LEG FOOT ORTHOPAEDIC TREATMENT DEVICE ASSEMBLY

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to leg foot orthopaedic treatment device assemblies and leg foot orthopaedic treatment surfaces therefor.

[0002] A normal walking and running motion requires the tibio-talar or ankle joint to move freely and for the foot to dorsiflex. There are many conditions of the foot and leg which result in tight Achilles tendons and calf muscles. Physiotherapy to stretch the Achilles tendon and calf muscles is an important aid to recovery or relief for people, especially children, suffering from abnormal gaits, weak or tight calf muscles. People who have experienced trauma to the lower leg and ankle or who have congenital birth defects, such as cerebral palsy or clubfoot, or who, for other reasons, develop a toe walking gait, need to actively stretch their Achilles tendons and calf muscles to achieve recovery or relief from their symptoms.

[0003] There is therefore a need for a device that can assist physiotherapy activities to lengthen and strengthen the Achilles tendon and calf muscles leading to improved dorsiflexion and gait. In particular there is a need for a device that is suitable for use by children, that is safe and which can be in used in the course of normal daily activities.

[0004] US2003/073550 discloses a foot tendon exercising apparatus comprising a planar tilting footplate. In use, a user stands with both feet on the footplate and the footplate tilts to stretch the Achilles tendons of the feet. However, the apparatus permits incorrect positioning of the feet which can lead to incorrect exercising and discomfort.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a leg foot orthopaedic treatment surface as defined in claim 1 of the claims.

[0006] Other possible features of the treatment surface are defined in the dependent claims.

[0007] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a leg foot orthopaedic treatment device in a first configuration;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an insert;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a leg foot orthopaedic treatment device assembly in an assembled condition comprising the device of Figure 1 and the insert of Figure 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view from above of the device of Figure 1;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view from the front taken along the line indicated by arrows V-V in Figure 4 of the device of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view from the side taken along the line indicated by arrows VI-VI in Figure 4 of the device of Fig. A;

Fig. 7 is a plan view from below of the device of Figure 1, or alternatively, a plan view from above with the device of Figure 1 in a second configuration;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view from the front taken along the line indicated by arrows VIII-VIII in Figure 7 of the device of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view from the side taken along the line indicated by arrows IX-IX in Figure 7 of the device of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a plan view from above of the insert of Fig 2;

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view from the front taken along the line indicated by arrows XI-XI in Figure 10 of the insert of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view from the side taken along the line indicated by arrows XII-XII in Figure 10 of the insert of Fig. 10.

[0008] Figs. 1 to 12 show a leg foot orthopaedic treatment device assembly 10, the assembly 10 including a leg foot orthopaedic treatment device 11, the device 11 including a ground or floor engaging support structure 12 which supports an inclined treatment surface 14 on which, in use, a user stands in a treatment position. The treatment surface 14 is inclined at a treatment angle 30 to a ground engaging plane 21 so as to support the feet of the user at the treatment angle 30 relative to the ground engaging plane 21. The treatment surface 30 slopes downwardly and inwardly towards at least one at least notional vertex 32.

[0009] In this specification, the term "notional vertex" is used to mean a vertex which does not physically exist but is a point towards which a surface is directed or is converging, as will be discussed in more detail below.

[0010] In the example shown in the figures, the device 11 is double sided, and includes a pair of user selectable treatment surfaces 14 which are oppositely directed. A first treatment surface 14A is, in a first configuration as shown in figs 1 and 4 to 6, upwardly directed, and a second treatment surface is, in the first configuration, downwardly directed. The device 11 can be reversed or overturned, so that in a second configuration as shown in figs 7 to 9, the first treatment surface 14A is downwardly directed and the second treatment surface 14B is upwardly directed.

[0011] The support structure 12 is roughly rectangular in plan and includes four side walls 16 and eight ground or floor engageable feet 18, each foot 18 being in the form of a pad, which could be formed of a resiliently deformable material and/or a material having good gripping properties, such as rubber, neoprene or similar. The feet 18 are arranged in two oppositely directed sets 20 of four, each set 20 being similar, with each foot 18 being located at or towards a corner region of the support structure 12.

