Exercise apparatus

Abstract

To reduce a burden for starting exercise in an exercise device for improving the function of a knee in a lower limb.SOLUTION: A thigh placement portion that extends in the front-rear direction, is fixed to the base portion so as to be capable of swinging around a first shaft body on a rear side, and extends in the front-rear direction above a reference surface formed on the base portion; A lower-leg placing portion fixed to the base portion so as to be swingable around the third shaft body on a front side, a sliding holding portion that holds a fixed portion of the lower-leg placing portion to the base portion so as to be slidable back and forth, a detecting portion that detects a swing angle around any one of the shaft bodies in one of the thigh placing portion and the lower-leg placing portion, and an angle specifying means that specifies a knee bending angle based on the swing angle detected by the detecting portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an exercise device for improving knee function in the lower limbs. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, many exercise devices have been proposed to improve knee function in the lower limbs. Specifically, they detect the knee flexion angle during walking and encourage or assist the movement of the knee joint according to the flexion angle (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0003] In this configuration, a unit that can be bent in the same way as a knee joint is attached to the side of the subject's lower limb using a tape-like fixture or band, and the sensor installed in this unit can detect the knee flexion angle. By bending the unit placed along the side of the lower limb in the same way as a knee joint, this flexion angle can be directly detected as the knee flexion angle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6872847 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 5251703 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, with the above configuration, in order to be able to detect the knee flexion angle, the unit needs to be attached along the side of the lower leg using a fixture or band, which poses the problem of imposing a heavy burden on the wearer when starting exercise.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and its purpose is to provide a technology for reducing the burden imposed on the user when starting an exercise device intended to improve knee function in the lower limbs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A first aspect for solving the above problem is a device comprising: a base portion extending in the front-rear direction; a thigh rest portion on which the thigh of one of the left and right lower limbs of a subject is placed extending from rear to front; and a base portion extending in the front-rear direction above the reference plane and in front of the thigh rest portion, the thigh rest portion being fixed to the thigh rest portion so that the rear side can swing around a second shaft extending left and right, and the base portion being fixed to the thigh rest portion so that the front side can swing around a third shaft extending left and right. the lower leg rest, which is a member fixed to the base, on which the subject's lower leg is placed in a direction extending from back to front; a sliding holding part that holds the fixed point of the lower leg rest with the base so that it can slide back and forth; a detection part that detects the swing angle around the axis of either the thigh rest or the lower leg rest; and angle identification means that identifies the knee flexion angle based on the angle difference between the swing angle detected by the detection part and a reference angle that is defined as the swing angle detected by the detection part when the subject's knee is in a predetermined flexed state.

[0008] In this aspect of the exercise device, the knee flexion angle can be determined based on the swing angle of the thigh support and the lower leg support when the knee is in a specified flexed state, making it possible to show this to the subject and encourage or assist movement of the knee joint.

[0009] The swing angle is detected according to the flexion state of the lower limb placed on the thigh rest and the lower leg rest, and detection is performed by simply placing the lower limb on each rest and extending and flexing it. Therefore, with the exercise device of the above aspect, the knee flexion angle can be determined based on the swing angle of each rest, without requiring the subject to wear any units on the lower limb, and the burden on the subject when starting exercise is significantly reduced.

[0010] The above aspect may also be configured as a second aspect described below: In the second aspect, the detector detects the swing angle of the thigh rest portion around the first shaft.

[0011] In this aspect of the exercise device, the knee flexion angle can be determined based on the swing angle of the thigh rest about the first shaft when the knee is in a predetermined flexed state.

[0012] Furthermore, each of the above aspects may be modified as in the third aspect described below, in which the angle identification means identifies a knee flexion angle based on an angle difference between the swing angle detected by the detection unit and a reference angle defined as the swing angle detected by the detection unit when the subject's knee is in an extended state.

