in contact.