[0012] The feet 18 comprising each set 20 are substantially coplanar, lying within a ground engaging plane 21, and in use, the feet 18 of one of the sets 20 stand upon a ground or floor surface plane 22, which is substantially coplanar with the ground engaging plane 21.

[0013] Each of the treatment surfaces 14A, 14B is mounted on or within and extends between the walls 16 of the support structure 12.

[0014] Each treatment surface 14 comprises a first part 24 and a second part 26. Each treatment surface 14 includes a dividing formation 28 in the form of a wall which is located between and partially separates the parts 24, 26. Each treatment surface part 24A, 26A of the first treatment surface 14A is inclined at a first treatment angle 30A to the ground engaging plane 21, and each treatment surface part 24B, 26B of the second treatment surface 14B is inclined at a second treatment angle 30B to the ground engaging plane 21. Each treatment surface part 24, 26 is part conical in form and substantially rectangular in plan, having four corner regions 34A, 34B, 34C 34D, and slopes downwardly and inwardly towards a notional vertex 32, which is positioned at or towards one corner region 34D of its respective surface part 24, 26 at or towards one end of the dividing formation 28.

[0015] As can be seen from Figs 4 to 6, the second surface part 26A slopes downwardly and inwardly towards the notional vertex 32. The vertex 32 is notional because the surface is radiussed where it meets the wall 16. The first surface part 24A also slopes downwardly and inwardly towards another, separate notional vertex 33 which is spaced laterally from the second surface part notional vertex 32.

[0016] In one embodiment, notionally extending the first and second surface parts 24A, 26A, the surface parts would meet and slope downwardly and inwardly towards a common notional vertex, but this is not necessarily the case in all possible embodiments.

[0017] Each notional vertex 32, 33 is positioned at or towards the dividing formation 28, at or towards or in the vicinity of one corner region 34D of its respective surface part.

[0018] The treatment surface parts 24, 26, the dividing formation 28, and the side walls 16 of the support structure 12 together define a pair of recesses 36.

[0019] The device 11 includes one or more guide surfaces 52 which guide the user's feet to the treatment position. The guide surfaces 52 are formed on inner walls 16 of the recesses 36. The or each guide surface 52 could be formed integrally or separate to the treatment surface 14. In the example shown, the guide surfaces 52 are radiussed with a relatively large radius to accommodate a users' back heel part.

[0020] The device 11 and each of the treatment surfaces 14 are symmetrical about a central axis 48. The deepest part of each of the recesses 36 is substantially on or above the notional vertex 32 in the respective one corner region 34D.

[0021] In the example shown, the first treatment angle 30A is 20° and the second treatment angle 30B is 10°. In other examples, the treatment angles 30 could be in the range 5° to 25°, and more preferably, could be in the range 10° to 20°.

[0022] In one example, the treatment surface parts 24, 26, the dividing formation 28, and the side walls 16 of the support structure 12 are formed integrally of a plastics material, for example, polypropylene, and could be formed by moulding, and could be formed by rotational moulding or blow moulding.

[0023] The assembly 10 includes an insert 38 which is positionable in a disassembled condition in which the insert 38 is spaced apart from the device 11 and an assembled condition in which the insert 38 is located on to the device 11. The insert 38 includes a surface part 40 including a third treatment surface 14C which in the assembled condition is inclined at a third treatment angle 30C to the ground or floor surface plane 22.

[0024] The third treatment surface 14C is similar in form to the first and second treatment surfaces 14A, 14B and comprises a first part 24C and a second part 26C. Each treatment surface part 24C, 26C is part conical in form and substantially rectangular in plan, having four corner regions 34A, 34B, 34C, 34D, and slopes downwardly towards a respective notional vertex 33, 32, which is positioned at or towards one corner region 34D of its respective surface part 24, 26.

[0025] The third treatment angle 30C is 15°.

[0026] The insert 38 includes spacing members in the form of fins 42 which project downwardly in use from the surface part 40. The insert 38 defines a locating aperture 50 which extends along the central axis 48.

[0027] The insert 38 could be formed integrally of a plastics material, for example, ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) by moulding, in particular by injection moulding.

[0028] Each of the treatment surfaces 14 could include a marking 44 to indicate the treatment angle 30 of the treatment surface parts 24, 26. The surfaces 14 could include friction increasing formations to improve grip which could include textured surface areas, surface patterns, surface projections and the like.

