Gait training assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a gait training assembly comprising a treadmill frame and a continuous belt or a slatted belt, which runs over and is driven by rollers held via the treadmill frame, or a walking or training panel, the surface of which is used as a walking or running surface. Each of at least four lifting air cushions is arranged laterally in the walking direction or in the vicinity of each corner point, and the lifting air cushions are connected to the base frame on the lower face or are placed on the floor and are connected to the treadmill frame on the upper face, support the treadmill frame, and have a height that can be controlled via the contained air quantity. The lifting air cushions have air inlets with electrically controllable valves, an electric compressor and / or a compressed air tank is connected to the valves of the lifting air cushions, and an electronic cushion filling control unit is provided which is designed to simultaneously actuate the compressor and the valves in order to set a defined fill level of at least two adjacent lifting air cushions in order to set a specified inclination and / or elasticity of the running or training surface.

Description

[0001] Gait training arrangement

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to a gait training arrangement comprising a treadmill frame and an endless belt running over rollers held in the treadmill frame or slats running from the treadmill frame over a guide device, the surface of which serves as a walking or running surface. The treadmill frame is mounted in a base frame or placed on the floor. It further relates to an alternative gait training arrangement formed from a walking or training plate.

[0004] The purpose of this application is to make gait and running training, as well as balance and coordination training on a treadmill or walking or training platform, more varied and interesting, and also to enable effective training for the treatment of various diseases. This is particularly true for diseases such as stroke and Parkinson's disease, where it is important to regain postural control and balance in order to enable standing and walking with the lowest possible risk of falls. For older people, the aim is particularly to

[0005] Maintaining walking ability into old age and slowing muscle loss. The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a gait training device of the type characterized above that is improved with regard to its therapeutic application possibilities.

[0006] This object is achieved by a gait training arrangement having the features of claim 1 or claim 2. Appropriate developments of the inventive concept are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0007] The gait training system according to the invention offers the user—especially older users—a completely new level of exercise for the musculoskeletal system without the risk of accidents, with significantly greater activation of the stabilizing muscles (particularly in the pelvic region, the torso, and the joints) even with slow walking. Cardiovascular and sensorimotor abilities can be significantly improved in a very short time with the proposed system.

[0008] Furthermore, the gait training arrangement according to the invention can be used very advantageously for gait and stance analyses.

[0009] Furthermore, the gait training arrangement according to the invention can be used for gait and stance analyses as well as gait training of dogs and other mammals.

[0010] The invention includes the idea of ​​supporting the treadmill frame or a substructure of the walking or training platform via elements that offer a simple and cost-effective option for selective height adjustment (and thus, for example, targeted inclination) of the treadmill frame or substructure. The rearward inclination and / or lateral inclination of the running surface achieved in this way enables special training effects in the context mentioned above. Furthermore, the said elements should also offer the option of supporting the treadmill frame or substructure with adjustable elasticity. This, in turn, makes it possible to convert the reaction forces exerted by the impacting feet while walking or running on the endless belt or walking platform into vibrations of the endless belt or walking platform in a predefined manner.The amplitude of these vibrations depends on the way and force the user places his feet on the floor, and is therefore under his own control, and can be influenced by adjusting the elasticity of the aforementioned elements.

[0011] Furthermore, the invention includes the idea of ​​implementing the explained combined function of the aforementioned elements essentially solely through lifting air cushions, which are connected to the base frame on the one hand and to the treadmill frame or the substructure of the walking platform on the other. In principle, the lifting air cushions can also be arranged directly on the floor instead of on a base frame and, if necessary, fixed there.

[0012] According to the invention, a lifting air cushion is arranged at or near all corner points or laterally in the walking direction of the treadmill frame or the walking platform. This allows the front or rear edge and / or one of the side edges of the treadmill frame or the substructure to be raised flexibly—and also in a predetermined time sequence—and thus, in particular, to adjust an incline or decline of the running surface. While creating an incline by (higher) filling of the lifting air cushions at the front edge may be desirable, especially for athletic training, creating a decline by (higher) filling of the rear lifting air cushions is particularly useful for therapeutic or geriatric applications.

[0013] The height and elasticity of the lifting air cushions can be controlled via the amount of air they contain or the internal pressure and for this purpose have air inlets / outlets through which air can be added or removed.

