WO2001072381A1

WO2001072381A1 - Limb exercise system

Info

Publication number: WO2001072381A1
Application number: PCT/DK2001/000207
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Frislund Andersen; Jørgen Hvidsten ANDERSEN; Kirsten Charlotte Pedersen
Original assignee: Procare
Priority date: 2000-03-28
Filing date: 2001-03-27
Publication date: 2001-10-04
Also published as: AU2001244096A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rehabilitation and/or exercise system and method for a human limb or limb part, particularly the human hand, and more particularly to a system and method for rehabilitating and/or exercising one or more fingers of a human hand. The present invention further relates to an exercise system comprising a sensor being responsive to an exercising movement of a human limb or limb part, and in a particularly embodiment to a system comprising a computer being responsive to a signal from the sensor. The exercise member comprises a connecting member having securing means for securing a portion or an end portion of said limb or limb part to the connecting member, and friction means for applying a frictional force or resistance to the connecting member when the connecting member is moved in an active direction. The system for rehabilitating and/or exercising comprises at least a first exercise member according to the invention, and a computer having a first input, and wherein the sensor of the first exercise member provides a first sensor output signal for the first computer input.

Description

LIMB EXERCISE SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a rehabilitation and/or exercise system and method for a human limb or limb part, particularly the human hand, and more particularly to a system and method for rehabilitating and/or exercising one or more fingers of a human hand.

The present invention further relates to an exercise system comprising a sensor being responsive to an exercising movement of a human limb or limb part, and in a particularly embodiment to a system comprising a computer being responsive to a signal from the sensor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A wide variety of devices have been developed for exercising and rehabilitating weak or injured hands and fingers, including devices as simple as a rubber ball which is gripped and squeezed in the hand, as well as complex spring loaded cable arrangements. A problem with simple devices like the rubber ball is that the fingers cannot be individually exercised and rehabilitated. In addition such simple devices do not permit the full range of motion of the fingers. A number of prior spring loaded cable arrangements also limit the range of motion of the fingers during exercising. For example, US Patent Nos. 3,782,719 and 3,871 ,646 each discloses such a finger exercising device.

A finger exercising device allowing the fingers to be exercised through their full range of motion is disclosed in US Patent No. 5,451 ,191. Here, the re- sisting force against the movement of a finger is provided by an elastically deformable member, such as a coil spring or a length of resilient rubber. Other finger exercising devices using an elastically deformable member for providing a varying tension means and further comprising means for reading the finger muscle tension during exercising are disclosed in US Patents No. 5,573,479 and 5,723,785.

The above mentioned prior art finger exercising devices all use elastically deformable members for providing a resisting force when exercising a finger. However, such elastically deformable members all provide a resisting force which increases during a bending or stretching of the finger. So, it is very difficult to control the resisting force exercised for a given finger joint, whereby it is difficult to obtain an optimal training of a given finger joint.

Therefore, there is a need for an exercising device or system, which provides a resisting force being substantially constant through the full range of motion when exercising or rehabilitating a human limb or limb part, such as for ex- ample a hand or a finger.

In US Patent No. 5,723,785 there is disclosed a system comprising tension transducers electrically coupled to a display means for measuring and displaying the tension of each finger being exercised, while in US Patent No. 5,484,355 there is disclosed a computer exercising system having two hand exercise devices. The hand exercise devices of US Patent No. 5,484,355 provide on/off signals to the computer when the devices have been fully compressed or extended, thereby allowing a computer program to be run by the control of the exercise devices.

None of the above mentioned prior art exercising systems have the possibility of giving a sensor output signal indicating the length of movement/motion of a limb or limb part during an exercise. However, during a therapeutic exercise there is a need to be able to monitor the range of motion of a limb or limb part and to observe any progress in the range of motion. Therefore, there is a need for a therapeutic exercise system being able to deliver an output signal comprising information about the length of movement/motion of a limb or limb part, such as for example a hand or a finger.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention it is an object to provide an exercise member for exercising one or more muscles of a limb or a limb part, said exercise member comprising: a connecting member having securing means for securing a portion or an end portion of said limb or limb part to the connecting member, and friction means for applying a frictional force or resistance to the connecting member when the connecting member is moved in an active direction.

Here it should be understood that the term limb is used in its normal meaning, as a human arm or leg or parts thereof, such as a hand or a finger. Thus, in one preferred embodiment of the invention the limb part is a hand, and the exercise member is a hand exercise member where the connecting member may be adapted for being secured to the hand or to an end portion of the hand.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention the limb part is a finger, and the exercise member is a finger exercise member where the connecting member may be adapted for being secured to the finger or an end portion of the finger. Thus, the securing means may comprise a finger portion into which a finger can be at least partly inserted.

It should be understood that by the term active direction of the connecting member is meant the direction into which the connecting member is moved during a normal active movement of the limb or limb part, such as flexion or extension of the limb or limb part. For a leg, an arm, a hand and a finger, the normal active movement may be a flexion or bending. When such a limb or limb part is bent, the connecting member may be moved in the active direction. Similarly, extension or stretching of such a limb or limb part may provide a movement of the connecting member in a return direction.

However, depending on which muscles need to be exercised, the connecting member may also be moved in an active direction by an extension or stretching of a limb or limb part, in which cases the connecting member may be moved in a return direction by a flexion or bending of the limb or limb part.

When the limb part is a finger, the first aspect of the present invention may thus provide a finger exercise member comprising: a finger portion into which a finger can be at least partly inserted, a connecting member connected to said finger portion, and friction means for applying a frictional force or resistance to the connecting member when the connecting member is moved in an active direction.

One or more finger exercise members according to the aspects of the pres- ent invention may be used as part of an exercise device. Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for rehabilitating and/or exercising one or more fingers of a human hand, wherein the device comprises a base having one or more finger exercise members according to the present invention mounted thereon.

