Fitness and Rehabilitation machine for the Rotator Cuff

Abstract

A machine for exercising and rehabilitating the rotator cuff muscles that allows the user to easily isolate and manipulate, from a standing position, the internal and external rotation of the Rotator cuff with an outstretched arm, at any angle, to strengthen the Rotator Cuff muscles. Additionally it allows the user to strengthen the Pronation, Supination, Radial Deviation and Ulnar Deviation of the wrist. The aforementioned machine is comprised of a main rotating handle apparatus that consists of a gear joint, a ratchet mechanism and an angle adjustment pin. The handle is secured to linear rails that allow for height adjustment. The main rotating handle apparatus is connected to a stack of weights for resistance via a rubber coated steel cable and pulleys as well as connected to two counter weights via rubber coated steel cables and pulleys that relieve the weight of the handle for ease of adjustment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A Fitness/Rehabilitation machine for the Rotator Cuff comprising:
 A main rotating handle apparatus;   A plurality of structural elements comprising a base, vertical support beams, a top;   A plurality of counter weights;   A plurality of pulleys mounted to the structural elements;   A plurality of cables running through the pulleys;   A stack of weights fixed to the structural elements via guide rods and,   a barrier around said weights.   
     
     
         2 . Vertical support beams of  claim 1  are fastened to the base and the top to form a main frame. 
     
     
         3 . The main rotating handle apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an inner free-spinning structure, a centralized bracket, a fastener that allows a cable to be joined to the inner free-spinning structure and a housing that encapsulates the inner free-spinning structure. 
     
     
         4 . The main rotating handle apparatus according to  claim 3  whereas a separate bracket is fastened to the housing that encapsulates the inner free-spinning structure. 
     
     
         5 . The main rotating handle apparatus according to  claim 4  whereas a flexible joint is fastened to the separate bracket and connected to the inner free-spinning structure. 
     
     
         6 . The main rotating handle apparatus according to  claim 5  whereas a ratchet mechanism is fastened to the flexible joint. 
     
     
         7 . The main rotating handle apparatus according to  claim 6  whereas a handle is fastened to the ratchet mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The main rotating handle apparatus according to  claim 3  whereas sliders with pins for height adjustment are fastened to the housing that encapsulates the inner free-spinning structure. 
     
     
         9 . The sliders of  claim 8  are joined with the support elements which comprises holes for the height adjustment pins. 
     
     
         10 . A cable of  claim 1  is attached to the main rotating handle apparatus that runs through a plurality of pulleys connecting the main rotating handle apparatus to the stack of weights. 
     
     
         11 . Cables of  claim 1  are attached to the main rotating handle apparatus which run through a plurality of pulleys and connect to a plurality of counter weights. 
     
     
         12 . A Fitness and Rehabilitation machine for the Rotator Cuff comprising:
 A main rotating handle apparatus;   A plurality of structural elements;   
     
     
         13 . Main rotating handle apparatus of  claim 12  comprises an inner free-spinning structure, a housing that encapsulates the inner free-spinning structure and a friction based tension device that creates resistance. 
     
     
         14 . Main rotating handle apparatus according to  claim 13  whereas the tension device comprises a tension adjustment device. 
     
     
         15 . The main rotating handle apparatus of  claim 12  whereas sliders with pins for height adjustment and brackets for angle adjustment are fastened to the main rotating handle apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . The sliders of  claim 15  are joined with the support elements which comprises holes for the height adjustment pins.