Therapy device and method

Abstract

The present disclosure includes rehabilitation devices for physical therapy for injuries, and more particularly to a rehabilitation device for rehabilitating certain injuries or pathological conditions of the lower extremities of the hip, knee, ankle, foot, upper leg, lower leg, or other area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A therapeutic device, comprising:
 a body contacting portion configured to be generally adjacent the upper leg portion of a patient;   a guide portion, generally concave shaped, configured to reduce the likelihood a portion of a patient remains within the device; and   a support contacting portion configured to contact a support,   wherein said guide portion comprises a surface with a coefficient of static and kinetic friction generally in the range of 0.01 to 0.75,   wherein the surface friction is sufficient to enhance rehabilitation of an injury.   
     
     
         2 . The therapeutic device of  claim 1 , wherein the injury comprises an injury to a lower extremity comprising the hip, knee, ankle, foot, upper leg, and/or lower leg, and/or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The therapeutic device of  claim 1 , wherein the injury comprises pathological conditions of the lower extremity or a condition or injury where lower extremity mobility would be generally increased by using the therapeutic device. 
     
     
         4 . The therapeutic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle portion configured to allow gripping by a user for generally easier transport of the therapeutic device. 
     
     
         5 . The therapeutic device of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a length sufficient to accommodate a range of patient leg lengths, and a width to accommodate majority of a patient population. 
     
     
         6 . The therapeutic device of  claim 1 , further comprising an insert with a first side configured to contact the patient contacting portion and slidably couple to the patient contacting portion. 
     
     
         7 . The therapeutic device of  claim 6 , wherein the insert further comprises a second side configured to receive the lower leg or heel portion of a patient. 
     
     
         8 . The therapeutic device of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a generally rigid and strong material capable of supporting and sustaining exercise. 
     
     
         9 . The therapeutic device of  claim 8 , wherein the material comprises plastic, wood, metal, and/or foam, and/or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The therapeutic device of  claim 1 , wherein the guide portion comprises materials and finish that would allow an acceptable amount of friction between a portion of a patient and the device to provide a therapeutic effect during use of the device. 
     
     
         11 . The therapeutic device of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises materials and finish to allow differing friction levels of the guide portion to allow a continuum of exercise stresses. 
     
     
         12 . The therapeutic device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is constructed with rigidity to support the weight of a leg and foot of a patient while acting as a bridge between two supports. 
     
     
         13 . A method of treatment of a patient, comprising
 positioning a heel portion of a patient on a therapeutic device;   causing the portion of the patient to move in one direction along a guide portion of the device; wherein the guide portion is configured to generally receive and guide a heel portion of a patient; and   causing the portion of the patient to move in an opposite direction along guide portion,   wherein said guide portion comprises a surface with a coefficient of friction generally in the range of 0.01 to 0.75,   wherein the surface friction is sufficient to enhance rehabilitation of an injury.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the device is generally portable. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the coefficient of friction may be varied. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising positioning an insert between the heel portion of the patient and the therapeutic device to change the friction between the heel portion of the patient and the therapeutic device. 
     
     
         17 . A therapeutic device, comprising:
 a generally flexible guide portion, generally concave shaped, configured to receive and guide a heel portion of a user along the guide portion; and   a plurality of segments configured with one or more stabilizer receiving portions configured to receive one or more corresponding stabilizers, and a guide receiving portion configured to couple to the guide portion, wherein the guide portion is configured to fold generally between the segments to change the length of the guide portion from an operational configuration to a portable configuration; and   one or more stabilizers configured to couple to the plurality of segments at least in part via the one or more stabilizer receiving portions, configured to increase the rigidity of the therapeutic device when in the operational configuration.   
     
     
         18 . The therapeutic device of  claim 17 , wherein said guide portion comprises a surface with a coefficient of friction generally in the range of 0.01 to 0.75. 
     
     
         19 . The therapeutic device of  claim 17 , wherein the surface friction is sufficient to enhance rehabilitation of an injury. 
     
     
         20 . The therapeutic device of  claim 17 , wherein the guide portion further comprises a handle portion configured to allow gripping by a user for generally easier transport of the therapeutic device.