A stretching machine includes a table having a surface for supporting a patient and a first leg rest for supporting and moving a first leg of the patient. The first leg rest has a first vertical frame operable to rotate around a first horizontal pivot point at an end of the table and a first horizontal frame operable to rotate around a first vertical pivot point on the first vertical frame. A first vertical actuator is for rotating the first vertical frame around the first horizontal pivot point to move the first leg rest in a vertical direction relative to the surface of the table, and a first horizontal actuator is for rotating the first horizontal frame around the first vertical pivot point to move the first leg rest in a horizontal direction relative to the first vertical frame.

This invention is an apparatus and an associated method with which a person may self-apply concurrent spinal traction and lateral spinal flexure. The apparatus comprises a mobile carriage with ankle grips, long handles and flexible links to a floor pad that is held in place by the weight of the user's upper torso. The user applies arm pressure to the handles so as to urge the carriage and the user's ankles away from the user's torso. This force on the user's ankles applies a stretching force (traction) to the user's lower spine. Alternating a slightly greater force on the handles causes the carriage, constrained by links to the floor pad, to swing to and fro in a lateral arc. The concurrent application of user-induced traction and lateral spinal flexure is but one advantage of the apparatus and is a novel combination in the field of exercise and therapeutic devices.

A pendular joint decompression device including a table configured to support a person lying on his or her back, and a traction system including cabling, a leg-receiving unit secured to the cabling and configured to link this cabling to the person's legs, a traction unit configured to act on the cabling, an oscillator configured to act on the cabling, and a control unit capable of controlling the traction unit and the oscillator in order to combine lateral oscillation movements and traction movements on the person's raised legs, characterized by the fact that the leg-receiving unit is configured to apply, for each of the person's legs, a force on the rear of the calf and a force on the front of the ankle, simultaneously, when the traction unit acts on the cabling.

An assist device includes an upper-body belt attached to the upper body of a user, first and second belts attached to the knees, a first wire coupling the upper-body belt to the first belt, a second wire crossing the first wire, a third wire coupling the upper-body belt to the second belt, a fourth wire crossing the third wire, and a motor coupled to one end of each of the first to fourth wires. When assisting users with walking, tensions equal to a first threshold value or greater are applied to one of the first and second wires and one of the third and fourth wires by the motor at different times. When detecting slacking of the upper-body belt, tensions equal to the first threshold value or greater are simultaneously applied to one of the first and second wires and one of the third and fourth wires by the motor.

An automated system used for physical therapy, more particularly a motorized system of exercising a user's legs at variable cycles. The system utilizes a unique system of wheels connected to a motor and attached to a series of elongated components which facilitate the movement of a user's legs. The system of the present invention can provide users with increased mobility and enhanced circulation. The system may be useful for individuals recovering from an injury, individuals who are overweight, or individuals with diabetes. The system may also be used for exercises to provide leg extension and improve leg strength.

A stretching machine includes a table having a surface for supporting a patient and a first leg rest for supporting and moving a first leg of the patient. The first leg rest has a first vertical frame operable to rotate around a first horizontal pivot point at an end of the table and a first horizontal frame operable to rotate around a first vertical pivot point on the first vertical frame. A first vertical actuator is for rotating the first vertical frame around the first horizontal pivot point to move the first leg rest in a vertical direction relative to the surface of the table, and a first horizontal actuator is for rotating the first horizontal frame around the first vertical pivot point to move the first leg rest in a horizontal direction relative to the first vertical frame.

A rocker for releasing leg muscle cramps is described in the present application. The rocker is a device that mechanically rocks the legs of a user for their release from muscle cramps. While releasing the leg muscle cramps, the user is lies on his back; his legs are attached to the rocker, which is capable of rocking the legs in various rocking movement patterns. These movements can include movement components in any possible direction, combined with movement components such as horizontal vibration, which is practically parallel to the direction in which the user is lying, a horizontal vibration component which is perpendicular to the direction of the previous movement component, and a vertical movement component. The user can choose the frequency of vibration of these movement components, and the result is vibration with a complex spatial movement.

Apparatuses for moving or stretching a body portion of a user and associated methods are disclosed herein. The apparatus includes (1) a supporting element configured to support the body portion; (2) a first rod configured to selectively move the supporting element in a first direction and in a second direction; (3) a first shaft coupled to the first rod; (4) a first motor coupled to and configured to rotate the first shaft; (5) a second rod configured to selectively move the supporting element in a third direction; (6) a second shaft coupled to the second rod; and (7) a second motor coupled to and configured to rotate the second shaft. The first direction and the second directions together define a reference plane generally perpendicular to the third direction. The supporting element can be moved by the first and second rods along a three-dimensional moving trajectory.

Apparatuses for moving or stretching a body portion of a user and associated methods are disclosed herein. The apparatus includes (1) a supporting element configured to support the body portion; (2) a first rod configured to selectively move the supporting element in a first direction and in a second direction; (3) a first shaft coupled to the first rod; (4) a first motor coupled to and configured to rotate the first shaft; (5) a second rod configured to selectively move the supporting element in a third direction; (6) a second shaft coupled to the second rod; and (7) a second motor coupled to and configured to rotate the second shaft. The first direction and the second directions together define a reference plane generally perpendicular to the third direction. The supporting element can be moved by the first and second rods along a three-dimensional moving trajectory.

A robotic sports apparatus includes a plurality of robotic arms and a plurality of fastening members operably coupled to a respective robotic arm of the plurality of robotic arms. Each fastening member is configured for receiving a limb of a patient. Each robotic arm is configured to move each respective fastening member in at least one of a different direction or a different speed relative to one another for opening neural pathways in the patient.