Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02826963 2013-09-12
NECK MUSCLE EXERCISER AND METHOD OF ASSESSING NECK MUSCLE
PERFORMANCE
Field
This application relates to physical training devices and to methods for
assessing
muscle performance, in particular to such devices and methods related to neck
muscles.
Background
There are potentially very serious and lifelong consequences to suffering a
concussion or other head injury. This concern is not just for professional
athletes; it holds
true for anyone involved in high risk sports as well as military personnel.
Concussions are
complex pathophysiological processes affecting the brain, induced by traumatic
biomechanical forces. Research is starting to show the important role that
neck muscles
play in absorbing concussion forces from head impact. Recent research shows
that for
every pound of increased neck strength, concussion risk decreases by 5%.
Previous
research has also demonstrated how head peak acceleration and HIT scores, a
proxy for
concussion, can be drastically reduced in biomechanical models by increasing
neck
stiffness. What the sporting world lacks is an effective method of harnessing
this natural
shock absorption system and enhancing it.
Methods of strength training the neck currently exist, and these methods may
increase neck girth. However to help the neck muscles protect the brain the
reflexes and
responsiveness of these muscles' should also be improved. As is known, a tense
muscle
provides much more resistance to acceleration than does a limp muscle.
There exists a need in the art for devices and methods that safely strengthen
the
neck muscles, increase neck girth and stiffness and/or improve the neck's
reflex
response enhancing protection further. There also remains a need for devices
and
methods that can be used to evaluate a subject's pre-participation concussion
risk by
assessing performance and accurately predicting subjects most at risk.
Summary
To help prevent concussion and/or screen subjects who are at high risk of
concussion, especially from contact sports, the neck muscles may be trained to
improve
strength and responsiveness. This may be accomplished by a device and/or
method of
training that incorporates an adjustable centripetal force about a fixed axis
on the head. A
magnitude of the centripetal force may be adjusted through varying the weight
and/or
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length of a force arm. Neck muscle performance may be measured by the number
of
revolutions of the force arm completed over a pre-determined time period or
the amount
of time required to complete a pre-determined number of revolutions of the
force arm.
Thus, neuromuscular and strength training of the neck muscles, as well as neck
muscle
performance measurement, may be accomplished by using centripetal force to
generate
resistance.
In one aspect, there is provided a neck muscle exercising or performance
assessment device comprising: a substantially rigid elongated element
configured to be
length adjustable and/or to demountably receive one or more demountable
weights
selectively positionable along a length of the elongated element; a mount on
which the
elongated element is rotatably mounted proximate a first end of the elongated
element,
the elongated element rotatable around a central axis, the elongated element
extending
radially from the central axis; and, headwear to which the mount is rigidly
attached, the
headwear wearable on a subject's head so that the central axis is through the
subject's
head and rotational motion of the subject's head causes the elongated element
to revolve
around the central axis.
In another aspect, there is provided a method of assessing neck muscle
performance of a test subject, comprising: obtaining a neck muscle performance
score of
a test subject by determining a number of revolutions in a pre-determined
period of time
of a radially extending substantially rigid elongated element revolving around
a central
axis through a head of the test subject, or determining an amount of time
required for a
pre-determined number of revolutions of a radially extending substantially
rigid elongated
element revolving around a central axis through a head of the test subject,
the revolutions
of the elongated element being caused by action of neck muscles of the test
subject; and,
comparing the neck muscle performance score to a standard neck muscle
performance
score to assess the neck muscle performance of the test subject in relation to
the
standard.
Adjusting the magnitude of the centripetal force acting on the elongated
element
may be accomplished by adjusting length of the elongated element, adjusting
position of
one or more demountable weights on the elongated element, adding or removing
weights
from the elongated element or any combination thereof. In this way, resistance
may be
adjusted up or down to requiring greater or lesser effort by the subject to
effect revolution
of the elongated element around the central axis. The elongated element has a
first end
proximate the mount and second end remote from the mount. Longer elongated
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elements, larger weights and weights positioned nearer the second end provide
greater
moments of inertia and larger centripetal forces.
