Physical therapy apparatus

Claim 2

The combination of a physical therapy apparatus having means for rotating a shaft in controlled movement about an axis of the apparatus with means for enabling proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation of a multiaxis body structure and comprising: first means for coupling with said shaft and defining an axis of translation and rotation parallel to and spaced from the axis of rotation of said shaft, said first means moving with said shaft for describing with said axis of translation and rotation a portion of the surface of a cylinder about said axis of rotation of said shaft, and structurally rigid body engaging means for engaging an extremity of a patient's limb and mounted on said first means (a) for rotation of said body engaging means about an axis perpendicular to said axis of translation and rotation, (b) for translation of said body engaging means along said axis of translation and rotation, and (c) for rotation of said body engaging means about said axis of translation and rotation, said combination moving the patient's limb through a predetermined angular range while the extremity of the limb rotates about said perpendicular axis and translates along said axis of translation and rotation to describe a spiral and to enable proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation of the associated joint by exercising the limb.

Claim 3

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said means for coupling said body engaging means with said shaft comprises a first arm means fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith and extending perpendicularly to the axis of rotation of said shaft and a second arm means mounted on said first arm means for rotation therewith about said axis of shaft rotation and for defining an axis of translation for said body engaging means extending parallel to said axis of shaft rotation, said first and second arm means being connected with said shaft for adjustment of the radius from said axis of shaft rotation at which said axis of translation moves in describing said arc of a circle.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 2 wherein said body engaging means is mounted on said second arm means for rotation about an axis perpendicular to both said axis of translation and said axis of shaft rotation.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 2 wherein said body engaging means is mounted on said second arm means for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said axis of translation and for translation along said axis of translation.

Claim 6

The combination according to claim 4 wherein said body engaging means comprises means for imposing a predetermined resistance to rotation of said body engaging means about said axis perpendicular to said axis of translation and rotation.

Claim 7

The combination of a physical therapy apparatus having means for rotating a shaft in controlled movement about an axis of the apparatus with means for enabling proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation of a multiaxis body structure such as a shoulder and comprising: first means for coupling with said shaft and defining an axis of translation and rotation parallel to and spaced from the axis of rotation of said shaft, said first means moving with said shaft for describing with said axis of translation and rotation a portion of the surface of a cylinder about said axis of rotation of said shaft, and structurally rigid body engaging means for engaging a patient's hand and mounted on said first means (a) for rotation of said body engaging means about an axis perpendicular to said axis of translation and rotation, (b) for translation of said body engaging means along said axis of translation and rotation, and (c) for rotation of said body engaging means about said axis of translation and rotation, said rotation and translation of said body engaging means occurring because of restraints imposed by the function of the patient's arm, and said combination moving the patient's arm through a predetermined angular range while the patient's hand rotates about said perpendicular axis and translates along said axis of translation and rotation to describe a spiral and to enable proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation of the shoulder by exercising the arm.

Claim 8

The combination of a physical therapy apparatus having means for rotating a shaft in controlled movement about an axis of the apparatus with means for enabling proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation of a multiaxis body structure such as a shoulder and comprising: first means for coupling with said shaft and defining an axis of translation and rotation parallel to and spaced from the axis of rotation of said shaft, said first means moving with said shaft for describing with said axis of translation and rotation a portion of the surface of a cylinder about said axis of rotation of said shaft, and structurally rigid body engaging means for engaging a patient's hand and mounted on said first means (a) for rotation of said body engaging means about an axis perpendicular to said axis of translation and rotation, (b) for translation of said body engaging means along said axis of translation and rotation, and (c) for rotation of said body engaging means about said axis of translation and rotation, said rotation and translation of said body engaging means occurring because of restraints imposed by the function of the patient's arm, and said combination moving the patient's arm through a predetermined angular range while the patient's hand rotates about said perpendicular axis and translates along said axis of translation and rotation to describe a spiral and to enable proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation of the shoulder by exercising the arm.