Portable Spine Rehabilitation Structure for Full-Body Bed Exercises
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exercise and therapeutic devices are bulky, not suitable for frail individuals, and lack portability and ease of use, particularly for bed-situated exercises that strengthen lower and upper extremities and the trunk.
Innovation Solution
A multi-segment spine structure with resistance elements and struts that resemble four extremities, allowing for climbing-type exercises and abdominal crunches, weighing less than ten pounds and collapsible for storage or transport, with adjustable resistance and anchoring options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional exercise devices are used to provide full-body conditioning, then comprehensive muscle group coverage is achieved, but the device becomes bulky and difficult to transport or store
Solution Approach 1:
The exercise device is divided into multiple independent segments including a spine component, upper extremity component, and lower extremity component that can be separately stored and assembled. Each segment contains its own resistance elements and functional components, allowing the device to be broken down into manageable pieces for transport while maintaining full-body conditioning capabilities when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed to perform multiple exercise functions across different body regions using a unified structure. The spine component serves as a central hub connecting upper and lower extremity exercises, while resistance elements can be configured for various muscle groups including gluteus maximus, quadriceps, calves, biceps, triceps, and shoulders, eliminating the need for multiple separate devices.
2Strength
If exercise devices are designed for robust users, then adequate resistance and support are provided, but the devices are not suitable for frail individuals like the elderly or injury recoverees
Solution Approach 1:
The resistance elements are designed with adjustable parameters that can be modified to suit different user strengths and rehabilitation needs. The system allows variation in resistance levels and exercise configurations to accommodate frail users requiring gentler therapy while still providing adequate challenge for robust users seeking conditioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The device enables independent exercise performance without requiring constant therapist supervision. Frail users can safely perform exercises on their own, and the system supports both supervised therapy settings and independent home use, making it adaptable to different care scenarios.
3Reliability
If therapists provide close supervision during exercises, then safety is improved for frail users, but therapist attention cannot be divided among multiple patients simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The exercise device is designed to be used independently by patients without requiring constant therapist presence. The system incorporates safety features and intuitive design that allow frail users to perform exercises autonomously, enabling therapists to supervise multiple patients simultaneously while maintaining safety standards.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate exercise systems are used for different body parts, then specialized functionality is achieved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines upper extremity exercise capabilities, lower extremity exercise capabilities, and trunk conditioning into a single integrated device. The spine component serves as a central structure connecting resistance elements for biceps, triceps, shoulders, gluteus maximus, quadriceps, and abdominal crunches, eliminating the need for multiple separate exercise systems.
Solution Approach 2:
A single device structure provides versatile conditioning for all major muscle groups through configurable resistance elements and multiple exercise modes. The system can accommodate exercises for gluteus maximus bridging, quadriceps strengthening, calf conditioning, arm exercises, and core strengthening within one unified apparatus.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is drawn to a novel multi-segment spine structure comprising a pair of resistance elements connected to the spine at one distal end and a second pair of resistance elements connected to the opposite distal end of the spine. At each distal end, each resistance element is mounted on a lateral support projecting orthogonally from the axis of the spine. As a result, this system anatomically resembles four extremities branching out at each corner of a human torso. Climbing-type exercises while in a supine position can be performed for conditioning a wide variety of major muscle groups. The system further comprises a single strap with two endpoints, where each endpoint is connectable to different portions of the spine assembly. The strap comprises a plurality of hand loops that the user can use, while the user's legs are pushing against the pedals and/or footwear to independently perform abdominal crunches.