The elongated element may comprise, for example, a rod, tube or the like.
Length
adjustment of the elongated element may be accomplished in a number of ways,
for
example as follows: The elongated element may comprise telescoping members in
which
at least one member is housed within and slidable longitudinally in another
hollow
member. A locking mechanism, for example a spring-loaded pin in a pin
receiving
aperture may be used to lock the telescoping members together to prevent the
members
from sliding in or out during operation of the device. The elongated element
may
comprise members that are connectable longitudinally (end to end), for example
with
mated ends of a push-in type or a male/female thread type. Locking mechanisms
may
also be used to prevent the members from separating under use. The elongated
element
may comprise overlapping members, for example flat plates secured together by
fasteners, e.g. nuts and bolts, at points along the length. The elongated
element may be
dismounted from the mount and replaced by an elongated element of different
length.
A demountable weight may be mounted on and positioned on the elongated
element in a number of ways, for example as follows: The weight may be clamped
on to
the elongated element at a desired position. The weight may comprise a through
aperture
through which the elongated element may be inserted and then secured at a
desired
position on the length of the elongated member. In one aspect, the elongated
element is
threaded with screw threads along at least a portion of the length for
receiving one or
more matingly threaded nuts to secure the demountable weight at one or more
selected
positions along the length of the elongated element. The threaded nuts
themselves may
be viewed as demountable weights. Alternatively or additionally, in another
aspect, the
demountable weight may comprise a threaded through aperture, the weight being
selectively positionable along the length of the elongated element by screwing
the weight
onto the elongated element until a desired position is attained. The threaded
weights may
be viewed as large threaded nuts. In one aspect, the elongated element
comprises a rod
for receiving the one or more demountable weights at the second end, and the
first end of
the rod is bent at an angle from the second end, the first end rotatably
mounted on the
mount. In a particularly preferred aspect, the demountable weight may be
secured to the
elongated elements with one or more pins, clip or the like.
Rotatably mounting the elongated element on the mount may be accomplished in
a number of ways, for example with a rotation bearing in a bearing block, a
ball and
socket joint or a pin in receiver joint. The elongated element revolves around
a central
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axis and extends radially from the central axis. Preferably, the radius formed
by the
elongated element is perpendicular to the central axis.
In use, the subject wears the device on the head. For comfort, security and
ease
of operation, the mount for the elongated element is rigidly attached to the
headwear. The
headwear may be rigid (e.g. a plastic helmet) or semi-rigid (e.g. an array of
adjustable
nylon straps) device with cushioning on the underside that is in contact with
the wearer's
head that is able to transmit tension generated from the neck muscles up
through to the
rotatable mount. The mounting of the rotatable mount to the headwear may be
accomplished in a variety of methods. For example, the rotatable mount may be
molded
to conform to the shape of a snugly fitting helmet and then held in place by
bolts and
nuts, straps, clips, cables, bands or some other fastening array. The helmet
would then
have a snugly fitting chin strap with two or more anchors to the helmet (for
example in line
with the temple bone and mastoid process of the skull on the helmet) to secure
the device
to the wearer's head and to transmit the rotation force from the neck muscles
up through
the device.
Preferably, the mount is rigidly attached to the headwear at a top of the
subject's
head and the elongated element revolves around the central axis above the
subject's
head in a plane perpendicular to the central axis running through the top of
the subject's
head down through the subject's torso. In use, rotation of the subject's head
causes the
longitudinal element to revolve around the central axis by virtue of the
rotatable mounting.
Such rotation of the head is due to the subject's neck muscles, which are
exercised by
the rotating motion. Thus, the subject uses the muscles of the neck to
generate and
maintain an orbital motion of the elongated element around the central axis.
The
elongated element may be free to revolve through a complete 360 circle and
continue to
revolve through an unlimited number of circles. The headwear may comprise a
plurality of
locations to which the mount may be rigidly attached providing different
exercise options
for the subject's neck muscles as the elongated element would describe circles
around a
different central axis and/or in a different plane than when the mount is at
the top of the
head. Therefore, while the mount is rigidly attached to the headwear, the
mount may be
dismountable from and remountable to the headwear. In one aspect, the headwear
may
comprise a helmet. For safety and ease of use, the headwear should fit the
subject
snugly and may comprise a securement element for securing the headwear to the
head
of the subject, for example a chin strap.
