Physical therapy devices

Abstract

Physical therapy devices, including vertically extending rear support structures, arm pivots supported by rear support structures at positions vertically spaced from supporting surfaces, arms pivotally supported by the arm pivots, seats resting on the arms at distances selected to apply portions of users' bodyweights the arms when the user is seated in the seat, foot rests supported above supporting surfaces at heights selected to support a forward portion of the user's foot when the user is seated in the seat, and knee saddles attached to the arms. In some examples, the knee saddles including a knee support positioned at a height selected to rest on the user's knee when seated in the seat. In some examples, the arms extend horizontally from a pivot end to a swing end distal the arm pivot. Some examples may additionally or alternatively include adjustably positioned arm pivots. Some examples may include biasing members.

1 . A physical therapy device, comprising:
 a vertically extending rear support structure;   an arm pivot supported by the rear support structure at a position vertically spaced from a supporting surface;   an arm pivotally supported by the arm pivot, the arm extending horizontally from a pivot end to a swing end distal the arm pivot;   a seat resting on the arm at a distance selected to apply a selected portion of a user's bodyweight to the swing end of the arm to be supported by the calf muscles of one or both lower legs of the user when the user is seated in the seat;   a foot rest supported above the supporting surface at a height selected to support a forward portion of the user's foot when the user is seated in the seat; and   a knee saddle attached to the arm, the knee saddle including a knee support positioned at a height selected to rest on the user's knee when seated in the seat;   wherein a therapeutic resistance to be supported by the calf muscles of one or both lower legs of the user when the user is seated in the seat consists of a combination of the selected portion of the user's bodyweight, the weight of at least a portion of the arm, and the weight of the knee saddle.   
     
     
         2 . The physical therapy device of  claim 1 , wherein the seat rests on the arm at a distance from the arm pivot selected to require a desired force to drive the arm based on the user's weight. 
     
     
         3 . The physical therapy device of  claim 1 , wherein the seat rests on the arm at seven to ten inches from the arm pivot. 
     
     
         4 . The physical therapy device of  claim 1 , further comprising a front support structure extending from the supporting surface, the front support structure including an arm locking bore;
 wherein the arm includes a locking pin structure slidingly housed at least partially within the arm, the locking pin configured slidingly fit within the arm locking bore.   
     
     
         5 . The physical therapy device of  claim 4 , wherein the arm includes:
 a locking pin access opening extending along the length of the arm for at least a portion of its length; and   a locking pin bore that opens substantially away from the arm pivot; and   wherein the locking pin structure defines:
 a forward portion extending along the length of the arm; and 
 an accessible portion extending through the locking pin access opening; 
   wherein the locking pin structure is configured to slide between a locked position, wherein the forward portion of the locking pin extends through the locking pin bore and the arm locking bore, and an unlocked position, wherein the forward portion is fully housed within the arm.   
     
     
         6 . The physical therapy device of  claim 1 , wherein the seat includes a seat interface configured to slidingly support the seat on the arm. 
     
     
         7 . The physical therapy device of  claim 6 , wherein the knee saddle is detachably connected to the seat interface, the knee saddle being horizontally spaced from the seat at a distance selected to substantially horizontally align the knee saddle with the foot rest. 
     
     
         8 . The physical therapy device of  claim 7 , further comprising a post extending between the knee saddle and the arm, wherein the knee saddle is detachably connected to the post at a selected distance from the arm. 
     
     
         9 . The physical therapy device of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a post interface attached to the seat interface, the post interface including a plurality of post positioning bores spaced along the length of the arm;   a post attachment bore extending through the post distal the knee saddle; and   a post attachment pin removably routed through the post attachment bore and a selected post positioning bore to define a post pivot around which the post may rotate.   
     
     
         10 . The physical therapy device of  claim 8 , further comprising one or more knee saddle positioning bores spaced along the length of the post;
 wherein the knee saddle includes a knee saddle interface slidingly engaged with the post, the knee saddle interface:
 configured to slide along the length of the post to adjust the position of the knee saddle relative the user's knee; and 
 defining a knee saddle attachment bore; and 
   a knee saddle pin removably routed through a selected knee saddle positioning bore and the knee saddle attachment bore.   
     
     
         11 . The physical therapy device of  claim 6 , wherein the seat interface is configured to slide between a plurality of seat positions along the length of the arm. 
     
     
         12 . The physical therapy device of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the arm includes one or more seat positioning bores along the length of the arm; and   the seat interface includes a seat attachment bore positioned to align with a seat positioning bore at each seat position; and   further comprising a seat pin removably routed through a selected seat positioning bore and the seat attachment bore when the seat interface is positioned at a selected seat position.   
     
     
         13 . The physical therapy device of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the seat attachment bore is positioned proximate the swing end of the arm;   the seat interface includes a rear seat attachment bore proximate the pivot end of the arm, the rear seat attachment bore positioned to positioned to align with a seat positioning bore at each seat position;   further comprising a rear seat pin removably routed through a selected seat positioning bore and the rear seat attachment bore when the seat interface is positioned at a selected seat position.   
     
     
         14 . The physical therapy device of  claim 1 , further comprising a lower bar extending from the rear support structure proximate the support surface and substantially aligned with the arm. 
     
     
         15 . The physical therapy device of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the lower bar extends to a lower bar biasing portion extending on the side of the rear support structure opposite the swing end of the arm; and   the arm defines an arm biasing portion on the side of the rear support opposite the swing end of the arm; and   further comprising a biasing member connected between the arm biasing portion and the lower bar biasing portion.   
     
     
         16 . The physical therapy device of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the lower bar includes a plurality of foot rest positioning bores spaced along its length; and   the foot rest includes a foot rest interface slidingly supported on the lower bar, the foot rest interface:
 configured to slide along the length of the lower bar to adjust the position of the foot rest relative the seat; and 
 including a foot rest attachment bore; and 
   further comprising a foot rest pin removably routed through a selected foot rest positioning bore and the foot rest attachment bore.   
     
     
         17 . The physical therapy device of  claim 1 , wherein the foot rest defines a support surface angled to partially face the seat. 
     
     
         18 . A physical therapy device, comprising:
 a vertically extending rear support structure, the rear support structure defining a rear support column defining a support pivot connection point spaced from a supporting surface;   an arm extending horizontally from a pivot end proximate the rear support to a swing end distal the pivot end, the arm defining one or more arm pivot connection points spaced along the length of the arm;   a connector connecting arm to the rear support column at a selected arm pivot connection point;   a seat resting on the arm;   a foot rest supported above the supporting surface at a height selected to support a forward portion of a user's foot when the user is seated in the seat; and   a knee saddle connected to the arm at a height selected to rest on the user's knee when seated in the seat.   
     
     
         19 . The physical therapy device of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the support pivot connection point includes a support pivot bore;   each of the arm pivot connection points include an arm pivot bore; and   the connector defines a pivot pin routed through the support pivot bore and a selected arm pivot bore.   
     
     
         20 . A physical therapy device, comprising:
 a vertically extending rear support structure;   an arm pivot supported at a position vertically spaced from a supporting surface;   an arm extending horizontally from a biased end on a biasing side of the arm pivot to a swing end on a seat side of the arm pivot opposite the biasing side;   a seat resting on the arm at a distance selected to apply a portion of a user's bodyweight to the swing end of the arm when the user is seated in the seat;   a foot rest supported above the supporting surface at a height selected to support a forward portion of the user's foot when the user is seated in the seat;   a knee saddle connected to the arm at a height selected to rest on the user's knee when seated in the seat; and   a biasing member connected to arm proximate the biasing end and a biasing support positioned below the arm.