Exercise assisting device

Abstract

The exercise assisting device includes a support unit (1) configured to bear a user's body and a drive device (2). The support unit (1) includes a pair of foot supports (4) having a bearing member (40) configured to bear the user's left foot and right foot respectively. The drive device (2) is configured to drive the support unit (1) to move the user's body so as to vary a load applied to user's lower limb. The exercise assisting device further includes a tilting device (A). The tilting device (A) includes a load detection unit (5), a tilting mechanism unit (6), and a control unit (8). The load detection unit (5) includes two load sensors (50) provided to an outer portion (40a) and an inner portion (40b) of the bearing member (40) respectively. The tilting mechanism unit (6) is configured to tilt the bearing member (40) inward or outward with regard to the user's foot. The control unit (8) is configured to control the tilting mechanism unit (6) so as to reduce a difference between loads detected by two load sensors (50) respectively.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to an exercise assisting device which gives an exercise effect to a user without the user's voluntary (active) exercise.BACKGROUND ART[0002]In the past, there have been proposed various types of exercise assisting devices which have a user make a passive exercise so as to give an exerciser effect to the user. The passive exercise is an exercise where the user's muscles are stretched without effort but with an aid of external forces being applied to the user. Therefore, these exercise assisting devices can give the exercise effect to the user in a like fashion as the user exercises voluntarily.[0003]The exercise assisting devices are known to be classified into two types, one being configured to apply a force of bending joints of the user for stretching the muscles associated with the joints, and the other configured to apply a stimulus to a user's body to cause a nervous reflex by which associated muscles are forced to stretch.[0004...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The exercise assisting device in accordance with the present invention includes a support unit configured to bear a user's body and a drive device. The support unit includes a pair of foot supports having a bearing member configured to bear the user's left foot and right foot respectively. The drive device is configured to drive the support unit to move the user's body so as to vary a load applied to user's lower limb. The exercise assisting device further includes a tilting device. The tilting device is configured to tilt at least one part of the bearing member so as to reduce a difference between a load applied to an outer portion of the bearing member corresponding to an outer part of user's foot and a load applied to an inner portion of the bearing member corresponding to an inner part of the user's foot.

[0009]According to this invention, at least one part of the bearing member is tilted so as to reduce the difference between the load applied to the outer portion of the bearing member and the load applied to the inner portion of the bearing member. Therefore, while the load applied to the outer portion of the bearing member exceeds the load applied to the inner portion of the bearing member (that is, the user has bow legs), the load applied to the inner part of the lower limb is increased to a greater extent than in a condition where the user's foot has its width direction kept parallel to a horizontal plane. Accordingly, it is possible to intensively train the inner part of muscles of the lower limb. Meanwhile, while the load applied to the inner portion of the bearing member exceeds the load applied to the outer portion of the bearing member (that is, the user has knock knees), the load applied to the outer part of the lower limb is increased to a greater extent than in a condition where the user's foot has its width direction kept parallel to the horizontal plane. Accordingly, it is possible to intensively train the outer part of the muscles of the lower limb. Thus, it is possible to improve a balance (capacity imbalance) between the outer part and the inner part of the muscles of the lower limb, even if the user has bow legs or knock knees. As a result, it is possible to remedy deformed bones of the lower limb (that is, it is possible to recover a skeletal alignment of the lower limb). Further, the user can have the exercise while balancing the load applied to the lower limb (i.e., equalizing the loads applied to the outer and inner parts of the lower limb), thereby reducing the load acting on the knee joint. Accordingly, the user can enjoy a comfortable passive exercise (training) while being alleviated of the knee pain, which means that even the user suffering from knee pains during one's walking can make the passive exercise.

[0011]According to this embodiment, at least one part of the bearing member is tilted inward or outward with regard to the user's foot based on the load detected by the load detection unit. Therefore, it is possible to adjust a tilt of the bearing member to be a tilt suitable for the user.

[0012]In a more preferable embodiment, the load detection unit includes two load sensors provided to the outer portion and the inner portion of the bearing member respectively. The control unit is configured to control the tilting mechanism unit so as to reduce a difference between loads respectively detected by the two load sensors.

[0013]According to this embodiment, since the load applied to the outer portion of the bearing member and load applied to the inner portion of the bearing member are detected, it is possible to estimate a deformation of the user's lower limb precisely. Therefore, it is possible to adjust a tilt of the bearing member to be a tilt suitable for the user.

[0015]According to this embodiment, the number of the load sensor of the load detection unit can be reduced to one. Therefore, it is possible to reduce a production cost.

Problems solved by technology

By the way, knee osteoarthritis is known to be a main cause of the knee pains.

However, the device of JP 2003-290386 A or JP 10-55131 A is not intended to correct the skeletal deformity of the lower limbs.

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