The base may be secured in place on a person's hand and forearm, and the base may be designed for being supported by a table during exercising. Alternatively, the base may be designed so as to be carried around by the person, thereby allowing the person to walk around while exercising the fingers.

For a finger exercise member according to the aspects of the present invention, the connecting member may be moved in the active direction by a pull or bending movement of a finger inserted in the finger portion. Similarly, the connecting member may be moved in a return direction by a return or stretching movement of a finger inserted in the finger portion.

For the exercise members of the first aspect of the present invention it is preferred that the friction means acts as a friction brake applying a substantially constant frictional force or resistance to the connecting member throughout the active movement of the connecting member.

It is also within the present invention that the frictional force or resistance applied by the friction means to the connecting member during the active movement may be adjusted. Thus, it is preferred that a maximal moving force of the limb or limb part is measured before starting the exercising, and that the frictional force during the active movement is adjusted accordingly before the exercising. Here, the frictional force should preferably be smaller than the maximal moving force. The frictional force may be in the range of 0-50%, preferably in the range of 10-40%, and more preferably in the range of 20- 30% of a maximal moving force.

By the term maximal moving force is meant the maximal force or resistance that the limb or limb part is capable of overcoming when moving in the active direction.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the frictional force or re- sistance applied by the friction means to the connecting member when the connecting member is moved in a return direction is adjustable. Thus, the frictional force during the return movement may be adjusted before the exercise.

It is preferred that the frictional force applied to the connecting member when the connecting member is moved in a return direction is below 10% of the frictional force applied to the connecting member during the active move- ment. It is further preferred that the frictional force applied to the connecting member during the return movement is substantially zero to thereby obtain a free wheeling mechanism of the friction means during the return movement of the connecting member.

According to an embodiment of the present invention the connecting member has a leading end portion and a rear end portion with the leading end portion being connected to the securing means and the rear end portion being in operating contact with an elastically return member. Here the return force ap- plied to the connecting member by the elastically return member may be equal to or less than the frictional force applied to the connecting member in a return movement.

It should be understood that according to a preferred embodiment of the in- vention there is no return force or the return force is so small that the stretching or return movement of the finger requires an active movement of the finger. So, it is preferred that there is substantially no return force actively pulling the finger during a return movement.

Thus, when exercising a limb or limb part such as a finger by the use of one or more embodiments of the invention, the limb or limb part may trained during a forward bending movement, but the limb or limb part may also be trained during the stretching or return movement, if substantially no return force is pulling the limb or limb part, whereby the limb or limb part is only al- lowed to be stretched within its own range of motion.

There may also be applied a frictional force to the connecting-member during the return movement. Thus, the limb or limb part may also be trained by having to overcome a frictional force during the stretching or return move- ment. This may be obtained by having second friction means arranged opposite to the first friction means so as to operate on the connecting member when the connecting member is moved in the return direction. Different materials may be used for the connecting member, but in an embodiment of the invention it is preferred that the connecting member is made of a substantially inelastic material. Such a material may be a metal wire, a metal strip, a plastic wire, a plastic strip, a nylon wire or a nylon strip. Preferably, the connecting member is flexible mainly in only one plane, where this plane is the plane of movement of a limb or limb part secured to the connecting member.

In order to provide a frictional force to the connecting member, it is preferred that the friction means has a longitudinal contact with the connecting member. Here, the friction means may comprise pressure means having a surface with a frictional coating or brake lining and gliding means, with the connecting member being arranged between the frictional coating surface of the pres- sure means and the gliding means, so that when a resultant normal force is exercised by the pressure means on the connecting member, a frictional resistance is applied to the connecting member during movement. Preferably, the resultant normal force is adjustable.

In a preferred embodiment the pressure means comprises a housing with a pressure or presser foot, said pressure foot being connected to the housing by a hinge joint and a pressure spring, whereby a resultant normal force is exercised by the pressure foot on the connecting member. An angle α may be defined between the hinge joint and a connecting member contact surface of the pressure foot, whereby the normal force may be adjusted by adjusting the angle α. The normal force may also be adjusted by adjusting the elastic force of the pressure spring. However, in a preferred embodiment, the elastic force of the pressure spring is substantially constant.

It is also within the present invention to use other types of friction means.

Thus, the friction means may comprise a hub and one or more friction discs. Alternatively, the friction means may comprise a hub and one or more disc springs. Here, the friction force of the friction means may be adjusted by adjusting the tension of the disc springs.

The present invention also covers an embodiment wherein the friction means may comprise an axle having a frictional part or disc with a friction surface. Here, the axle with the frictional part or disc may be arranged in a housing, said housing further comprising a friction surface being in contact with the friction surface of the frictional part or disc of the axle, so that when the axle is rotated, a frictional force or resistance is applied to the frictional part or disc of the axle during said rotation. It is preferred that the friction surface of the frictional part or disc and/or the friction surface of the housing has a frictional coating or brake lining. It is also preferred that the frictional force or resistance applied to the frictional part or disc may be adjusted by adjusting a contact pressure between the friction surface of the housing and the friction surface of the frictional part or disc of the axle. One or more adjustable springs may be used in order to adjust this contact pressure.

In order to apply the frictional force or resistance to the connecting member when the friction means comprises an axle with a frictional part or disc, the axle with the frictional part or disc and the connecting member should be arranged so that the axle is rotated during a movement of the connecting member in the active direction, and so that the frictional force or resistance applied to the frictional part or disc during said rotation is further applied to the connecting member during said movement in the active direction. Here, the connecting member may be a wire wound around a wheel coupled to the axle of the friction means. It is preferred that an elastically return member, which may comprise a spring, is coupled to the connecting member in order to provide a return force for the return movement of the connecting member. Preferably, the wheel may have a free wheel mechanism, such as a free wheel hub, so that the axle is not rotated during the return movement and no frictional force is applied to the axle via the frictional part or disc. It should be understood that in order to fit the exercise member of the present invention to the limb or limb part of different persons, it is important to be able to adjust the length of the connecting member so as to fit the limb or limb part of the person performing the exercise. Thus, it is preferred that the connecting member has a leading end portion and a rear end portion, where the leading end portion is connected to the securing means and the rear end portion is secured to the exercise member by fastening means, whereby the fastening means allows an adjustment of the length of the moveable part of the connecting member.