[0014] According to the invention, these air inlets are equipped with electrically controllable valves, which are connected to an electric compressor and / or a compressed air tank. In principle, a manual air pump can also be used for the controlled filling of the lifting air cushions, but this is of secondary importance in the practical implementation of the invention.

[0015] To control the inflation of the lifting air cushions to achieve a desired height and thus a specific degree of elasticity, an electronic cushion inflation control unit is provided. This unit is designed to control the compressor and valves to set a defined inflation level and thus a defined height and elasticity of the lifting air cushions. In principle, the aforementioned manual pump can also be equipped with a pressure gauge to control the inflation of the lifting air cushions; however, this is also considered a low-cost solution with little practical significance.

[0016] In both of the aforementioned designs, the adjustable elasticity of the lifting air cushions makes it possible to specifically influence or, if necessary, virtually eliminate the vibration response of the treadmill or walking platform when the user places their feet on the ground. This allows the aforementioned training effects to be precisely adjusted and optimized to the user's physical requirements and movement patterns. This is especially true for the combination of a targeted lifting of the treadmill or walking platform at one of its edges with the generation of a predetermined vibration response, controlled exclusively by the filling level of the lifting air cushions.

[0017] These possibilities can be further developed by selecting a rather firm or rather flexible treadmill or a rather hard or soft walking surface, and optionally providing static or dynamically generated unevenness on it, as explained in the applicant's previous patent applications. The aforementioned embodiments of the present invention can also be combined with the—also known per se—generation of a coordinated visual presentation of a virtual running environment and / or the output of corresponding acoustic and / or visual training instructions.

[0018] In a further design, the treadmill frame or substructure or walking or training platform has lateral outriggers that are connected to the upper side of a lifting air cushion located at a corresponding position in the base frame. These outriggers are mounted next to the running surface, raised above the lower edge of the treadmill frame or substructure, or above the underside of the walking platform, creating a "construction space" for the lifting air cushions placed underneath without raising the running surface accordingly. The resulting low running surface and low entry onto it are particularly valuable for therapeutic and rehabilitation applications for elderly patients.In a further design, at least some of the lifting air cushions are constructed in multiple parts, each comprising at least one partial cushion featuring an air inlet with an electrically controlled valve. This allows for a wide range of height and, optionally, elasticity adjustments using stacked commercially available air cushions, such as those offered for assembly work in the trades or household sectors. Furthermore, the gait training system can be modified or repaired in a particularly flexible and cost-effective manner.

[0019] In a further embodiment, at least some of the lifting air cushions are assigned stop and / or locking means to fix the maximum height of the respective lifting air cushion. These additional means allow the – fundamentally desired – vibrations of the treadmill or walking platform to be suppressed. This is particularly useful for purely adjusting the incline of the running or walking surface. In a particularly useful manner, the stop or locking means are designed to be adjustable, in particular electrically adjustable.

[0020] In an advantageous embodiment of the stop and / or locking means, these are equipped with additional damping means and are preferably adjustable, in particular electrically adjustable.

[0021] Such damping devices prevent permanent mechanical impact of the locking devices and additionally dampen the vibrations of the running or walking surface, so that an optimal training effect is achieved under practically all conditions and risks for the user are minimized.

[0022] In a special design, the base frame of the treadmill or the walking or training platform comprises two separate crossbeam modules, each designed as an elongated beam, with a lifting air cushion fixed to each end. When the gait training arrangement is in use, these crossbeam modules are connected to the treadmill frame, the substructure, or the walking platform at or at some distance from the front and rear edges, parallel to the front and rear edges. The aforementioned design makes it possible, in particular, to retrofit existing treadmills or walking platforms with lifting air cushions with the functions according to the invention and to achieve the advantages achieved with the invention. In particular, by arranging the lifting air cushions outside the walking, training, or running surface, the access height can be kept low, which significantly increases the handling and safety of the training arrangement.

[0023] In further embodiments of the invention, height measuring devices are provided for determining the height of predetermined points on the treadmill frame or the walking or training platform, which are connected to height sensor inputs of the cushion filling control unit. Furthermore, pressure sensors associated with the lifting air cushions can be provided for determining the internal pressure of the respective lifting air cushion, which are connected to pressure sensor inputs of the cushion filling control unit.

