Lower Extremity Training Device for Simultaneous Limb Rehabilitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional therapy devices for lower extremity rehabilitation focus solely on the injured limb, neglecting the training of the healthy leg, leading to muscle breakdown and loss of condition in the unaffected limb, especially in cases of prolonged injuries.
Innovation Solution
A training device with a fixed support for the injured leg and a movable support for the healthy leg, allowing simultaneous training of both extremities through static or dynamic muscle activation, using a circulating endless belt that can be driven by the healthy leg to maintain muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional therapy devices focus solely on training the injured limb, then the injured extremity receives intensive training, but the healthy leg experiences muscle breakdown and loss of condition
Solution Approach 1:
The training device divides the rehabilitation process into two independent but simultaneous training stations: one for the injured limb with static loading capabilities, and another for the healthy limb with dynamic movement capabilities. This segmentation allows each limb to receive appropriate training without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between intensive injury rehabilitation and healthy muscle maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The training device combines multiple functions into a single integrated system that can simultaneously train both the injured and healthy limbs using different training modes. The device universally supports both static loading for injury rehabilitation and dynamic movement for muscle maintenance, eliminating the need for separate training devices and enabling concurrent dual-limb training.
2Productivity
If the injured limb is trained intensively during the healing period, then rehabilitation progress is made, but the training status of the healthy leg deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The training device enables continuous useful action by allowing simultaneous training of both limbs without interruption. While the injured limb undergoes intensive rehabilitation, the healthy limb concurrently performs maintenance exercises, ensuring continuous muscle activation and preventing the deterioration that would occur with sequential or alternating training approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The device enables preliminary maintenance training of the healthy limb before complete rehabilitation of the injured limb is achieved. By allowing concurrent training, the healthy leg maintains its condition throughout the entire rehabilitation period rather than waiting until the injured limb is fully recovered, preventing muscle breakdown in advance.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a fixed support structure is used for the injured leg, then static loading and stability are achieved, but the device complexity increases compared to simple therapy devices
Solution Approach 1:
The device structure is segmented into independent support systems: a fixed support structure for the injured limb providing stability during static loading, and a separate movable support system for the healthy limb enabling dynamic movement. This segmentation isolates the complexity of the fixed support structure to only where it is needed, rather than requiring the entire device to be overly complex.
4Strength
If the healthy leg is used to drive a treadmill or movable support, then cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength are maintained, but the device requires additional movable components
Solution Approach 1:
The movable support driven by the healthy limb serves multiple functions: it provides dynamic training for muscle strength maintenance, enables cardiovascular exercise through continuous movement, and simultaneously acts as part of the overall training system structure. This multi-functionality justifies the inclusion of movable components by delivering multiple health benefits beyond simple muscle maintenance.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a training device (10) for training the lower extremities (2), with at least one first fixed support (3) for a first extremity (2a) and at least one second support (4) movable relative to the first for a second extremity (2b).