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  Method and apparatus for physical therapy exerciseUSPTO Application #: 20070105696Title: Method and apparatus for physical therapy exercise Abstract: A method for exercise, physical therapy and rehabilitation includes providing an elastic member having a tension indicator, securing one end of the elastic member, and stretching the elastic member using a part of the body until the tension indicator indicates that a predetermined tension level has been attained. Upon reaching the predetermined tension level, the elastic member is returned to its relaxed state. The tension indicator on the elastic member may be a printed image of recognizable image that distorts to another recognizable image at the predetermined tension level, a printed non-recognizable image that distorts to a recognizable pattern or image at the predetermined tension level, or an electronic indicator that provides audio and/or visual cues at the predetermined tension level. (end of abstract) Agent: Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP Attn: Patent Group - Kansas City, MO, US Inventors: J. Chris Castel, Dawn Castel USPTO Applicaton #: 20070105696 - Class: 482121000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, User Manipulated Force Resisting Apparatus, Component Thereof, Or Accessory Therefor, Utilizing Resilient Force Resistance The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070105696. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] None. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] Not applicable. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0004] The present invention relates to resistive exercise methods and devices, and more particularly to extensible members used to provide resistive exercise to muscles for physical therapy purposes. [0005] 2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART [0006] Resistive exercise devices are widely used in the physical therapy and rehabilitation fields to exercise weak or damaged muscles. Often, such devices are extensible members that are grasped or placed on a part of the body, then stretched using that body part to exercise the muscles associated with moving that body part. After reaching a desired length, the user relaxes the muscles and allows the extensible member to retract to its starting position. For example, users may grasp opposite ends of an extensible member between their hands and move their hands apart, thus stretching the extensible member and exercising the muscles of their arms. When the hands are separated a desired distance, the user relaxes their arm muscles, bringing their hands together, and allowing the extensible member to return to its starting position. Several repetitions of an exercise are typically repeated in a physical therapy regimen. [0007] However, while useful, known devices do not provide accurate feedback to the user as to the actual level of exercise being attained by stretching the device. Users can only estimate how far the extensible member is being stretched, and are left to gauge the amount of exercise simply by the resistance they feel in their muscles. Thus, especially in the case of exercising damaged muscles, users may tend to under-extend the device and not achieve the recommended resistance level for rehabilitation. Likewise, users may over-extend the device, and risk further damage to the muscles they are attempting to rehabilitate. In either case, the user does not receive the full benefit of the prescribed physical therapy [0008] Thus, it can be seen that there remains a need in the art for a method and device for exercising muscles and performing physical therapy rehabilitation that allows a user to accurately achieve a desired exercise level, avoiding the risks of under-exercising or over-extending their muscles. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] The present invention is directed to a method for exercising, rehabilitating or strengthening a user's body using an elastic member to facilitate resistive exercise. Each elastic member includes a tension indicator that provides feedback to the user when the elastic member attains a predetermined tension level, thus allowing the user to accurately and positively determine when a particular tension level is attained. The tension indicator may be indicia on one or more surfaces of the elastic member, providing visual feedback to the user as to the tension of the elastic member, or may be an electronic indicator, providing audio and/or visual cues to the user when a predetermined tension level is attained. [0010] In a first exemplary embodiment, the indicia may comprise a recognizable pattern or shape that distorts or changes to a different pattern or shape when a predetermined tension level is achieved in the elastic member. For example, a square shape visible on the elastic member in its relaxed state may be distorted and appear as a rectangle when the elastic member attains a predetermined tension. [0011] In a second exemplary embodiment, the indicia appear as an unrecognizable image when the elastic member is in its relaxed state, but form a recognizable image or pattern when the elastic member attains a predetermined level of tension. Preferably, the images or patterns are pointillist, halftone, or moire patterns, which appear as indeterminate images or patterns when the elastic member is in its relaxed state, and appear as recognizable images or patterns when the elastic member attains a predetermined level of tension. [0012] In a third exemplary embodiment, the tension indicator is an electronic indicator. The electronic indicator employs a strain gauge or pressure transducer to detect the level of tension being applied to the elastic member. The strain gauge or pressure transducer in turn provides a signal to circuitry in the electronic indicator to provide audio and/or visual cues to the user when a predetermined level of tension is attained. Audio cues are preferably tones or beeps, and visual cues are preferably provided through light-emitting diodes. [0013] In a first exemplary method of the present invention, a user is provided with an elastic member having a tension indicator as in any of the embodiments described above. A first portion of the elastic member is secured in a first fixed position, and a second portion of the elastic member is engaged with a part of the user's body. With the first portion of the elastic member secured in a first position, the user then moves the engaged part of the body away from the first position, applying tension to the elastic member. The user continues to move the engaged part of the body away from the first position while simultaneously monitoring the tension indicator. When the tension indicator provides an indication that the predetermined tension level has been attained, for example via visual image, pattern, light, or audio cues as described above, the user is alerted that the desired tension level has been reached, and moves the engaged body part back toward the first position, releasing the tension in the elastic member. [0014] In a second exemplary method of the present invention, a user is provided with an elastic member having a tension indicator. A first portion of the elastic member is engaged with a first part of the user's body, and a second portion of the elastic member is engaged with a second part of the user's body. The user then moves the first part of the body away from the second part of the body, and simultaneously moves the second part of the body away from the first part of the body. Thus, the user moves two parts of the body simultaneously to attain tension in the elastic member. When the tension in the elastic member attains a predetermined level, the tension indicator provides a visual or audio cue to the user, as described above. Thus, the user can ascertain that the predetermined tension level has been attained, and moves the two body parts back towards each other, releasing the tension in the elastic member. [0015] Additional aspects of the invention, together with the advantages and novel features appurtenant thereto, will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned from the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] The present invention will be described in greater detail in the following detailed description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, in which: [0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a user using an elastic member in accordance with a first exemplary method of the present invention, moving one portion of the elastic member away from a fixed location while monitoring a tension indicator on the member. [0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a user using an elastic member in accordance with a second exemplary method of the present invention, moving first and second portions of the elastic member away from each other while monitoring a tension indicator on the member. [0019] FIG. 3A is a partial plan view of an elastic member in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, with the elastic member in its relaxed state such that a first image is recognizable in the indicia on the surface of the elastic member. Continue reading... Full patent description for Method and apparatus for physical therapy exercise Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method and apparatus for physical therapy exercise patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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