[0024] The aforementioned sensors serve to display key operating parameters of the gait training system and, in particular, to provide basic information that can be used for further adjustment of the gait training system. They can be fed to a corresponding display unit via the corresponding sensor inputs of the cushion filling control unit, allowing the operator of the gait training system to control the internal pressure and thus the height of the lifting air cushions as desired.

[0025] However, a preferred embodiment is one in which the cushion filling control unit has a program control device for program-controlled filling and thus height and elasticity adjustment of at least some of the lifting air cushions. This can be done, in particular, by processing the signals from the electrical height measuring devices and / or the pressure sensors for determining the internal pressure of the lifting air cushions. In an advantageous development, the program control device is designed to store and implement a predetermined temporal progression of the height and elasticity of at least some of the lifting air cushions as part of a predetermined running training program.

[0026] In a particular embodiment, the underside or top side of the walking or running surface of the treadmill or the walking or training plate is equipped with force sensors and / or strain gauges or a plurality of pressure sensors arranged in a matrix, the measurement results of which can be used for gait analysis but also for controlling the electronic cushion filling control unit.

[0027] Advantages and expediencies of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments and aspects with reference to the figures.

[0028] Of these, show:

[0029] Fig. 1a and 1b are schematic representations of a gait training arrangement according to the invention in a partially sectioned side view (longitudinal section) and cross-sectional view, respectively,

[0030] Fig. 2a to 2c sketch-like representation of various possible

[0031] Settings of another gait training arrangement,

[0032] Fig. 3a and 3b detail views of a (modified) gait training arrangement of the type shown in Fig. la and lb,

[0033] Fig. 4a and 4b a detailed view of a gait training arrangement which is structurally modified compared to Fig. 3a and 3b,

[0034] Fig. 5 is a schematic representation in the form of a

[0035] Cross-sectional view of a modified gait training arrangement of the type shown in Fig. 2a to 2c,

[0036] Fig. 6 a detailed view of a gait training arrangement with multi-part lifting air cushions in the form of a cross-sectional view,

[0037] Fig. 7 is a perspective detailed view of a gait training arrangement modified compared to Fig. 6,

[0038] Fig. 8 is a schematic plan view of an inventive

[0039] Gait training arrangement in which two of the traverse modules shown in Fig. 7 are provided, and Fig. 9 is a schematic representation of an exemplary adjustment or control device of a gait training arrangement according to the invention in the form of a block diagram.

[0040] Figs. 1a and 1b show a schematic diagram of a gait training arrangement 1 in which two rollers 3 are mounted in a treadmill frame 2, over which a treadmill 4 runs and is driven. The rollers 3 each have a drive shaft or rotation axis 3a, which can rotate with low friction in bearings of the treadmill frame 2. The treadmill frame 2 is height-adjustable by means of several lifting air cushions 5 and is mounted in a base frame 6 for oscillation. The functions and structure of the lifting air cushions are explained below by way of example.

[0041] Fig. 2a to 2c show sketches of the adjustment and usage options of a gait training arrangement 1' with a user N training thereon. As a structural element of the gait training arrangement 1', a walking plate 7 is shown here only schematically, which is fixed at its corner points on a lifting air cushion 5, which is simply placed on the floor here.

[0042] Fig. 2a shows the arrangement with filled air cushions at the front edge and two deflated air cushions at the rear edge, so that an upward inclination of the walking platform in the walking or running direction of the user N is set at an angle predetermined by the degree of filling of the air cushions. Fig. 2b shows a corresponding adjustment of the arrangement in which a gradient is set by filling the rear air cushions and deflating the two front air cushions.

[0043] Fig. 2c shows the incomplete inflation of all air cushions along the longitudinal edges of the arrangement. The double arrows indicate that this creates a vibration of the walking or running surface in both vertical and horizontal directions.