[0029] In use, a user selects an appropriate treatment angle and locates the device 11 on a firm ground or floor surface plane 22. The device 11 can be turned over to change from the first configuration in which the treatment angle 30 is 20° to the second configuration in which the treatment angle 30 is 10°, and vice versa, or the insert 38 can be located on the device 11 over the first treatment surface 14A.

[0030] In one example, in which the ground or floor surface plane 22 is horizontal, the treatment surface 14 is inclined so as to support the feet of the user at the treatment angle 30 to the ground or floor surface plane 22.

[0031] When the insert 38 is used, the spacing fins 42 space the surface part 40 from the respective treatment surface 14 of the device 11. The locating aperture 50 fits over and receives an uppermost part of the dividing formation 28 to locate and retain the insert 38 in the correct position.

[0032] The user, or the patient being treated, then stands on the uppermost treatment surface 14 in the treatment position with one foot in each recess 36. The user's feet could be bare or with socks or stockings. The guide surfaces 52 engage and guide the back heel parts of the user's feet into the treatment position, in which back heel parts of the feet locate against the inside surfaces of the side walls 16 in the corner regions 34D above the notional vertexes 32, the lengthwise direction of each foot extending upwardly as indicated by arrows A in figure 1. In this position, the feet are dorsiflexed to maintain stretch on the tissues of the lower leg, in particular the Achilles tendon and calf muscles.

[0033] The part conical treatment surface 14 is arranged so that, in use in the treatment position, the user's feet are supported at the treatment angle 30 anywhere on the treatment surface 14 when each foot extends lengthwise substantially radially from the respective notional vertex 32, 33 with the heel parts of the feet located at or towards the respective vertex 32, 33. Thus, advantageously, precise location of the feet is not necessary, as, if the feet are displaced either radially outwardly around the respective notional vertex 32, 33 (as indicated by arrows B in Fig 1) and/or upwardly along a radius from the respective notional vertex 32, 33, the conical form of the treatment surface parts 24, 26 ensures that the feet are held in a satisfactory treatment position. More specifically, if the feet are abducted as indicated by arrows B in figure 1, the conical form of the treatment surface parts 24, 26 maintains the dorsiflexion position. The plurality of treatment position locations possible allows the user to change position during treatment while maintaining the correct treatment position, enabling use for longer periods.

[0034] The device 11 of the invention permits the user or patient to develop improved gait and increased dorsiflexion by stretching, lengthening and strengthening Achilles tendons and calf muscles. As treatment progresses, the treatment angle can be increased from 10° to 15° and then to 20° by selecting an appropriate configuration of the device 11 and use of the insert 38.

[0035] Various other modifications could be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The device 11 and the insert 38 could be of any suitable size and shape, and could be formed of any suitable material in any suitable way. The treatment angles could be different. A plurality of inserts could be provided to provide a larger range of treatment angles. In an alternative embodiment, the device could include only one treatment surface. In a further alternative embodiment, the treatment surfaces could comprise one part only and/or could be provided without a dividing formation. The or each treatment surface could comprise a plurality of parts greater than two, each of which slopes downwardly and inwardly towards a notional vertex. The or each treatment surface or surface part could slope downwardly and inwardly towards a real physical vertex. In a further embodiment the treatment surfaces could be flat in profile or profiled differently so as not to maintain a defined dorsiflexion angle should the feet be placed in an abducted position on the treatment surface. Each of the treatment surface parts could be formed separately.

[0036] Any of the features or steps of any of the embodiments shown or described could be combined in any suitable way, within the scope of the overall disclosure of this document.

[0037] There is thus provided a leg foot orthopaedic treatment device assembly which is simple, robust and easy to manufacture. The device is inherently stable and allows a plurality of dorsiflexion angles to be achieved without moving parts. Additionally the device guides the patient or user to place their feet correctly and maintains a prescribed dorsiflexion angle should the feet be positioned in abduction.

[0038] The device also has a secondary function as a step to raise the height of the patient or user relative to the ground. These features combine to make the device particularly suitable for use by young children where safety is a major concern and motivation to participate in physiotherapy can be low. Use of the device can be readily incorporated into routine children's activities, such as daily teeth cleaning or using worktops or when playing computer games.

