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Therapeutic knee exercise apparatusRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, User Manipulated Force Resisting Apparatus, Component Thereof, Or Accessory Therefor, Utilizing Resilient Force Resistance, And User Supplied Counter Force, Attached To UserTherapeutic knee exercise apparatus description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20050277527, Therapeutic knee exercise apparatus. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] Not Applicable. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH [0002] Not Applicable. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The present invention relates generally to therapeutic devices utilized to facilitate recovery of joint mobility and muscle strength following joint surgery, and in particular, to a therapeutic knee exercise device adapted for facilitating recovery of joint mobility and muscle strength follow knee joint surgery in a human patient. [0004] Knee surgery, and particularly knee replacement surgery, is an invasive procedure which often requires cutting through skin, muscle, and tendons to provide a surgeon with access to the knee joint and associated supporting structures in the leg of a human patient. During the recovery period following knee surgery, it is necessary to repeatedly exercise the knee joint to restore tendon elasticity, muscle tone, and joint flexibility, as well as to prevent or limit the development of scar tissue and adhesions on the tendons. The development of scar tissue and adhesion can be particularly painful, and can lead to a reduced range of motion for the knee joint over time, further complicating the recovery process, and potentially requiring additional surgical procedures to alleviate the condition. [0005] Often, simply extending and flexing of the knee joint provides insufficient resistance to develop muscle tissue, and may not have sufficient range of motion without external aids to restore pre-surgical elasticity to the tendons. Accordingly, it is know to utilize therapeutic devices provide a resistance against which the knee and leg movements are made. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,823 to Spence for a "Therapeutic Apparatus For Exercising the Human Knee" provides a base member for supporting a patient in a supine position, and a elongate strap which couples to the base member over the patient's shoulders, and is passed beneath a knee to be exercised. Extension of the knee joint and articulation of the hip joint is resisted by the elongate strap, providing a resistive force for therapeutic exercise. However, the base member is a cumbersome component, and the device cannot be utilized with the patient in a prone position. Knee articulation with a patient in a prone position exercises a different set of muscles and tendons in the patient's leg, as the hip joint does not articulate when the patient is in the prone position. [0006] Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a therapeutic knee exercise device which is simple, inexpensive to produce, and convenient to use and store, and which permits a patient to exercise a knee joint in both the supine and prone positions. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] Briefly stated, the present invention provides a therapeutic device adapted for facilitating recovery of joint mobility and muscle strength follow knee joint surgery in a human patient. The therapeutic device includes an adjustable strap adapted for fitment about the midpoint of the patient's foot. A connecting strap is coupled to an edge of the adjustable strap between a pair of spaced apart swiveling connections, and a tension strap is secured about the connecting strap and extending substantially the length of the patient's body. [0008] A first method for utilizing a therapeutic device of the present invention with a patient in a prone position on a horizontal surface includes the initial step of placing an adjustable strap about the patient's foot, approximately disposed within the arch of the patient's foot, and with the connecting strap extending towards the heel of the patient's foot. The tension strap, coupled to the connecting strap, is extended along the patient's leg and torso, and over the patient's shoulder, where it is held by the patient. The tension strap is pulled by the patient to assist in lifting the patient's foot and flexing the knee joint from a horizontal extended position to a desired angle of flexion, facilitating joint mobility. Tension is maintained on the tension strap as the patient's leg exerts a force to return the knee joint to the horizontal extended position, providing a muscle strengthening resistance. The cyclical processes is repeated as desired. [0009] A second method for utilizing a therapeutic device of the present invention with a patient in a supine position on a horizontal surface includes the initial step of placing an adjustable strap about the patient's foot, approximately disposed within the arch of the patient's foot, and with the connecting strap extending towards the heel of the patient's foot. The tension strap, coupled to the connecting strap, is extended horizontally along the patient's leg and torso, and to at least the patient's waist, optionally behind the patient's shoulder, where it is held by the patient. The tension strap is pulled by the patient to slide the patient's heel along the horizontal surface, assisting in elevating and flexing the knee joint from a horizontal extended position to a desired angle of flexion, facilitating joint mobility. Tension is maintained on the tension strap as the patient's leg exerts a force to return the knee joint to the horizontal extended position, providing a muscle strengthening resistance. The cyclical processes is repeated as desired. [0010] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention as well as presently preferred embodiments thereof will become more apparent from the reading of the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification: [0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a therapeutic knee exercise device of the present invention; [0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective illustration of the therapeutic knee exercise device of FIG. 1, in use with a patient in a supine position; and [0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of the therapeutic knee exercise device of FIG. 1, in use with a patient in a prone position [0015] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0016] The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. The description clearly enables one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses of the invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention. [0017] Turing to FIG. 1, a therapeutic knee exercise device of the present invention for stretching (i.e., flexing) and strengthening (i.e. extending) the human knee is shown generally at 10. The therapeutic knee exercise device 10 provides an adjustable strap 12 adapted for fitment about the midpoint of the patient's foot. The adjustable strap 12 forms a closed loop, and may be adjusted for fitment about feet of different sizes, with or without shoes. Preferably, the adjustable strap 12 is formed from a single length of strapping material 14 having two ends 14a, 14b which are coupled together with a conventional adjustment mechanism 16, such as a hook and loop fastening mechanism commonly known as Velcro. [0018] A connecting strap 18 is coupled between a pair of spaced connecting points 20 on an edge 22 of the adjustable strap 12. The connecting points 20 are preferably spaced apart about the circumference of the edge 22 by an arc of less than 180 degrees, and are disposed equidistant from the adjustment mechanism 16, such that the adjustment mechanism is disposed on an upper portion to the adjustable strap 12, and the connecting points 20 are coupled to a lower portion of the adjustable strap 12. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the connecting points 20 each include a D-ring 24 secured to the adjustable strap 12 by a stitched loop 26. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that connecting points 20 other than D-rings may be utilized, and that the connecting points may be secured to the adjustable strap 12 by any conventional fastening means suitable for the material employed. Continue reading about Therapeutic knee exercise apparatus... 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