The device may comprise a counter for counting a number of revolutions of the
elongated element during use. The counter may comprise, for example, a
position
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sensor, e.g. a camera, an accelerometer, an inclinometer, an RFID tag, a
magnet, etc.,
and may be in communication with a recorder, for example a digital data
processor and/or
storage medium (e.g. a bicycle speedometer type counter, a computer, hard
drive, flash
drive, optical disc, etc.), containing software for counting the number of
revolutions. The
counter is preferably mounted on the elongated element.
Assessing neck muscle performance of the subject may be achieved by one or
more of: Varying the weight on the elongated element, the time required to
perform a pre-
determined number of revolutions or the number of revolutions performed during
a pre-
determined amount of time. This information may then be used to evaluate the
neck
muscle performance (e.g. strength and/or neuromuscular capabilities) of the
subject. This
information may be compared to a group of average and/or standardized values
to
determine the subject's risk of concussion, whiplash or other injury. This
information may
also be used to screen for participation in some sports or activities as well
as assess for
improvement of neuromuscular strength function.
The present device is portable and can be used in a variety of different
settings,
for example clinics, playing fields or arenas, and research facilities.
Further, the ability to
readily adjust the centripetal force experienced by the subject provides
flexibility of
operation and useability with different subjects having different neck muscle
capabilities,
and permits assessment of neck muscle performance. The device is useful for
training
the neck to improve its ability to respond to acceleration forces and protect
the head and
neck from injury (e.g. concussion or whiplash), rehabilitating weak or injured
neck
muscles, neuromuscular training and rehabilitation for neck proprioception and
coordination, screening for neck strength and function for assessment of
concussion risk,
screening for neck strength and function for whiplash risk, rehabilitating
subjects who
have suffered from whiplash or concussion and training for balance.
Further features will be described or will become apparent in the course of
the
following detailed description.
Brief Description of the Drawings
For clearer understanding, preferred embodiments will now be described in
detail
by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a neck muscle exercising or performance
assessment device;
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Fig. 2 depicts a bearing flange shown in Fig. 1 with a rod rotatably mounted
thereon;
Fig. 3A depicts a telescoping rod in a fully extended configuration having a
plurality of weights proximate a distal end;
Fig. 3B depicts the telescoping rod of Fig. 3A in a fully retracted
configuration and
having a single weight proximate the distal end;
Fig. 3C depicts a telescoping rod in a fully extended configuration having a
plurality of weights proximate a distal end secured by a wing nut on a
threaded portion of
the rod;
Fig. 4A depicts one embodiment of an attachment mechanism for mounting a
bearing flange on headwear; and,
Fig. 4B depicts another embodiment of an attachment mechanism for mounting a
bearing flange on headwear.
Detailed Description
Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a neck muscle exercising or performance
assessment device 10 comprises a helmet 20 to the top of which a bearing
flange 30 is
fixedly attached by cables 35 secured to rivets 37 in the helmet 20. Rotatably
mounted on
the bearing flange 30 is a rod 40 extending radially outward from an axis A
through the a
point of rotation B where one end of the rod 40 is rotatably secured in a
rotational bearing
secured in the bearing flange 30. The rod 40 has a 90 bend 42 proximate the
end
secured at point of rotation B so that the rod 40 may revolve around the axis
A while
pointing radially outward form the axis A. The rod 40 is threaded along part
of its length
with screw threads 43 for matingly receiving nuts 44 that secure demountable
weight 46
near a far end 47 of the rod 40. There is one nut 44 on each side of the
weight 46, the
weight 46 comprising a central aperture through which the rod 40 is inserted.
