Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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APPARATUS FOR PROPRIOCEPTIVE REEDUCATION
AND/OR PHYSICAL TRAINING
The present invention relates to a multi-purpose
apparatus intended for proprioceptive rehabilitation, which
allows athletes to train and exercise and makes it possible to
perform the sporting disciplines usually known by the English
terms "body-building" and "power training".
It relates more particularly to an apparatus of the
above-mentioned type, comprising:
at least one base;
means attached to said base for inclining said base with
respect to a support surface,
a turntable rotatably attached to said base and inclinable
with said base, said turntable having a plurality of
spa~ed parallel grooves therein, each of said grooves
having a pre-selected cross section and means for
receiving and retaining fastening accessories having
cross sections matching said pre-selected cross section
of said grooves; and
adJustable brake means associated with said rotary
turntable.
According to the present invention, the apparatus can
be mounted on the ground or on a table horizontally or inclined
relative to a horizontal plane; it can also be mounted on wall-
bars cr a wall of vertical structure vertically or inclined
relative to a vertical plane.
- The brake, adjustable according to the force which the
user is to exert, can be ad~usted manually, in particular by
rotating a threaded rod which compresses a spring, the pressing
force of which lays blocks more or less firmly against the axle
of the turntable.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the
invention, the brake can be of the electromagnetic type acting on
a disc coaxial relatlve to the turntable and integral with the
latter. In this case, the braking force is advantageously
controlled electronically.
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By the use of a serles of accessorles lntended to be
fastened rigidly to the turntable, it iq possible to provide a
large number of proprioceptive rehabilltation and/or physical
training exercises. The following accessories may be mentioned
by way of non-limiting example:
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a handle which is paralle~ to the turntaL~ d~lC ~hich,
according to its location, makes it possible to execute
a multiplicity of rehabilitation or muscle-building move-
ments of the upper limbs and of the trunk;
a handle which is perpendicular to the turntable and
which is equipped with a freely rotating sleeve making
it poss;ble to carry out exercises with the upper limbs;
a sphere which pivots about an axis perpendicular
to the turntable or is fixed and which makes it Pos-
sible to increase even further the possibilities of ex-
ercises in the region of the hand and wrist;
straps making it possible to secure certain parts of
the body;
means of fastening a stool to the turntable in order
to exercise the muscles of the trunk more specifically;
devices for fastening and/or supporting the heel and/
or foot on the turntable, making it possible to perform
ankle-flexing and -stretching exercises;
a lengthening device intended for securing the distal
part of the limbs beyond the turntable, the root of these
limbs being located ;n the region of the central axis of
the said turntable; advantageously, the said lengthening
dev;ce also makes it possible to fasten accessories, such
as those mentioned;
at least one pedal axle carrying a plate which is
itself~ mounted on a ball or on an axle and which can re-
ceive an item of equipment or a pedal-bearing assembly;
two studs, each welded to a base plate, making it pos-
sible to fit a Freeman board.
Combinations of the abovementioned accessories
are also possible, and the accessories can be fastened
by screwing, clamping, cl;pping or any other equivalent
means.
The adjustable brake can progressively increase
the resistance to the rotation of the turntable, to make
it necessary for the user to exert greater strength to
execute the various movements, or can block the rota-
tional movement of the turntable in certain limiting an-
gular positions.
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It is l~ar that other braking devices can be
prov;ded, thes~ acting if appropriate, on linear movements
of accessor;es in the grooves of the turntab~e.
According to an especially preferred embodiment
Of the present invention,~the turntable, as described
above, is controlled, for example, by a programmable con-
trol device, for example, of the microprocessor type, or
any other equivalent means, which can control the action
of the brake according to a predetermined and, if appro-
priate, repetitive cycLe. In this case, the turntableis also equipped w;th sensors which make it possible to
detect the angular position of the turntable, the rota-
tional speed of the latter and, if appropriate, the num-
ber of movements executed.
A d;splay and/or recording of the exerc;ses car-
ried out is possible according to the ;nvention, and ;t
is likewise possible, at the start of the exercise, to
d;splay the type of movements to be executed and their
number for a part;cular patient and for the specific
prepa;at;on of an athelete or sportsman.
The invention will be described in more detail
below by means of the draw;ngs ;n which;
f;gures 1 and 2 show the apparatus accord;ng to the
invention in a plan view and a side v;ew, respectively;
Figure 3 is a partial diagrammatic sectional view of
the apparatus according to the invention, equipped with
an electromagnetic brake;
Figures 4, 5 and 6 illustrate the use of some acces-
sor;es fitted on the apparatus according to the inven-
t;on;
Figures 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 show other accessories
; ~ wh;ch can be f;tted to the apparatus accord;ng to the
invention;
Figure 12 shows the mechanism for ;ncl;ning the turn-
table;
Figure 13 shows a dev;ce for suspending the apparatus
~ ~ according to the invention on wall-bars; and
;~ F;gure 14 g;ves an examp~e of a disp~ay board combined
w;th a microprocessor wh;ch is associated w;th the
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apparatus according to the invention.
In the Figures, identica~ reference numerals
represent identical or similar elements.
With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the proprio-
S ceptive rehabilitation andlor physical training appara-
tus 1 comprises a base 3, a turntable 5 and a brake 7.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the base 3 is
inclined relative to the horizontal plane 9. The turn-
table S is provided with parallel grooves 11 having a
profile in the form of an upturned T. According to
Figure 2, the brake 7 can be actuated manually by means
of the hand~heel 13 integral with the threaded rod 15
which compresses a spring,-the force of which lays blocks
17 against the axle of the turntable.
