Proprioceptive/kinesthetic apparatus and method

ES 2 397 161 T3

DESCRIPTION

Proprioceptive / kinesthetic footwear.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a shoe for developing and improving proprioceptive and kinesthetic abilities, neuromuscular control, and core stability.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Proprioception refers to the ability to know where a body part is located in space and to recognize movements of body parts (such as fingers and toes, feet and hands, legs and arms). Kinesthesia is a related term and refers to the sensation under which position, weight, muscle tension and movement are perceived. In part of the medical literature, proprioception refers to the conscious and unconscious appreciation of the common position, while kinesthesia refers to the sensation of speed and acceleration of the joints. Such proprioception is often used interchangeably with kinesthesia, and also herein the terms will be used interchangeably. (Throughout the specification and claims, the term "proprioception" will be used to encompass proprioception, kinesthesia, core stability, and the like.)

The body's neuromuscular control system integrates peripheral sensations regarding joint loads and processes these signals as coordinated motor responses. This muscular activity serves to protect the structures of the joints against excessive effort.

Certain mechanoreceptors are present in all the soft tissues of the musculoskeletal system that interact with the central nervous system and coordinate body movements, postural alignment, and balance. Mechanoreceptors are located in muscles, tendons, ligaments, joint capsules, and in the skin. These nerve fibers provide information to the brain regarding the status and function of the musculoskeletal system. Mechanoreceptors send electrical signals along peripheral nerves to the spinal cord. Electrical signals travel through the spinal cord to the brain, where the signals are interpreted to recognize body part movements, muscle tension, movement, and the like.

Some examples of mechanoreceptors to control the muscular system include muscle spindles. The muscle spindles are interspersed within the contractile fibers of skeletal muscles, with the highest concentration in the central portion of each muscle. Muscle spindle fibers respond to changes in muscle length. These nerve endings provide information to the central nervous system used to maintain muscle tone and correct muscle tension on opposite sides of each joint.

Fibrous tissues that surround and protect most joints generally contain a variety of sensory nerve endings for proprioception and kinesthesia. The input of data from these nerve endings provides the central nervous system with information regarding the position, stretching, compression, tension, acceleration and rotation of the joint.

The foot is the anatomical region that contains the second largest number of proprioceptive or kinesthetic sensory receptors in the body (the spine has the most).

Proprioceptive and kinesthetic exercises and exercise devices are well known for improving agility, balance and coordination and for the rehabilitation of people whose proprioceptive capacity is impaired, such as after accidents or illness. One such class of exercise devices includes incline boards, where a patient stands on a board or similar platform that has a ball mounted underneath. The table is not horizontal due to the presence of the ball, and this challenges the patient's ability to balance and maneuver on the platform. Repeated exercises on the incline table can be used to develop or rehabilitate the patient's proprioception and neuromuscular control, as well as to strengthen muscles, tendons, and connective tissues in the foot area.

Other known proprioceptive and kinesthetic exercise devices, for example those of US 5 722 919, include a shoe with a single ball mounted under the sole of the shoe. The shoe with the ball is used in a similar way to the incline board. Another class of shoe has a rod mounted under the sole of the shoe, used to strengthen the dorsiflexor muscles.

Yet another proprioceptive and kinesthetic exercise device is disclosed in Patton US Patent 6,283,897. The device consists of one or more tenons that protrude upward from a base board. The spikes have a rounded top and sit in concave depressions (gallons) at the bottom of an over shoe shaped like a sandal. Specifically, the bottom of the shoe sole has three concave hemispherically shaped gallons, with one directly below the metatarsal eminence of the foot, and

ES 2 397 161 T3 another located in the center. Elastomeric bands can support the wearer's foot as the wearer rotates his foot and / or hips to develop endurance, range of motion, and proprioception of the ankle and hips.

