US3904195A

US3904195A - Body exercising and re-education apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3904195A
Application number: US395260A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rene Chavanne
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-09-07
Filing date: 1973-09-07
Publication date: 1975-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 1992-09-09

Abstract

A body exercising and re-education apparatus comprises a plane face adapted to support a user''s back and a triangular pad mounted facing said plane face on a screw by means of which the pad can apply a static pressure against the user''s abdomen. The apparatus also includes means for holding down the user''s shoulders and means for supporting his back with a dynamic pressure. In addition it can include a pair of pivoted channelpieces for receiving the user''s arms and progressively moving them together to and from a position in extension of his body.

Description

United States Patent n91 Chavanne Sept. 9, 1975 l l l l BODY EXERCISING AND RIB-EDUCATION APPARATUS Rene Chavanne, l0 rue Battant, Besancon, France, 25000 Filed: Sept. 7, 1973 Appl. No.: 395,260

[76] Inventor:

US. Cl 272/58; l28/70; [28/25 R Int. Cl A63b 23/02 Field of Search l28/68-7 l References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/l895 WodruiT 272/57 R l2/l9ll) Langworthyu v. 128/7] 8/1970 Hazelitt a. 272/58 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Hoke, American Jour. of Orthopedic Surgery, 1903,

Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner.loseph R. Taylor Attorney. Agent, or FirmRobert E. Burns; Emmanuel J. bobato; Bruce L. Adams [57] ABSTRACT A body exercising and re-education apparatus comprises a plane face adapted to support a user's back and a triangular pad mounted facing said plane face on a screw by means of which the pad can apply a static pressure against the users abdomen. The apparatus also includes means for holding down the users shoulders and means for supporting his back with a dynamic pressure. In addition it can include a pair of pivoted channehpieces for receiving the user's arms and progressively moving them together to and from a position in extension of his body.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED SEP 9 i975 SHEET 2 OF 3 BODY EXERCISING AND RE-EDUCATION APPARATUS The invention relates to body exercising and reeducation apparatus and is particularly concerned with apparatus suitable for the re-education of respiration, for the correction of deformations of the vertebral column, for the improvement of shoulder articulations by elongation of the ligaments and muscles. and for combinations of these treatments.

For the sake of good health, it is vital to ensure correct and harmonious functioning of the digestive. circulatory and respiratory systems.

The blood circulatory system includes a pump, the heart, and a circulatory network of blood vessels formed by arteries and veins. The network is completed by the pulmonary arteries and pulmonary veins leading to the lungs in which blood is regenerated by the oxygen in the inhaled air.

The lungs are formed by two inert spongy masses which follow the movements dictated by the thoracic cage when it expands as a function of the action of the diaphragm and of the intercostal i.e. inhaling and exhaling muscles. The intercostal muscles act by lifting up and lowering the ribs. An extension of the thoracic cage enables the air-cells of the lungs to dilate and absorb a maximum of oxygen; relaxation of the diaphragm and contraction of the intcrcostal muscles causes exhalation of the used air.

For women, the child-bearing function in principle limits downward movement of the diaphragm, and respiration is of a type known as "upper costal" determined by the roman" shape of the thoracic cage. For men. respiration is diaphragmatic and the upper part of the thoracic cage is of gothic shape.

To carry out their function in an optimal manner. the lungs must provide the greatest possible circulation of air. Since the lungs are integral" with the thoracic cage, their volume depends on its expansion. When, as a result of a lack of physical exercise, the inhaling and exhaling muscles undergo atrophy, the normal expansion and lifting up of the ribs diminishes and progres sively the increase in volume of the thoracic cage is provided solely by the diaphragm. The respiratory capacity thus diminishes to the detriment of the regeneration of the blood and the correct functioning of other members of the body such as the heart and the digestive system.

This danger is particularly acute for men who wear belts instead of braces since, little by little, the diaphragmic breathing becomes abdominal causing an atrophisation of the inhaling and exhaling muscles and consequently deformation of the ribs about their axes. This inaction of the thoracic cage causes a sinking of the front part thereof.

Although many physical exercises are known for correcting various physical deformations, these exercises are generally recommended as a preventitive measure and. in the absence of suitable constraining apparatus, are not always efficient for the correction of specific deformations. Exercises are also often brutal and create an apprehension and tension of the patient which create fear of the re-education lessons and in many cases cause a rapid abandonment of these lessons.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a body exercising and re-education apparatus which can be used to correct the above-indicated faults in breathing.

