Method and devices for enhancing speed, stride, and balance while walking and/or running

Abstract

The method for engaging a person's sensorimotor complex includes providing a pair of lightweight sticks of equal length and weight; measuring a shoulder width from a first shoulder blade acromion of the person to a second shoulder blade acromion of the person; selecting from the plurality of devices a first lightweight stick and a second lightweight stick each having a length approximately equal to the width from the first shoulder blade acromion of the person to the second shoulder blade acromion of the person; grasping the first and second lightweight sticks with a respective first and second hands at a grasping position along the stick that is one shoulder width from a distal end of the stick; swinging the first and second hands back and forth between a first position and a second position; and walking while swinging the first and second hands back and forth.

Claims

1. A method for engaging a person's sensorimotor complex so as to enhance speed, stride, and balance while walking or running, the method comprising: providing a plurality of pairs of devices, each pair of the plurality of pairs including a pair of lightweight sticks of equal length and weight; wherein each of the pair of lightweight sticks comprises a lightweight hollow cylinders; two end caps, each end cap of the two end caps covering a respective end of the lightweight hollow cylinder; measuring a shoulder width from a first shoulder blade acromion of a person to a second shoulder blade acromion of the person; selecting from the plurality of pairs of devices a first lightweight stick and a second lightweight stick each having a length approximately equal to the shoulder width of the person; grasping the first lightweight stick with a first hand at a grasping position along the first lightweight stick that is one shoulder width from a distal end of the first lightweight stick; grasping the second lightweight stick with a second hand at a grasping position along the second lightweight stick that is one shoulder width from a distal end of the second lightweight stick; swinging the first hand back and forth between a first position and a second position, while swinging the second hand back and forth opposite to the swinging of the first hand; and walking while swinging the first and second hands back and forth, and while the first and second hands grasp the first and second lightweight sticks, respectively.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the pair of lightweight sticks further comprises: a wrist straps, the wrist strap being attached near an end of the lightweight hollow cylinder.

3. A method for engaging a person's sensorimotor complex so as to enhance speed, stride, and balance while walking or running, the method comprising: measuring a shoulder width from a first shoulder blade acromion of a person to a second shoulder blade acromion of the person; grasping a first lightweight stick with a first hand at a grasping position along the first lightweight stick that is one shoulder width from a distal end of the first lightweight stick; grasping a second lightweight stick with a second hand at a grasping position along the second lightweight stick that is one shoulder width from a distal end of the second lightweight stick; swinging the first hand back and forth between a first position and a second position, while swinging the second hand back and forth opposite to the swinging of the first hand; and walking while swinging the first and second hands back and forth, and while the first and second hands grasp the first and second lightweight sticks, respectively; each of the first and second lightweight stick comprising a lightweight hollow cylinder and two end caps, wherein each end cap of the two end caps covering a respective end of the lightweight hollow cylinder.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein walking while swinging the first and second hands back and forth includes: moving forward a distance equal to two shoulder widths the foot on the side opposite the first hand while the first hand swings forward; and moving forward a distance equal to two shoulder widths the foot on the side opposite the second hand while the second hand swings forward.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein if the person is unable to move the foot forward the distance equal to two shoulder widths on the side opposite the first hand, then the persons starts moving the foot forward a distance equal to one shoulder width, and gradually increases to the distance of two shoulder widths.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein if the person is unable to move the foot forward the distance equal to one shoulder width on the side opposite the first hand, then the person starts moving the foot forward a distance equal to one half shoulder width, and gradually increases to the distance of one shoulder width.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein swinging the first hand back and forth between the first position and the second position includes raising the first lightweight stick high above the person's head while pointing the first lightweight stick upward, and then lowering the first lightweight stick fully downward while pointing the first lightweight stick downward, and wherein swinging the second hand back and forth between the first position and the second position includes lowering the second lightweight stick and pointing downward while the first lightweight stick is raised, and raising the second lightweight stick and pointing it upward while the first lightweight stick is lowered.

8. The method of claim 7, further including: raising a first knee, the first knee being opposite to the first hand raising the first lightweight stick, and raising an opposite knee when the second hand is raising the second lightweight stick.

