Patent Document

RELATED CASES  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part application of United States provisional patent application 60/757,822 filed Jan. 10, 2006, by inventor, Ronald J. Hruska, Jr. The benefit of provisional patent application 60/757,822 is claimed. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to physical therapy techniques and equipment.  
         [0003]     Physical therapy systems are known that provide controlled resistance to the motion of selected muscles. The motion against the controlled resistance is intended to provide neuromuscular training of the body that results in better positioning of body parts, particularly during motion. In one prior art system of this type, a brace is used to control the resistance to motion of a particular muscle. This approach works well but has the disadvantage of lacking versatility in its application. In most applications, it operates in only one plane on one muscle rather than in all three dimensions and on more than one muscle if desired. Moreover, it is not readily adaptable to different persons and different muscles but is generally tailored for use on a single limb by a single person.  
         [0004]     It is also known to provide controlled exercise against the flow of water in a pool of water that provides reduced weight conditions. In one such prior art system disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,662,558; 5,367,719 and 5,005,228, patients exercise in a pool and may exercise against the flow of water. Individual work stations that provide both open and closed chain exercise are included. This system has a disadvantage in that the individual muscles are not adequately isolated or inhibited.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a novel therapy system.  
         [0006]     It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel neuromuscular repositioning system.  
         [0007]     It is a still further object of the invention to provide a novel method and apparatus for isolating and exercising selected muscles in a controlled sequence to obtain neuromuscular training of the body.  
         [0008]     It is a still further object of the invention to provide anovel method and apparatus of applying fluid pressure at selected points for exercising.  
         [0009]     It is a still further object of the invention to provide a novel physical therapy training method and a novel apparatus for exercising with controlled motion in multiple dimensions.  
         [0010]     It is a still further object of the invention to provide a novel exercise pool having at least one work station in which water is applied in selected directions and/or in a selected sequence and/or against selected body portions.  
         [0011]     It is a still further object of the invention to provide a novel exercise pool.  
         [0012]     It is a still further object of the invention to provide a novel neuromuscular training apparatus and method that is independent of visual stimuli.  
         [0013]     It is a still further object of the invention to provide neuromuscular training apparatuses and methods that reduce the time needed from therapists and related personnel to achieve the desired neuromuscular results.  
         [0014]     In accordance with the above and further objects of the invention, novel physical therapy apparatuses and methods are provided that develop a neuromuscular recognition of the normal human musculoskeletal, respiratory, and neurological patterns. These novel apparatuses and methods reduce undesirable patterns of neural motor tone created by gravitational forces and normal human biomechanical asymmetric function. The novel physical therapy system may be used for targeting of muscles to reduce compensatory muscle association with neuro-mechanical patterns of movement.  
         [0015]     In using the novel apparatuses and methods, a patient&#39;s body parts are repositioned within a therapy pool using pool therapy fixtures that cause the patient to reposition the body parts in the desired position in response to the pool therapy fixtures and thus to train the neuromuscular system to normally position the body parts to the desired position. In this specification the words, “pool therapy fixture” mean any device or apparatus that cooperates with the water in the pool to reposition the body part of a patient from an undesirable position to a more desirable position. The faulty body position is diagnosed using conventional well-known techniques and is not part of this invention. Usually during treatment in accordance with this invention, individual muscles are isolated and caused to assume a desired position with pressure that inhibits some muscles and/or enhances the action of other muscles to provide neuromuscular training. The physical therapist diagnoses muscles that have developed over time to compensate for the normal asymmetries of the body and overuse of some muscles in normal activities on dry land. Muscles are isolated in the pool by the natural buoyancy of the body and the compensatory muscles developed on dry land are reduced and other muscles repositioned to their correct positions and strengthened using feed forward exercises to provide neuromuscular training in multiple dimensions. A common pool therapy fixture is a nozzle that forces a current or stream of water against a selected body part of a patient.  
         [0016]     In an embodiment of the invention in which the pool therapy fixtures include nozzles through which water is pumped against selected body parts, movement of the patient and placement of the nozzles is used to redirect the body parts to the correct orientation vector individually. The amount of force applied to the patient is adjustable according to the pressure setting for each nozzle. This combination allows for a highly variable system that can be used universally for any target audience (i.e. geriatrics, pediatrics, athletics, etc.) by easy adjustment for each individual. Embodiments of pool therapy fixtures that rely on fluidic forces such as pumped water that apply adjustable and limited force are sometimes referred to in this specification as “fluidic pool therapy fixtures”.  
         [0017]     In other embodiments of the invention not relying on fluidic forces, the patient is caused to reposition his or her body parts by the combination of buoyancy in the water and exercise. For example, in one exercise, the patient stands in the center of a loop of rope that has a preset resistance to motion, grips the section of the rope to his or her right with his or her right hand and grips the section of rope to his or her left with his or her left hand and pulls with one hand or the other against the resistance to movement. Because of the patient&#39;s buoyancy, the patient&#39;s cervical curvature, thoracic curvature and lumbar curvature are repositioned from improper positions that may have been assumed over time to their proper position. In other examples, the patient performs standard exercises referred to in the field as ski shift, retro walking or side walking, press downs, step overs and step arounds using submerged parallel bars and submersible block.  
         [0018]     In fluidic pool therapy fixtures, the patient moves against fluidic forces while fluidic forces are applied at angles to different muscles. The patient moves against the force of the fluid first on one side or in one direction and then on another side or in another direction. In a preferred embodiment, a pool is provided and the exercises are performed under reduced weight conditions in the pool. One preferred embodiment of the invention is a station within a pool where there are two circular cross sections adjacent to each other with water flowing clockwise in one section and counterclockwise in the other section. The patient moves in a figure eight pattern cycling between the two sections by moving first through the loop of the station against the clockwise flow of water and then through the other loop against the counterclockwise water flow. In the first loop, nozzles apply force to the patient at an angle to one side of the body at locations and in the second loop nozzles apply force to the opposite side of the patient&#39;s body at different locations. The nozzles are at preselected but different elevations. The resulting effect is that the patient is obtaining controlled three-dimensional exercise with some individual muscle isolation.  
         [0019]     In some embodiments of the invention, individual stations within a pool may be used to elicit the sequential movement response by the patient and some pools may include more stations or fewer stations than the preferred embodiment, which uses nine stations. Moreover, different combinations of stations other than the specific combination of nine stations in the preferred embodiment may be used. All nine stations in the preferred embodiment provide neuromuscular isolation with feed forward activation. Stations one through four provide isolated neuromuscular activity. In this embodiment, stations five through nine provide more advanced integration of neuromuscular activity. Water pressure from behind engages anterior muscles. Water pressure from the side engages muscles on the contra other side.  
         [0020]     In this specification “feed forward activation” refers to a process by which muscles “learn” how and when to contract or relax during certain phases of movement from inputs that isolate muscle activity. The learning occurs from correct positioning rather than from detecting errors and correcting them during the exercise. It does not require making a mistake in positioning to learn the correct position. This process happens on a neuromuscular level involving the muscles, nerve cells, brain, and other structures involved in the central nervous system. Unlike biofeedback, feed-forward activation is the ability of a muscle or group of muscles to learn a pattern of movement through repetition and correct input, without generating bad habits or compensatory patterns.  
         [0021]     In the preferred embodiment, the correct input for feed forward activation is provided by directional movement of water on muscles. By having a patient complete an appropriately designed sequence, certain muscles of the body are pre-activated over and over again without having to use biofeedback. In time, these muscles integrate to anticipate this stimulus and therefore move in the correct manner even when the patient is on dry land.  