[0044] 3a and 3b show, as a detailed view, the mounting of a treadmill frame 2 which is structurally modified compared to the embodiment according to Fig. 1a and 1b and which has a lateral outrigger 2a near each of its corners, by means of a lifting air cushion 5 on a base plate 8. The lifting air cushion 5 has an air inlet 5a, to which an electrically controllable valve (not shown) is assigned and via which the lifting air cushion 5 can be filled with a predetermined amount of compressed air L. Fig. 3a shows a state in which the lifting air cushion 5 is deflated or only minimally filled, such that it has a minimal height and the treadmill frame 2' lies on the floor. It should be noted that a certain minimum height of the air cushion is present even when completely unfilled due to its design.However, the design with a lateral boom and the placement of the air lifting cushion laterally outside the walking surface allows a significantly lower climbing height compared to the design according to Fig. 1a and 1b.

[0045] Fig. 3b shows a (partially) filled state of the lifting air cushion 5, in which its height is significantly increased compared to the initial state. As a result, the treadmill frame 2' is lifted off the ground and rests elastically on the lifting air cushion located beneath the respective boom 2a. Depending on the degree of filling and the resulting degree of elasticity of the lifting air cushion, this mounting is more or less elastic and thus capable of oscillation to an adjustable degree in the horizontal and vertical directions.

[0046] Fig. 4a shows a modified version compared to the version according to Fig. 3a and 3b, in which additional stop or locking means 9 are provided for limiting the height of the lifting air cushion 5 and at the same time for locking the treadmill frame 2'.

[0047] The stop or locking means 9 comprise, for example, a stud bolt or externally threaded cylinder 9a, the base 9b of which rests in a correspondingly designed bore 8a in the base plate 8. A height-adjustable stop and centering element 9c runs on the thread of the stud bolt or cylinder 9a and engages with a bore 2b in the boom 2a. The conical design of the stop and centering element 9c, when partially engaged in the bore 2b, ensures that the treadmill frame 2' is precisely guided laterally and prevents vibration components resulting from the user's impact forces when the lifting air cushion is inflated. However, if the lifting air cushion is partially deflated, the treadmill frame can move freely in both the vertical and horizontal directions. Fig. 4b shows an exemplary embodiment of additional damping of the locking means 9.The stop and centering element 9c is freely movable upwards on the cylinder 9a, up to a possibly adjustable limiting element 9f, and is pressed against the bore 2b in the boom 2a by a spring 9e and an adjusting element 9d. The adjusting element 9d can be a screw element with a thread that can be adjusted in height, thereby changing the spring force and thus the damping behavior. This also prevents unwanted, constant mechanical impact of the centering element 9c on the boom 2a while walking. Instead of the spring 9e, an elastomer can also be used and / or combined with the centering element 9c and consist entirely or partially of an elastomer.

[0048] Fig. 5 schematically shows how the gait training arrangement 1' according to Figs. 2a to 2c can be implemented in a structurally simple yet flexible manner. A support plate (substructure) 10 of the walking platform or a treadmill frame 7 has a recessed receiving area 10a created by means of corresponding bevels, into which the walking platform or treadmill frame can be removably inserted and fixed on all sides by means of the bevels. This arrangement can thus be easily transported and very easily equipped with various walking devices, which differ, for example, in the hardness of the walking surface or the presence of embossed unevenness, or even in the fact that sensors and / or actuators are installed, with which additional functions such as foot force detection or the active generation of time-varying unevenness can be implemented.It is understood that the lateral outriggers can generally be incorporated into a lateral frame surrounding the walking device or into a completely or partially closed housing or can be designed as part of such a frame.

[0049] Similar to the arrangement according to Fig. 1a and 1b, the storage takes place on a base frame or a base plate 6. However, if the lifting air cushions 5 are firmly attached to the underside of the support plate 10, the support plate with the air cushions can also simply be placed on the floor.

[0050] Fig. 6 shows a detailed view of a further modified arrangement 1', based on Fig. 5. The base frame 6' here has a raised side edge or lateral boom 6a', on which rests a two-part lifting air cushion 5'. This comprises a lower, closed air cushion 5.1 with a fixed air volume and thus a constant height, and an upper air cushion 5.2, which can be filled with a desired amount of air through the air inlet and outlet 5a and thus can be varied in height. The space between the side edge 6a' of the base frame 6' and the side edge of the support plate 10 is closed in the area of ​​the two-part air cushion 5', for example, with an accordion-shaped, flexible protective wall 11.