FR 1,128,009 describes a sole that facilitates walking in steep slopes, such as mountains. The sole shows, for example, a series of protrusions that are located one behind the other and have the shape of a cylinder or prism, showing a curved cross section. The sole may have tracks to move and fix the protrusions in particular positions.

DE 1,907,894U describes an exercise apparatus that can be attached to a foot to train the ankle joint and the lower leg muscles. The apparatus is embodied in a disk, the upper surface of which can be attached to a foot, while the lower surface shows a hump or dent and a circumferential rib or rim that is in contact with the ground / floor in an inclined position of the apparatus.

Document NL 8502659 refers to footwear having elastic spring elements attached to the underside of a support to allow a user to jump better. The spring element is designed to be in the shape of a half ball / bowl / globe and is made of an elastic material that provides the spring force.

Document WO 02/37995 describes a shock absorbing device for footwear comprising a rigid frame with a heel and a supporting portion of the metatarsal eminence, from which portions emanate padded soles. The cushioned soles described consist of cushion inserts, which fit into receptacles provided on the frame.

WO 01/3693 describes a therapeutic shoe showing a track on the underside of the sole. The track allows the movement of one or more support blocks.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a novel proprioceptive and kinesthetic footwear which provides significant advantages over prior art apparatus and is illustrated in the appended claims. As described in greater detail below, a shoe is provided that includes two bulbous protrusions protruding from its underside, rather than the single ball of prior art boards and shoes. The extra protrusion can significantly increase the chances and allow the action of walking, as well as speed up and improve the results of proprioceptive and kinesthetic treatment plans.

The footwear of the present invention can be used in proprioceptive, neuromuscular control and coordination exercises and training for children, and also for athletes, in order to develop proprioceptive and kinesthetic capacity. The invention can be used to perform exercises and training in order to avoid injuries in athletes, and also in non-athletes. The invention can be used to work core stability in order to stabilize the back and hip area, to prevent, stop or reduce back pain. The invention can be used to exercise and train people who have had ankle, knee, hip and back injuries (or other injuries) in the past in order to prevent future recurrences of such injuries. The invention can be used to exercise and train people with physical disabilities (eg, brain or neurological diseases or other disabilities). A user of the footwear of the invention can move in six degrees of freedom (translation in three mutually orthogonal directions (x, y, z) and rotation around these axes (azimuth, elevation and pitch)). All exercise and training sessions involve causing instability in the person while in motion, particularly translational movement - walking, running, or other movement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a simplified perspective illustration of footwear constructed and operative in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 2 and 3 are simplified side view and rear view illustrations, respectively, of the shoe of Figure 1; Y

Figure 4 is a simplified top plan view illustration of the shoe of Figure 1, showing additional features of other embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Reference is now made to Figures 1-4, which illustrate a shoe 10 constructed and operative in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Footwear 10 may be supplied as one or more pairs of shoe-like devices, or alternatively as a single of the shoe-like devices.

ES 2 397 161 T3

Shoe 10 comprises a support member 12 having a shoe sole shaped periphery with an upper surface 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper surface 14 is serrated with a peripheral rim 16, but other configurations of the top surface 14 are within the scope of the invention. Footwear 10 may be attached to a user's foot (not shown) by means of a boot 18 and / or fasteners 20, such as, but not limited to, VELCRO straps, buckles, shoe laces, and the like. The boot 18 can be shaped for attachment to the wearer's foot with or without the fasteners 20. Similarly, the fasteners 20 can be used to secure the footwear 10 to the wearer's foot without the boot 18.

Two bulbous protrusions 22 protrude from a lower surface 24 of support member 12. Each protrusion 22 has a curved outer profile 26. The cross section of the contour 26, that is, the cross section taken with respect to a longitudinal axis 28 (Figure 4) of the support member 12 (which corresponds to the shape seen in Figure 2) or the cross section taken with respect to a latitudinal axis 30 (Figure 4) of the support member 12 (corresponding to the shape seen in Figure 3), or any other cross section, has any curvilinear shape. For example, the contours 26 may be in the shape of a conic section, that is, the shape of a circle, ellipse, parabola, or hyperbola. The various cross sections of the contours 26 of the protrusion 22 can be shaped identically or differently.