When performing an exercise by use of an exercise member of the present invention there may be a need to sense or monitor the length of movement of the limb or limb part being exercised. Thus, according to an embodiment of the present invention it is preferred that the exercise member further com- prises a sensor for sensing a movement of the connecting member in an active direction and/or a return direction. Here, the sensor may be adapted to sense a length of movement or motion of the connecting member.

Preferably, the sensor is a position transducer, and the sensor may be a po- tentiometer, such as for example a rotary or a sliding potentiometer.

When the exercise member of the present invention is adapted for use as a finger exercise member, it is also within the first aspect of the present invention to provide a device for rehabilitating and/or exercising one or more fin- gers of a human hand, where this device comprises a base with one or more finger exercise members according to any of the preceding embodiments of exercise members of the first aspect of the present invention mounted thereon.

When the exercise member comprises a sensor, the sensor may provide an output to be used as input for a computer system. Thus, according to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for rehabili- tating and/or exercising one or more muscles of one or more limbs or limb parts, where the system comprises at least a first exercise member according to any of the embodiments of the exercise members of the first aspect of the present invention having a sensor for sensing a movement of the connecting member, and a computer having a first input, wherein the sensor of the first exercise member provides a first sensor output signal for the first computer input.

When a computer is connected to the sensor, the computer may be adapted to determine and/or register the length of the movement of the connecting member based on the sensor output signal. The computer may also or alternatively be adapted to determine and/or register the frequency of movement of the connecting member based on the sensor output signal.

Preferably, the computer is adapted to determine and/or define, during one or more exercise movements of a limb or limb part, a first end position of the movement of the connecting member in an active direction, and a second end position of the movement of the connecting member in a return direction. Here, the computer may be adapted to determine and/or define the first and the second end positions based on at least two exercise movements of the limb or limb part.

In a preferred embodiment the computer may be adapted to use the sensor output signal as a cursor signal for moving a cursor on a computer screen or display. Thus, the cursor may be moved corresponding to a movement of the connecting member.

The computer may further be adapted to adjust the movement of the cursor so that the first end position of the movement corresponds to the cursor be- ing positioned at a first outer position of the screen, and the second end position of the movement corresponds to the cursor being positioned at a second, opposite outer position of the screen. Thus, the cursor may be moved in a horizontal or vertical direction along the screen during the exercise movement of the limb or limb part.

The system may further comprise a second exercise member with a second sensor for indicating the movement of a second connecting member, where the second sensor has an output signal being forwarded to the computer. Here the computer may be adapted to move the cursor in a horizontal direction based on a first sensor output signal from the first exercise member and in a vertical direction based on the second output signal from the second ex- ercise member.

In a preferred of the system of the second aspect of the invention, the first and/or second exercise member(s) is/are finger exercise member(s) mounted on a base.

The principles of having a sensor for sensing a length of movement of the connecting member corresponding to a movement of the limb or limb part, may also be used for exercise members in general.

So, according to a third aspect of the present invention, it is an object to provide an exercise member for exercising one or more muscles of a limb or a limb part, where said exercise member comprises a connecting member having securing means for securing a portion or an end portion of said limb or limb part, means for applying a resisting force to the connecting member when the connecting member is moved in an active direction, and a sensor for sensing the length of a movement of the connecting member.

The means for applying the resisting force may be an elastically deformable member such as a rubber band or a spring loaded cable. Alternatively, the resisting force may be a frictional force applied by friction means as de- scribed above in connecting with any of the first aspects of the present invention.

Again, as in the first aspect of the invention, the term limb is used in its nor- mal meaning, as a human arm or leg or parts thereof, such as a hand or a finger. Thus, in one preferred embodiment of the third aspect of the invention the limb part is a hand, and the exercise member is a hand exercise member where the connecting member may be adapted for being secured to the hand or an end portion of the hand. In another preferred embodiment the limb part is a finger, and the exercise member is a finger exercise member where the connecting member may be adapted for being secured to the finger or an end portion of the finger. Thus, the securing means may comprise a finger portion into which a finger can be at least partly inserted.

Again, as in the first aspect of the invention, the sensor may preferably be adapted to sense a movement of the connecting member in an active direction and/or a return direction. Here, it is preferred that the sensor is a position transducer, and the sensor may be a potentiometer, such as for example a rotary or a sliding potentiometer.

It is also within the third aspect of the present invention to provide a device for rehabilitating and/or exercising one or more fingers of a human hand, said device comprising a base with one or more exercise members of the third aspect of the invention, where the exercise member is adapted for use as a finger exercise member.

Also for the third aspect of the invention a computer may be connected to a sensor output. Thus, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for rehabilitating and/or exercising one or more muscles of one or more limb or limb parts, where the system comprises at least a first exercise member according to any of the embodiments of the third aspect of the invention, and a computer having a first input, and wherein the sensor of the first exercise member provides a first sensor output signal for the first computer input.

Preferably, the computer is adapted to determine and/or register the length of movement of the connecting member based on the sensor output signal. The computer may also or alternatively be adapted to determine and/or register the frequency of movement of the connecting member based on the sensor output signal.

Also here, it is preferred that the computer is adapted to determine and/or define, during one or more exercise movements of a limb or limb part, a first end position of the movement of the connecting member in an active direction, and a second end position of the movement of the connecting member in a return direction. Preferably, the computer is adapted to determine and/or define the first and the second end positions based on at least two exercise movements of the limb or limb part.