[0013] In this aspect of the exercise device, the knee flexion angle can be determined based on the swing angle around the shaft of one of the thigh rest and the lower leg rest when the knee is in a predetermined extended state. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front-top perspective view of an exercise device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a side view and block diagram of an exercise device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a side view (1 / 2) illustrating the operation of an exercise device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a side view (2 / 2) illustrating the operation of an exercise device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. (1) Overall structure

[0016] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the exercise device 1 comprises a base section 10 extending forward and backward, a thigh support section 20 and a lower leg support section 30 on which one of the left and right lower legs of the subject is placed, a sliding holding section 40 that holds the fixed point of the lower leg support section 30 with the base section 10 so that it can slide forward and backward, a detection section 50 that detects the swing angle of one of the thigh support section 20 and lower leg support section 30, a seat section 60 on which the subject sits, a biasing means 70 that generates resistance to knee extension of the lower leg placed on the thigh support section 20 and lower leg support section 30, a control section 80 that controls the operation of the entire exercise device 1, and a user interface 90 that interacts with a user such as a subject.

[0017] In this description, the seat 60 side is defined as the rear and the leg rest 30 side as the front in the direction from the seat 60 to the leg rest 30, and the direction intersecting this direction is defined as the left-right direction.

[0018] The base part 10 comprises a main body 11, which is a structure extending in the front-rear direction, and a pair of support columns 13 extending upward from the rear end of the main body 11. Of these, the main body 11 has a reference surface 15 formed on its upper surface, which slopes downward from rear to front. The support columns 13 support the rear end of the thigh rest part 20 at their upper ends.

[0019] In this embodiment, reference plane 15 is inclined 25 degrees from the horizontal plane and 65 degrees from the vertical. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, reference plane 15 is formed as a surface that is inclined forward from axis 111 of thigh 110 that is placed on thigh rest portion 20.

[0020] The rear end of the main body 11 of the base unit 10 is connected to the seat 60 so that it can be displaced left and right. The base unit 10 can be displaced left and right by casters 17 arranged below the main body 11. In this way, the base unit 10 can be displaced to match the positions of the lower legs placed on the thigh resting portion 20 and the lower leg resting portion 30.

[0021] Thigh rest 20 is a member that extends forward and backward above reference plane 15, and is fixed to base 10 (support 13 in this embodiment) so as to be swingable around first shaft 21 that extends left and right on the rear side. Thigh rest 20 in this embodiment is a semi-cylindrical member that is open at the top, and the thigh 110 of the subject's lower leg is placed on it in a direction extending from rear to front.

[0022] In this embodiment, a stopper (not shown) is provided to prevent the thigh rest 20 from swinging downward any further after the knee of the lower leg rested on the thigh rest 20 and the lower leg rest 30 has been hyperextended to a predetermined upper limit angle (-7.5 degrees in this embodiment). In this state, the extension direction of the thigh rest 20 forms an angle of 70 degrees with the vertical direction.

[0023] The lower leg rest 30 is a member that extends back and forth above the reference plane 15 and in front of the thigh rest 20, and is fixed to the thigh rest 20 so that its rear side can swing around a second shaft 31 that extends left and right. The lower leg rest 30 is also fixed to the base 10 (main body 11 in this embodiment) so that its front side can swing around a third shaft 33 that also extends left and right. The lower leg rest 30 is a semi-cylindrical member that is open at the top, and the lower leg 110 of the subject is placed on it so that it extends from rear to front.

[0024] In this embodiment, a fixed piece 35 is provided that extends from the front end of the crus rest 30 toward the reference plane 15, and the crus rest 30 is fixed to the main body 11 via this fixed piece 35. The third shaft 33 is disposed on the lower end side of the fixed piece 35, and the crus rest 30 is able to swing around this third shaft 33. The crus rest 30 is provided with a toe holder 37 in front thereof for holding the toe of the lower leg.

[0025] The sliding holder 40 is provided on the main body 11 side and holds the fixed portion (fixed piece 35) of the lower leg rest 30 with the base part 10 so that it can slide back and forth along the reference plane 15. The sliding holder 40 of this embodiment is composed of a rail 41 arranged to extend back and forth along the reference plane 15, a sliding body 43 that slides back and forth along this rail 41, and a holding piece 45 that protrudes from the top of the sliding body 43. This holding piece 45 is connected to the lower end side of the fixed piece 35 by a third shaft 33.