[0039] The device assembly permits users and/or patients to achieve relief and or recovery from conditions of the leg and foot where there is weakened and or tight Achilles tendons and calf muscles resulting in limited ability to dorsiflex the foot and poor gait. The device is therefore particularly suitable for children suffering from congenital conditions such as cerebral palsy and clubfoot, general gait conditions often described, toe walking and recovery from trauma to the leg and ankle.

Claims

1. A leg foot orthopaedic treatment surface (14) for a leg foot orthopaedic treatment device assembly (10), the assembly including a leg foot orthopaedic treatment device (11), the device including a ground or floor engaging support structure (12) which supports the treatment surface on which, in use, a user stands in a treatment position, the treatment surface being inclined at a treatment angle (30) to a ground engaging plane (22) so as to support the feet of the user at the treatment angle relative to the ground engaging plane,
characterised in that:

the treatment surface slopes downwardly and inwardly towards at least one at least notional vertex (32, 33);

the treatment surface comprises a first part (24) and a second part (26), each of which is inclined at the same treatment angle and the treatment angle is between 5° and 25°;

each treatment surface part is part conical in form;

the surface includes a dividing formation (28) which is located between the first and the second part.

2. A surface according to claim 1, in which the treatment surface is arranged so that, in use, in the treatment position, the user's feet are supported at the treatment angle anywhere on the treatment surface when each foot extends lengthwise substantially radially from the vertex or vertices, with the heel parts of the feet located at or towards the vertex or vertices.

3. A surface according to claims 1 or 2, in which each of the parts slopes downwardly towards one common at least notional vertex.

4. A surface according to claims 1 or 2, in which each of the parts slopes downwardly towards a respective separate at least notional vertex.

5. A surface according to claim 4, in which the respective separate vertexes are spaced apart laterally.

6. A surface according to claims 4 or 5, in which each of the parts slopes downwardly towards the respective separate at least notional vertex (32, 33), each of which is positioned at or towards the dividing formation, at or towards or in the vicinity of one corner region (34D) of its respective surface part.

7. A surface according to any of the preceding claims, in which the surface includes one or more guide surfaces which guide the user's feet to the treatment position.

8. A surface according to claim 7, in which, in use in the treatment position, the guide surfaces engage heel parts of the user's feet.

9. A surface according to any of the preceding claims, in which the treatment surface is formed integrally.

Ansprüche

1. Orthopädische Bein-Fuß-Behandlungsfläche (14) für eine orthopädische Bein-Fuß-Behandlungsvorrichtungsanordnung (10), wobei die Anordnung eine orthopädische Bein-Fuß-Behandlungsvorrichtung (11) beinhaltet, wobei die Vorrichtung eine Basis- oder Bodenangriffstragstruktur (12) beinhaltet, die die Behandlungsfläche trägt, auf der beim Gebrauch ein Benutzer in einer Behandlungsposition steht, wobei die Behandlungsfläche in einem Behandlungswinkel (30) zu einer Basisangriffsebene (22) geneigt ist, um die Füße des Benutzers in dem Behandlungswinkel relativ zur Basisangriffsebene zu tragen,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass:

die Behandlungsfläche abwärts und einwärts in Richtung auf wenigstens einen zumindest gedachten Scheitelpunkt (32, 33) abgeschrägt ist;

die Behandlungsfläche einen ersten Teil (24) und einen zweiten Teil (26) umfasst, die jeweils im selben Behandlungswinkel geneigt sind, und der Behandlungswinkel zwischen 5° und 25° liegt;

jeder Teil der Behandlungsfläche eine teilweise konische Form hat;

die Fläche ein Trenngebilde (28) hat, das sich zwischen dem ersten und dem zweiten Teil befindet.

2. Fläche nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Behandlungsfläche so angeordnet ist, dass beim Gebrauch in der Behandlungsposition die Füße des Benutzers im Behandlungswinkel irgendwo auf der Behandlungsfläche getragen werden, wenn sich jeder Fuß in Längsrichtung im Wesentlichen radial von den ein oder mehreren Scheitelpunkten erstreckt, wobei sich der Fersenteil der Füße an den ein oder mehreren Scheitelpunkten oder in Richtung auf diese(n) befindet.

