Measurement of peripheral strength

Claim 1

Gage to measure the point of heel elevation at which peripheral strength is lost, comprising: (a) a support structure adapted to rest on a flat first surface, (b) a plate connected to the support structure and having a second surface, which surface is inclined at a selected angle to the first surface and arranged to provide a clear path from said second surface to said first surface, so that a patient to be tested can be placed in a standing position with the balls of both feet on the said first surface and with the heels of both feet on the second surface, the foot angle between the first surface (on the one hand) and the plane of the balls and heels (on the other hand) being changed in successive steps while measuring peripheral strength at each step to observe the step at which peripheral strength begins to decrease, (c) means applied to said inclined second surface and essentially in the same plane as said second surface to support and hold the patient's heel against downward sliding movement, (d) markings including horizontal lines to indicate the heel position at the successive steps, the said means of supporting the patient's heel comprising a pair of spaced, parallel strips of abrasive material extending perpendicular to said horizontal lines, and (e) an adjustable brace extending between the support structure and the plate to change the angle between them, the balls and heels remaining in fixed positions on the two surfaces, while the angle of the second surface is adjusted, the markings being located on a protractor extending between the support structure and the plate.