Device for rehabilitation of upper extremity joints

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention refers to a device which has been especially designed for carrying out physical exercises, specifically at the level of the upper extremities of the users, achieving rotating motions in shoulders, shoulder blades, clavicles, elbows and wrists, mainly in rehabilitation processes, although it is also usable in prevention exercises.

[0002] The device is especially suitable for being used in rehabilitation centers, but it is likewise usable in gymnasiums or at the individual level.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Certain physical problems such as tendinitis, among others, have as a consequence a limitation of mobility at the level of certain joints, such as at the level of the shoulder, elbow or wrist, which is necessary to recover by means of rehabilitation exercises.

[0004] It is also known that many problems in the joints are the result of a certain muscular weakness, specifically in the muscles surrounding a certain joint.

[0005] Consequently, both for preventing this type of problems and for the rehabilitation once they have occurred, physical exercises are carried out in rehabilitation centers and in gymnasiums, which obviously can also be carried out at the individual level, i.e. in the home of each individual and with suitable instructions from a professional, it having been proven that a plane motion provided to the hands, within an imaginary plane and with a circumferential trajectory, is especially suitable for rehabilitation and prevention of problems in any of the mentioned joints, i.e., shoulder, shoulder blade, clavicle, elbow or wrist. In fact, the mobility of the upper extremities in exercises similar to those carried out while cleaning windows is recommended as a therapy for these cases.

[0006] Recognition is given to document DE 3726825, comprising a training device for the strengthening of the back and the neck and back joint, comprising a type of stretcher on which the user must lie facedowrn, said stretcher having at its sides crooked handles the position of which can be regulated allowing the user to perform an exercise similar to that of swimming.

[0007] While the aforementioned movement may be favourable in treating physical problems such as the aforementioned tendonitis, said device is extremely bulky, and thus takes up considerable space, thereby also considerably limiting its possibilities for practical usage, and furthermore the exercise performed, specifically the type of movement, is not the most appropriate in light of the intended aim of the invention, namely that of treating or preventing complaints in which the movement of the arms must be performed from a fixed position for the body with planetary movements of the hands within a single plane, since what is achieved by the aforementioned German patent is a movement similar to that of a crawl-type swimming stroke.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The device proposed by the invention fills in this technological gap, constituting a simple and effective solution for carrying out the previously mentioned exercises.

[0009] To that end and more specifically, said device is constituted of a pair of supports which are intended for being fixed to a wall or the like in their simplest version, but which can form part of an autonomous apparatus in which said supports are carried out in columns projecting from a base platform, which grants to said columns the suitable stability, above all taking into account that the user is intended to be located thereon while doing the exercise.

[0010] In any case, each one of these supports, vertically elongated and with the possibility of adjustment regarding the mutual spacing thereof, is arranged with a kind of guide for adjusting it to the body width of the user, for example based on an alignment of likewise vertical openings, such that these openings are selectively usable for the articulated connection of a connecting rod which, according to the selected opening of the guide, will adopt a determined height, also according to the body size of the user.

[0011] Each one of these connecting rods is finished off at its free end with a kind of mitten, connected also in an articulated manner thereto, a mitten which can include a belt in order to improve the fixing of the former to the hand of the user, a hand which must be maintained outstretched since the efficacy of the exercise is greater in this position.

[0012] According to another feature of the invention, it has been provided that both the articulated connection of each connecting rod to the corresponding support, and of the mitten to the corresponding connecting rod are carried out by means of conical bearings which, according to a greater or lesser axial tightness, oblige a greater or lesser effort in the rotating motion both of the connecting rods and of the mittens, in order to intensify the exercise to be carried out or not.

[0013] The possibility that the pivot shafts of the connecting rods are finished off with respective pinions at their rear ends, i.e. behind the supports or support columns, has also been provided for, especially when it is an autonomous device, such that with the help of a crank and a transmission chain, the therapist is the one providing the motion to the upper extremities of the patient, which are fixed to the mittens by means of corresponding belts, with the speed which the therapist considers suitable.

[0014] Each connecting rod will additionally incorporate a longitudinal alignment of openings for the selective use in the coupling of the corresponding mitten, also for the purpose of regulating at will the plane motion of the latter by means of a greater or smaller spacing with regard to the pivot shaft of the connecting rod on the support, i.e. with a greater or smaller effective length of the connecting rod.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] To complement the description being made and for the purpose of helping to better understand the features of the invention, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description, according to a preferred practical embodiment example thereof, in which the following has been shown in an illustrative and non-limiting manner:

Figure 1 shows a front elevational view of a device for rehabilitation of upper extremity joints, carried out according to the object of the present invention and according to the embodiment variant thereof in which the latter is fixed to a wall.

Figure 2 shows a side elevational view of the device of the previous Figure.

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the same device.