         [0022]     The exercise may be considered as taking place in three planes, which are the transverse plane (horizontal), frontal plane and sagittal plane. This language does not literally mean these exact perpendicular planes but refers to motion in all degrees of freedom by the body. The transverse plane exercise inhibits the right back extensors, quadratus lumborum and posterior serratus and introduces right trunk rotation and counterclockwise movement. The frontal plane inhibits right adductors and left abductors of the hip and activates left adductors and right abductors of the hip. The sagittal plane exercises induce internal rotation (IR) at the left femoral-acetabular (FA) joint, right acetabular-femoral (AF) joint and induce internal rotation (IR) at the right glenoid-humeral (GH)joint and scapular complex. A tri-planar respiration exercise expands the right apical-chest and left pelvic floor and facilitates right trunk rotation, lumbo-pelvic counterclockwise movement, and decreases paravertebral, quadratus lumborum and posterior serratus activity. It also introduces right trunk rotation through counterclockwise movement of lumbo-pelvic femoral complex. Exercise in the sagittal plane with transverse plane inhibits hip flexors by activating trunk flexors (abdominals—left internal obliques and transversus abdominis and right external obliques).  
         [0023]     This therapy improves balance by decreasing compensatory muscle tone and increasing symmetry of the body. Venous return and arterial flow improves as a result of resisted rotation. Hyperinflation of the lungs decreases as measured by a pool scale. In this specification, “proprioception” means the reliance on neuromuscular sensation to determine the position of body parts instead of sight. The alteration of visual cues for the patient making visual feedback and monitoring more difficult can cause reliance on proprioception. For the postoperative patient, this effect may be used therapeutically. For example, while immersed, a patient with a habitual visual method of joint placement (e.g. someone who looks at his feet to walk) may be forced to use his proprioceptive system instead.  
         [0024]     From the above description, it can be understood that the method and apparatus of this invention has several advantageous features, for example: (1) it permits neuromuscular training in all three dimensions (three planes) instead of only one dimension (in only one plane); (2) it provides forward feedback rather than biofeedback as a training mechanism; (3) it is economical when used on a large scale since the same equipment can provide tailored therapy to many different patients; (4) it reduces and corrects compensatory patterns of neural motor tone that can be directly attributed to the effects of gravitational forces and the normal asymmetrical biomechanical functionality of the human body.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]     The above noted and other features of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a simplified plan diagrammatic view of one embodiment of a physical therapy apparatus in accordance with the invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a therapy station in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is a right side elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0031]      FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration illustrating a patient being treated in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0032]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of a patient being treated in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0033]      FIG. 8  is a schematic of a patient being treated in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0034]      FIG. 9  is another embodiment of therapy station in accordance with the invention;  
         [0035]      FIG. 10  is still another embodiment of therapy station in accordance with the invention;  
         [0036]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0037]      FIG. 12  is an elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 11 ;  
         [0038]      FIG. 13  is a front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 11 ;  
         [0039]      FIG. 14  is an elevational side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 11 ;  
         [0040]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of still another embodiment of therapy station;  
         [0041]      FIG. 16  is a plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 15 ;  
         [0042]      FIG. 17  is a front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 15 ;  
         [0043]      FIG. 18  is an elevational side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 15 ;  
         [0044]      FIG. 19  is still another embodiment of therapy station in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0045]      FIG. 20  is still another embodiment of therapy station in accordance with the invention;  
         [0046]      FIG. 21  is a plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 20 ;  
         [0047]      FIG. 22  is a front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 20 ;  
         [0048]      FIG. 23  is a right elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 20 ;  
         [0049]      FIG. 24  is a perspective view of another embodiment of therapy station in accordance with the invention;  
         [0050]      FIG. 25  is a plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 24 ;  
         [0051]      FIG. 26  is a front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 24 ;  
         [0052]      FIG. 27  is a right elevational side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 24 ;  
         [0053]      FIG. 28  is a schematic diagram of the water nozzle assembly for the embodiments of  FIGS. 2 and 9 ;  
         [0054]      FIG. 29  is a schematic diagram of the water nozzle assembly for the embodiment of  FIG. 10 ;  
         [0055]      FIG. 30  is a schematic diagram of the water nozzle assembly for the embodiment of  FIG. 11 ;  
         [0056]      FIG. 31  is a schematic diagram of the water nozzle assembly for the embodiment of  FIG. 15   
         [0057]      FIG. 32  is a schematic diagram of the water nozzle assembly for the embodiment of  FIG. 20 ; and  
         [0058]      FIG. 33  is a schematic diagram of the water nozzle assembly for the embodiment of  FIG. 24 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0059]     In  FIG. 1 , there is shown a simplified diagrammatic view of a therapy pool  10  having a plurality of individual therapy stations  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26  and  28 , a stairway  36 , a ramp  38  and an elevator  40 . The details of the pool, such as the stairway  36 , ramp  38  and elevator  40  and the water conditioning are not part of the invention and only function to accommodate the patient&#39;s entry into the pool. The height of the water in the pool is determined by the design and use of the stations as described hereinafter but in the preferred embodiment, the depth of the water in the pool is between 42 and 48 inches. In the preferred embodiment, the dimensions of the pool are 31 feet by 48 feet. Each of these stations provides repositioning of a body part. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , there are nine stations but there may be one station or any number of stations. Within the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , a plurality of spaced apart water nozzle outlets are provided. These outlets are located within each station to apply targeted and sequential forces to the body during motion exercises for patient repositioning and neuromuscular training in the pool. These forces provide three dimensional repositioning without feedback using feed forward training.  
         [0060]     Besides reducing gravitational effects from the buoyancy of the body, the use of exercise in a pool has an additional benefit. A patient looking at his or her limbs during motion against the flow of liquid sees a distorted image because of the change in index of refraction between water and air. This prevents complete reliance on sight and permits better neuromuscular training.  
         [0061]     The nine stations are: (1) station one for hip repositioning shown generally at  12  in  FIG. 1  and shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 2-5 ; (2) station two for repositioning the upper quadrant of the body (from waist upwardly) shown generally at  14  in  FIG. 1  and in more detail in  FIG. 9 ; (3) station three for lateral shifting exercises shown generally at  16  in  FIG. 1  and shown in greater detail in  FIG. 10 ; (4) station four for restoring normal acetabular-femoral internal rotation shown generally at  18  in  FIG. 1  and shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 11-14 ; (5) station five for restoring normal thoracic rotation, and facilitating abdominal obliques and hip rotators shown generally at  20  in  FIG. 1  and in greater detail in  FIG. 15 ; (6) station six for tight hamstrings, paravertebrals or stiffness of the trunk shown generally at  26  in  FIG. 1 ; (7) station  7  for restoring normal reciprocal movement during gait between scapula-humeral joints and pelvic-femoral joints, maximizing rotation to the right from spinal segment T 4  to T 8  during clockwise locomotion with rotation to the left from the sacrum to T 8  during counterclockwise locomotion and femoral-acetabular internal rotation to the left during clockwise locomotion, and reducing osseous and myosseous pathologies of extremities, girdle joints and spine shown generally at  24  in  FIG. 1  and more specifically in  FIGS. 16-19 ; (8) station eight for restoring normal tri-planar activity of the hip, maximizing full active tri-planar range of femoral movement, reducing femoral disease, imbalances of agonistic and antagonistic muscles, restoring normal hip extension and proper timing of hip rotation, and reducing pathologies associated with sacral tilt to the right and forward anterior pelvic orientation to the left shown generally at  22  in  FIG. 1  and shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 20-23 ; and (9) station nine for positioning the hip region for restoring normal sequential motion of the acetabulums on the femurs in a semi-loaded position and transversed plane shown generally at  28  and in greater detail in  FIGS. 24-27 .  
         [0062]     In  FIG. 2 , there is shown a simplified perspective view of station one shown at  12  in  FIG. 1 , sometimes referred to as a water bench for hip repositioning in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. Station one includes a right side wall  44 , a left side wall  46 , a back wall  48  and a hip positioning section  49 . The hip positioning section  49  includes a left slope  72  ending in a left low point  80 , a center-left slope  74  extending from the left low point  80  to a center rounded peak  82 , a center-right slope  76  extending from the peak  82  to the right low point  84  and a right slope  78  extending from the right low point upwardly.  
