Active Lower Limb Exercise Apparatus for Soleus Muscle Contraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lower limb exercise apparatuses are ineffective in contracting the soleus muscles, are bulky and heavy, and not suited for active exercise on a floor, leading to inefficient prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) post-surgery.
Innovation Solution
An active exercise apparatus with a base body, vertically fixed shaft, rotatable arms, sole support plates, and reaction force exertion members that allow for effective dorsal flexion, plantar flexion, inversion, and eversion motions, enabling efficient contraction of soleus muscles and venous return, designed for use on a floor with adjustable components for user comfort and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional exercise apparatuses are used to move ankle joints, then ankle joint motion is achieved, but soleus muscles are not sufficiently contracted
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus changes the positional parameter of the ankle joint from horizontal movement to vertical movement. By positioning the ankle joint vertically and using gravity as a reaction force, the apparatus enables effective soleus muscle contraction during plantar flexion and dorsal flexion exercises, directly addressing the insufficiency of conventional horizontal exercise methods
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the conventional motor-driven mechanical system with a gravity-based passive exercise system. Instead of using motors to move the ankle joint, the apparatus utilizes the user's body weight and gravity to provide the necessary reaction force, simplifying the mechanical system while improving muscle engagement effectiveness
2Ease of operation
If apparatuses with drive sources such as motors are used, then passive exercise is achieved, but the apparatus becomes larger in size and weight with poor handling properties
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the motor drive source from the exercise apparatus. By eliminating the motor, the apparatus becomes significantly lighter and more portable, transforming from a bulky passive exercise device into a compact active exercise tool that can be easily handled and positioned by users
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus enables active exercise where users independently perform ankle joint movements using their own body weight as the driving force. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external power sources, making the device lightweight and easy to operate without motors or complex mechanical drive systems
3Reliability
If apparatuses are designed for passive exercise, then motor-driven ankle joint movement is achieved, but DVT prevention effectiveness is lower compared to active exercise
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the conventional passive exercise approach by designing an active exercise apparatus. Instead of the motor moving the ankle joint passively, the user actively moves their own ankle joint using their body weight, thereby achieving superior DVT prevention effectiveness through self-initiated muscle contraction and venous return
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is intended to provide an active exercise apparatus for lower limbs that allows a user to perform on a floor lower limb active exercise highly effective in preventing thrombosis. An active exercise apparatus for lower limbs 10 includes, for example, a base body 1; a shaft 2 fixed to the base body 1 such that a central axis is vertical to the surface of the base body 1; arms 3a and 3b that are rotatably attached to the shaft 2 and are extended in two directions at an equal angle with respect to the central axis of the shaft 2; sole support plates 4a and 4b that are attached to leading ends of the arms 3a and 3b and rotatable by rotation axes x1 and x2 parallel to the surface of the base body 1 and the rotation axes z1 and z2 vertical to the surface of the base body 1; and reaction force exertion members that are installed on the back surfaces of the sole support plates 4a and 4b to exert a reaction force on backward rotation by rotation axes x1 and x2 parallel to the surface of the base body 1.