LOWER LEG STRENGTHENING DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device and method of use thereof for lower leg strengthening, particularly for strengthening the anterior tibialis. In one form, the device includes: a foot mount for mounting to a foot of a user, said foot mount including a pair of opposed side plates and at least two rods interconnecting the opposed side plates, at least one of said two rods including an actuating mechanism for tightening and loosening the opposed side plates about the foot of the user; and a weight mount operatively associated with the foot mount and configured to mount one or more weights thereon. In use, the device is configured to provide resistance to dorsiflexion of the foot of the user.

Claims

1. A lower leg strengthening device comprising: a foot mount for mounting to a foot of a user, said foot mount comprising a pair of opposed side plates and at least two rods interconnecting the opposed side plates, at least one of said at least two rods comprising an actuating mechanism for tightening and loosening the opposed sides plates about the foot of the user; and a weight mount operatively associated with the foot mount and configured to mount one or more weights thereon, wherein, in use, said device is configured to provide resistance to dorsiflexion of the foot of the user.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the opposed side plates has a substantially inverted L-shape having a first portion configured to in use extend alongside the foot of the user and a second portion orthogonally extending relative to the first portion and configured to in use extend forward from the foot of the user.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the second portion extends in a forward and downwards direction relative to the first portion.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the foot mount further comprises a third portion extending orthogonally inward from a forward edge of the second portion from one of the opposed side plates at least partially towards a forward edge of the other of the opposed side plates.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least two rods comprise a first rod extending from and between the opposed side plates at or near a lower edge of the first portion and a second rod extending from and between the opposed side plates at or near an upper edge of the first portion.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein, in use, the rods are positioned to receive the foot of the user therebetween such that the first rod abuts against a sole of the foot and the second rod abuts against an upper surface of the foot.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two rods comprises a pair of inwardly extending rod pieces configured to be mateable with each other to form the rod, each rod piece extending inwardly from an inner surface of one of the pair of opposed side plates.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the rod pieces mate together in a sliding arrangement such that a length of the rod is adjustable thereby enabling the foot mount to be tightened or loosened about the foot of the user.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the actuating mechanism comprises a threaded arrangement extending within interconnected said rod pieces for moving the rod between retracted and extended positions.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the threaded arrangement comprises a threaded bore operatively associated with a first said rod piece and an adjustment screw operatively associated with a second said rod piece and configured to threadingly engage with the threaded bore for moving the second said rod piece relative to the first said rod piece.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the adjustment screw has a distal end, an opposed head and a threaded shank extending therebetween and wherein the screw is received in an opening defined through a side plate and along a central axis of the second said rod piece such that the head abuts against an outer surface of the side plate and the threaded shank extends at least partially along an inner conduit of the second said rod piece for engagement with the threaded bore located at or near an inner end of the first said rod piece.

12. The device of claim 4, wherein the weight mount comprises a receiving post extending forward of the third portion of the foot mount.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the weight mount extends from an outer surface of the third portion of the foot mount.

14. A method of strengthening a lower leg, said method comprising: fitting a device in accordance with claim 1 about a foot of a user and tightening the foot mount about the foot of the user; loading the weight mount with one or more weights; and repeatedly moving the foot about the ankle against resistance provided by the one or more weights.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the fitting comprises inserting the foot of the user between the first and second rods such that the first rod abuts against a sole of the foot and the second rod abuts against an upper surface of the foot.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the tightening comprises using the actuating mechanism to tighten the opposed side plates about the foot of the user.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the loading comprises aligning and sliding one or more weight plates onto a receiving post of the weight mount.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the repeatedly moving comprises pointing a toe of the foot and flexing the foot back to the leg through repeated eccentric and concentric contraction of the anterior tibialis with and against a resistance provided by the one or more weights.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the repeatedly moving further comprises repeated dorsiflexion of the foot against the resistance provide by the one or more weights.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the foot with the device mounted thereon is suspended above a support surface prior to commencing said repeatedly moving.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0095] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

[0096] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lower leg strengthening device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0097] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded view of the lower leg strengthening device shown in FIG. 1;

[0098] FIG. 3 is photograph showing the device as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 being fitted to a foot of a user; and

[0099] FIG. 4 is a photograph of the device as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 being used to strengthen a lower leg of the user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0100] FIGS. 1 to 4 show a lower leg strengthening device (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0101] Referring to FIG. 1, the device (100) includes a foot mount (110) for mounting to a foot of a user including a pair of opposed side plates (120), two rods (130) interconnecting the opposed side plates (120) and an actuating mechanism (140) associated with one of the rods (130) for tightening and loosening the opposed side plates (120) about the foot of a user.

[0102] The device (100) further includes a weight mount (210) operatively associated with the foot mount (110) and configured to mount one or more weights thereon.

[0103] In use, the device (100) is configured to provide resistance to dorsiflexion of the foot of the user.

[0104] Referring to FIG. 2, each side plate (120) is formed from steel and has a thickness of about 4 mm.

[0105] Each side plate (120) has a substantially inverted L-shape having a first portion (150) configured to extend alongside the foot of the user and a second portion (160) orthogonally extending relative to the first portion (150) and configured to in use extend forward from the foot in a forward and downwards direction.

[0106] Each side plate (120) has a pair of opposed surfaces interconnected by opposing edges.

[0107] The opposed surfaces extend substantially parallel to one another. The opposed surfaces include an inner surface (122) and an opposed outer surface (124).