         [0063]     This hip positioning section is shaped, sized and located to receive a patient in a reclined position with the patient&#39;s right side against the wall  48  or left side against the wall  48  for repositioning of the hip. An adjustable valve controls the momentum of the water hitting the patient. Valve openings for valves or nozzles  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58  and  60  are adjustable from corresponding dials  50 V,  52 V,  54 V,  56 V,  58 V and  60 V (shown in  FIG. 3 ). The valves may be of any suitable type, either directly connected to the valve dials or by remote signals.  
         [0064]     This station can also be used with a seated patient&#39;s position centered along the bench with the patient&#39;s back to the wall  48 . In this configuration, the four nozzles  54 ,  56 ,  58  and  60  act on the backside of the patients legs. In one exercise, the patient moves his/her legs in a swinging motion between a lower pressure stream close to the midline of the patient to a higher pressure stream away from the midline and from a position close to the nozzle outlet to a further position. These exercises are to cause the patient to feel and become conscious of his or her hamstring. This causes the patient to rotate the leg internally to a proper position. The therapist adjusts the rate of flow or cross sectional area of the stream until the patient feels his or her hamstring.  
         [0065]     There is an additional water port located on the base of the bench for a portable nozzle attached to a hose and operated by a therapist for applying additional fluid force to targeted areas of the patient. In the preferred embodiment, all currents or streams of water are operated by a single pump and each nozzle&#39;s flow velocity can be adjusted individually. The direction of the nozzles  50  and  52  is adjustable. However, other arrangements of pumps and nozzles are possible such as several pumps for individual nozzles or groups of nozzles.  
         [0066]     For applying hydraulic pressure to a patient while the hip of the patient is submerged, there is a left hip water outlet  50  in the back wall  48  and a right hip outlet  52  in the back wall  48  positioned to apply a stream of water against the left hip or the right hip respectively, depending on the position of the patient. The two currents of water or streams of water from the water outlets  48  and  50  are located eight inches below the water line and six inches below the center peak  82  The nozzles  50  and  52  that emit the currents of water may swivel to apply adequate momentum to a wider area.  
         [0067]     In an alternate position of the patient with the patient&#39;s back against the back wall  48 , repositioning of leg muscles may take place with a first leg opening  54 , a second leg opening  56 , a third leg opening  58  and a fourth leg opening  60  positioned to impinge on the muscles of the leg depending on where the patient is sitting. The nozzles providing the outlets  54 ,  56 ,  58  and  60  are adjustable in the diameter of their outlets but do not move so as to be directional. Instead the therapist positions the patient to receive the currents of water.  
         [0068]     To supply fluid to the outlets, an internal large conduit communicates with the outlets  50 - 60 . Fluid under pressure enters the conduit  70  through an inlet  62  and the pressure is controlled by the direction the nozzles are pointing and the adjustment setting on the outlet of the nozzles. In the preferred embodiment, the conduit is pressurized to a level that provides the required momentum to body part of the patient being treated. This pressure will vary in accordance with the location of the nozzles with respect to the water line but can be determined readily by the therapist. A hose  64  communicates with the internal conduit at  68  to supply pressure from the nozzle  66  under the control of a therapist.  
         [0069]     In  FIG. 3 , there is shown a plan view of the first station  12  showing the position of the outlet nozzles  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58  and  60  as they would be used by a patient either reclining on the center section  49  or sitting on the section with his/her legs dropping over the edge where they may be impacted by the nozzles  54 ,  56 ,  58  and  60 . In  FIG. 4 , there is shown an elevational view with a therapist  86  manipulating the hose  64  to impact selected muscles of a patient. In  FIG. 5 , there is shown an elevational view of the right side illustrating the location of the right slope  76 , peak  82  and low point  80  as well as the nozzle  66  of the hose  64 .  
         [0070]     In  FIG. 6 , there is shown a simplified schematic view of a patient  88  reclined on the water bench with his right leg raised and his foot resting against a stool so that the stream from the nozzle  52  (not visible in  FIG. 6 ) hits the right thigh of the patient  88  from the left side causing the patient to resist the force and rotate the patient&#39;s hip internally. The therapist asks the patient to bend his or her right knee so that it is at or above the water level. The patient&#39;s left foot can rest against another stool or other physical item of the proper size to remain against the water bench and submerged so that the stream of water from the nozzle  52  ( FIG. 2 ) hits the patient&#39;s right thigh and inhibits right abductors and facilitates right adductors. The patient&#39;s foot is used by the patient to maintain his or her position against the tendency for the stream of water to move the patient outwardly from the bench because of the patient&#39;s buoyancy in the water. With this arrangement, the patient is forced to position his or her body properly and obtain feed forward neural learning of the proper hip rotation. The size of the opening from the nozzle (area and velocity of column of water hitting the patient&#39;s thigh) is set by the physical therapist for proper repositioning based on experience as described hereinafter.  
         [0071]     In  FIG. 7  there is shown a schematic view of the patient  88  reclining so that water pressure may be applied to the patient&#39;s right side. In this case, which is the more common situation, the stream of water from the nozzle  50  ( FIG. 2 ) hits the inner side of the left leg to inhibit left abductor and facilitate the left adductors.  
         [0072]     The purpose of this station is to: (1) restore normal frontal plane adduction and abduction of the hip and thorax by inhibiting sagittal muscle (back extensors and hip flexors) while positioned in a state of mediastinal flexion and maximum zone of apposition; (2) maximize left adduction without hip flexor assistance and with concomitant right acetabular control (this mimics left swing phase of gait during right mid stance); (3) maximize abdominal stabilization during perturbated single leg extension with frontal and transverse plane forces placed on the contralateral extremity; and (4) reduce pain patterns of the low back, mid back and neck secondary to abdominal imbalances, lack of adduction-abduction integration at the hip and trunk, and hyperinflation of the thorax.  
         [0073]     The water bench station uses the position of the patient, controlled movement by the patient, and fluid force from the water nozzles in opposition to movement to perform its desired functionality. The streams or currents of water from nozzles  50  and  52  ( FIG. 2 ) allow for abduction and adduction resistance according to the patient&#39;s position and which leg is being acted upon. When seated, the patient experiences femoral-acetabular internal and external rotation (FA IR and FA ER) from nozzles  54 ,  56 ,  58  and  60 . The additional water port can provide portable resistance by a therapist to integrate adductors and abductors with other appropriate muscles in a pattern of movement. Rungs allow for increased or decreased rotation (increase knee flexion=increase transverse activity). This station is useful for repositioning a left AIC patterned patient. Nozzles aimed at the right side of the legs (inner left leg and outer right leg) mandates left AF IR while nozzles aimed at the left side of the legs (inner right leg and outer left leg) mandate right trunk rotation. It is also useful for left FA IR/adduction with concomitant right FA ER/abduction. It is also useful for trunk rotation with emphasis on maintaining pelvic neutrality. Indications for this treatment are chronic back conditions (examples: scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, spondylosis, etc.). In this exercise, the patient reaches with his or her left upper extremity to extend his or her right leg with a nozzle aimed at his or her left knee for FA IR.  
         [0074]     In  FIG. 8 , the patient is shown sitting forward facing away from the water bench centered on the apex  82  ( FIG. 4  shows the peak or apex  82  best) with the patient&#39;s legs over the edge of the station  1 . In this position, the physical therapist asks the patient to move his or her right leg forward and then back against the water from the nozzle  56  while the patient moves his or her left leg forward as the right leg is moved back. This reciprocal motion is continued and the patient is asked to feel his or her hamstrings as the legs are pulled back against the streams of water. This exercise facilitates the hamstrings. While the patient is in this position, the physical therapist asks the patient to move his or her legs in a swinging motion away from the saggital plane and to internally rotate the femus and feel the hamstring as the water stream from nozzle  54  hits the right leg of the patient and the water stream from nozzle  60  hits the left leg. The water from nozzle  60  facilitates the left hamstring and hip internal rotators and the water stream from nozzle  54  facilitates the right hamstring and right hip internal rotators.  