As clearly seen in Figure 2, a protrusion 22 is positioned further posteriorly than the outer protrusion 22. As seen in Figure 4, the protrusions are positioned on a common longitudinal axis of the support member 12, such as the center line 28 of the support member 12, and on opposite sides of the latitudinal midline 30. As seen in Figure 2, the rear bulge 22 can be positioned generally below a calcaneal (heel, ankle) support portion 23 of the support member 12, while the front bulge 22 can be positioned generally below a portion Metatarsal support 25 and / or a phalanx support portion 27 of support member 12.

The protrusions can be constructed of any suitable material, such as, but not limited to, elastomers or metal, or a combination of materials, and can have different properties. For example, protrusions 22 may have different resilience or hardness, such as having different elastic properties or different Shore hardness. The protrusions 22 may project to different degrees from the lower surface 24 of the support member 12.

In accordance with the present invention, one or more protrusions 22 are slidably mounted on the support member 12. The protrusion 22 is mounted on a track 36 (Figure 2) formed on the bottom surface 24 of the support member 12 and can be selectively positioned at any Place along the track and hold onto it. Track 36 may extend along a portion of the shoe sole or along the entire length of the shoe sole. Alternatively or additionally, the degree of protrusion of the protrusion 22 can be adjusted, for example by mounting the protrusion 22 with a threaded fastener 38 (FIG. 3) on the support member 12 and tightening or releasing the threaded fastener 38.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the bulbous protrusions 22, one or more non-bulbous protrusions 39, shown in Figure 3, may be additionally provided. The protrusions 39 may be formed in the shape of a tenon, stud, bolt, pin , plug and the like, although the invention is not limited to these shapes. The protrusions 39 can be rigid or flexible. Like the protrusions 22, the protrusions 39 may have a different resilience or hardness, for example having different elastic properties or a different shore hardness, and may protrude to different degrees from the lower surface 24 of the support member 12. As above , the degree of protrusion of the protrusions 39 can be adjusted. The protrusions 39 can be mounted anywhere on the lower surface 24 of the support member 12.

Reference is now made to Figure 4. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the shoe 10 may comprise a flange 40 that extends outwardly from the periphery of the support member 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the flange 40 extends laterally. outwardly from the periphery of support member 12, but it is appreciated that flange 40 may extend forward or backward or in any other direction as well. The flange 40 can be arranged on one side of the shoe 10, as illustrated, or it can be arranged on both sides. The flange 40 can supplement the range of proprioceptive exercises possible with the shoe 10, providing an additional support surface during tilting and maneuvering with the shoe 10.

Flange 40 can be constructed of any suitable material, such as, but not limited to, elastomers or metal or a combination of materials, and can have portions 42 with different properties. For example, the portions 42 may have different toughness or toughness, such as having different elastic properties or a different shore hardness. Portions 42 of flange 40 may have differently curved contours. Flange 40 can be adjustably attached to support member 12 such that the amount of extension of flange 40 from support member 12 is adjustable.

A user can affix the shoe 10 to his foot and perform a variety of maneuvers within a proprioceptive and kinesthetic exercise plan for the lower foot, the upper leg, and even the upper torso and other parts and

ES 2 397 161 T3 organs of the body. For example, footwear 10 can be used to restore neuromuscular control during joint rehabilitation, to restore mechanical and functional stability of the neuromuscular system, to enhance or rehabilitate anticipatory (feed-forward) and reflective (feed-forward) neuromuscular control mechanism. recoil) and to regain and improve overall balance, postural balance, and core stability.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described above. Rather, the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and sub-combinations of the features described above, as well as modifications and variations thereof that might occur to a person skilled in the art after reading the above description. and they are not in the prior art.