[0108] The first portion (150) includes a lower edge (152), an opposed upper edge (154) and a pair of opposed side edges (156) extending longitudinally therebetween. The edges (152, 154, 156) include one or more curves.

[0109] The lower edge (152) is rounded for supporting the device (100) atop a support surface. Advantageously, by being rounded, the lower edge (152) allows the device (100) to be rocked back-and-forth in use, when, for example, exercising a dorsiflexion movement while resting the device (100) atop a support surface.

[0110] The second portion (160) includes a forward edge (162) and a pair of opposed side edges (164) orthogonally extending from the upper edge (154) of the first portion (150) to the forward edge (162). The opposed side edges (164) extend linearly.

[0111] As shown, one of the side plates (120A) has a rounded forward edge (162) and the other of the side plates (120B) defines a third portion (170) for mounting of the weight mount (210) thereon.

[0112] The third portion (170) extends orthogonally inwards from the forward edge (162) of the side plate (120B) at least partially towards the rounded forward edge (162) of the other side plate (120A).

[0113] The third portion (170) includes an inner surface (172) and an opposed outer surface (174).

[0114] As shown, the pair of opposed side plates (120) are interconnected by two rods (130). The rods (130) are of an adjustable length to define an adjustable foot receiving space (180) between the opposed side plates (120).

[0115] The rods (130) are of a tubular construction and are each formed from opposed rod piece (132) extending inwardly from the inner surface (122) of each of the opposed side plates (120) and configured to mate with one another therebetween in sliding arrangement. The rod pieces (132) are welded to the inner surface (122) of the side plates using conventional welding techniques.

[0116] The rod (130) include a first rod (130A) extending from and between the opposed side plates (120) at or near the lower edge (152) of the first portion (150) and a second rod (130B) extending from and between the opposed side plates (120) at or near the upper edge (154) of the first portion (150). The rods (130) are centrally positioned relative to the opposed side edges (156).

[0117] In use, the rods (130) are positioned to receive a foot of a user therebetween such that the first rod (130A) abuts against a sole of the foot of a user and the second rod (130B) abuts against an upper surface of the foot.

[0118] As shown, rod pieces (132A) extending inwardly from side plate (120A) have a narrower diameter than rod pieces (132B) extending inwardly from side plate (120B) so as to be at least partially received in the rod pieces (132B) in the sliding mateable arrangement.

[0119] Advantageously, by being arranged in the mateable arrangement, the length of the rods (130) can be adjusted by the actuating mechanism (140) thereby enabling the foot mount (110) to be tightened or loosed about the foot of user.

[0120] The actuating mechanism (140) includes a threaded arrangement associated with the second rod (130B).

[0121] The mechanism (140) includes a threaded bore in the form of a nut (142) coupled to an inner end of rod piece (132A) and an adjustment screw (144; partially shown) extending along rod piece (132B) and configured to threadingly engage with the nut (142) for moving rod piece (132B) relative to rod piece (132A) and thereby move the opposed side plates (120) relative to each other.

[0122] The adjustment screw (144) has a distal end, an opposed head (145) and a threaded shank extending therebetween.

[0123] In use, the adjustment screw (144) is at least partially received in an opening (126) defined through side plate (120B) and aligned along a central axis of rod piece (132B) such that the head (145) abuts against the outer surface (124) of the side plate (120B) and the threaded shank extends at least partially along an inner conduit of the rod piece (132B) for engagement with the nut (142) of the rod piece (132A).

[0124] The head (145) of the adjustment screw (144) is enlarged to assist in manual rotation of the adjustment screw (144) by a user.

[0125] Referring back to FIG. 1, the weight mount (210) includes a receiving post (212) extending forward from the outer surface (174) of the third portion (170) for mounting one or more weight plates thereon.

[0126] The post (212) is mechanically fastened to the third portion (170).

[0127] The post (212) has a diameter of about 50 mm and a length of about 195 mm.

[0128] The device (100) further includes a padding sleeve (190) fitted about the second rod (130B).

[0129] The padding sleeve (190) is formed from a rubber or plastic foam material and includes one or more concave contours to complement the shape of a foot of a user received in the adjustable foot receiving space (180).

[0130] A method of using the device (100) is now described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0131] Referring to FIG. 3, the device (100) is fitted to a foot (310) of user (900) by inserting the foot (310) into the adjustable foot receiving space (180) of the device (100).

[0132] The foot (310) is inserted such that the first rod (130A) abuts against a sole of the foot (310) and the second rod (130B) abuts against an upper surface of the foot (310).

[0133] The head (145) of the adjustment screw (144) of the actuating mechanism (140) is then turned to tighten the opposed side plates (120) of the foot mount (110) about the foot (310) of the user (900).

[0134] One or more weight plates (810) can be loaded onto the receiving post (212) of the weight mount (210) and secured thereon with a clip, keeper or collar as known in the art.

[0135] Referring to FIG. 4, the foot (310) with the device (100) mounted thereon and the lower calf of an associated leg is then suspended off the edge of a bench and the foot (310) is moved back-and-forth relative to the leg through repeated eccentric and concentric contraction of the anterior tibialis against the resistance provided by the one or more weight plates (810).

[0136] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word ‘comprising’ and its derivatives including ‘comprises’ and ‘comprise’ include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

[0137] Reference throughout this specification to ‘one embodiment’ or ‘an embodiment’ means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases ‘in one embodiment’ or ‘in an embodiment’ in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

[0138] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.