         [0075]     In  FIG. 9 , there is shown a simplified perspective view of station two which is a parallel bar assembly  90  having first and second parallel bars  92 A and  92 B with corresponding horizontal bars  98 A and  98 B each being support at its ends by vertical bars  94 A,  94 B, and  96 A,  96 B. The vertical bars are mounted to the bottom of the pool and the parallel bars are below the water level  100  in the pool. The parallel bars may be of any length but are spaced apart from each other a distance convenient to permit the patient to raise himself/herself up on the bars and lower himself/herself.  
         [0076]     The focus of this station is upper quadrant activity. Some exercises performed here are: (1) ski shift for left AF IR; (2) retro walking or side walking; (3) press downs; (4) step overs; and (5) step arounds. These are standard exercises performed normally on dry land. A movable wand is used by the therapist to apply a stream of water with a flow rate of between zero and 1.5 feet per second measured one foot from the nozzle outlet while the patient performs these exercises. The wand or water gun may be aimed at the sacrum, pelvis, hips or legs to promote abdominal activation and inhibition of back extensors and to challenge dominant pathological patterns of movement. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 9 , the wand is a water hose  64  from station one. The height of the parallel bars is adjustable to accommodate different patients.  
         [0077]     In  FIG. 10 , there is shown a simplified perspective view of station  3  at  102  having first and second perpendicular walls  104  and  106 . The wall  104  has three outlets or nozzles  108 ,  110  and  112  in a horizontal line at the height of the spinal column and the wall  106  has one opening or nozzle  114  aimed at the hip of a patient. The third station is used for aquatic lateral shifting exercises. At this station, the patient is asked to perform a side to side motion as if ice-skating. In one form of the exercise, the physical therapist requests the patient to shift left and hold that position as water currents cause the patient to activate the left abdominals. The physical therapist may also ask the patient to keep his or her back rounded, not extended as they move from side to side to deactivate back extensors and activate the abdominal muscles with hip shift as force from streams of fluid emitted from the nozzles aimed at the back and hips try to push the patient forward. The patient moves from side to side without following, without extending his or her back and without extending knees. (The patient will have to squat and keep knees flexed.) The nozzle  114  is aimed at the right hip to resist the patient moving to the right and inhibiting the right abdominal muscles, facilitating the left abdominal muscles. The nozzle  108  hits the mid back and rear as the patient shifts his/her weight and trunk to the right—deactivating hip flexors and back extensors. The nozzle  110  hits the mid back and left rear when the patient moves to the right and hits the mid back and right rear when the patient moves to the left. The nozzle  112  hits the mid back and rear as the patient shifts his/her weight and trunk to the left—deactivating hip flexors and back extensors at the same time the left abdominal muscles are facilitated by the nozzle  114 .  
         [0078]     The purpose of this exercise is to: (1) restore the ability to shift laterally from side to side disengaging sagittal muscles of the neck, thorax and pelvis which interfere with unilateral frontal plane stabilizers and single leg extension during contralateral upper extremity facilitation; (2) maximize acetabular-femoral internal rotation while loading the entire femoral head for maximal kinesthetic awareness; (3) prevent falls contributed by lack of ability to adjust body weight in a frontal plane direction; (4) improve humeral scapular and thoracic scapular stabilization during eccentric and concentric humeral abduction and adduction; and (5) reduce shoulder and hip impingement, loss of dynamic single leg and arm balance skills, anterior acetabular labral compression, narrow base of support and fear of ‘shifting’ while in a state of thoracic flexion and hip extension.  
         [0079]     One option for using this station is for the patient to stand facing the pool wall. Focus is on transverse and sagittal plane activity. Water pressure from the nozzle  108  is aimed at the left side of the patient which increases left shifting progression. In another option for using this station, the patient stands with their back towards the pool wall. Focus is on transverse and frontal plane activity. Three additional nozzles are activated. Nozzle  108  is on for engaging left abdominals (left internal obliques and right external obliques). Nozzle  112  is off to decrease a Left AIC pattern, increase left adductors integrating with right trunk rotation. Nozzle  110  is on for engaging abdominal muscles. All nozzles are on for PEC patients (Posterior Exterior Chain—high back extensor tone, bilaterally forward pelvis) and the pressure of nozzle  114  is increased. It is useful for: (1) reciprocal AF IR with concomitant abdominal activity; (2) frontal plane adduction; and (3) dynamic abdominal feed forward activation.  
         [0080]     In  FIG. 11  there is shown a simplified perspective view of station  4  shown at  18  in  FIG. 1  sometimes referred to as a retro-stair stream station. This station includes left side wall  114 , right side wall  116 , a back wall  118 , a lower step  120 , a middle step  122 , and top step  124  as shown in  FIGS. 11, 12 ,  13  and  14 . The three steps are of varying heights, approximately 2-6 inches. Along the right side wall  116  facing corresponding steps are the openings  126 ,  128 , and  130  facing respectively the bottom step, the middle step and the top step at a location approximately hip high to the patient. the outlets or nozzles  126 ,  128  and  130  exerts a force on the patient from the left side when the patient&#39;s back is to the steps. Within the right side wall  116  is a pressurized water tank  132  communicating with each of the outlets  126 ,  128 , and  130  which end in an adjustable nozzle. The tank receives water under a controlled pressure through the inlet  134 .  
         [0081]     The purpose of the retro-stair station is to: (1) restore normal acetabular-femoral internal rotation (especially on the left side) by inhibiting posterior hip capsule external rotators, tensor fascia latae as a femoral internal rotator, quadratus lumborum and quadratus femoris and hip abductors working in short ranges; (2) maximize sagittal, frontal and transverse activity of femoral-acetabular and acetabular-femoral joints (hips) and proper sacral iliac and knee and ankle function in a partial weight bearing position without experiencing harmful compressive forces through loaded transverse plane torque; and (3) reduce weight bearing compression through the hip complex, abnormal torsion through the lumbar sacral and sacral iliac joints and demands on the knee and ankle stabilizers in frontal and transverse planes.  
         [0082]     It is useful for: (1) step ups using two, four, and six-inch steps with left AF IR dynamic feed forward activation for engagement of left hamstrings and right gluteus maximus in left AF IR; (2) sideways AF IR with contra lateral hip extension followed by hip lift followed by knee extension followed by hip extension.  
         [0083]     In using this station, the physical therapist asks the patient to walk up the stairs backward leading with left leg and shifting left hip back and to the left—one step at a time so the left leg/foot goes up first and then the physical therapist asks the patient to shift body weight to the left as the patient&#39;s right foot goes to the same step as the left. The patient needs to learn how to shift his or her hip to the left and back to step up with left leg and balance as water is moving the body to the right and forward, therefore, disengaging left hip flexors and reinforcing use of left hamstring and gluts (hip extensors). As the patient moves further up the stairs—more weight is experienced and more demands are placed on anti-gravitational muscles and less on hip stabilizers, rotators and extensors. The nozzle  126  hits left outside posterior and superior hip. The nozzle  128  hits left outside, posterior and medial hip and the nozzle  130  hits left outside, posterior and inferior hip/thigh.  
         [0084]     In  FIG. 15 , there is shown a perspective view of station five shown at  20  having a left wall  136 , a right wall  138 , and a back wall  140 . A rope  144  is formed as a loop in a horizontal plane between the left wall  136  and the right wall  138  held inplace by fourpulleys  148 A- 148 D with  148 A and  148 B being mounted to the left wall  136  and  148 C and  148 D being mounted at spaced apart locations to the right wall  138 . A clamp  146  is mounted to the left wall  136  and grips the rope  144  with adjustable tension. A patient faces the wall  136  and pulls against the friction or faces the wall  138  and pulls against the friction.  