9. The method of claim 7, further including: extending a first leg backwards while raising the first lightweight stick, the first leg being opposite to the first hand raising the first lightweight stick, and extending an opposite leg backwards when the second hand is raising the second lightweight stick.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein walking while swinging the first and second hands back and forth, and while the first and second hands grasp the first and second lightweight sticks, respectively, is modified such that: instead of the second hand swinging back and forth while grasping the second lightweight stick, the second hand slidingly grasps along a rail, grasps a chair, or grabs a corner of a kitchen counter to help with balance and stability.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein swinging the first hand back and forth between the first position and the second position involves: swinging the first hand back and forth between a downward position and an upstretched position.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein swinging the first hand back and forth between the first position and the second position involves: swinging the first hand back and forth outward between a downward position and an outstretched position.

13. The method of claim 3, wherein when the person has a neurological disorder, moving the grasping position of the first hand along the first lightweight stick to half the shoulder width from the distal end of the first lightweight stick, and moving the grasping position of the second hand along the second lightweight stick to half the shoulder width from the distal end of the second lightweight stick.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the grasping position for each of the first and second lightweight sticks is gradually increased in distance as the neurological disorder improves, from one half the shoulder width from the distal end of the respective lightweight stick, to one full shoulder width from the distal end of the respective lightweight stick.

15. The method of claim 3, wherein walking while swinging the first and second hands back and forth, includes: moving forward the foot on the side opposite the first hand while the first hand swings forward; and moving forward the foot on the side opposite the second hand while the second hand swings forward.

16. A method for engaging a person's sensorimotor complex so as to enhance speed, stride, and balance while walking or running, the method comprising: measuring a shoulder width from a first shoulder blade acromion of a person to a second shoulder blade acromion of the person; grasping a first lightweight stick with a first hand at a grasping position along the first lightweight stick that is one shoulder width from a distal end of the first lightweight stick; grasping a second lightweight stick with a second hand at a grasping position along the second lightweight stick that is one shoulder width from a distal end of the second lightweight stick; each of the first and second lightweight stick comprising a lightweight hollow cylinder and two end caps, wherein each end cap of the two end caps covering a respective end of the lightweight hollow cylinder; swinging the first hand back and forth between a first position and a second position, while swinging the second hand back and forth opposite to the swinging of the first hand; and one of the following actions: assuming a sitting position; stepping out sideways; or raising an opposite knee.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein: the person assumes a sitting position, and the person exaggerates swinging the first hand and the second hand, and raises each foot upward in turn.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein: the person assumes the sitting position, and the person swings the first hand outward while moving outward a foot on the same side as the first hand, and then swings the second hand outward while moving outward a foot on the same side as the second hand.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the first position is a downward position and the second position is an outstretched position, and wherein swinging the first hand back and forth between the first position and the second position involves swinging the first hand back and forth between the downward position and the outstretched position, while also stepping out sideways with a foot on the same side as the first hand, as the first hand swings out to the outstretched position, and after swinging the first hand back and forth between the first position and the second position, swinging the second hand back and forth between the downward position and the outstretched position, while also stepping out sideways with a foot on the same side as the second hand, as the second hand swings out to the outstretched position.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the first position is a downward position and the second position is an upstretched position, and wherein: the second hand slidingly grasps along a rail, grasps a chair, or grabs a corner of a kitchen counter to help with balance and stability, and wherein swinging the first hand back and forth between the first position and the second position involves: swinging the first hand back and forth between the downward position and the upstretched position, while raising the opposite knee each time the first hand swings into the upstretched position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be more fully understood from the following Detailed Description, in conjunction with the following figures, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the lightweight stick of the device of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 1B is an exploded side elevational view of the lightweight stick of the device of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 2 is a side elevational view illustrating measurement points for determining the length approximately equal to the width from the first shoulder blade acromion of a person to the second shoulder blade acromion of a person; and

(5) FIGS. 3-19 are side elevational views of a user illustrating the methods of use of the device of the present invention by a person for physical therapy purposes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(6) Sensorimotor Awareness Reintegration Training (SMART) is a method that preferably uses specialized devices (herein called Stride Sticks) using specific body measurements of the user, stride stick sensorimotor exercises, proprioception exercises, and specific stretches, to engage the sensorimotor system of the brain so as to increase stride, balance, stability, and mobility.

