This invention is related to a mechanism to be used to balance the weight of a patient or a sportsman in rehabilitation or sport based equipment. The purpose of the weight balancing mechanism subject to the invention is to prevent the legs carry the entire weight of a patient or a sportsman during the walking therapy on a treadmill by carrying a portion of their weight. The other purpose of this invention is to adjust the amount of the weight need to be carried. During the phases of walking due to changing the tension of the rope, no change will be occured in the weight of the user is the final purpose of the invention. In order to reach this aim, a mechanism is developed for adjusting the tension of the rope in the light of the rope movements.

Embodiments allow the application of a settable and/or a programmable resistance to a trainee's leg Drive Phase and/or Recovery Phase while walking or running over extended or infinite distances. Multiple mechanical or electrical feedback loops or combinations of both to monitor the applied resistance to the Trainee by the tether or tethers and then control the amount of breaking (drag) or propulsion created by the Mobile training module during the acceleration and constant speed training phases to accurately generate, control and transfer resistance through the elastic tethers to the Trainee. Embodiments apply multiple, non-varying loads or programmable loads to multiple body parts of a trainee where applied resistance can be manipulated to both increase or decrease over distance as desired by trainee while the trainee is walking, running or sprinting over any distance.

A portable exercise apparatus utilized for exercising, stretching, and training multiple muscle groups of the body of a user. The apparatus is adapted to be worn about the waist or carried as a bandolier about the user's body. The apparatus has at least one releasably closable pocket and fixation rings for securing and carrying accessories, such as attachable handles, suspension lines, and elastic bands. The apparatus and methods of use provide the user with a plurality of configurations for assisted exercise regimens and the flexibility to exercise anywhere.

The invention according to the application relates to a locomotion therapy and rehabilitation device developed for patients whose locomotion function is either lost or declined due to spinal disorders, orthopaedic surgeries and central nervous system disorders to redevelop and improve their walking ability.

It is disclosed an apparatus for restoring voluntary control of locomotion in a subject suffering from a neuromotor impairment comprising a multidirectional trunk support system and a device for epidural electrical stimulation. The robotic interface is capable of evaluating, enabling and training motor pattern generation and balance across a variety of natural walking behaviors in subjects with neuromotor impairments. Optionally, pharmacological cocktails can be administered to enhance rehabilitation results. It is also disclosed a method for the evaluation, enablement and training of a subject suffering from neuromotor impairments by combining robotically assisted evaluation tools with sophisticated neurobiomechanical and statistical analyses. A method for the rehabilitation (by this term also comprising restoring voluntary control of locomotion) of a subject suffering from a neuromotor impairment in particular partial or total paralysis of limbs, is also disclosed.

A device is used for carrying out movements by shifting the center of gravity and/or actuating muscles of a human body. A user lies on the device and shifts the center of gravity by moving his or her hip region in order to incline a movable part of the device including the user's own body in different directions. Furthermore, the user wears video goggles or the like during the process and can move in a virtual environment using the overall system, which includes the video goggles and the movement device and can interact with these. The movements caused by the user can be generated solely using gravity by shifting the center of gravity. Additionally, the movements of the device are influenced by motors or dampers arranged in or on the device.

A gait trainer adapted for use with a treadmill and, optionally, a spinning cycle, provides greater accessibility for therapeutic and rehabilitative gait pattern training to individuals confronting injury, illness, or disability. The gait trainer is adjustable, to accommodate a wide variety of users with different stride lengths and needs.

Disclosed are various approaches for determining the maximum oxygen consumption of a person, also known as maximum aerobic capacity or VO.sub.2 Max. A person is positioned on a treadmill. Attached to the person is a harness configured to apply a horizontal force to the person. A work rate for the person can be calculated based at least in part on the magnitude of the horizontal force applied by the harness and the velocity of the belt. The maximum oxygen consumption for the person can then be calculated based at least in part on the previously calculated work rate.

A walking assistance apparatus includes stimulus applying means for applying a stimulus to a leg part on which a walking assistance apparatus is mounted and state detection means for detecting a supporting leg condition and a lifted leg condition of the leg part on which the walking assistance apparatus is mounted. The stimulus applying means applies a first stimulus to the leg part when the state detection means has detected that the leg part on which the walking assistance apparatus is mounted is in the lifted leg condition, and the stimulus applying means does not apply a stimulus to the leg part or applies a second stimulus that is weaker than the first stimulus when the state detection means has detected that the leg part on which the walking assistance apparatus is mounted is in the supporting leg condition.

A pedal activated lift advantage weight lifting bench apparatus that includes a pair of arm assists disposed connected to a pair of strut members disposed laterally adjacent to a weight lifting bench in position appropriate for each arm assist to supportively underlie and contact the dorsal side of each of a user's upper arms, whereby a pedal member, disposed in operational communication with each of a pair of uplift members, effects movement of each of said pair of uplift members between a retracted position and an extended position, to forcibly uplift each arm assist against the dorsal side of each of a user's upper arms and thereby assist a bench press without the need of overhead pulleys or another person standing as spotter.