Foot Pedaling Exercise Apparatus with Adjustable Joint Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foot-pedaling exercise apparatuses often cause joints to move beyond their range of movement, leading to pain, particularly in individuals with conditions like hemiplegia or osteoarthritis, necessitating a solution to restrict joint movement within a safe range.
Innovation Solution
A foot-pedaling exercise apparatus with a pedal support mechanism that allows movement within a predetermined range, utilizing an elastic member like a rubber tube to resist and guide the pedal movement, preventing excessive joint extension or flexion, and allowing adjustable resistance to simulate various walking motions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the pedal main part is fixed to move along a standard elliptical trajectory, then the exercise apparatus can provide effective muscle training, but joints may move beyond their safe range of movement causing pain
Solution Approach 1:
The pedal main part is made movable relative to the pedal support part along the foot-length direction, allowing the system to dynamically adapt to different joint ranges of movement. This dynamic adjustment enables users with narrowed joint ranges to exercise safely while maintaining exercise effectiveness through the guiding mechanism that controls the pedal support part's rotational trajectory
Solution Approach 2:
The pedal assembly is divided into separate components: the pedal support part that moves along a rotational trajectory and the pedal main part that can independently move relative to it. This segmentation allows independent control of the support trajectory and the pedal position, enabling customization for different user needs while maintaining overall exercise functionality
2Ease of operation
If the pedal main part is allowed to move freely relative to the pedal support part, then users can adjust to their comfort, but unintended movements may occur reducing exercise precision
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member's resistance characteristics are utilized to control the pedal main part's movement parameters. By adjusting the elastic member's properties or attachment positions, the system provides appropriate resistance to guide the pedal within desired movement ranges while still allowing user adjustment, balancing comfort and control reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member acts as an intermediary between the pedal support part and the pedal main part, providing a controlled coupling that allows movement while preventing unintended motions. This intermediary element transmits forces in a controlled manner, ensuring reliable movement control while maintaining ease of operation
3Reliability
If resistive means are added to prevent unintended movement of the pedal main part, then movement control improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member provides self-regulating resistance that automatically controls the pedal main part's movement without requiring additional control mechanisms. The elastic member's inherent properties provide the necessary resistance to prevent unintended movements while maintaining system simplicity and avoiding increased device complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents joints from moving outside their safe range, enabling safe and effective foot-pedaling exercises by adjusting resistance and trajectory, accommodating narrowed joint ranges and enhancing muscle training.
Implementation Method 1
The resistive means may be an elastic member connecting the pedal support part with the pedal main part, and extending along the foot-length direction
Data Source
AI summary
An exercise apparatus includes a pedal main part on which a user U in a sitting posture places his/her foot, a pedal support part configured to support the pedal main part so that the pedal main part is movable within a predetermined range along a foot-length direction, and a guiding mechanism configured to guide the pedal support part so that the pedal support part moves along a predetermined rotational trajectory in a cyclic manner. According to the above-described configuration, it is possible to prevent each of joints such as a hip joint, a knee joint, and an ankle joint from moving outside the range of movement of the joint. The exercise apparatus may also include a rubber tube that resists the movement of the pedal main part relative to the pedal support part.