Figure 4 finally shows a schematic perspective view of the support of the device when it is an autonomous apparatus not requiring a wall for its fixing.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0016] In view of the described Figures, it can be observed how the device proposed by the invention is constituted of two vertical supports which, according to the embodiment variant shown in Figures 1. to 3, are carried out in respective approximately Z-shaped section profiles (1), such that by means of one of the branches thereof, the one corresponding to reference number (1), and with the collaboration of openings (2), its fixing to the wall is carried out by means of screwing, whereas its other branch (3) has a longitudinal alignment of openings (4) and is markedly distant from the wall (5) for the purpose of allowing the necessary manipulations for fixing and changing the position of the rotating shaft (6) for a connecting rod (7), which will be described below.

[0017] However, the device can be autonomous, i.e. the wall (5) not being necessary for the fixing of the former, in which case the supports (1) are carried out in columns (1') extending to the floor, as is observed in Figure 4, specifically the columns are fixed with the possibility of adjusting the spacing thereof on a platform (8), granting the columns (1') the suitable stability, above all during the exercise, in which the user is standing on said platform (8), loading it with his or her body weight, these columns (1') having respective longitudinal alignments of openings (4) for the same purpose of adjusting the height level for the connecting rods (7).

[0018] On the end opposite to the hinge pin (6) with regard to the supports (1-1'), these connecting rods (7) incorporate in turn an alignment of openings (9) allowing for selective coupling for the shaft (10) of respective mittens (11), preferably provided with belts (12) for fixing of the hand which, outstretched, perfectly adapts to the mittens (11).

[0019] Each connecting rod (7) rotates around its shaft (6) with interposition of a conical bearing, such that according to a greater or lesser tightness of said bearing, it is achieved that the turn of each connecting rod (7) requires a greater or lesser physical effort, and the same occurs with the rotating shaft (10) of each mitten (11) with regard to the corresponding connecting rod (7).

[0020] The front offset of the branch (3) of the supports (1) with regard to the wall (5) allows for the necessary manipulations on the rear side of said branch in order to carry out the fixing of the shafts (6), as is especially observed in Figure 3, whereas when an autonomous support such as that in Figure 4 is used, there is no problem whatsoever in manipulating the locking screws of the shafts (6) on the rear side of the columns (1'), said shafts (6) in this case, as has already been stated previously, being able to be finished off on the rear side of the support with respective pinions which, with the collaboration of a third pinion, a chain and a crank, not shown in said Figure 4, allow the physical therapist to provide motion to said crank, and, by means of the connecting rods (7), to the mittens (11), in order for the physical therapist to be the one who moves the arms of the patient with the suitable speed.

Claims

1. Device for the rehabilitation of the joints in the upper extremities, the purpose of the device being to guide the hands of the user in a motion within the same plane, the device comprising two supports (1) two connecting rods and two mittens where the supports may be vertically mounted on a wall (5), and are provided with longitudinal lines of openings (4) for the selective coupling of a pivot shaft (6) of a connecting rod for the rotation of the connecting rod (7), which rods are thus adjustable for height, each connecting rod (7) furthermore having, at the end opposite that which rotates on the corresponding support (1) a further line of openings (9) for the selective coupling of a rotating shaft (10) of a mitten (11), properly configured in order to receive the corresponding hand of the user, and fitted with means for fixing of the hand, such as for example a transverse belt (12).

2. Device for the rehabilitation of the joints in the upper extremities, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aforementioned supports (1) take the form of two "Z"-section profiles, intended to be affixed to a wall (5) or similar by one of their branches (1), while the other (3), notably protruding to the front side, is fitted with openings (4) for the selective attachment of the shaft (6) of the connecting rods (7).

3. Device for the rehabilitation of the joints in the upper extremities, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aforementioned supports (1) take the form of columns (1') which protrude, with the possibility of regulating the separation thereof, from a lower base platform (8) supported on the ground, which stabilises the columns (1') in the working position by means of the body weight of the user itself.

4. Device for the rehabilitation of the joints in the upper extremities, according to the previous claims, wherein both shafts (6) for the rotation of the connecting rods (7) and the shafts (10) for the rotation of the mittens (11) are assisted by conical bearings, which may be tightened to a greater or lesser extent in order to regulate the force required in order to rotate said elements.

5. Device for the rehabilitation of the joints in the upper extremities, according to the previous claims, wherein the pivot shafts (6) for the rotation of the connecting rods (7), are each able to end in a pinion, between which is fitted a chain, which in conjunction with a third pinion associated with a corresponding crooked handle, allows the physiotherapist to impart a rotational movement to the connecting rods (7) and consequently a plane movement to the hands of the patient.

Ansprüche

1. Vorrichtung zur Rehabilitation der Gelenke in den oberen Extremitäten, deren Ziel es ist, die Hände des Benutzers mit einer Bewegung innerhalb derselben Ebene zu führen, welche zwei Träger (1) umfasst, welche vertikal an einer Wand (5) montiert werden können, die mit länglichen Reihen von Öffnungen (4) zur wahlweisen Kopplung einer Schwenkwelle (6) zur Drehung zweier Verbindungsstangen (7) versehen sind, welche somit höhenverstellt werden, wobei jede Verbindungsstange (7) desweiteren an dem zu dem sich an dem entsprechenden Träger (1) Drehenden gegenüberliegenden Ende eine weitere Reihe von Öffnungen (9) zur wahlweisen Kopplung einer Drehwelle (10) eines Fäustlings (11) hat, der in geeigneter Art und Weise ausgebildet ist, um die entsprechende Hand des Benutzers aufzunehmen, und mit Mitteln ausgestattet ist, um diese zu befestigen, wie zum Beispiel ein Quergurt (12).