It is also here a preferred embodiment that the computer is adapted to use the sensor output signal as a cursor signal for moving a cursor on a computer screen or display. The computer may be further adapted to adjust the movement of the cursor so that the first end position of the movement corresponds to the cursor being positioned at a first outer position of the screen, and the second end position of the movement corresponds to the cursor being positioned at a second, opposite outer position of the screen. Thus, the cursor may be moved in a horizontal or vertical direction along the screen during an exercise movement.

The system of the fourth aspect of the invention may further comprise a second exercise member with a second sensor for indicating the movement of a second connecting member, said second sensor having a second sensor signal being forwarded to the computer. The computer may then be adapted to move the cursor in a horizontal direction based on a first sensor signal from the first exercise member and in a vertical direction based on the second sensor signal from the second exercise member.

It is also within the present invention to provide a method of exercising a limb or limb part. Thus, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for exercising one or more muscles of a limb or a limb part by the use of an exercise member having friction means and a connecting member, where the method comprises the steps of: securing a portion or an end portion of said limb or limb part to the connecting member, applying a frictional force or resistance to the connecting member, moving the limb in an active direction when the frictional force or resistance is applied to the connecting member, and moving the limb in a return direction.

The limb or limb part has the meaning as discussed above. Thus, the limb part may be a hand or a finger.

In a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention, the maximal mov- ing force of the limb or limb part is measured before starting the exercising.

It should be understood that it is within the method of the present invention to use an exercise member according to any of the embodiments of the first aspect of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the detailed description of the preferred embodiments in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a finger exercise member according to the invention,

Fig. 2 illustrates the operating principles of the friction means according to an embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment of a finger exercise member according to the invention,

Fig. 4 shows a rehabilitation or exercise system according to the invention, and

Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the routine of calibrating a finger exercise member according to the invention including a calibration of the cursor of a computer screen,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an exercise device generally re- ferred to by reference numeral 10. The exercise device 10 comprises a finger exercise member 11 secured to a base 12, which in this embodiment is a shell constructed from fibre-glass. The person using the exercising device has the arm inserted into the fibre-glass shell 12, where the shell partly covers the back of the hand 14 and the forearm 13, and where the shell 12 is fixed to the arm by use of welcro® band or tape 15, thereby locking a movement of the wrist.

The finger exercise member 11 comprises a casing 16, which preferably is made of a light and stiff material such as aluminium, in which the operating elements of the exercise member 11 are mounted or arranged. Here a connecting member 17 has a leading end 18 connected to a finger portion 19 in the form of a finger ring, and a finger 20 of the persons hand 14 is inserted into the finger ring 19. The connecting member 17 is preferably made of an inelastic material such as a plastic band, a metal wire, or a metal strip or band.

It has been found that for an optimum operation of the connecting member 17, the connecting member 17 should be flexible mainly in only one plane, which is the plane of movement of the finger 20 inserted in the finger ring 19. Thus, it is preferred to use a metal strip or band for the connecting member 17.

The rear end portion 21 of the connecting member 17 is in operating contact with an elastically return member 22, where the return member 22 is operating via a wheel or roller 23. The roller 23 has its shaft 24 connected to a metal bar or rod 25, where the metal rod 25 is further connected to the sliding part of a sliding potentiometer 28 secured to the casing 16. A return spring 29 is arranged on the metal rod 25 providing a return force to the roller 23 due to the roller 23 being pressed against the potentiometer 28 when a finger 20 is pulling the connecting member 17 in a forward, active direction. Thus, the potentiometer 28 may be used as a sensor for sensing the length of move- ment of the connecting member 17.

The rear end portion 21 of the connecting member 17 is bent around the roller 23 with the end of the curved part 30 being secured to the casing 16 by an adjusting screw 31. The length of the movable part of the connecting member 17 can be adjusted by the screw 31 , thereby fitting the length of the connecting member 17 to the length of the finger 20.

It is preferred that the return spring 29 is "soft" and only applies a relatively low return force to the connecting member. Thus, when the finger 20 is stretched and pushing the connecting member 17 backwards in a return direction, the elastic force from the spring 29 should be adequate to push back the roller 23 to its neutral position, but the force should be so small that sub- stantially no pulling force is experienced by the finger 20 during the return movement. So, with a soft return spring, the finger 20 also needs to be active during stretching.

However, it is also within the scope of the invention to use a "hard" return spring 29, which may then act so as to pull the finger 20 backwards when the finger is stretched in the return movement. Here, the return spring 29 should then deliver a spring force being large enough to overcome any resisting forces delivered by other means of the exercise member 11 during a return movement of the finger 20.

According to the present invention a resisting force should be applied to the connecting member 17 when moved in an active direction. In Fig. 1 the active direction is the forward movement of the connecting member due to a pull by bending of the finger 20. According to one or more embodiments of the present invention the resisting force is provided by friction means which in Fig. 1 generally is referred to by reference numeral 40.

The friction means 40 preferably comprises pressure means in a housing 41 , where a pressure foot 42 is connected to the housing 41 by a hinge joint 43, and a pressure spring 44 is connected to the housing 41 and the hinge joint 43 whereby a resultant normal force may be exercised on the pressure foot 42.

The connecting member 17 is arranged so as to slide between the pressure foot and gliding means 45, where the gliding means are secured to the casing 16. The lower surface of the pressure foot 42 may have a- surface with a frictional coating or brake lining, whereas the gliding means 45 may have a substantially frictionless surface. In an alternative embodiment the pressure foot 42 may have a substantially frictionless surface while the gliding means may then have a surface with a frictional coating. An angle α may be defined between the longitudinal direction of the hinge joint 43 and the lower surface of the pressure foot. This angle α may be adjusted by an angle adjusting screw 46.

Fig. 2 illustrates the operating principles of the friction means 40. When the connecting member 17 is moved forward in the active direction at a substantially constant velocity, the force applied to the connecting member by the bending of the finger 20 is designated FB and the frictional force given by the pressure foot 42 is designated FF1 while the frictional force given by the gliding means 45 is designated FF2. The coefficient of friction for the pressure foot surface is μ1 and for the gliding surface μ2.