According to the invention. such an apparatus comprises a plane face adapted to support a user's back. a piece mounted facing said plane face. said piece being adapted to fit against the user's abdomen, and means for adjusting the position of said piece relative to the plane face to apply a static pressure on the users abdomen.

lt is also known that deformations of the vertebral column, for example cyphosis (exaggerated curvature of the upper part of the spine), are often caused by in correct postures when standing. sitting or laying down. both in the course of everyday activities and professional activities.

In view of the interdependence of the various vital functions of the human body, the re-education of deformations of the vertebral column must be considered in the context of the correct operation of the respiratory, circulatory and digestive systems. in particular. the correct operation of the lungs is directly related to its movements which are dictated by the thoracic cage. The latter consists of a box of ribs whose inner volume is modified by the action of the intercostal muscles and by movement of the diaphragm.

The configuration of the vertebral column and the state of the respiratory system in turn act on the opera tion of the digestive and circulatory system. However. as the muscular energy is supplied by the assimilation of digested food, it is observed that the correct operation of the respiratory and digestive systems and the correct positioning of their respective members by a normal configuration of the vertebral column are interdependent.

A secondary object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for correction of deformations of the verte' bral column. which can simultaneously by used for the re-education of respiration. For this purpose. the above-defined apparatus according to the invention is provided with means on said plane face for supporting the users back with a dynamic pressure. and means for applying a static pressure on the users shoulders in a direction towards said plane face.

In as much as cyphosis is generally accompanied by a permanent forward deformation of the shoulders a further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for providing a controllable elastic elongation of the muscles and ligaments of the shoulders, which can be combined with a correction of respiratory deformations. For this purpose, the above-defined apparatus according to the invention. in which the plane face has a major longitudinal axis, further comprises at least one member mounted for pivoting movement relative to said plane face about a pivoting axis parallel to the plane of said face and transverse to said longitudinal axis, and means for holding the users arms in generally parallel-spaced apart relationship on said at least one member in a plane passing through an axis parallel to said pivoting axis, whereby the user's arms can be progressively moved together to and from a position in extension of his body and generally parallel to said longitudinal axis.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings. in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of basic parts of a first embodiment of the new apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing treatment of a person by the first embodiment; and

FIGS. 3 and 4 and FIGS. and 6 are views similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively of second and third embodimerits.

With reference to FIG, 1, the apparatus shown comprises a vertically disposed plane face I mounted on a standing base including a platform 2. A pair of spacedapart vertical arms 3 are mounted on platform 2 facing and equally spaced apart from face I. A slide member 4 is supported by cables 5 passing about pullies 6 at the top ends of arms 3 and counterweights (not shown) disposed in the hollow arms 3. Member 4 is thus mounted for sliding movement along arms 3 and carries a fixed nut 11 between the arms 3, the nut 11 having an axis perpendicular to face I. In nut II is threadably engaged a screw 7 having a manually actuable handle 8 at its outer end. At its inner end. i.e. between nut 11 and face I, the screw 7 has a second manually actuable handle 10, and on this end of screw 7 is mounted a pad 9 free to rotate about the axis of screw 7. but fixed with the screw 7 for movement therewith perpendicular to face I. The pad 9 is preferably mounted to allow a slight tilting movement thereof relative to the axis of screw 7 and, as shown, has the configuration of a rounded substantially equilateral triangle. The dimensions of pad 9 are such that a rounded apex of the triangle can lodge under a users sternum, with the sides of the triangle adjacent to said rounded apex disposed adjacent to the users sternal ribs.

In use, a patient stands on the platform 2, with his (or her) back against face The height of member 4 is then set so that the pad 9 faces the patients sternum. The screw 7 is then turned, either by an assistant acting on handle 8 or by the patient acting on handle 10, to bring pad 9 against the patient'sternum to apply a static pressure thereon, as indicated by arrow A, FIG. 2. In this position, the patient, whose arms remain free, can carry out various gymnastic exercises or simply deep breathing exercises. The static pressure on the abdomen prevents downward movement of the diaphgram, and increase in the volume of the lungs can only be achieved by action of the intercostal muscles to swell the volume of the thoracic cage. The diaphragm can only act transversely. In this manner, a patient can de velop costal respiration and improve operation of his lungs by limbering the inhaling and exhaling muscles. The reduction of abdominal respiration improves functioning of the digestive system by relieving the pressure exerted on certain organs by the diaphragm, and also enables reforming of the thoracic cage.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, which comprises means for correction of deformations of the vertebral column, parts similar or identical to parts of the first embodiment are indicated by the same reference numerals with prime designations. In this embodiment, plane face 1' is formed by a table top. The table has a major longitudinal axis, and includes rails 12 mounted along the longitudinal edges of the table top. An arch-like frame 13 spanning the tabletop in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis is mounted for sliding movement along rails 12 by means of carriages I each provided with a handle 13b for locking member 13 in a desired position. Nut 11' is mounted centrally on member 13, and carries a vertical screw 7' with handles 8' and 10' and a pad 9'.