2. Vorrichtung zur Rehabilitation der Gelenke in den oberen Extremitäten nach Anspruch 1, bei der die zuvor genannten Träger (1) die Form von zwei "Z"-Profilen haben, welche dazu vorgesehen sind, an einer Wand (5) oder Ähnlichem durch eine ihrer Abzweigungen (1) fixiert zu werden, während die Andere (3), welche deutlich zur Vorderseite hin vorsteht, mit Öffnungen (4) zur wahlweisen Befestigung der Welle (6) der Verbindungsstangen (7) ausgestattet ist.

3. Vorrichtung zur Rehabilitation der Gelenke in den oberen Extremitäten nach Anspruch 1, bei der die zuvor genannten Träger (1) die Form von Säulen (1') annehmen, welche mit der Möglichkeit, den Abstand derselben zu regulieren, von einer unteren, auf dem Boden abgestützten Grundplattform (8) hervorstehen, welche die Säulen (1') in der Arbeitsstellung durch das Körpergewicht des Benutzers selbst stabilisiert.

4. Vorrichtung zur Rehabilitation der Gelenke in den oberen Extremitäten nach den vorhergehenden Ansprüchen, bei der sowohl die Wellen (6) zur Drehung der Verbindungsstangen (7) als auch die Wellen (10) zur Drehung der Fäustlinge (11) durch Kegellager unterstützt werden, welche in einem größeren oder kleineren Ausmaß verspannt werden können, um die zur Drehung der genannten Elemente benötigte Kraft zu regulieren.

5. Vorrichtung zur Rehabilitation der Gelenke in den oberen Extremitäten nach den vorhergehenden Ansprüchen, bei der die Schwenkwellen (6) zur Drehung der Verbindungsstangen (7) jeweils in einem Ritzel enden können, zwischen denen eine Kette eingepasst ist, welche zusammen mit einem dritten, einem entsprechenden gekrümmten Handgriff zugeordneten Ritzel, es dem Physiotherapeuten ermöglicht, den Verbindungsstangen (7) eine Drehbewegung, und demzufolge den Händen des Patienten eine flache Bewegung, zu erteilen.

Revendications

1. Dispositif pour la rééducation des articulations dans les extrémités supérieures, avec le but de guider les mains de l'utilisateur avec un mouvement dans le même plan, comprenant deux supports (1) qui peuvent être montés verticalement sur une paroi (5), pourvue de lignes longitudinales d'ouvertures (4) pour l'accouplement sélectif d'un arbre pivotant (6) pour la rotation de deux bielles (7), qui sont ainsi ajustées en hauteur, chaque bielle (7) ayant en outre, à l'extrémité opposée à celle qui tourne sur le support correspondant (1) une autre ligne d'ouvertures (9) pour l'accouplement sélectif d'un arbre de rotation (10) d'une moufle (11), adéquatement configurée pour recevoir la main correspondante de l'utilisateur, et équipée de moyens de fixation de celle-ci, comme par exemple une courroie transversale (12).

2. Dispositif pour la rééducation des articulations dans les extrémités supérieures, selon la revendication 1, dans lequel lesdits supports (1) adoptent la forme de deux profilés à section en « Z », destinés à être fixés à une paroi (5) ou analogue par une des branches (1), tandis que l'autre (3), remarquablement en saillie vers le côté avant, est équipée d'ouvertures (4) pour la fixation sélective de l'arbre (6) des bielles (7).

3. Dispositif pour la rééducation des articulations dans les extrémités supérieures, selon la revendication 1, dans lequel lesdits supports (1) adoptent la forme de colonnes (1') qui sont en saillie, avec la possibilité de régler leur séparation, à partir d'une plate-forme de base inférieure (8) en appui sur le sol, qui stabilise les colonnes (1') dans la position de travail au moyen du poids corporel du propre utilisateur.

4. Dispositif pour la rééducation des articulations dans les extrémités supérieures, selon les revendications précédentes, dans lequel aussi bien les arbres (6) pour la rotation des bielles (7) que les arbres (10) pour la rotation des moufles (11) sont assistés de roulements coniques, qui peuvent être plus ou moins serrés pour régler la force requise afin de faire tourner lesdits éléments.

5. Dispositif pour la rééducation des articulations dans les extrémités supérieures, selon les revendications précédentes, dans lequel les arbres pivotants (6) pour la rotation des bielles (7), peuvent chacun se terminer en un pignon, entre lesquels est montée une chaîne, qui en combinaison avec un troisième pignon associé à une poignée tordue, permet que le physiothérapeute fournisse un mouvement de rotation aux bielles (7) et par conséquent un mouvement plat aux mains du patient.

Drawing