It can be shown that a resultant normal force FN is obtained on the pressure foot 42 as a function of the force F1 of the pressure spring 44 and the value of the angle α. If F1 is increased, FN is increased, but for a constant value of F1 , which is preferred in this embodiment of the invention, FN increases when α increases towards 90°.

The connecting member force FB is given by

FB=FF1 + FF2,

and the frictional forces FF1 and FF2 are given as functions of FN by

FF1=FN«μ1 and

FF2=FN«μ2.

Hence, as the coefficients of friction may be regarded as constants, the con- necting member force FB is increased when FN is increased by increasing α towards 90°. The friction means 40 according to the above described preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a hinge joint 43 with a pressure spring 44 delivering a pressure force to the pressure foot 42. The geometry of the hinge joint 43 allows a rotation about an axis 47. Thus, when the connecting member 17 is moved in the forward direction, the rotation of the hinge joint 43 ensures that the wanted resulting normal force FN is applied to the pressure foot 42 and transferred to the connecting member 17, thereby resulting in the frictional forces FF1 and FF2 being applied to the connecting member 17.

When the connecting member 17 is moved backwards in the return direction, the hinge joint 43 will be rotated in the opposite direction, whereby the pressure foot 42 may be lifted to a point, where it is only having a slight engage- ment with the connecting member 17. Thus, only a relatively small resulting normal force FN is transferred to the connecting member 17, with the result that only a relatively small resulting frictional force is applied to the connecting member 17 during the return movement.

The rotation of the hinge joint 43 therefore may serve the purpose of providing a free wheeling mechanism during the return movement of the connecting member 17.

It should be understood that it is also within the scope of the invention to se- lect a return spring 29 which is delivering a return force at least partly balancing out or being substantially equal to any resulting frictional force applied to the connecting member 17 during a return movement.

Thus, when exercising a finger by use of the finger exercising member 11 as shown in Fig. 1 , a frictional force is applied to the finger through the connecting member 17 when the finger is bent, while almost no force is applied to the finger during stretching of the finger. The frictional force may be ad- justed individually, so that when progress is made during training or rehabilitation, the frictional force can be increased accordingly.

The finger exercise member of the present invention may in an alternative embodiment comprise both a first friction means 40 and a second friction means being of the same type as the first friction means 40, but being oppositely arranged. Hence, the first friction means may apply a frictional force to the connecting member 17 during a forward, active movement, while the second friction means may be acting in the free wheeling mode. During a return movement, the first friction means may be acting in the free wheeling mode while the second friction means may apply a frictional force to the connecting member 17.

When having both first and second friction means, the frictional forces can be adjusted to predetermined levels both for the bending and the stretching movement of the finger.

It should be understood that the exercise device 10 may have several finger exercise members 11 arranged on the base, thereby allowing training of a number of fingers on the hand at the same time. A finger exercising member 11 may also be arranged and adapted to fit the thumb of a hand.

A second embodiment of a finger exercise member is illustrated in Fig. 3. Here, the reference numerals have three digits with the most significant digit being the number 3 referring to Fig. 3, while the second and the third digits have the same values as the corresponding part or element in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 3, the exercise device 310 comprises a finger exercise member 311 secured to a base 312 being a shell made from fibre-glass. Again, the person using the exercising device has the arm inserted into the fibre-glass shell

312, where the shell partly covers the back of the hand 314 and the forearm 313, and where the shell 312 is fixed to the arm by use of welcro® band or tape 315, thereby locking a movement of the wrist.

The finger exercise member 311 does not need a special casing but may have the different operating elements secured to the base 312. The connecting member 317 has a leading end 318 connected to a finger portion 319 in the form of a finger ring, and a finger 320 of the persons hand 314 is inserted into the finger ring 319. The connecting member 317 is preferably made of the same material as discussed in connection with Fig. 1.

The rear end portion 321 of the connecting member 317 is in operating contact with an elastically return member 322, but here the return member 322 is secured to the base 312. The return member 322 is preferably a return spring, and it may be secured to the base by an adjustment screw 331 (not shown), which allows adjustment of the connecting member 317 to fit a given finger.

The discussion given for the return spring 29 in Fig. 1 also applies for the return spring 322 in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 3, a frictional force is applied to the connecting member 317 by friction means 340 operating according to principles similar to the friction means 40 of Figs. 1 and 2. The friction means 340 comprises pressure means in a housing 341 secured to the base 312, with a pressure foot 342 being con- nected to the housing 341 by a hinge joint 343, and with a pressure spring

344 being connected to the housing 341 and the pressure foot 342, whereby a resultant normal force may be exercised on the pressure foot 342.

Again, the angle α between the longitudinal direction of the hinge joint 343 and the lower surface of the pressure foot may be adjusted by an angle adjusting screw 346, whereby the frictional force applied to the connecting member 317 during a forward movement can be adjusted to a predetermined level.

Also for this embodiment, the connecting member 317 is arranged so as to slide between the pressure foot 342 and gliding means 345, where the gliding means are secured to the base 312. The surfaces of the pressure foot 342 and the gliding means 345 should have the same properties as discussed in connection with Fig. 1.

In order to sense the length of movement of the connecting member, a sliding potentiometer 328 is rotateably secured to an arm 351 fastened to the housing 341. The sliding part 327 of the potentiometer 328 is secured to a wheel 352 having a rubber cover. The wheel 352 is rotateably secured to an arm 353, which is also fastened to the housing 341. A spring 354 pulls the wheel 352 against the connecting member 317, which is supported by second gliding means 355, whereby the wheel 352 is turned during a movement of the connecting member 317.

Thus, the potentiometer 328 may be used as a sensor for sensing the length of movement of the connecting member 317.

It should be understood that although the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 and 3 both comprise a sensor for sensing movement of the connecting member and thereby the movement of a finger, the present invention also covers em- bodiments of finger exercise members without any such sensor means.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a finger exercise member 11 , 311 having a sensor for sensing a length of movement of the connecting member, 17, 317.