         [0085]     Station five is used for repositioning the patient&#39;s cervical curvature, thoracic curvature and lumbar curvature. In one exercise, the patient stands in the center of a loop of rope that has a preset resistance to motion from a clamp shown at  146 , grips the section of the rope to his or her right with his or her right hand and the section of rope to his or her left with his or her left hand and pulls with one hand or the other against the resistance to movement. The patient is caused to reposition his or her body parts by the combination of buoyancy in the water and exercise. Because of the patient&#39;s buoyancy, the patients are repositioned from improper positions that may have been assumed over time to their proper position.  
         [0086]     The purpose of this station is to: (1) restore normal thoracic rotation with single leg support by inhibiting anti-gravitational muscles of the thoraco-lumbar system and facilitating abdominal obliques and hip rotators—securing lower spine and single lower extremity stability during full thoracic rotation in the water—decreasing patterned compensatory demands on the upper quadrants, neck and upper back when on dry land; (2) maximize isometric transverse activity of the lower muscle chains, pelvis and lower extremity with maximum isotonic activity of upper muscle chains, shoulder, and upper extremity; and (3) reduce sacral iliac torsion and compression, thoracic hyperextension, upper trap-occipital tension and anterior brachial/pectoral tightness.  
         [0087]     This highly integrative activity is used to reverse a left AIC pattern to a right AIC pattern. It is indicated for patellofemoral pain, sacral iliac instability, low back pain, groin impingement and scapula thoracic issues such as thoracic outlet syndrome. This station can be used for: (1) left AF IR with left trunk rotation engaging right gluteus maximus, left abdominals, right tricep, right lower trap and bilateral quads without hip flexion through inhibition of left vastus lateralis and activation of adductors and vastus medialis; (2) left AF IR right apical expansion with left shoulder pushing and right shoulder pulling; (3) tug-of-war with right trunk rotation or with left trunk rotation: and (4) reach, hold, and pull for feed forward, reciprocal pattern.  
         [0088]     In use, in one exercise, the physical therapist asks the patient to stand next to one rope, with the rope passing the left lateral side of the patient. The patient&#39;s left and right hand are grasping the rope. The therapist asks the patient to pull the rope back by placing one hand in front of the other in an alternate manner. The patient will experience resistance on the rope as determined by the therapist that will create necessary activity from left abdominal obliques and musculature that inhibits right trunk rotation while standing primarily on the right lower extremity, since the demands of this activity places more weight on the left lower extremity, and center of gravity will shift to the left.  
         [0089]     In another exercise, the physical therapist asks the patient to stand between two ropes, with one hand on one rope and the other hand on the other rope. The left leg of the patient will be behind the right leg with both feet pointed straight ahead and in line with each other. The patient will then be asked to move his/her left hand forward by pulling his/her right hand back to replicate normal gait, trunk rotation associated with arm and leg alternating, reciprocal function in the correct non-compensating manner of the body during gait, running, etc.  
         [0090]     Doing these activities in four feet of water creates a demand on the patient to work at securing his/her feet on the pool floor for dynamic closed chain activity that deactivates hip flexors, back extensors and planter flexors, thus creating a more erect, anti-gravitational and stable human form, structurally. It decreases all tension at the neck and lower back that compensate for gravity demands when gluts, hamstrings, quads and abdominal muscles don&#39;t kick on because of improper tri-planar patterned activity.  
         [0091]     The sixth station (shown at  26  in  FIG. 1 ) is used for wall resistance/reach exercises. This station consists of a moveable support including movable hand grips  218 A and  218 B and resistance  220 A and  220 B connected by ropes and pulleys to weights so that pulling the hand grips  218 A and  218 B lifts the weights to provide a resistive or elastic material. The patient performs controlled movements against this resistance.  
         [0092]     The purpose of this station is to: (1) restore normal trunk flexion through the mid-thorax by inhibiting back extensors, latissimus dorsi and pectoralis muscle and facilitating abdominal obliques and transversus abdominis; (2) maximize sagittal and transverse activity of vertebrae, rib cage and hips; and (3) reduce vertebral joint compression, thoracic hyperinflation, cervical, lumbar and inter/supra scapular strain and lumbar stenosis and spondylolisthesis.  
         [0093]     It is useful for single leg dynamic stance activities with tubing to reduce hip flexion, back extension, FA ER, AF ER, and brachial chain over-activity. The patient&#39;s functional requirement is that the patient must be able to squat in order to submerge his/her lungs for abdominal activation. The patient&#39;s indication for this therapy is PEC patients (Posterior Exterior Chain) or patients with tight hamstrings, paravertebrals or stiffness of the trunk. A comparable activity is the resisted wall reach and trunk arounds. The physical therapist asks the patient to stand with his or her back towards the pool wall and with each hand in a loop of theraband that passes behind the patient to a hook that can be adjusted accordingly to the patient&#39;s height.  
         [0094]     The therapist instructs the patient to round out his/her back, as he or she leans forward and squats. He/she is asked to reach forward without falling, losing balance until the head reaches the surface of the water. Aquatic blocks will be placed under the patient&#39;s feet to match appropriate dimensions of submersed body parts of patient, so reaching, trunk flexion and squatting against resistance can occur, while the patient breathes.  
         [0095]     The patient will need to learn how to perform this necessary dry land activity in a buoyant environment, therefore disengaging back extensors, hip flexors and engaging back/torso flexors (abdominal muscles) and hip extensors so that typical spastic/tense muscle of neck, scapula and back can reduce.  
         [0096]     In  FIGS. 16-19 , there are shown respectively a plan view, a front elevational view and side elevational views of station seven shown at  24  having a left side wall  148 , a right side wall  150 , a front wall  152 , a rear wall  154 , and an entrance  156 . Within the side, front and rear walls  148 ,  152  and  154  are two joined circular areas  158  and  160  having spaced apart outlets  162 A- 162 H mounted at different elevations but spaced apart around the circular openings  158  and  160 . Directly opposite the entrance  156  is a relatively straight section  164  forming a corridor connecting the circular portions  158  and  160 . In the center of the circular portion  158  is an inlet portion  168  and at the center of the circular portion  160  is mounted at the bottom a circular portion  170  serving as an inlet. As best shown in  FIG. 18  the openings  162 A and  162 H are at the same elevation in a horizontal plane whereas the circular outlet  162 D is higher, the outlet  162 E is in the same plane and the outlet  162 E is lower. Similarly, within circle  160 , the outlet  162 F is lower than the outlet  162 H, the outlet  162 G is the lowest and intermediate between the two is the outlet  16 H. A patient goes clockwise in one of the circles and counterclockwise in the opposite circle while the differently spaced outlets impinge on the patient to adjust and reposition the patient&#39;s limbs.  
         [0097]     This station&#39;s two circular chambers have water flowing clockwise in one section and counterclockwise in the other section. There are four nozzles per section causing the directional flow while also targeting selected sections of the body. There are also two rotating disks at the center of each circular section to be used for the lazy susan exercise described below.  
         [0098]     The purpose of this station is to: (1) restore normal reciprocal movement during gait between scapula-humeral joints, and pelvic-femoral joints by inhibiting left hip flexors, right thoracic side benders (quadratus femoris/lumborum), left vastus lateralis (as an abductor), right vastus lateralis (as an internal rotator), right latissimus dorsi, right adductor, right intercostals, right pec minor and left pec major and by facilitating left hamstrings, right glutes, left abdominal obliques and transversus abdominis, left diaphragm (as a respiratory muscle) and left adductor; (2) maximize rotation to the right from spinal segment T 4  to T 8  during clockwise locomotion with rotation to the left from the sacrum to T 8  during counter-clockwise locomotion and femoral-acetabular internal rotation to the left during clockwise locomotion; and (3) reduce osseous and myosseous pathologies of extremities, girdle joints and spine as a result of compensatory activity associated with normal right neuromuscular dominance, diaphragm respiration and left visual midline patterned asymmetrical activity.  
