Pelvic posture training apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for training a person to walk with proper pelvic posture comprising: a treadmill having a walking surface; mechanical means for directly and controllably imposing a preselected pelvic posture on a person on said treadmill, including first constraint means for defining the maximum forward position of the abdomen of said person on said treadmill, first vertical support means for supporting said first constraint means and having means for adjusting the vertical position of said first constraint means relative to the vertical position of said walking surface, and first horizontal positioning means for moving said first vertical support means so as to adjust the position of said first constraint means to a selectable horizontal position above said walking surface; and second constraint means for defining the position of the lower buttocks of said person at a position corresponding to said preselected pelvic posture, and means for adjusting the vertical position of said second constraint means relative to the vertical position of said walking surface; and control means coupled to said mechanical means for moving one of said constraint means to impose said preselected pelvic posture on a person on said treadmill for a preselected training time period, and for then moving one of said constraint means so as to release said person's pelvis; whereby a person walking on said treadmill can learn to walk with improved pelvic posture by first walking during said training time period with a preselected pelvic posture, and by thereafter walking without being restrained by said mechanical means while trying to maintain the pelvic posture position learned during said training time period.

Claim 3

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control means includes means for repetitively imposing a preselected pelvic posture on said person and then releasing said person for preselected time periods.

Claim 4

The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said second constraint means is mounted on a pivoting vertical support coupled to a fulcrum at a fixed position relative to said walking surface, and said control means includes motorized rotating means for rotating said vertical support means about said fulcrum between a back position comprising a preselected position behind said person on said treadmill and a forward position against the lower portion of the buttocks of a person on said treadmill while said first horizontal member is positioned against the abdomen of said person.

Claim 5

The apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein said pivoting vertical support includes position adjusting means for adjusting the vertical position of said second constraint means relative to the vertical position of said walking surface.

Claim 6

The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said first horizontal positioning means includes track means situated substantially parallel and adjacent to said walking surface, coupling means for movably mounting said first vertical support means on said track means, and means for moving said coupling means along said track so as to adjust the position of said first constraint means to a selectable horizontal position above said walking surface.

Claim 7

Apparatus for training a person to walk with proper pelvic posture comprising: a treadmill having a walking surface; a first horizontal member with support and positioning means for positioning said first horizontal member against the abdomen of a person on said treadmill, including first vertical positioning means for adjusting the vertical positioning of said horizontal member relative to the vertical position of said walking surface of said treadmill; a second horizontal member mounted on a pivoting vertical support coupled to a fulcrum at a fixed position relative to said walking surface, motorized rotating means for rotating said vertical support about said fulcrum between a back position at which said second horizontal member is positioned behind said person on said treadmill and a forward position at which said second horizontal member is positioned against the lower portion of the buttocks of a person on said treadmill while said first horizontal member is positioned against the abdomen of said person, and second vertical positioning means for adjusting the vertical position of said second horizontal member; and control means coupled to said motorized rotating means for causing said vertical support for said second horizontal member to rotate to and remain at said forward position for a preselected training time period, and to then rotate to said back position; whereby a person walking on said treadmill can learn to walk with improved pelvic posture by first walking during said training time period with a preselected pelvic posture defined by the positions of said first horizontal member and second horizontal member in said forward position, and by thereafter walking without being restrained by said second horizontal member while trying to maintain the pelvic posture position learned during said training time period.

Claim 8

Apparatus for training a person to walk with proper pelvic posture comprising: a treadmill having a walking surface; a first horizontal member with support and positioning means for positioning said first horizontal member against the abdomen of a person on said treadmill, including first vertical positioning means for adjusting the vertical positioning of said horizontal member relative to the vertical position of said walking surface of said treadmill; a second horizontal member mounted on a pivoting vertical support coupled to a fulcrum at a fixed position relative to said walking surface, motorized rotating means for rotating said vertical support about said fulcrum between a back position at which said second horizontal member is positioned behind said person on said treadmill and a forward position at which said second horizontal member is positioned against the lower portion of the buttocks of a person on said treadmill while said first horizontal member is positioned against the abdomen of said person, and second vertical positioning means for adjusting the vertical position of said second horizontal member; and control means coupled to said motorized rotating means for causing said vertical support for said second horizontal member to rotate to and remain at said forward position for a preselected training time period, and to then rotate to said back position; whereby a person walking on said treadmill can learn to walk with improved pelvic posture by first walking during said training time period with a preselected pelvic posture defined by the positions of said first horizontal member and second horizontal member in said forward position, and by thereafter walking without being restrained by said second horizontal member while trying to maintain the pelvic posture position learned during said training time period.

Claim 9

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said control means includes means for repetitively imposing a preselected pelvic posture on said person and then releasing said person for preselected time periods.

Claim 10

The apparatus set forth in claim 6, further including horizontal positioning means for adjusting the position of said first horizontal member to a selectable position above said walking surface of said treadmill.