Preferred embodiments of such finger exercise members 11 , 311 are shown in Figs. 1 and 3. However, for this aspect of the invention, the principles of having a sensor for sensing the length of movement or the position of a connecting member 17, 317 is not restricted to exercise members having frictions means 40, 340 for providing a resisting force to a finger during training.

Thus, exercise members having the resisting force delivered by an elastically deformable member such as a rubber band or a spring are also within the scope of the invention. An example of such a finger exercise device is provided by omitting the friction means 40 of the exercise member 11 in Fig. 1 , and by selecting a return spring 29 providing the needed resisting force to the forward movement of the finger 20.

In order to monitor the sensor signals from the finger exercise members according to the present invention, it is preferred to have a computer such as a personal computer, PC, connected to the sensor outputs.

Such as system is illustrated in Fig. 4, which shows a rehabilitation or exercise system according to the invention, in which an exercise device 410 comprises two finger exercise members 411a, 411b according to the present invention, both members 411a, 411b having a sensor 428a, 428b for sensing or monitoring the length of movement or the position of corresponding connecting members 417a, 417b. The sensor outputs are connected to corresponding inputs of the computer 460, from where the signals may be further processed.

The sensors may preferably be sliding potentiometers, but other convenient types of potentiometers or sensors may be used. In the present embodiments, the selected potentiometers fulfil the requirements to a potentiometer of a conventional Joy Stick, which is to be used for controlling games run on a conventional PC having a display or screen 461. The computer 460 is pref- erably compatible with an IBM PC, but other types of PC's such as an Apple computer may be used. The PC has a game card of a conventional type, for example a Soundblaster 64 which is a sound card also comprising a game card, and the potentiometer signals 462a, 462b are used as signal inputs to a game port or com port of the game card.

The signal 462a is connected to the inputs resulting in a horizontal movement of a display cursor, while the signal 462b is connected to the inputs resulting in a vertical movement of the display cursor.

Thus, when having two exercise members 411a, 411 b activated by two fingers, it is possible to move a cursor on the PC screen in both a horizontal and a vertical direction. However, the invention also includes systems in which only one sensor signal 462 is used as input to the computer, whereby the cursor may be moved in only one direction on the PC screen, either the horizontal or the vertical direction.

In Fig. 4, the two exercise members 411a and 411b are arranged on the same base 412, whereby the cursor is controlled by movement of two fingers of the same hand. However, the member 411a may be arranged on a first base, while the member 411b is arranged on a second base, whereby the cursor may be controlled in the horizontal direction by movement of a first finger of a first hand and in the vertical direction by movement of a second finger of a second hand.

By use of conventional game cards it also possible to have two Joy Sticks connected to the game card in order to control two-player games. Thus, it is within the scope of the invention to have a system, where two cursors on the PC screen are controlled by sensor signals from corresponding finger exercise members. The two cursors may be controlled in only one direction of movement when the inputs of the two cursors each are connected to only one sensor signal, but the two cursors may also each be controlled by two sensor signals allowing a cursor movement in both the horizontal and the vertical direction. When having two cursors on the PC screen, it is preferred that each cursor is controlled by one or two fingers of two different hands.

In order to run a game program on the computer or PC 460, the PC needs to be calibrated. This is illustrated in Fig. 5, which is a flowchart illustrating a routine of calibrating a finger exercise member according to the invention including a calibration of the cursor of a computer screen.

First of all, the finger exercise member, which may be any exercise member according to the present invention, needs to be adjusted. This is illustrated by step 510, which comprises step 510a where the length of the connecting member 17, 317 is adjusted to fit the finger to be exercised. Step 510 further comprises step 510b where the resisting or frictional force of the exercise member is adjusted to the finger to be exercised. The sensor signal should now be connected to the computer input resulting in the desired direction of cursor movement, either the horizontal or vertical direction.

The calibration now proceeds to calibration of the computer 460. This is illustrated by step 520, which comprises step 520a in which the finger is moved at least two times in its full range of motion. During step 520a the computer 460 runs a program for monitoring the incoming signal corresponding to the movement of the finger. From this monitoring, see step 520b, the computer registers the two extremes of the range of motion of the finger, with the extremes being a first end position and a second end position. From here, the computer program proceeds to calibrate the movement of the cursor, see step 520c, so that the first end position corresponds to the cursor being positioned at a first, outer position on the screen, and the second-end position corresponds to the cursor being positioned at a second, opposite outer position on the screen.

If only one sensor signal is used for controlling the cursor, it is preferred that the sensor signal is connected to the computer so as to move the cursor in the horizontal direction. When a second finger is to be trained and used to control the cursor, the corresponding sensor signal is connected to the computer input so as to control the desired direction of movement of the cursor, which may then be the vertical direction, and the calibration process of Fig. 5 is repeated.

The computer may be programmed to monitor and register the sensor signals generated by movements of the finger in a training process. Thus, the computer may store registered lengths of movement and it may further store the frequency of the movements, i.e. the number of movements and the duration of the exercise.

The monitoring and registering may be performed during a training or exercising routine, and the stored results may be used to evaluate any progress in the condition of the patient. The exercise routine may follow a purpose built exercise program programmed into the computer 460, but an exercise may also be performed by playing a computer game. The computer game is played or carried through by movements of one or two fingers thereby activating the cursor in one or two dimensions on the screen.

From the registered data relating to the monitored movements of the finger, a distribution of the movements of the finger or fingers may be calculated, and the evaluation of the condition of the patient may be based on such a distribution.

Different game programs can be designed and programmed into the computer 460. Such programs can be designed so that different patterns of movement of a finger are favoured when playing a game. For example, in one game movements of the cursor around the screen centre may be fa- voured, but another game may favour movements of the cursor at the periphery of the screen. As an example a game program may be provided for use with a single finger exercise member according to the invention. In an example of such a game, a ball may have to be caught with the cursor, and movement of the cursor around the centre of the bottom of the screen may be favoured, thereby fa- vouring a corresponding movement of the finger.