         [0099]     The functionality of this station is achieved as the patient walks in a counterclockwise direction against the clockwise flow of water in the left section  158  (leading with their left upper extremity and right extremity reciprocally) while nozzles facilitate left AF IR repositioning. In the right chamber  160 , the water flows counterclockwise for neuromuscular re-education. The breakdown of nozzle operation in the left section as the patient moves in a counterclockwise direction is as follows: (1) the nozzle  162 A applies water with a force directed to facilitate left abdominals and right gluteus maximus; (2) the nozzle  162 B applies a force directed at the right pelvis for facilitation of the left hamstrings, left adductors and left lumbo-pelvic-femoral internal rotators (left AF IR); and (3) the nozzles  162 C and  162 D apply force directed at the right mid trunk to facilitate abdominal wall for left lower rib internal rotation and to allow for right spinal rotation. In the right section  160 , the nozzles are designed to interact with the patient while moving in a clockwise direction as follows: (1) the nozzle  162 H applies force directed to the left hip for facilitation of right AF ER engaging the right gluteus maximus and the left abdominal obliques; (2) the nozzle  162 G applies force directed at the left inner thigh and the lower leg for facilitation of left AF IR engaging the left adductors; and (3) the nozzles  162 F and  162 E apply force directed at the left thigh and left pelvis for engagement of the left anterior gluteus medius fibers.  
         [0100]     This station is useful for: (1) left AF IR with left trunk rotation &amp; feed forward resistance to reduce left AIC &amp; right BC pattern; (2) sequential resistance to engage left ischiocondylar adductor followed by engaging the left external obliques for left trunk rotation followed by engaging the right external obliques and left internal obliques for trunk flexion, right lower trapezius/interscapular muscles for left trunk rotation and left hamstrings in counterclockwise direction; (3) sequential resistance to engage anterior gluteus medius with ischiocondylar adductor for left FA IR followed by engaging left external obliques and right internal oblique for trunk flexion and right trunk rotation followed by engaging the left oblique/transverse abdominals for increase in left zone of apposition and right apical expansion in clockwise direction; (4) resistance to reduce reciprocal clockwise (Left AIC) strategical pattern and improve strategical stability in counterclockwise (Right AIC) pattern.  
         [0101]     The seventh station also is useful for the Lazy Susan exercise. This exercise is used for left AF IR development through dynamic single leg stabilization against selected levels of resistance in height and force based on the patient&#39;s morphism, size and neuromuscular control. It is used for: (1) step throughs and step overs; (2) step arounds; and (3) scooter boards against water current on the left; (4) AF ER development; and (5) right trunk rotation with right AF ER on the right.  
         [0102]     In the use of this station, the physical therapist instructs the patient to walk to the left after entering this station&#39;s entrance  156 . The therapist will select or modify jet streams from the jets to introduce moderate to maximum resistance across the patient&#39;s right anterior, frontal body as the patient walks counterclockwise. The patient will be instructed to pause at each cycle at nozzle  162 A with right hip facing the jet to engage left abdominal muscles and disengage right lower extremity demands. The patient will learn, in a feed-forward manner, how to ambulate with proper gait, while resistance increases sequentially in a manner known in the art and literature as the postural restoration institute sequential movement of extremities with proper sequenced, timed trunk activity first; i.e., normal dry land upright characteristic human support muscle will be inhibited and desirable non-working muscle (internal rotators, abdominal muscles, and hip extensors) will now engage because of reclaimed or restored symmetrical trunk position via this station&#39;s water movement. The patient needs to breathe in through the nose and out of the mouth, “secure” one foot on moveable rotating disc  168 , before lifting the next, and move right hand with left leg, and left hand with right leg.  
         [0103]     The nozzle  162 A hits the patient&#39;s right hip to distort right LE compensatory dry land function. The nozzle  162 B hits anterior right pelvic to begin left torso rotation. The nozzle  162 C hits right mid torso with slightly more velocity. The nozzle  162 D has the strongest flow and hits the patient&#39;s anterior right frontal chest wall to reinforce the need for the left abdominal muscles and right apical expansion.  
         [0104]     In another use, the physical therapist asks the patient to walk clockwise beginning in front of the nozzle  162 H (to disengage right inner thigh) with the jet hitting the left lateral hip. The patient is instructed to walk with reciprocal normal gait as before, keeping one foot solely secured to the floor at all times. The patient will feel water thrusted first on left inner knee (nozzle  162 G) then on left upper inner thigh (nozzle  162 F) and then on left anterior pelvis (nozzle  162 E) to reinforce patient&#39;s need to internally rotate left leg when on right secured leg. Unlike the counterclockwise left chamber  158 , here the water will be slightly more forceful in the beginning (nozzle  162 G) than at the end (nozzle  162 E) to quickly get the left adductors and anterior left glute medius to fire or contract and the right adductors to relax.  
         [0105]     The physical therapist asks the patient to place his/her left foot on a lazy susan circle  168  in the left chamber  158  and try to “secure” the circle as he/she raises his/her right leg/foot and advance. The same instructions would be given to the patient when in the right chamber—right foot on lazy susan  170 , left foot on the pool floor. The only exception being, when in the right chamber, the patient may be asked to move his/her right foot on the circle outward while left adductor is facilitated by water flow. This co-contraction of the left adductor to the right glut max reverses pathologic PRI pattern. All water movement by nozzles  162 A- 162 H would be the same as above.  
         [0106]     In  FIGS. 20-23 , there is shown a perspective view, plan view, front elevational view and side elevational view of station  8  referred to as a rotational cove  26  having a left side wall  166 , a rear wall  168 , a right side wall  170 , an entrance  172 , and a floor  174 . An elliptical hemisphere  176  is recessed into the rear wall  168  and includes five spaced apart outlet nozzles  178 A- 178 E. A sixth nozzle  178 F extends from the floor at a location adjacent to the elliptical hemisphere  176  and centered laterally. The station is designed for multiple patient positions and exercises so each nozzle can be controlled individually.  
         [0107]     The purpose of this station is to: (1) restore normal tri-planar activity of the hip without abnormal shearing compressive force, dysynchrony and asynchrony muscle function by inhibiting left sagittal hip flexors acting as rotators, left hip abductors and external rotators and right adductors and internal rotators in frontal and transverse planes, respectively; (2) maximize full active tri-planar range of femoral movement without restrictive acetabular position; (3) reduce degenerative femoral-acetabular disease, femoral trochanteric bursitis, hip labral impingement syndromes, imbalances of agonistic and antagonistic muscles and improper activation of digital vs. proximal lower extremity stabilizers and movers; (4) restore normal hip extension and proper timing of hip rotation by inhibiting back extensors, hip flexors, knee extensors, plantar flexors and spinal compressors; (5) maximize feed forward sequencing of sagittal and transverse activity of right acetabular-femoral external rotation, left femoral-acetabular extension and left femoral internal and external rotation in a suspensory, unloaded position; (6) reduce joint compression forces with rotation of a non-weight bearing extremity during hip extension; (7) improve normal left hip extension and rotation with right spinal orientation; and (8) reduce stenosis, scoliosis and other pathologies associated with sacral tilt to the right and forward anterior pelvic orientation to the left, such as anterior knee pain, femoral patella pain, lateral meniscal compression, medial meniscal tears, ankle instabilites, posterior tibial tendonitis and plantar fascitis.  