(7) Everyone is affected by the aging process; bodies degrade and so do abilities. SMART helps to engage body awareness utilizing personal measurements of a person, thereby making the person safer, more balanced, and enhancing the person's understanding of where their body is in space and time. Due to the aging process, one's stride gets smaller, and as one's stride gets smaller over the years, the person experiences a decrease in balance, and an increase in the risk of falling. Thus, as the stride gets smaller, the sensorimotor complex decreases, which increases the risk of falls.

(8) The sensorimotor complex is the combination of the sensory system of the brain and the motor system of the brain coming together to interpret and manage where the body is in space and time. The visual system, the vestibular system, and the proprioceptive system are fundamentally critical to balance. The vestibular system is the sensory system that provides the leading contribution to the sense of balance and spatial orientation for the purpose of coordinating movement with balance. The visual system gives a picture to the person where they are in space in time, the vestibular system tells the body where it is going, and the proprioceptive system helps the limbs, hands, and feet to feel relative position, and feel contact with the ground. Bringing those senses together simultaneously with the motor system so as to create the motion of the body is what enables the body to go where it needs to go.

(9) The easiest way to understand the sensorimotor complex is to visualize an imaginary bubble that surrounds a person, that imaginary bubble being created by a combination of the required senses needed for balance, and the motor system required for moving, working together to determine outer limits of the bubble that we are safely able to maintain for balance, coordination, and upright position without falling.

(10) As a child learns to walk, the sensorimotor bubble is very small. However, as a child grows, the sensorimotor bubble of the child grows too. Once the individual stops growing, the bubble will also stop growing, and will reach its maximum outer limits. Over time those maximum outer limits decrease due to age, injuries, conditions/diagnosis, and/or any sensory or motor disturbance created in life. No matter what, it is normal for that bubble to decrease as a person ages.

(11) SMART uses a measurement derived from a feature of the individual's body that the sensorimotor complex accepts readily (assuming that no adverse neurological event has occurred), due to longstanding consistency in this specific measurement of the body. In contrast to the method of SMART, many people choose to walk holding weights, and what usually occurs is that the individual will bend at the elbow more and hold the weight closer to their body. This in turn decreases the stride length, and increases pressure on the hips, knees, ankles, and feet. Thus, walking with hand weights causes the sensorimotor bubble to shrink.

(12) SMART uses a measurement of the shoulder width to determine where along a stride stick to hold the stride stick. Thus, the place along a stride stick that the user grasps is specific to the individual's shoulder width (measured from acromion to acromion, as shown in FIG. 2). By holding the stride sticks during ambulation (walking), the sensorimotor bubble is enlarged, and coupled with the sensorimotor exercises listed belowalong with the balance and specific stretches, the enlarged sensorimotor bubble is maintained by the body, accepted into muscle memory, thereby lengthening stride, which increases balance.

(13) Once muscle memory has achieved been achieved, and the person is operating at the highest functional level possible, they no longer need to ambulate (walk) using the stride sticks, and perform other exercises using the stride sticks. However, it is highly recommended to continue to use the stride sticks regularly, from a medical standpoint, due to the aging process and the continual degradation of the sensorimotor complex. All individuals are encouraged to continue with the use of the stride sticks due to the multiplicity of uses, and to continue to use the exercises and stretches.

(14) SMART is from the above mentioned broken into 4 simple phases

(15) Phase 1: Where you are now, i.e., as we age the sensorimotor complex (bubble) decreases with age, diagnosis, and or nuroerogical/orthopedic injury, thereby causing decrease in stride, balance, and mobility.

(16) Phase 2: Bridging the sensory and motor cortices of the brain with the use of stride sticks and baseline measurement of acromion to acromion. Thereby increasing stride, balance, and mobility by immolating the sensorimotor homunculus of the brain, causing the brain to think that you are bigger than you really are.

(17) Phase 3: Stride Sticks running/walking along with the targeted exercises in SMART to extend the body from the flexed position to the extended position.