A second transverse arch-like frame 14 is also slid ably mounted along rails 12 by means of carriages 14a provided with locking handles 14b. A rail-forming rod 15 is mounted in parallel spaced-apart relationship to an upper cross-beam of frame 14 and slidably carries a pair of blocks 16 and 17 provided with handles 16a and respectively for locking them in position. Blocks l6, 17 have bores slidably receiving rods 16b, 17b carrying, at their lower ends, arcuate pieces 16c, 170 respectively. The blocks l6, 17 also have

handles

16d, 17d respectively for locking rods 16h, l7b with their pieces 16c, 170 at a desired height.

The table also includes, towards the end on which frame 14 is mounted, means designated generally by 18 for supporting a patients back with a dynamic pressure. The table top has a generally rectangular opening 19 in which a support plate 20 is mounted parallel to face I. An upper, back-supporting plate 21 is resiliently mounted on plate 20 by means of four compression springs 22, whereby plate 21 can move in a direction perpendicular to face 1' and can tilt relative to face I in response to the pressure applied thereon. The support plate 20 is held by a vertical screw 23 threadably engaged in a bracket 24 on the underneath of the table top, whereby the height of plate 20 relative to face I can be adjusted by turning a wheel 25 on screw 23, to enable the height of plate 22 to be adjusted so that it protrudes from face I'.

In use to correct deformations of the vertebral column of a patient and simultaneously re-educate his (or her) breathing, the patient lies on face I with his (or her) back disposed so that the shoulder blades are adjacent to plate 22. Frame 13 is then moved along to bring pad 9' above the patients abdomen, and is locked in position by handles 13b. An assistant then turns handle 8' to bring pad 9' down into the patients abdomen to apply a static pressure thereon, as indicated by arrow A, FIG. 4. Frame 14 is then moved into alignment with the patients shoulders, and is locked by handles 14!). The pieces 16c, l7c are next adjusted to a suitable separation and height and are locked by means of

handles

16a, 16d and I70, l7d respectively to hold down the patients shoulders with a static face B, as indicated in FIG. 4. The assistant or masseur then turns wheel 25 to raise plate 20 and make the top surface of plate 21 apply an upward force C (FIG. 4) on the patients back, this force being dynamic in the sense that it varies in amplitude and in its position and direction of application in response to the pressure applied thereon by the patient. In this position, the patient is obliged to employ a costal-type of respiration. Each time that the thoracic cage expands, by the action of the raising muscles of the ribs and transverse expansion of the diaphragm, plate 21 compresses springs 22, energy thus stored in springs 22. The stored energy is released and lifts up the shoulder blades when the patient passes to the second phase of respiration.

The described apparatus can be adjusted to take into account the size and degree of deformation of the patient. During treatment, the patient can himself adjust the pressure on his abdomen, by means of handle 7'.

The third embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, is an apparatus for reeducation of the shoulder articulations and the respiration, and parts identical or similar to parts of the first two embodiments are indicated by the same reference numerals with double prime designations. A plane face 1'' is formed by a table top provided with longitudinal side rails 12" on which a transverse archlike frame 13" is slidably mounted. An oblong pad 9" is supported on frame 13" by means of a nut 11" and .tet

a screw 7" with handles 8" and 10''. The rails 12" extend along approximately four fifths of the length of the table top, and a transverse shaft 26 is fixed adjacent the ends of rails 12" in a pair of side lugs 27.

On shaft 26, which protrudes slightly above face 1 l are slidably and pivotally mounted a pair of channelsection arms 28,29 connected at their free ends by a cross-piece along which they can slide towards and away from one another. The arms 28,29 are thus held parallel to one another with the bottom of the channel sections in a plane passing through an axis parallel to shaft 26. Arms 28,29 are provided with straps 2811.291: respectively for holding a patients arms therein.

In use, a patient lies with his (or her) back on face 1" with his (or her) head disposed between arms 28,29. The frame 13'' is moved to bring pad 9" above the patients abdomen and screw 7" is turned to bring the pad 9" to press down on the abdomen. After setting of the spacing of arms 28,29, the patient places his arms therein where they are held by straps 28a, 29a.