As another example a game program may be provided for use with two finger exercise members according to the invention. In an example of such a game, the goal of the game may be to catch as many mice as possible for a given period of time. The mice may occur all around the screen and the cursor needs to be moved all over the screen. Thus, such a game may favour exercising within the full range of motion of the fingers.

By using game programs as described above, a multiple area exercise can be provided while reducing the patient's focus on pain, and the patient is further motivated to complete a course of exercise therapy. Also, a more affected area can be more strenuously exercised.

It should be understood that the foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative an explanatory only, and various changes in the size, shape, materials, components, wiring connections and contacts, as well as in the details of the illustrated systems and methods of operation may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. An exercise member for exercising one or more muscles of a limb or a limb part, said exercise member comprising a connecting member having securing means for securing a portion or an end portion of said limb or limb part to the connecting member, and friction means for applying a frictional force or resistance to the connecting member when the connecting member is moved in an active direction.

2. An exercise member according to claim 1 , wherein the limb part is a hand.

3. An exercise member according to claim 1 , wherein the limb part is a finger.

4. An exercise member according to claim 3, wherein the securing means comprises a finger portion into which a finger can be at least partly inserted.

5. An exercise member according to any of the claims 1-4, wherein the friction means acts as a friction brake applying a substantially constant frictional force or resistance to the connecting member throughout the active movement of the connecting member.

6. An exercise member according to any of the claims 1-5, wherein the frictional force or resistance applied by the friction means to the connecting member during the active movement is adjustable.

7. An exercise member according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the frictional force or resistance applied by the friction means to the connecting member when the connecting member is moved in a return direction is adjustable.

8. An exercise member according to any of the claims 1-7, wherein the frictional force applied to the connecting member when the connecting member is moved in a return direction is below 10% of the frictional force applied to the connecting member during the active movement.

9. An exercise member according to claim 8, wherein the frictional force ap- plied to the connecting member during the return movement is substantially zero to thereby obtain a free wheeling mechanism of the friction means during the return movement of the connecting member.

10. An exercise member according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting member has a leading end portion and a rear end portion with the leading end portion being connected to the securing means and the rear end portion being in operating contact with an elastically return member.

11. An exercise member according to claim 10, wherein the return force ap- plied to the connecting member by the elastically return member is equal to or less than the frictional force applied to the connecting member in a return movement.

12. An exercise member according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting member is made of a substantially inelastic material.

13. An exercise member according to claim 12, wherein the connecting member is made of a metal wire, a metal strip, a plastic wire, a plastic strip, a nylon wire or a nylon strip.

14. An exercise member according to claims 12 or 13, wherein the connecting member is flexible mainly in only one plane, said plane being the plane of movement of a limb or limb part secured to the connecting member.

15. An exercise member according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the friction means has a longitudinal contact with the connecting member.

16. An exercise member according to claim 15, wherein the friction means comprises pressure means having a surface with a frictional coating or brake lining and gliding means, with the connecting member being arranged between the frictional coating surface of the pressure means and the gliding means, so that when a resultant normal force is exercised by the pressure means on the connecting member, a frictional resistance is applied to the connecting member during movement.

17. An exercise member according to claim 16, wherein the resultant normal force is adjustable.

18. An exercise member according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the pressure means comprises a housing with a pressure or presser foot, said pressure foot being connected to the housing by a hinge joint and a pressure spring, whereby a resultant normal force is exercised by the pressure foot on the connecting member.

19. An exercise member according to claim 18, wherein an angle α is defined between the hinge joint and a connecting member contact surface of the pressure foot, said normal force being adjustable by adjusting the angle α.

20. An exercise member according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the normal force is adjustable by adjusting the elastic force of the pressure spring.

21. An exercise member according to claim 19, wherein the elastic force of the pressure spring is substantially constant.

22. An exercise member according to any of the claims 1-14, wherein the friction means comprises a hub and one or more friction discs.

23. An exercise member according to any of the claims 1-14, wherein the friction means comprises a hub and one or more disc springs.

24. An exercise member according to claim 23, wherein the friction force of the friction means is adjusted by adjusting the tension of the disc springs.

25. An exercise member according to any of the claims 1-14, wherein the friction means comprises an axle having a frictional part or disc with a friction surface.

26. An exercise member according to claim 25, wherein the axle with the fric- tional part or disc is arranged in a housing, said housing further comprising a friction surface being in contact with the friction surface of the frictional part or disc of the axle, so that when the axle is rotated, a frictional force or resistance is applied to the frictional part or disc during said rotation.

27. An exercise member according to claim 26, wherein the friction surface of the frictional part or disc or the friction surface of the housing has a frictional coating or brake lining.

28. An exercise member according to claim 26 or 27, wherein the frictional force or resistance applied to the frictional part or disc is adjusted by adjusting a contact pressure between the friction surface of the housing and the friction surface of the frictional part or disc of the axle.

29. An exercise member according to any of the claims 26-28, wherein the axle with the frictional part or disc and the connecting member are arranged so that the axle is rotated during a movement of the connecting member in the active direction, and so that the frictional force or resistance applied to the frictional part or disc during said rotation is further applied to the connecting member during said movement in the active direction.

30. An exercise member according to any of the previous claims, wherein the connecting member has a leading end portion and a rear end portion, the leading end portion being connected to the securing means and the rear end portion being secured to the exercise member by fastening means, said fastening means allowing an adjustment of the length of the moveable part of the connecting member.

31. An exercise member according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the exercise member further comprises a sensor for sensing a movement of the connecting member in an active direction and/or a return direction.

32. An exercise member according to claim 31 , wherein the sensor is a adapted to sense a length of movement or motion of the connecting member.