[0051] With the two-part design of the lifting air cushion 5', on the one hand, a greater height can be achieved than with a one-part air cushion, and on the other hand, the combination of a closed air cushion with fixed, predetermined elastic properties and a variably fillable air cushion with adjustable elasticity allows the vibration behavior of the substructure resting on the lifting air cushion or of a treadmill frame resting on it to be adjusted in a particularly flexible manner.

[0052] Fig. 7 shows a modified construction compared to the designs described above, which does not have a continuous substructure or a continuous base frame. Instead, separate truss modules are provided, which are attached transversely to the front and rear edges of the walking platform.

[0053] These truss modules each comprise an elongated base frame module 6' and a substructure module 10' shaped to match it, of which the figure shows an end section. The truss modules therefore have the reference number 6' / 10'. In the figure, it can be seen that the respective ends of the base frame module 6' and the substructure module 10' are slightly raised compared to the middle section and enclose a two-part lifting air cushion 5' with a lower air cushion 5.1 and upper air cushion 5.2 (as in Fig. 6) between them. Centering elements 12a and 12b are provided on the base frame module 6' on the one hand and the underside of the substructure module 10' of the walking platform (not shown here) on the other hand to center the substructure, which moves up and down when used by a user. Also visible is the upper end of a centering rod or bolt 13, which protrudes from the top of the 6' / 10' module.In principle, stop and centering means of the type shown in Fig. 4 and described above can be provided here. Fig. 8 shows a plan view of a gait training arrangement in which a conventional treadmill arrangement (not separately designated) with a treadmill frame 6 is placed on two traverse modules 6' / 10' of the type shown in Fig. 7 and explained above. It can be seen that one traverse module 6' / 10' is positioned at the front edge and one at the rear edge of the treadmill frame. The treadmill frame is connected there to the corresponding traverse module by a suitable screw connection (not shown) or similar. As shown by arrows, the traverse modules can also be very advantageously positioned at a certain distance parallel to the front and rear edges.This allows the possible adjustment angle of the upward and downward inclination to be increased and, particularly in the case of long walking devices, the mechanical stability and thus the deflection of the walking surface to be prevented.

[0054] This arrangement enables a "retrofit" of existing conventional treadmills or walking platforms with the elements of an arrangement according to the invention explained above and thus a particularly cost-effective implementation of the invention.

[0055] Fig. 9 shows exemplary components of a gait training arrangement of the type described above, which serve for the controlled inflation of the air cushions 5 via their air inlet 5a. Parts shown in dashed lines may be present alternatively or in combination with parts shown in solid lines. The inflation of the lifting air cushions 5 is achieved by a compressor 14 and / or from a compressed air tank 15 via a solenoid valve 16.

[0056] A cushion inflation control unit 17 determines control signals for the compressor 14 and / or the solenoid valve 16 by processing input signals supplied by an internal pressure sensor 18 in the lifting air cushion 5 and / or by a height sensor 19 on or in the air cushion 5 to corresponding control signal inputs 17a, 17b of the control unit 17. An input signal evaluation unit 17c evaluates the measurement signals in a suitable manner and feeds them to a comparator unit 17d. This unit receives a setpoint signal from a program control device 17e, in which program data (such as setpoints or setpoint pressure or setpoint height time profiles) for filling the lifting air cushions are stored. The memory contents in the program control device 17e can be changed via an operating unit 17f of the cushion control unit 17, and the compressor 14 and optionally also the solenoid valve 16 can be controlled directly by the operator.

[0057] For the above exemplary explanation of essential aspects of the invention, it is expressly pointed out that gait training arrangements have long been familiar to the person skilled in the art and have been described in numerous patent and technical publications - including those by the applicant.

[0058] This also applies to special designs such as the provision of an elastically suspended treadmill frame, actuators for adjusting the incline of the treadmill, or user-independent movements of the treadmill frame. The provision of means for controlling the speed of the treadmill (also depending on the user's movement behavior or training programs), or display means for displaying a virtual running environment and / or training instructions, is also known to those skilled in the art. This also applies to pressure detection sensors for detecting contact and, optionally, contact points and contact forces on the walking or running surface, as well as other useful features for specific purposes of the gait training system.