(18) Phase 4: Muscle memory accepts the new adjustments you your body and you walk and run with increased stride, balance, and mobility.

(19) Stride Sticks are the main device used to initially engage the sensorimotor complex. Stride Sticks include two sticks, each being round and of an outer diameter of , and being as light in weight as possible. Stride Sticks can be made from plastic (e.g., PVC), light weight carbon fiber, aluminum, titanium, or any light weight material. The length of each device can range generally from 12-18 inches, and the average length that is usable by most individuals is 15 inches. Each of the Stride Sticks is equal in length and weight to the other. Initial and most effective measurement for hand placement distance from the distal end of the Stride Stick is the length of the individual's shoulder width (measured from acromion to acromion, as seen in FIG. 2) along each stride stick, such that each stride stick is held such that it extends one shoulder width beyond the hand.

(20) Adjustment can be altered if the individual has a history of any neurological incident (i.e., Cerebral Vascular Accident, Parkinson's Disease, Trans Ischemic Accident) or orthopedic/musculoskeletal injury.

(21) The appropriate measurement is determined utilizing the stride stick. The lead edge of a stride stick is placed on the boney prominence of the acromion (see FIG. 2) and the opposite hand locates the opposite acromion and addresses the location along the stick. This helps to provide the sensorimotor basis for retraining and integrating the sensorimotor complex. This is the same initial measurement used for individuals that want to increase their stride length for running and for walking. Additionally, this is the same measurement used by a therapist for determining and initiating gait training for individuals with balance deficits. Individuals are then instructed to focus primarily on arm swing, and to ambulate (walk) using opposite arm and leg.

(22) In accordance with one embodiment, the method for engaging a person's sensorimotor complex so as to enhance speed, stride, and balance while walking or running includes the following steps: (1) providing a plurality of devices, each of the devices including a pair of lightweight sticks of equal length and weight; (2) measuring a shoulder width from a first shoulder blade acromion of the person to a second shoulder blade acromion of the person; (3) selecting from the plurality of devices a first lightweight stick and a second lightweight stick each having a length approximately equal to the width from the first shoulder blade acromion of the person to the second shoulder blade acromion of the person; (4) grasping the first lightweight stick with a first hand at a grasping position along the stick that is one shoulder width from a distal end of the stick; (5) grasping the second lightweight stick with a second hand at a grasping position along the stick that is one shoulder width from a distal end of the stick; (6) swinging the first hand back and forth between a first position and a second position, while swinging the second hand back and forth opposite to the swinging of the first hand; and (7) walking while swinging the first and second hands back and forth, and while the first and second hands grasp the first and second lightweight sticks, respectively. In one embodiment, the pair of lightweight sticks are a pair of lightweight hollow cylinders each including two pairs of end caps, each end cap covering an end of one of the lightweight hollow cylinders, and two wrist straps, one wrist strap being attached near an end of each lightweight hollow cylinder of the pair of light-weight hollow cylinders.

(23) In accordance with another embodiment, the method for engaging a person's sensorimotor complex so as to enhance speed, stride, and balance while walking or running includes the following steps: (1) measuring a shoulder width from a first shoulder blade acromion of the person to a second shoulder blade acromion of the person; (2) grasping a first lightweight stick with a first hand at a grasping position along the stick that is one shoulder width from a distal end of the stick; (3) grasping a second lightweight stick with a second hand at a grasping position along the stick that is one shoulder width from a distal end of the stick; (4) swinging the first hand back and forth between a first position and a second position, while swinging the second hand back and forth opposite to the swinging of the first hand; and (5) walking while swinging the first and second hands back and forth, and while the first and second hands grasp the first and second lightweight sticks, respectively.

(24) In one embodiment, walking while swinging the first and second hands back and forth, includes moving forward the foot on the side opposite the first hand while the first hand swings forward; and moving forward the foot on the side opposite the second hand while the second hand swings forward.