33. An exercise member according to claim 31 or 32, wherein the sensor is a position transducer.

34. An exercise member according to any of claims 31-33, wherein the sensor is a potentiometer.

35. An exercise member according to claim 34, wherein the potentiometer is a rotary or a sliding potentiometer.

36. A device for rehabilitating and/or exercising one or more fingers of a human hand, said device comprising: a base with one or more finger exercise members according to any of the claims 4-35 mounted thereon.

37. A system for rehabilitating and/or exercising one or more muscles of one or more limbs or limb parts, said system comprising at least a first exercise member according to any of the claims 31-35, and a computer having a first input, and wherein the sensor of the first exercise member provides a first sensor output signal for the first computer input.

38. A system according to claim 37, wherein the computer is adapted to determine and/or register the length of the movement of the connecting member based on the sensor output signal.

39. A system according to claims 37 or 38, wherein the computer is adapted to determine and/or register the frequency of movement of the connecting member based on the sensor output signal.

40. A system according to any of the claims 37-39, wherein the computer is adapted to determine and/or define during one or more exercise movements of a limb or limb part: a first end position of the movement of the connecting member in an active direction, and a second end position of the movement of the connecting member in a return direction.

41. A system according to claim 40, wherein the computer is adapted to determine and/or define the first and the second end positions based on at least two exercise movements of the limb or limb part.

42. A system according to any of the claims 37-41 , wherein the computer is adapted to use the sensor output signal as a cursor signal for moving a cursor on a computer screen or display.

43. A system according to claim 42 and claim 40 or 41 , wherein the computer is further adapted to adjust the movement of the cursor so that the first end position of the movement corresponds to the cursor being positioned at a first outer position of the screen, and the second end position of the movement corresponds to the cursor being positioned at a second, opposite outer position of the screen.

44. A system according to claim 43, wherein the cursor is moved in a hori- zontal or vertical direction along the screen during the exercise movement of the limb or limb part.

45. A system according to claim 44, further comprising a second exercise member with a second sensor for indicating the movement of a second connecting member, said second sensor having an output signal being forwarded to the computer, and wherein the computer is adapted to move the cursor in a horizontal direction based on a first sensor output signal from the first exercise member and in a vertical direction based on the second output signal from the second exercise member.

46. A system according to any of the claims 37-45, wherein the first and/or second exercise member(s) is/are finger exercise member(s) mounted on a base.

47. An exercise member for exercising one or more muscles of a limb or a limb part, said exercising member comprising a connecting member having securing means for securing a portion or an end portion of said limb or limb part, means for applying a resisting force to the connecting member when the connecting member is moved in an active direction, and a sensor for sensing the length of a movement of the connecting member.

48. An exercise member according to claim 47, wherein the limb part is a hand.

49. An exercise member according to claim 47, wherein the limb part is a finger.

50. An exercise member according to claim 49, wherein the securing means comprises a finger portion into which a finger can be at least partly inserted.

51. An exercise member according to any of the claims 47-49, wherein the sensor is adapted to sense a movement of the connecting member in an active direction and/or a return direction.

52. An exercise member according to any of the claims 47-51, wherein the sensor is a position transducer.

53. An exercise member according to any of the claims 47-52, wherein the sensor is a potentiometer.

54. An exercise member according to claim 53, wherein the potentiometer is a rotary or a sliding potentiometer.

55. A device for rehabilitating and/or exercising one or more fingers of a human hand, said device comprising a base with one or more exercise members according to any of the claims 50-54 mounted thereon.

56. A system for rehabilitating and/or exercising one or more muscles of one or more limb or limb parts, said system comprising at least a first exercise member according to any of the claims

42-49, and a computer having a first input, and wherein the sensor of the first exercise member provides a first sensor output signal for the first computer input.

57. A system according to claim 56, wherein the computer is adapted to determine and/or register the length of movement of the connecting member based on the sensor output signal.

58. A system according to claim 56 or 57, wherein the computer is adapted to determine and/or register the frequency of movement of the connecting member based on the sensor output signal.

59. A system according to any of the claims 56-58, wherein the computer is adapted to determine and/or define during one or more exercise movements of a limb or limb part: a first end position of the movement of the connecting member in an active direction, and a second end position of the movement of the connecting mem- ber in a return direction.

60. A system according to claim 59, wherein the computer is adapted to determine and/or define the first and the second end positions based on at least two exercise movements of the limb or limb part.

61. A system according to any of the claims 56-60, wherein the computer is adapted to use the sensor output signal as a cursor signal for moving a cursor on a computer screen or display.

62. A system according to claim 61 and claim 59 or 60, wherein the computer is further adapted to adjust the movement of the cursor so that the first end position of the movement corresponds to the cursor being positioned at a first outer position of the screen, and the second end position of the movement corresponds to the cursor being positioned at a second, opposite outer position of the screen.

63. A system according to claim 62, wherein the cursor is moved in a horizontal or vertical direction along the screen during an exercise movement.

64. A system according to claim 63, further comprising a second exercise member with a second sensor for indicating the movement of a second connecting member, said second sensor having a second sensor signal being forwarded to the computer, and wherein the computer is adapted to move the cursor in a horizontal direction based on a first sensor signal from the first exercise member and in a vertical direction based on the second sensor signal from the second exercise member.

65. A method for exercising one or more muscles of a limb or a limb part by the use of an exercise member having friction means and a connecting member, said method comprising

securing a portion or an end portion of said limb or limb part to the connecting member,

applying a frictional force or resistance to the connecting member,

moving the limb in an active direction when the frictional force or resistance is applied to the connecting member, and

moving the limb in a return direction.

66. A method according to claim 65, wherein the limb part is a hand.

67. A method according to claim 66, wherein the limb part is a finger.

68. A method according to any of the claims 65-67, wherein the maximal moving force of the limb or limb part is measured before starting the exercising.

69. A method according to any of the claims 65-67, wherein the exercise member used is an exercise member according to any of the claims 1-35.