[0059] The examples and aspects of the arrangement according to the invention explained above offer particular advantages with regard to the design of a simple structure of the gait training arrangement and the diverse possibilities of designing the movements of the treadmill frame and thus of the walking surface in the various horizontal directions in a very individual manner.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 28 September 2023 (28.09.2023) Gait training apparatus comprising a treadmill frame and a continuous belt running and driven by rollers held over the treadmill frame.A slat belt, one surface of which serves as a walking or running surface, wherein, in the direction of walking, one of at least four lifting air cushions is arranged laterally or near each corner point of the treadmill frame, the lifting air cushions being connected at an underside to a base frame or placed on the floor and connected at an upper side to the treadmill frame and supporting the treadmill frame, wherein the air inlets have electrically controlled valves and an electric compressor and / or a compressed air tank is connected to the valves of the lifting air cushions, characterized in that the height of the lifting air cushions can be controlled via the amount of air contained and an electronic cushion inflation control unit is provided, which is designed to control the compressor and / or the valves simultaneously to set a defined fill level of at least two adjacent lifting air cushions in order to set a predetermined incline of the running surface.Gait training arrangement, comprising a walking or training platform which may have a planar substructure, wherein in the direction of walking one of at least four lifting air cushions is arranged laterally or near all corner points of the substructure or the walking or training platform, which are connected at an underside to a base frame or placed on the floor and connected at an upper side to the substructure or the walking or training platform, wherein the air inlets are electrically AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) The gait training arrangement comprises controllable valves and an electric compressor and / or a compressed air tank connected to the valves of the lifting air cushions, characterized in that the height of the lifting air cushions is controllable via the amount of air they contain, and an electronic cushion inflation control unit is provided, which is configured to simultaneously control the compressor and / or the valves to set a defined fill level of at least two adjacent lifting air cushions in order to set a predetermined incline of the running training surface. The gait training arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electronic cushion inflation control unit is configured to simultaneously control the compressor and / or the valves to set a defined fill level of all, but at least four, lifting air cushions in order to set a predetermined elasticity of the running training surface in both the vertical and horizontal directions.A gait training arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lifting air cushions are arranged locally next to the walking training platform or the treadmill frame or a substructure, and wherein these have lateral extensions that are connected to the upper side of a lifting air cushion located at a corresponding position in the substructure or on the floor. A gait training arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one part of the lifting air cushions is designed in multiple parts, each comprising at least one partial cushion which has an air inlet with an electrically controlled valve.Gait training arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one part of the lifting air cushions is assigned stop and / or locking means for limiting the vibration amplitude of vertical and / or lateral vibrations arising during use of the treadmill or walking or training platform due to the elasticity of the lifting air cushions or for fixing the height of the respective lifting air cushion. AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) Gait training arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the stop or locking means are adjustable, in particular electrically adjustable. Gait training arrangement according to claims 6 and 7, wherein the stop or locking means are at least partially formed from an elastomer or have damping properties in the vertical direction via an elastomer and / or a damping spring. Gait training arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein two separate traverse modules are arranged under the base frame of the treadmill or walking or training platform, each designed as an elongated support, at each of whose two ends a lifting air cushion is fixed, and which, in the operating position of the gait training arrangement, are connected to the treadmill frame or walking platform in a parallel orientation with the front or rear edge at or near the front and rear edges of the treadmill frame or walking platform.A gait training arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, comprising height measuring devices for determining the height of predetermined points of the treadmill frame or the substructure or walking surface, which are connected to height sensor inputs of the cushion inflation control unit. A gait training arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, comprising pressure sensors assigned to the lifting air cushions for determining the internal pressure of the respective lifting air cushion, which are connected to pressure sensor inputs of the cushion inflation control unit. A gait training arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cushion inflation control unit comprises a program control device for program-controlled inflation and thus height adjustment of at least a portion of the lifting air cushions, in particular by processing the signals from the electrical height measuring devices and / or the pressure sensors to determine the internal pressure of the lifting air cushions. AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) Gait training arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the program control unit for storing and implementing a predetermined time-based progression of the height of at least a portion of the lifting air cushions is configured as part of a predetermined gait training program. Gait training arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the walking or running surface of the treadmill or walking or training platform is equipped with strain gauges, force or pressure sensors, in particular with a matrix consisting of a plurality of pressure sensors. Gait training arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the cushion inflation control unit can be controlled depending on the measured values ​​of the strain gauges, force or pressure sensors. AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

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