Exercise Apparatus For A Person With Muscular Deficiency

Abstract

An exercise system for exercising at least one limb, such as the legs, of a subject with spinal cord injury or deficiency. The system comprises an exercise bicycle having a crank and pedals to which the feet of the subject can be mounted, and a functional electrical stimulation (FES) system. The FES system stimulates the muscles of the legs and includes a transducer mountable to at least one of the legs of the subject that outputs signals representative of the position and/or movement of the leg when performing the exercise. The FES system further includes a control means that receives and processes the signals output by the transducer and outputs control signals to a stimulator that through electrodes provides electrical stimulation to the legs of the subject so as to cause the legs to drive the crank of the bicycle.

1 - 71 . (canceled) 
   
   
       72 . A method of exercising at least one limb of a subject comprising the steps of:
 monitoring the position or movement of said at least one limb using at least one sensor mounted to the limb and outputting signals representative of said position or movement;   processing the signals and selecting an action sequence from one or more predetermined action sequences; and   outputting a sequence of stimulation signals corresponding to the selected action sequence to at least said at least one limb.   
   
   
       73 . The method of  claim 72  wherein said at least one limb is stimulated to cause rotation of a rotator of an exercise device. 
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 73  wherein said at least one limb is the leg of a subject. 
   
   
       75 . A method of exercising at least one limb of a subject comprising the steps of:
 mounting said at least one limb to an operable member of an exerciser;   externally driving the operable member and so causing an exercising movement of said at least one limb;   monitoring the position or movement of said at least one limb using at least one sensor mounted to the limb and outputting signals representative of said position or movement;   processing the signals and providing electrical stimulation to said at least one limb so as to cause said at least one limb to drive the operable member; and   discontinuing external driving of the operable member.   
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 75  wherein the step of discontinuing external driving of the operable member occurs after the step of providing electrical stimulation to said at least one limb. 
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 75  wherein the operable member comprises a pedal and crank arrangement of an exerciser. 
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 77  wherein said at least one limb is a leg of the subject. 
   
   
       79 . The method of  claim 78  wherein the position or movement of one leg of the subject is monitored. 
   
   
       80 . The method of  claim 79  wherein the electrical stimulation is output to both legs of the subject. 
   
   
       81 . The method of  claim 77  wherein the exerciser has a driver to drive the pedal and crank arrangement of the exerciser. 
   
   
       82 . The method of  claim 75  wherein the step of providing electrical stimulation to said at least one limb so as to cause said at least one limb to drive the operable member occurs for a predetermined period of time. 
   
   
       83 . The method of  claim 82  wherein following commencement of the step of providing the electrical stimulation, the intensity of the stimulation gradually increases to a predetermined maximum. 
   
   
       84 . The method of  claim 82  wherein prior to the end of the predetermined period of time of providing the electrical stimulation, the intensity of the stimulation gradually decreases. 
   
   
       85 - 98 . (canceled)