3. Fläche nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei die jeweiligen Teile in Richtung auf einen gemeinsamen zumindest gedachten Scheitelpunkt abwärts abgeschrägt sind.

4. Fläche nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei die jeweiligen Teile in Richtung auf einen jeweiligen separaten zumindest gedachten Scheitelpunkt abwärts abgeschrägt sind.

5. Fläche nach Anspruch 4, wobei die jeweiligen separaten Scheitelpunkte lateral voneinander beabstandet sind.

6. Fläche nach Anspruch 4 oder 5, wobei die jeweiligen Teile in Richtung auf den jeweiligen separaten zumindest gedachten Scheitelpunkt (32, 33) abwärts abgeschrägt sind, die jeweils an oder in Richtung auf das Trenngebilde, an oder in Richtung auf oder in der Nähe eine(r) Eckregion (34D) ihres jeweiligen Flächenteils angeordnet sind.

7. Fläche nach einem der vorherigen Ansprüche, wobei die Fläche eine oder mehrere Führungsflächen hat, die die Füße des Benutzers zur Behandlungsposition führen.

8. Fläche nach Anspruch 7, wobei die Führungsflächen beim Gebrauch in der Behandlungsposition mit dem Fersenteil der Füße des Benutzers in Eingriff kommen.

9. Fläche nach einem der vorherigen Ansprüche, wobei die Behandlungsfläche einstückig ausgebildet ist.

Revendications

1. Surface de traitement orthopédique pied-jambe (14) pour un ensemble dispositif de traitement orthopédique pied-jambe (10), l'ensemble incluant un dispositif de traitement orthopédique pied-jambe (11), le dispositif incluant une structure de support de mise en prise avec le sol ou le plancher (12) qui supporte la surface de traitement sur laquelle, lors de l'utilisation, un utilisateur se tient dans une position de traitement, la surface de traitement étant inclinée à un angle de traitement (30) par rapport à un plan de mise en prise avec le sol (22) de manière à supporter les pieds de l'utilisateur à l'angle de traitement par rapport au plan de mise en prise avec le sol,
la surface de traitement étant caractérisée en ce que :

la surface de traitement forme une pente dirigée vers le bas et vers l'intérieur vers au moins un sommet au moins théorique (32, 33) ;

la surface de traitement comprend une première partie (24) et une seconde partie (26), chacune d'elles étant inclinée au même angle de traitement et l'angle de traitement étant compris entre 5° et 25° ;

chaque partie de surface de traitement est en partie de forme conique ;

la surface inclut une formation de division (28) qui est située entre la première et la seconde partie.

2. Surface selon la revendication 1, la surface de traitement étant agencée de sorte que, lors de l'utilisation, dans la position de traitement, les pieds de l'utilisateur sont supportés à l'angle de traitement n'importe où sur la surface de traitement quand chaque pied s'étend dans le sens de la longueur sensiblement radialement depuis le ou les sommets, avec le talon des pieds situé au niveau du ou des sommets ou vers celui-ci ou ceux-ci.

3. Surface selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans laquelle chacune des parties forme une pente dirigée vers le bas vers un sommet commun au moins théorique.

4. Surface selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans laquelle chacune des parties forme une pente dirigée vers le bas vers un sommet séparé respectif au moins théorique.

5. Surface selon la revendication 4, dans laquelle les sommets séparés respectifs sont espacés latéralement.

6. Surface selon la revendication 4 ou 5, dans laquelle chacune des parties forme une pente vers le bas vers le sommet séparé respectif au moins théorique (32, 33), chacun desdits sommets étant positionné au niveau de la formation de division ou vers celle-ci ou bien au niveau d'une région de coin (34D) de sa partie de surface respective ou vers celle-ci ou au voisinage de celle-ci.

7. Surface selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, la surface incluant une ou plusieurs surfaces de guidage qui guident les pieds de l'utilisateur vers la position de traitement.

8. Surface selon la revendication 7, dans laquelle, lors de l'utilisation dans la position de traitement, les surfaces de guidage viennent en prise avec le talon des pieds de l'utilisateur.

9. Surface selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, la surface de traitement étant formée d'un seul bloc.

Drawing