The device
10 further comprises a counter including a magnet 50 from a bicycle
speedometer
mounted on the rod 40 in communication through wire 53 with a bicycle
speedometer 55
for counting the number of full revolutions of the rod 40 around the axis A. A
chin strap 60
securely holds the helmet 20 on the head of a subject. Fig. 2 depicts a
magnified view of
the rod 40 rotatably mounted on the bearing flange 30 by a rotational bearing
32 in the
bearing flange 30. The bearing flange 30 comprises securement bolts 33 for
securing the
cables 35 to the bearing flange 30.
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In use, a subject puts on the helmet 20 and secures the chin strap 60 under
his
chin in the same manner as donning any helmet of similar nature. By rotating
his head
clockwise or counter-clockwise in a rhythmic and orbital fashion, the subject
can induce
the rod 40 to begin revolving around the axis A by virtue of being rotatably
mounted on
the bearing flange 30. The weight 46 being located proximate the far end 47 of
the rod 40
provides a heightened moment of inertia and increases centripetal force on the
rod 40,
which provides increased resistance to neck muscles of the subject. The
increased
resistance exercises the neck muscles more vigorously. More or less resistance
may be
provided by adding more weight or adjusting the length of the rod, some
variations of
which are shown in Figs. 3A-C. The subject may follow a prescribed regimen and
the
counter may be used to ensure that the subject accurately follow the regimen.
The device may be used for exercise only or for performance assessment. In one
aspect, the device may be used to assess the risk of concussion. Risk of
concussion may
be assessed and determined by correlating a subject's ability to perform on
the device i.e.
time needed to complete a pre-determined number of revolutions on the device
at a
specified weight and rotatable arm length and concussion risk. The more time a
subject
requires to perform the pre-determined number of revolutions, the weaker and
less
responsive his/her neck may be and therefore the more prone he/she may be to
concussion. As an example, when assessing the performance of a team of hockey
players on the device and then following this team during a hockey season,
those who
perform more poorly on the device may have an increased likelihood of
suffering a
concussion. If this is the case then it is likely that a certain performance
level will be
associated with the natural baseline risk for suffering a concussion and that
performance
levels below this line will be at higher risk for concussion. It may therefore
be possible to
screen players of nearly any sport to determine those that are at a high and
or higher risk
of concussion. In the event of an injury, a player who has suffered a
concussion or
whiplash may have a drop in performance on the device as the muscles of the
neck are
commonly injured during a concussion, and always during whiplash. Therefore,
the
device can be used to assess when a player is ready to return to sport after
suffering a
concussion by delaying return to sport until the player is able to perform on
the device to
the previously described baseline.
Figs. 3A-3B depict a telescoping rod 140 comprising an outer rod 141 having a
900 elbow 142 and an inner rod 145 that may telescope within the outer rod
141. The
outer rod 141 is rotatably mounted to a bearing flange (not shown) at a
proximal end 143.
The outer rod 141 comprises a series of apertures 146 arranged along a length
of the
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outer rod 141 for receiving a spring-loaded pin 147 situated near a proximal
end of the
inner rod 145. The spring-loaded pin 147 may be engaged in any one of the
apertures
146 to adjust the overall length of the rod 140. To adjust the length of the
rod 140, the
spring-loaded pin 147 is depressed to disengage the pin 147 from an aperture
146 and
the inner rod 145 is slid proximally or distally within the outer rod 141
until the spring-
loaded pin 147 engages the next aperture 146. The outer rod 141 may comprise
any
number of apertures 146, and each aperture represents a length setting for the
rod 140.
The telescoping rod 140 may be of any desired length, for example 12 inches in
the fully
extended configuration (Fig. 3A) and 6 inches in the fully retracted
configuration (Fig. 3B).
Weights, for example two weights 151, 152 as seen in Fig. 3A or one weight 151
as seen
in Fig. 3B, may be mounted on the inner rod 145. To secure the weights 151,
152 on the
inner rod 145, securement clips 153 may mounted on the inner rod 145, the
clips 153
having ends that may be inserted through clip apertures 154 on the inner rod
145. Two
clips 153 may be used on each side of the weight or weights (e.g. weights 151,
152 as
seen in Fig. 3A, or weight 151 as seen in Fig. 3B). Only one clip distally of
the weight may
be needed if the inner rod is retracted sufficiently that the outer rod helps
secure the
weight or weights in place proximally. The inner rod 145 may comprise a series
of any
number of clip apertures 154, and may comprise an opposed series of clip
apertures, the
opposed clip aperture receiving opposite ends of the securement clips 153. A
series of
clip apertures 154 permits mounting the weights 151, 152 at a variety of
positions along
the inner rod 145 in order to change the moment of inertia for the device on
which the rod
140 is mounted.