(25) In one embodiment, when the person has a neurological disorder, the method includes moving the grasping position of the first hand along the stick to half the shoulder width from the distal end of the stick, and moving the grasping position of the second hand along the stick to half the shoulder width from the distal end of the stick. An additional step may be provided, wherein the grasping position for each stick is gradually increased in distance as the neurological disorder improves, from one half the shoulder width from the distal end of the stick, to one full shoulder width from the distal end of the stick.

(26) In one embodiment, walking while swinging the first and second hands back and forth includes moving forward two shoulder widths the foot on the side opposite the first hand while the first hand swings forward; and moving forward two shoulder widths the foot on the side opposite the second hand while the second hand swings forward. An additional step may be provided, wherein if the person is unable to move the foot forward two shoulder widths on the side opposite the first hand, then start moving the foot forward one shoulder width, and gradually increase to two shoulder widths. Still another step may be provided, wherein if the person is unable to move the foot forward one shoulder width on the side opposite the first hand, then start moving the foot forward one-half shoulder width, and gradually increase to one shoulder width.

(27) In one embodiment, swinging the first hand back and forth between a first position and a second position, while swinging the second hand back and forth opposite to the swinging of the first hand, and walking while swinging the first and second hands back and forth, while the first and second hands grasp the first and second lightweight sticks, respectively, is performed 14 or 15 times in each direction for a total of 28 to 30 times.

(28) In one embodiment, swinging the first hand back and forth between a first position and a second position includes raising the first lightweight stick high above the person's head while pointing the first lightweight stick generally upward, and then lowering the first lightweight stick fully downward while pointing the first lightweight stick generally downward, and swinging the second hand back and forth between a first position and a second position includes lowering the second lightweight stick and pointing generally downward while the first lightweight stick is raised, and raising the second lightweight stick and pointing it generally upward while the first lightweight stick is lowered. Another step may be provided, including raising an opposite knee while raising the first lightweight stick, and raising an opposite knee when raising the second lightweight stick and/or extending an opposite leg backwards while raising the first lightweight stick, and extending an opposite leg backwards when raising the second lightweight stick.

(29) In one embodiment, walking while swinging the first and second hands back and forth, and while the first and second hands grasp the first and second lightweight sticks, respectively, is modified such that instead of the second hand swinging back and forth while grasping the second lightweight stick, the second hand slidingly grasps along a rail, grasps a chair, or grabs a corner of a kitchen counter to help with balance and stability. Another step may be provided, wherein swinging the first hand back and forth between a first position and a second position involves swinging the first hand back and forth between a downward position and an upstretched position and/or swinging the first hand back and forth outward between a downward position and an outstretched position.

(30) In one embodiment, walking while swinging the first and second hands back and forth is modified such that the person assumes a sitting position, and the person exaggerates swinging the first hand and the second hand, and raises each foot upward instead of moving it forward.

(31) In one embodiment, walking while swinging the first and second hands back and forth is modified such that the person assumes a sitting position, and the person swings the first hand outward while stepping outward with the foot on the same side as the first hand, and then swings the second hand outward while stepping outward with the foot on the same side as the second hand.

(32) In one embodiment, swinging the first hand back and forth between a first position and a second position involves swinging the first hand back and forth between a downward position and an outstretched position, while also stepping out sideways with the foot on the same side as the first hand, as the first hand swings out to the outstretched position, and after swinging the first hand back and forth between the first position and the second position, swinging the second hand back and forth between a downward position and an outstretched position, while also stepping out sideways with the foot on the same side as the second hand, as the second hand swings out to the outstretched position, wherein stepping out sideways with the first hand, and then stepping out sideways with the second hand, replaces walking while swinging the first and second hands back and forth.

(33) In one embodiment, walking while swinging the first and second hands back and forth, and while the first and second hands grasp the first and second lightweight sticks, respectively, is modified such that instead of the second hand swinging back and forth while grasping the second lightweight stick, the second hand slidingly grasps along a rail, grasps a chair, or grabs a corner of a kitchen counter to help with balance and stability, and wherein swinging the first hand back and forth between a first position and a second position involves: swinging the first hand back and forth between a downward position and an upstretched position, while raising an opposite knee each time the first hand swings into the upstretched position.

(34) Other modifications and implementations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as claimed. Accordingly, the above description is not intended to limit the invention, except as indicated in the following claims.