         [0108]     These objectives are achieved using this station in four different patient positions. First, the patient can be standing with his/her left or right side facing the wall  168  with the elliptical void  176 . In this position, the nozzle  178 A acts as an abduction nozzle by applying pressure to the outside of the patient&#39;s leg. The second patient position is seated while facing the void  176 . In this position, the nozzle  178 F acts as a thigh elevator for seated passive femoral lift on the active hip socket during femoral acetabular internal or external rotation (FA IR or FA ER) exercises. For the left leg, the nozzle  178 C is used for FA ER and the nozzle  178 D is used for FA IR. The opposite is true for the right leg, the nozzle  178 C is used for FA IR and the nozzle  178 D is used for FA ER. Also, the patient can stand with their back facing the wall with the elliptical void. An adjustable pad will be present to make sure the patient is in the correct configuration while they extend either leg into the void. In this position, the nozzle  178 A serves as a glute nozzle resisting motion towards the wall. The nozzles  178 B and  178 E act as internal and external rotation nozzles according to which leg is being acted upon. Finally, the elliptical shape of the void allows for normal “ball in socket” activity while standing on one leg facing the wall with the elliptical void and moving the leg around the inside surface of the void.  
         [0109]     In  FIGS. 24-27 , there is shown respectively a perspective view, a plan view, a front elevational view and a right side view of the 8th station  22  for positioning the hip region for restoring normal sequential motion of the acetabulums on the femurs in a semi-loaded position and transversed plane having a left side wall  180 , a rear wall  182 , a side wall  184 , a right cylindrical central open portion  186 , six outlet nozzles  188 A- 188 F, and an entrance  190 . The nozzles  188 A- 188 F are circumferentially spaced about the cylindrical opening at a vertical level of approximately hip level. This station consists of a cyclindrical walled section where the patient stands at the center. The nozzles  188 A- 188 F are symmetrically placed around the cylinder at a height to apply a rotational force to the patient&#39;s hip region. The nozzles can be adjusted to induce clockwise or counterclockwise flow. They also can be sequentially activated to vary the amount and position of force on the patient.  
         [0110]     The purpose of this station is to: (1) restore normal sequential motion of acetabulums on femurs in a semi-loaded position and transverse plane. This activity requires cooperation and integration of multifidus, abdominal obliques, transversus abdominis, pelvic floor, femoral-acetabular rotators, acetabular-femoral stabilizers and spinal-pelvic stabilizers; (2) maximize adduction, abduction, flexion and extension of acetabular rotational movement without over compensation of femoral-acetabular rotators; (3) reduce proprioceptive and mechanoreceptor inadequacies of the acetabulum, lumbar sacral and sacral iliac joints; and (4) reduce form closure limitations and restore force closure skills for re-acquisition of neuromuscular strategies associated with single leg balance skill development.  
         [0111]     The physical therapist asks the patient to stand with back towards the pool wall, and either asks the patient to: (1) hold trunk steady as water is sequentially moved clockwise or counterclockwise sequentially (nozzle  188 A less force-nozzle  188 F more force sequentially or visa versa); (2) hold trunk steady while balancing on one leg with watch movement directed and modified as above by physical therapist; (3) move hips and torso with water flow; and (4) move hips and torso against directed water flow.  
         [0112]     The patient will feel the need to engage glutes, quads, hamstrings and abdominal muscles and disengage hip flexors, back extensors and upper traps to de-rotate and re-align trunk neurologically and then structurally while going back to dry land activity. All jets can be reversed in direction clockwise or counterclockwise and can be independently adjusted for flow.  
         [0113]     In  FIG. 28 , there is shown a schematic diagram of the water flow for the first station shown at  12  and the second station shown generally at  14  having a pump  192 , a pressurized conduit  196 , swivel nozzles  50  and  52  for station one and nozzles  54 ,  56  and  58  and  60  also for station one and having a movable wand  64  and a nozzle  66  for station two. The pump  192  pressurizes the conduit  196  to provide the desired flow rate from the nozzles  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58  and  60 . The swivel nozzles  50  and  52  have an output flow rate of between zero and three feet per second measured at one foot from the nozzles and adjustable within that range. The nozzles  56  and  58  at the center of station one facing outwardly are adjustable between zero and 3.5 feet per second and the outer nozzles  58  and  60  have a higher flow rate of 5.2 feet per second. These flow rates are adjustable by the therapist and for some applications, may be adjusted to a higher flow rate. In this embodiment, the pump  192  is a 1.5 horsepower pump but of course many different kinds of pumps are available and different horsepowers may be provided. The nozzles are generally 1.5 inches in diameter but are adjustable downwardly. The flow output from the nozzle  66  on the portable wand  64  is adjustable between zero and 11.6 feet per second.  
         [0114]     In  FIG. 29 , there is shown a schematic diagram of the fluid system for the third station shown generally at  16  and intended to provide lateral shifting exercises. In this station  16 , there is provided a pump  194  and a main conduit  196  similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 28 . Four nozzles  108 ,  110 ,  112  and  114  are provided with the nozzle  114  extending from one wall and the nozzles  108 ,  110  and  112  being aligned at a same elevation on the other wall. The pump  194  in this embodiment is a two horsepower pump. The first nozzle  114  has a flow rate measured one foot from the wall of between 2.6 and 8.4 feet per second measured at two feet from the wall of one foot per second to 2.8 feet per second and measured three feet from the wall with a minimum of one foot per second and 2.7 feet per second. The other three nozzles have a flow rate measured one foot from the wall of between 3.1 and 5.5 feet per second and measured two feet from the wall of one foot per second to 1.3 feet per second in the preferred embodiment. Of course it may be designed with other values as chosen by the physical therapist.  
         [0115]     In  FIG. 30 , there is shown a schematic diagram of the fluid system for the fourth station shown at  18  having a pump  198 , a main conduit  200  and nozzles  126 ,  128  and  130 . In this station, the nozzles are adjustable in flow rate one foot from the nozzle of between zero and 11.6 feet per second. The pump is a one horsepower pump and the nozzle diameters are generally 1.5 inches. The nozzles are positioned 30 inches from the floor and 12 inches in front of the first step  120  ( FIG. 11 ), 36 inches from the floor and 8 inches in front of the second step  122  ( FIG. 11 ) and 40 inches from the floor and 8 inches in front of the third step  122  ( FIG. 11 ).  
         [0116]     In  FIG. 31 , there is shown a schematic flow diagram of station seven having a first pump  202  pumping water into a main conduit  206  to feed the fluid to four nozzles  162 A- 162 D and a second pump  204  applying fluid to the main conduit  208  to supply fluid to four nozzles  162 E- 162 H. The pump  202  is a three horsepower pump and the pump  204  is a five horsepower pump. The flow of liquid in the circular area or loop  158  ( FIG. 16 ) is clockwise. The nozzle  162 D is 44 inches from the floor and 14 inches from the entrance  156 , the nozzle  162 C is 40 inches from the floor and 42 inches from the nozzle  162 D, the nozzle  162 B is 32 inches from the floor and 42 inches from the nozzle  162 C and the nozzle  162 A on the straight section  164  is 32 inches from the floor and approximately three inches from the corner of the side wall  148 . The circular section  160  ( FIG. 16 ) has flow in the counterclockwise direction. The nozzle  162 H is three inches from the corner extending from the straight wall  164 , the nozzle  162 G is 12 inches from the floor and 60 inches from the corner, the nozzle  162 F is 18 inches from the floor and 38 inches from the nozzle  162 G and the nozzle  162 E is 24 inches from the floor and 38 inches from the nozzle  162 F. The nozzle  162 D has a flow of between 4.2 feet per second and 7.6 feet per second when measured at a distance of one foot from the nozzle and a flow rate of 3.7 feet per second to 6.1 feet per second when measured two feet from the nozzle.  