The treatment consists of pivoting the arms 28,29 by means of an exterior force, for example an assistant grasping cross-piece 30, so as to cause an elongation of the ligaments and muscles in the patients shoulder articulations. At the beginning of treatment, it is desireable for the stress applied to the patients arms to be very moderate, for example moving between the vertical position and a position inclined at 45 to plane 1'. Progressivcly. by acting in the direction of arrow D. it will be possible to reach a position in extension of his body and generally parallel to plane 1'. Simultaneously, pad 9" exerts a force A on the patient's abdomen. obliging him (or her) to develop the costa] part of the thoracic cage so that the entire upper part of the skeleton is re-educated and deformations corrected.

The described apparatus can be used by a patient without aid. by using the handle 10" to turn screw 7".

Of course, many modifications can be made to the described embodiments. For example, adjustment of the various movable elements could be motorized, for example using hydraulic or pneumatic devices, and could be provided with a remote control system, or a control panel accessible to the patient, The plane face could, instead of being either vertical or horizontal, be inclined or inclinable. The apparatus could also be made to dimensions suitable for the treatment of children and even babies.

What is claimed is:

1. Body exercising apparatus, comprising; support means including plate means defining a surface for elastically supporting at least parts of a user's back on said plate means and for thereby applying to said parts a dynamic pressure; means facing said support means for applying a static pressure to the users abdomen, directed toward the support means; and means for applying a static pressure to the users shoulders. also in a direction towards said support means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said means comprise face means defining a plane face for statically supporting at least lower parts of a user's back; said plate means being surrounded by said plane face and located for supporting upper parts of a users back; and spring means for mounting said plate means for movement in directions generally perpendicular to said plane face and for tilting movement relative to said plane face in response to pressure applied to said plate means by said upper parts of a users back.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 including a sup port plate parallel to said plane face. supporting said spring means and thereby said plate means surrounded by said plane face; and means for adjusting the position of said support plate relative to said plane face in a direction perpendicular to said plane face.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said support means comprises a table having an elongate table top which has a longitudinal axis and defines a plane surface; said means for applying pressure to the abdomen comprising a member traverse of said axis and slidable along said axis. and a pad adjustably mounted on said member for adjustably applying said static pressure to the users abdomen.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which said means for applying static pressure to the shoulders comprise a second member spanning said table top in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis, said second member being mounted on said rails for sliding movement along the direction of said longitudinal axis. two arcuatc shoulder-pieces adjustably mounted on said second member for movement in a direction transverse to said plane surface, and means for securing said shoulder-pieces in selected positions on said second member.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, in which said support means comprise a plate protruding from said plane surface at a location for supporting a users back, and spring means for mounting said plate for movement in a direction perpendicular to said plane surface and for tilting movement relative to said plane surface in response to pressure applied to said plate.

Claims

1. Body exercising apparatus, comprising; support means including plate means defining a surface for elastically supporting at least parts of a user''s back on said plate means and for thereby applying to said parts a dynamic pressure; means facing said support means for applying a static pressure to the user''s abdomen, directed toward the support means; and means for applying a static pressure to the user''s shoulders, also in a direction towards said support means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said means comprise face means defining a plane face for statically supporting at least lower parts of a user''s back; said plate means being surrounded by said plane face and located for supporting upper parts of a user''s back; and spring means for mounting said plate means for movement in directions generally perpendicular to said plane face and for tilting movement relative to said plane face in response to pressure applied to said plate means by said upper parts of a user''s back.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 including a support plate parallel to said plane face, supporting said spring means and thereby said plate means surrounded by said plane face; and means for adjusting the position of said support plate relative to said plane face in a direction perpendicular to said plane face.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said support means comprises a table having an elongate table top which has a longitudinal axis and defines a plane surface; said means for applying pressure to the abdomen comprising a member traverse of said axis and slidable along said axis, and a pad adjustably mounted on said member for adjustably applying said static pressure to the user''s abdomen.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which said means for applying static pressure to the shoulders comprise a second member spanning said table top in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis, said second member being mounted on said rails for sliding movement along the direction of said longitudinal axis, two arcuate shoulder-pieces adjustably mounted on said second member for movemenT in a direction transverse to said plane surface, and means for securing said shoulder-pieces in selected positions on said second member.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, in which said support means comprise a plate protruding from said plane surface at a location for supporting a user''s back, and spring means for mounting said plate for movement in a direction perpendicular to said plane surface and for tilting movement relative to said plane surface in response to pressure applied to said plate.