[0026] This sliding holding portion 40 slides the fixed piece 35 back and forth between a flexed position (see Figure 3(a)) reached when the knee of the lower limb placed on the thigh support portion 20 and the lower leg support portion 30 is flexed by a predetermined angle (15 degrees in this embodiment), and a hyperextended position (see Figure 3(b)) reached when the knee is hyperextended by a predetermined angle (5 degrees in this embodiment).

[0027] In this embodiment, the thigh support portion 20 and the lower leg support portion 30 swing in conjunction with the sliding of the fixed piece 35; in other words, a slider crank mechanism is realized in which the thigh support portion 20 serves as a crank, the lower leg support portion 30 serves as a link, and the fixed piece 35 serves as a slider.

[0028] In this slider crank mechanism, as shown in Fig. 4, the thigh support part 20, which is a crank, is arranged so that it swings around the first shaft 21 relative to the base part 10 over an angular range equal to the knee flexion angle (-5 degrees to 15 degrees) (see arrow c in the figure) when the fixed piece 35, which is a slider, slides between a flexed position and a hyperextended position (see arrow b in the figure). Similarly, the lower leg support part 30, which is a link, is arranged so that it swings around the second shaft 31 relative to the thigh support part 20 and around the third shaft 33 relative to the sliding holder 40 over an angular range smaller than the knee flexion angle when the fixed piece 35 slides.

[0029] The detection unit 50 is an angle sensor that detects the swing angle around one of the shafts of either the thigh resting portion 20 or the lower leg resting portion 30. In this embodiment, the detection unit 50 is provided on the first shaft 21 of the thigh resting portion 20, and the angle relative to a reference position around the first shaft 21 is detected as the swing angle of the thigh resting portion 20 around the first shaft 21.

[0030] The seat portion 60 is disposed on the rear side of the base portion 10 and above the reference plane 15 .

[0031] The biasing means 70 biases the thigh rest 20 toward the base 10 so that it swings upward around the first shaft 21 (see arrow a in FIG. 2), thereby generating resistance to knee extension in the lower leg placed on the thigh rest 20 and the lower leg rest 30. In this embodiment, a metal spiral spring wound around the first shaft 21 is used as the biasing means 70.

[0032] When a predetermined operation is performed on the touch panel 91 of the user interface 90, the control unit 80 executes an angle output process in accordance with a program stored in the built-in memory 81. This angle output process is a process that identifies the knee flexion angle of the subject based on the value detected by the detection unit 50 (s110) and outputs this (s120), and is executed repeatedly. This s120 corresponds to the angle identification means in the present invention.

[0033] Of these steps, in s110, the knee flexion angle is identified based on the angle difference between the swing angle detected by the detection unit 50 and a reference angle defined as the swing angle detected by the detection unit 50 when the subject's knee is in a predetermined flexed state. In this embodiment, the angle difference between the swing angle detected by the detection unit 50 and a reference angle (≈0) defined as the swing angle detected by the detection unit 50 when the subject's knee is in an extended state is identified as the knee flexion angle as is.

[0034] In addition, in s120, the flexion angle identified in s110 is output by being displayed on the display 93 of the user interface 90. Here, the flexion angle identified in s110 is displayed together with a target range of flexion angles aimed at improving knee function, thereby encouraging the subject to move the knee joint toward the target range.

[0035] (2) Variations Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0036] For example, in the above embodiment, the reference surface 15 of the base portion 10 is inclined forward from the axis 111 of the thigh 110 placed on the thigh rest portion 20. However, the reference surface 15 may be formed as a surface that is not inclined forward from the axis 111 of the thigh 110, or may be formed as a surface along a horizontal plane (i.e., a surface that is not inclined).

[0037] In the above embodiment, the sliding holder 40 is provided on the base portion 10 side. However, the sliding holder 40 may be provided on the lower leg rest portion 30 side.

[0038] In the above embodiment, the sliding retainer 40 is configured to slide the fixed piece 35 between the flexed position and the hyperextended position. However, the sliding retainer 40 may be configured to slide the fixed piece 35 between the flexed position and the extended position that is reached when the knee is simply extended.

