Systems and methods are presented for performing exercises to strengthen, e.g., the transversus abdominis and related muscles. The systems and methods may involve one or more independent belts, allowing a full range of continuous motion. The systems and methods may further use a resistance-control mechanism that allows a user to adjust the force required to move the one or more belts, thereby controlling the rate of motion in the forward and/or backward directions. The systems and methods may further use a unidirectional resistance mechanism that allows the user to increase the resistance of the one or more belts in one direction, while allowing the one or more belts to move freely in the other direction.

A fitness device gaming controller to be used to control an application running on a host device. The fitness device operates as a normal piece of exercise equipment, with the capability of turning a user's monitored exercise activity and manual controls into standard gaming inputs for use by a gaming device such as a console or computer. Additional devices may be connected to the fitness device, such as additional sensors or smart devices that can provide additional sensors and controls for incorporation into the gaming inputs.

A force measurement system is disclosed herein. The force measurement system includes at least one user input device, a force measurement assembly configured to receive a subject, at least one visual display device, and one or more data processing devices operatively coupled to the user input device, the force measurement assembly, and the visual display device. The one or more data processing devices are programmed to receive the one or more input signals from the at least one user input device based upon one or more selections by the user, the one or more selections by the user including a scene parameter for one or more scenes on the output screen of the at least one visual display device; and display the one or more scenes on the output screen of the at least one visual display device based upon the scene parameter selected by the user.

An exercise device for performing a variety of movement patterns. The exercise device has a pair of linkages, each including an upper link pivotally mounted to a frame and a lower link pivotally coupled to an upper link. A foot support is provided on a distal end of each lower link. A transfer system is coupled to the frame and both upper links for transferring both tensile and compressive forces. Separate torque elements are operably coupled to the frame and each lower link via a transfer member for independently resisting movement of the associated lower link.

Embodiments for systems and methods of a variable stiffness treadmill for gait rehabilitation using mechanical perturbations on the unimpaired leg to provide therapy to the impaired leg are disclosed.

An exercise device for performing a variety of movement patterns is provided, having an upper link pivotally mounted to a lower leg link and a foot support on a distal end of the lower leg link. A first transfer system is movably coupled to a frame and including a first transfer member coupled to the first upper leg link and a second transfer member coupled to the second upper leg link, thereby enabling substantially reciprocating motion of the first leg link relative to the second leg link. A second transfer system is also provided and may be movably coupled to the frame and including a pair of third transfer members coupled to each of a pair of fourth transfer members by way of each of a pair of transfer couplings, each movably mounted to the frame. The fourth transfer members may be coupled to the first lower leg link and the second lower leg link, whereby movement of the first lower leg link causes movement of the second lower leg link irrespective of movement of the upper leg links thereby providing a stable platform for the user and also enabling an infinite number of gait patters by the user.

Apparatus and associated methods may relate to a natural-gait therapy device for enabling a user with a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) to independently transition between a locked standing position and a user controlled coordinated natural-gait movement, the method including an unlocking of a left and a right foot movement members, rotating one of the unlocked left and right movement members to a half-period gait position that is 180 degrees out of phase with the un-rotated one of the left and right movement members, coupling the left and right movement members in the 180 degree phase differential orientation, and rotating both left and right leg movement members in a natural-gait motion. In some embodiments, the left and right movement members may be uncoupled to permit a gravity assisted return to a standing position. The transition between the standing and the natural-gait motion may facilitate a user to stand before or sit after performing natural-gait therapy.

A gait perturbation system and a method for testing and/or training using the gait perturbation system is disclosed herein. The gait perturbation system includes a gait perturbation device and a data processing device. The gait perturbation device includes one or more displaceable components configured to be displaced at a plurality of different speeds, and having one or more respective surfaces for receiving one or more respective limbs of a person; and one or more speed adjustment mechanisms coupled to the one or more displaceable components to adjust the speed set point at which the one or more displaceable components are displaced. The data processing device is configured to generate a signal for introducing a perturbation to the one or more displaceable components, and to control the speed set point of the one or more displaceable components such that the one or more displaceable components perturb a gait of the person.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a knee-position control system having a knee engagement pad, a lower-leg control member and an upper-leg control member, the knee engagement pad configured to naturally position a user's knee in response to movement of a foot-rest of a natural-gait therapy system. In an illustrative embodiment, the upper-leg control member may pivot about a point substantially axially coincident with a user's hip. In some embodiments, the upper-leg control member may be pivotally coupled to the lower-leg control member at a pivot point substantially axially coincident with a user's knee. The lower-leg control member may be pivotably coupled to the foot rest at a pivot point substantially axially coincident with a user's ankle. The knee-position control system may advantageously position a user's knee in a natural position relative to both the user's ankle and the user's hip, in response to movement of the user's foot.

An automatic treadmill walking belt tensioning and alignment system can automatically maintain one or both of a treadmill walking belt's alignment and tension. The system can include force sensors that sense the tension of a treadmill walking belt about a treadmill roller by sensing a force applied to adjustment actuators positioned on opposite sides of the treadmill roller. The position of the roller can be adjusted to adjusted to ensure proper tension and alignment of the treadmill walking belt. Position sensors may be deployed on opposite sides of the walking belt to detect when the walking belt is off-center, signaling the adjustment actuators to operate to return the walking belt to its centered position.