Figure 3 relates to another embodiment of the
apparatus according to the invention, which makes use of
an electromagnetic brake 7 known per se. The turntable
S provided w;th its grooves 11 is fixed to its rotary
shaft 21 by means of a flange 23 and screws 24. The
2û sa;d shaft Z1 is seated rotatably ;n the base 3 by means
of suitable conventiona~ bearings 25. The electromag-
netic brake integral with the base acts on the flange 23
in order to brake or even block the rotation of the lat-
ter and consequently that of the turntable 5. In a con-
ventional way, the electromagnetic brake 7 is concentric
reLative to the axis of rotation of the turntable 5 and
is incorporated in the base, being fastened to the latter
by means of two rings 27 and 29 joined together on either
side of the latter.
F;gures 4, 5 and 6 illustrate several uses of the
apparatus accord;ng to the invention for special exercises
and movements, together with the use of some accessories.
~` In the embod;ments illustrated, the base 3 projects sub-
stantia(ly beyond the turntable, to provide a good sup-
port for the latter. Moreover, the apparatus according
to the invent;on is controlled by an electronic control
50 which will be described in more detail later.
In Figure 4, the accessory used consists of a
handle 31 fastened to the periphery of the turntable by
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means OT t~o inserts 32 ot a standard typ~ ~hich ar~ -
secured in the grooves 11.
In figure 5, the turntable is equipped with a
lengthening piece 33 consisting of two para~lel rails
which, if appropriate, have~a slot similar to the grooves
11 and which can be equipped with other accessories, such
as, for examp~e, the handle 31. Moreover, the end of
this lengthen;ng piece 33 can have two perpendicular
rails 34 of the same type.
Figure 6 shows accessories 35 making it possible
to fasten a stool 35' to the turntable 5. Such an acces-
sory consists, for examp~e, of a socket which has a clamp-
ing screw.
Figure 7 illustrates a vertica~ hand~e 36 which
can be mounted on the turntable 5 by means of the same
standard insert 32 integral with the said handle. The
latter can also be surrounded by a suitable socket, in
order to make it easier to execute certain special move-
ments.
f;gure 8 shows an accessory similar to the pre-
ceding one, equipped with a sphere 37 to allow certain
movements of the wrist. The said sphere 37 can be fixed
to its axle 38 by means of a clamping screw 39 which can
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engage in a slot 40.
Figure 9 il~ustrates a support 41 covered with
~ a protective material 42 and fitted on the turntable by
- means of the plate of standard size 32. The said sup-
port can be equipped with a strap which makes it possible
to attach a l;mb.
The accessory 43 illustrated in F;gure 10 ;s
s;m;lar to the preced;ng one, but ;s better suited to the
hee~ because of its trapezoidal shape.
A final accessory described in the non-limit;ng
list mentioned ;s shown d;agrammat;cally ;n F;gure 11.
It cons;sts of a semicircular plate 44 which is articu-
lated on inserts of standard size 31 and which can be
positioned at a particular angle re~ative to the turn-
table 5.
The said plate 44 can also be provided with
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grooves similar to the grooves 11 in the turntable 5.
As a~ready mentioned, the base 3 can be Positioned
at various inclinations. According to one embodiment,
the base 3 is articulated on a rest 45 and can be held
in pos;tion relative to the~latter by means of a system
of telescoPic l;nks or rods 45' hav;ng stop pins 45 "
for some specific positions. Alternatively, the appara-
tus 1 can be suspended on waLl-bars 46 (Figure 13) by
means of a suitable suspension frame 47 which has, in ad-
dition to an upper attachment device 49, an adjustablelower attachment device 49'. This suspension frame is
eqùipped with at least two pairs of hooks 48, in which
is anchored the rest ecluipped with studs for attaching
the apparatus 1. The hei3ht of the assembly as a whole
can be adjusted as requ;red.
It is especially preferred to associate a control
device ~hich is programmable or has a microprocessor
with the apparatus according to the invention. Such a
device can be controlled and programmed by means of a
disPlay board 50, as illustrated in Figure 14.
In this case, a considerable number of functions,
as described below, can be provided.
The display board 50 advantageously CQmprises
three indicators known per se, each comprising three
25~ units~. The indicators 51 and 52 indicate, in each direc-
tion, the number of revolutions or fractions of a revolu-
tion which still remain to be executed. The indicator
53 aakes it possible to enter data, display the amount
of movement to be executed in each direction, and display
30~ the number of revolutions still remaining to be executed,
where complete revolutions in one direction are concerned,
a~nd the rotational speed. A 16-key keyboard 54 makes it
possib~e, for example, for a kinesitherapist to enter
~ data.~ The potentiometers 55 and 56 make it possible to
f~ 35~adj~ust~the braking tor~ue in each direction. Other con-
ventional means, such as sound or light signals 57 and
58, can also be provided in order to signal the end o f
the exercise.
It is likewise possible to vary the braking
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torque durln~ one and the same cycle or during the com-
plete exercise by means of suitable programming.
In an embodiment such as that described, the
turntable must, of coùrse, be equipped uith various
probes, such as probes for measuring the rotationa~
speed, positioning probes, etc.
It is therefore possible, starting from a speci-
fic ~ero Point~ to programme, for example, a number of
angular movements (amount, speed, number) with a braking
force which is constant or variable during the movement.
The data produced by the probes can also be re-
corded and stored in a computer which enables the kinesi-
theraP~ist to follou the patient's progress.
The apparatus according to the invention makes
it possible to perform a large number of different ex-
ercises and is relatively compact. ln particular, it
can be used by a kinesitherapist at a patient's bedside
or home. It can be adapted to the physical condition of
the user and allows the latter to improve this Physical
condit;on quickly by means of progressive exercises which
can easily be programmed.