[0039] In the above embodiment, the detection unit 50 is provided on the first shaft body 21 and is configured to detect the swing angle of the thigh support unit 20 around the first shaft body 21. However, the detection unit 50 may be provided on the second shaft body 31 or the third shaft body 33 and configured to detect the swing angle of the crus support unit 30 around the second shaft body 31 or the third shaft body 33. In this case, in the angle output process, the ratio (X / Y) of the range Y of the flexion angle of the knee (-5 degrees to 15 degrees) to the angle range X in which the crus support unit 30 swings around the shaft body is multiplied by the angle difference Z between the swing angle detected by the detection unit 50 and a reference angle, and this is determined as the flexion angle θ (= Z·(X / Y)).

[0040] In the above embodiment, the biasing means 70 is a spiral spring. However, the specific configuration of the biasing means 70 is not limited to this as long as it can generate a resistance force against knee extension.

[0041] (3) Effects In the exercise device 1 of the above embodiment, the knee flexion angle can be determined based on the swing angle of the thigh support portion 20 and the lower leg support portion 30 when the knee is in a predetermined flexed state, making it possible to show this to the subject and encourage or assist movement of the knee joint.

[0042] Here, the swing angle is detected according to the flexion state of the lower limbs placed on the thigh rest 20 and the lower leg rest 30, and detection is performed simply by placing the lower limbs on each part and extending and flexing them. Therefore, with the exercise device 1 described above, the knee flexion angle can be determined based on the swing angle of each part without the need for the subject to wear any units on the lower limbs, and the burden on the subject when starting exercise is significantly reduced.

[0043] Furthermore, with the exercise device 1 of the above embodiment, the knee flexion angle can be determined based on the swing angle of the thigh rest portion 20 around the first shaft 21 when the knee is in a predetermined flexed state.

[0044] Furthermore, with the exercise device 1 of the above embodiment, the knee flexion angle can be determined based on the swing angle around the shaft of one of the thigh rest 20 and the lower leg rest 30 when the knee is in a predetermined extended state. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1...exercise device, 10...base portion, 11...main body, 13...support, 15...reference surface, 17...caster, 20...thigh support portion, 21...first shaft body, 30...lower leg support portion, 31...second shaft body, 33...third shaft body, 35...fixed piece, 37...leg tip holding portion, 40...sliding holding portion, 41...rail, 43...sliding body, 45...holding piece, 50...detection portion, 60...seat portion, 70...actuating means, 80...control portion, 81...built-in memory, 90...user interface, 91...touch panel, 93...display, 110...thigh portion, 111...axis.

Claims

1. a base portion extending forward and backward; a thigh rest, which is a member fixed to the base so as to be swingable about a first shaft extending forward and backward above a reference plane formed on the base and extending left and right at the rear side, and on which the thigh of one of the left and right lower limbs of the subject is placed in a direction extending from rear to front; a lower leg rest, which is a member that extends forward and backward above the reference plane and in front of the thigh rest, and is fixed to the thigh rest so that its rear side can swing around a second axis that extends left and right, and is fixed to the base so that its front side can swing around a third axis that extends left and right, and on which the subject's lower leg is placed extending from rear to front; a sliding holding part that holds the fixed part of the lower leg rest part with the base part so that the fixed part can slide back and forth; a detector for detecting a swing angle around the shaft of either the thigh resting portion or the lower leg resting portion; and an angle specifying means for specifying a knee flexion angle based on an angle difference between the swing angle detected by the detection unit and a reference angle defined as a swing angle detected by the detection unit when the knee of the subject is in a predetermined flexed state. Exercise equipment.

2. the detection unit detects a swing angle of the thigh rest portion around the first shaft.

10. The exercise device of claim 1.

3. the angle identification means identifies a knee flexion angle based on an angle difference between the swing angle detected by the detection unit and a reference angle defined as the swing angle detected by the detection unit when the knee of the subject is in an extended state.

10. The exercise device of claim 1.

4. a seat portion disposed rearward of the base portion and above the reference plane, The base portion has a reference surface formed as a surface that slopes downward from the rear to the front.

10. The exercise device of claim 1.

5. and a biasing means for biasing the thigh rest portion relative to the base portion so as to swing the thigh rest portion upward by a predetermined angle around the first shaft, thereby generating a resistance force against knee extension of the lower leg placed on the thigh rest portion and the lower leg rest portion.

5. The exercise device according to claim 1.

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