Passive exercise assisting device of standing type

Abstract

A passive exercise assisting device comprises a left foot support, a right foot support, and a driving unit. The left foot support and the right foot support are configured to bear a left foot and a right foot of a user respectively. The driving unit is configured to move the left foot support and the right foot support so as to give motions to the left foot support and the right foot support in relation with each other. The driving unit comprises at least one of a horizontal motion applying mechanism and a rotation motion applying mechanism. The horizontal motion applying mechanism is configured move the left foot support and the right foot support laterally to the left foot support and the right foot support. The rotation motion applying mechanism is configured rotate the left foot support and the right foot support about horizontal axes to the left foot support and the right foot support. The passive exercise assisting device further comprises a vertical motion applying mechanism being configured to move the left foot support and the right foot support vertically to the left foot support and the right foot support.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]This invention relates to a passive exercise assisting device for training muscles of lower legs.BACKGROUND ART[0002]Japanese registered utility model application publication No. 3112751 and Japanese patent application publication No. 2002-253700 discloses the prior exercise assisting device for training the muscles of the lower legs. The prior exercise device of stepping type is a device which is used for easily training the muscles of the user's lower leg in the home. The prior exercise assisting device of the stepping type comprises a left foot support, a right foot support, springs and air cylinders. The user places a user's left foot and a user's right foot feet on the left foot support and the right foot support respectively. Subsequently, the user alternately moves the user's left foot and the right foot up and down. In this manner, the user uses the exercise assisting device of the stepping type. By using the exercise assisting device of the stepping typ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]In this case, the passive exercise assisting device of standing type is configured to slide the user's left foot and the right foot along a horizontal direction passively by means of the horizontal motion applying mechanism in a condition where the user stands on the left foot support and the right foot support. Alternatively, the passive exercise assisting device of standing type is configured to rotate the user's left foot and the right foot support about the respective horizontal axes in order to dorsiflex the ankle joints passively in a condition where the user stands on the left foot support and the right foot support. In addition, the horizontal slide motion or the rotation motion causes weight shift of the user. Therefore, the vertical motion applying mechanism is configured to give the vertical motions in synchronization with the horizontal slide motion or the rotation motions to the left foot support and the right foot support. Consequently, the user is able to enhance balance ability by putting the user's weight on the foot support, while the user moving the left femoral area and the right femoral area alternately. In addition, the balance ability, the capacity to support the user's weight by either one of the left leg or the right leg, and the capacity of the muscle of the lower leg are enhanced simultaneously by swinging the user's body leftward and rightward in order to break the user's balance, whereby the user is able to take exercise continuously with interest. Furthermore, the passive exercise assisting device gives the 3-dimensional exercise which includes a vertical motion in combination with the horizontal motion. Therefore, an exercise effect which is given to the lower leg is enhanced. Moreover, even the passive exercise assisting device gives the 3-dimensional exercise, the passive exercise assisting device hardly bend and stretch the knee joint. Therefore, the passive exercise assisting device allows the user to train the muscles of the legs of the user without risk of making an impact to the knee joint.

[0012]In this case, the passive exercise assisting device is configured to give the twist motion of twisting superior limb with respect to the lower leg. Consequently, the passive exercise assisting device is capable of stimulating the various muscles such as the lower back and the lower leg, especially the adducent muscles, whereby the passive exercise exercises the user in order to develop the user's muscle more effectively.

[0014]In this case, the user's weight acts on the left foot support and the right foot support which move forward and downward. Therefore, the user is able to exercise the user's balance ability more effectively.

[0016]In this case, the user is easily put the user's weight on the left foot support or the right foot support which has the backward tilting posture and which is moved downward. When the user's weight acts on the left foot support or the right foot support, the user's weight acts on the rear side of the knee, whereby the front side of the femoral area are is contracted when the user's weight acts on the left foot support or the right foot support. In this manner, the passive exercise assisting device gives the dosal flexion motion to the ankle joint effectively.

[0018]In this case, the user is easily put the user's weight on the left foot support or the right foot support which has the forward tilting posture and which is moved downward. When the user's weight acts on the left foot support or the right foot support, the user's weight acts on the rear side of the knee, whereby the front side of the femoral area are is contracted when the user's weight acts on the left foot support or the right foot support. In this manner, the passive exercise assisting device gives the dosal flexion motion to the ankle joint effectively.

Problems solved by technology

However, the user is required to step the left foot support and the right foot support oneself when the user uses the prior exercise assisting device.

Therefore, persons having knee pains or aged parsons have difficulty in using the prior exercise device of stepping type.

That is, the user of the prior exercise device is needed to carry on the exercise with an effort.

This effort is a burden to the user.

Furthermore, the user does not amuse a simple up-down motion of the left foot and the right foot support.

Therefore, the user gives up the exercise easily.

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