Fig. 3C depicts a second embodiment of a telescoping rod 240 comprising an
outer rod 241 having a 90 elbow 242 and an inner rod 245 that may telescope
within the
outer rod 241. The outer rod 241 is rotatably mounted to a bearing flange (not
shown) at
a proximal end 243. The telescoping rod 240 comprises a spring-loaded pin 247
near a
proximal end of the inner rod 245, and apertures 246 in the outer rod 241 to
engage the
spring-loaded pin 247 in a manner similar to that of the telescoping rod 140
described in
relation to Figs. 3A-B. However, instead of the inner rod 245 possessing clip
apertures, at
least a portion of the inner rod 245 comprises screw threads 255 onto which
weights 250,
251, 252 may be threaded. The weights may be secured at any position along the
threaded portion 255 by nuts, for example a wing nut 253 distal of the weights
250, 251,
252, and if desired, another nut on the proximal side of the weights 250, 251,
252. The
weights 250, 251, 252 may be threaded to any desired location along the
threaded
portion 255 to change the moment of inertia of the device.
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Figs. 4A and 4B depict different embodiments of attachment mechanisms for
mounting a bearing flange on headwear, for example a helmet. In Fig. 4A, a
bearing
flange 130 comprising a rotational bearing 132 has straps 135 mounted therein
by
feeding the straps 135 through through-apertures 136 in edges of the bearing
flange 130.
Alternatively, instead of two straps there could be four straps, each strap
attached to the
bearing flange. The straps may alternatively be secured to the bearing flange
on an upper
or lower surface of the flange rather than an edge or edges. The straps 135
may be
configured so that straps or parts of straps are situated on opposed sides of
the bearing
flange 130 for better securement efficiency. The straps 135 may be secured to
the
headwear by bolts, rivets, stitching and the like at securement structures 137
on the
straps 135, preferably proximate ends of the straps 135. Any number or
arrangement of
straps may be used to ensure proper securement of the bearing flange 130 on
the
headwear.
In Fig. 4B, a bearing flange 230 comprising a rotational bearing 232 has lever
buckles 237 attached thereto. The lever buckles 237 comprise lever handles 239
pivotally
mounted on the lever buckles 237 and operatively connected to hooks 238
through
connecting straps 236. The hooks 238 are configured to engage mounting struts
233
mounted to headwear (e.g. a helmet) (not shown). The mounting struts 233 may
be
secured to the headwear, for example with U-bolts or clips. The mounting
struts 233 are
spaced apart such that when the lever handles 239 are in an "up" position, the
connecting
straps 236 have sufficient length for the hooks 238 to hook over the mounting
struts 233,
as seen in the lower part of Fig. 4B. When the lever handles 239 are in a
"down" position
with the hooks 238 hooked over the mounting struts 233, the connecting straps
236 are
pulled toward the buckles 237 tightening the hooks 238 on the mounting struts
233, as
seen in the upper part of Fig. 4B. Any number and arrangement of lever buckles
may be
used to ensure proper securement of the bearing flange 230 on the headwear.
Mounting
struts may be located anywhere on the headwear and a plurality of mounting
struts on the
headwear offer the opportunity for mounting the bearing flange in different
locations.
Advantageously, the attachment mechanisms for mounting the bearing flange on
headwear are readily removable and re-mountable to permit exchange of headwear
or to
move the bearing flange to a different location on the headwear.
The novel features will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon
examination of the description. It should be understood, however, that the
scope of the
claims should not be limited by the embodiments, but should be given the
broadest
interpretation consistent with the wording of the claims and the specification
as a whole.
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