         [0117]     The nozzle  162 C has a flow rate of between four feet per second and 7.2 feet per second when measured one foot from the outlet of the nozzle and a flow rate of 3.6 feet per second and five feet per second when measured two feet from the outlet of the nozzle. The nozzle  162 B has a flow rate of between three feet per second and six feet per second when measured one foot from the outlet of the nozzle and a flow rate of 2.5 feet per second and 4.3 feet per second when measured two feet from the outlet of nozzle. The nozzle  162 A has a flow rate of between one foot per second and 8.8 feet per second when measured one foot from the outlet of the nozzle and a flow rate of between one foot per second and 5.7 feet per second when measured two feet from the outlet of the nozzle. The nozzle  162 H has a flow rate of between 3.4 feet per second and 10.2 feet per second when measured one foot from the outlet of the nozzle and a flow rate of between 2.8 feet and 7.4 feet when measured two feet from the outlet of the nozzle. The nozzle  162 G has a flow rate of between 3.6 feet per second and 7.1 feet per second when measured one foot from the outlet of the nozzle and between 2.6 feet per second and 4.3 feet per second when measured two feet from the outlet of the nozzle. The nozzle  162 F has a flow rate of between 3.9 feet per second and 8.6 feet per second when measured one foot from the outlet of the nozzle and a flow rate of between two and 6.7 feet per second when measured two feet from the outlet of the nozzle. The nozzle  162 E has a flow rate of between 3.9 feet per second and 8.6 feet per second when measured one foot from the outlet of the nozzle and a flow rate of between two and 6.7 feet per second when measured two feet from the outlet the nozzle. The clockwise flow in the chamber  160  at constant height approximately one foot six inches from the wall is 3.2 feet per second at the three o&#39;clock position, 0.3 at the six o&#39;clock position, 1.8 at the nine o&#39;clock position and 1.8 at the twelve o&#39;clock position. Similarly at the same height and distance from the wall, the counterclockwise flow rate in the chamber  158  is 3.4 feet per second at the three o&#39;clock position, 0.7 feet per second at the six o&#39;clock position, 1.7 feet per second at the nine o&#39;clock position and 1.8 feet per second at the twelve o&#39;clock position.  
         [0118]     In  FIG. 32 , there is shown a schematic flow diagram of the water flow for the eighth station  22  having a pump  210 , a main conduit  212  and nozzles  178 A- 178 F. The pump  210  is a one horsepower pump pumping fluid into the main conduit  212  to pressurize the nozzles. Each of the nozzles has a flow rate adjustable between 0 and 5 feet per second when the flow rates are measured a distance of one foot from the outlet of the nozzle. The nozzle  178 A is at the top center 28 inches from the floor along the center line of the station. The nozzle  178 C is on the right bottom three inches into the elliptical void and six inches from the floor. The nozzle  178 D is at the left bottom three inches into the elliptical void and six inches from the floor. The nozzle  1   78 F is at the bottom center of the station six inches outside of the elliptical void. The nozzle  178 B is at the right middle 12 inches into the elliptical void and 14 inches from the floor. The nozzle  178 E is at the left middle twelve inches into the elliptical void and 14 inches from the floor.  
         [0119]     In  FIG. 33 , there is shown a schematic diagram of the flow for station nine shown generally at  28  having a pump  214 , a main conduit  216  and six nozzles  188 A- 188 F. Each of the nozzles has a flow reading at one foot from its outlet adjustable between zero and six feet per second. The pump  214  is a 2.5 horsepower pump and the outlets have a diameter of 1.5 inches. The nozzles are all  34  inches from the floor symmetrically spaced around the perimeter of the station approximately 15 inches from each other.  
         [0120]     In operation, the therapist evaluates the patient on dry land using standard tests such as the adduction drop test, extension drop test, trunk rotation tests, straight leg raise test and the like to determine deficiencies in movement and positioning of the body parts. These tests are readily identified in standard text material and on line such as in the web site of the Postural Restoration Institute. They are known to physical therapists.  
         [0121]     The therapy pool is used to provide resistance through water movement directed at parts of the body to reduce neuromotor and abnormal muscle tone secondary to patterns that develop because of compensatory activity that takes place on dry land secondary to overused back extensors, hip flexors, and musculature that promotes non diaphragmatic breathing. This particular issue of torque and torsion that is produced because of the asymmetries of the body&#39;s viscera, lungs, and neuromotor activity requires isolated activity to reduce muscles that are overused to compensate for these patterns that have developed over time.  
         [0122]     There are nine stations in this pool that provide neuromuscular isolation with feed forward activation. Feed forward activation is a description of a process that allows muscles to learn how to work without making mistakes or without performing the activity incorrectly and then giving feedback after the activity was done correctly. This is different from biofeedback, which tells you how you perform the process after you carried out the process or attempted to carry out the process with selected muscles by providing an error signal that signals the need to correct the process. If you carry out the process incorrectly, you further develop that abnormal pattern of muscle tone. With this exercise pool&#39;s directed sequential movement, one can be placed in a position where those patterns of overused muscles can be inhibited and reduced by placing the patient in a position and working him or her in a direction that is opposite of what he or she normally would do on dry land. Therefore, through feed forward activation, one can pre-activate musculature that helps an individual regain composure, control, and consistent, properly timed muscle activity that cannot be performed on dry land because of the gravitational issues, the possible orthopedic or neuromuscular structural issues that one is contending with, and the adaptation to equipment that focuses only on one muscle group versus a number of muscle groups and patterns that develop or generate bad habits.  
         [0123]     This pool allows a person to become more buoyant and therefore, allows that same individual to carry out proprioceptive neuromuscular patterns of resistance that will allow them to strengthen without becoming overly fatigued and without compensating with bad patterns or dry land bad antigravitational patterns that lead to low back strain, scoliosis, headaches, forward head posture, and bad breathing patterns.  
         [0124]     This pool also works an individual in all three planes and facilitates not only tri-planar activity, but through a process to reduce the more common patterns of neuromotor dysfunction so often seen in the human body. In other words, the left abdominal wall can be strengthened at the same time with the left hamstrings and adductors and the right lower trapezius muscles. That is an example of how one can integrate these sites of muscle weaknesses to work more cooperatively together in a concomitant fashion without overloading an individual and making that same individual therefore address a task that results in only one muscle group being overworked and not a series of groups of muscles that should work at the same time to reduce strain, sprain, and inflammation of these particular overused and over-trained muscles. The therapy pool also improves balance by decreasing compensatory muscle tone and increasing symmetry of the body through movement of water that can be varied according to the patient&#39;s vestibular strength and neuro-vestibular control.  
         [0125]     Refraction is also offered by this pool in that it is evident when looking from an air medium to a water medium, it will provide a therapeutic effect that will help decrease depth perception and make a person feel more like they are standing closer to the ground for good visualization of single leg dynamic activities that cannot be performed in a general or normal pool because of lack of directed water flow at selected muscles with selected patterns of neuromuscular dysfunction. The visual feedback from this refraction will have a direct impact on the patient&#39;s ability to relax as they carry out this challenging but not over-challenging directed water flow. There are a number of nozzles directed in different positions on the body at each one of these stations for purposes that will mimic activities that are performed on dry land with the postural restoration process.  
         [0126]     For the postoperative patient, this pool will be very useful in therapeutically introducing refraction, feed forward activation on neuromuscular patterns that are hypertonic, and it will also allow these people to improve their balance through reducing this compensatory muscle tone and asymmetry of their body by again giving them gentle reminders on what muscles to turn on so they can reciprocally inhibit those muscles that they cannot turn off on dry land.  
         [0127]     This pool&#39;s concept and organization basically influences the individual&#39;s body movement through directed water movement patterns to offset compensatory movement patterns that exist in predictable tri-planar organization and through polyarticular muscular patterns of neuromotor dysfunction.  
         [0128]     It can therefore be understood that the method and apparatus of this invention has several advantages, such as for example: (1) it permits neuromuscular repositioning and re-training in all three dimensions (three planes) instead of only one dimension (in only one plane) without neuromotor compensation; (2) it provides forward feedback rather than biofeedback as a training mechanism; and (3) it is economical when used on a large scale since the same equipment can provided tailored therapy to many different patients  
         [0129]     Although a preferred embodiment has been described with some particularity, many modifications and variations in the preferred embodiment are possible in the light of the above teachings. Accordingly, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.

Technology Category: a