Aquatic Exercise Apparatus and Method of Aquatic Exercising for Improving Mobility

Abstract

Proposed are an aquatic exercise apparatus and a method for exercising aimed at improving mobility of a user by exercising in water. The apparatus consists of base support and a balance board, which is connected to the base support via a resilient body that allows tilting of the balance board in any direction and a mechanism that provides free rotation of the balance board. Exercising in water allow people with mobility deficits to perform exercises without a fear of falling, decreasing pain, and improving cardiovascular return.

1 . An aquatic exercise apparatus for improving mobility of a user's body comprising:
 a balance board having a face side, and a back side;   a balance board support device for resting on an aquatic exercise apparatus support surface, the balance board support device comprising: a base portion for resting on the aquatic exercise apparatus support surface, an elongated member slidingly installed in the base portion with possibility of fixation in a selected vertical position relative to the base portion, and a resilient member that links the elongated member with the balance board via a connection mechanism that removably and rotationally connects the elongated member with the resilient member.   
     
     
         2 . The aquatic exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated member comprises a tubular member that has an upper end, which protrudes upward from the base portion, the connection mechanism comprises a solid body that is rigidly connected to the balance board at one end and has an opening at an end opposite to said one end, the upper end of the tubular member beings slidingly inserted into the opening of the solid body and thus rotatingly and removably supports the resilient member together with the balance board on the base portion. 
     
     
         3 . The aquatic exercise apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the resilient member is a body of rotation, which is made from a resilient material and has an outer surface in the form of a concave toroid with a diameter gradually decreasing from edges toward a central part. 
     
     
         4 . The aquatic exercise apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the resilient material is a hard rubber. 
     
     
         5 . The aquatic exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the solid body has a cup-shaped configuration and is made from a plastic material. 
     
     
         6 . The aquatic exercise apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the face side of the balance board has foot straps. 
     
     
         7 . The aquatic exercise apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the face side of the balance board has foot straps. 
     
     
         8 . The aquatic exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , further provided with a flexible line having one end and an end opposite to the one end, the one end being connected to the base portion of the board support device and the end opposite to the one end being connected to the balance board via an easily disconnectable lock located on the balance board in a position easily accessible to a user. 
     
     
         9 . The aquatic exercise apparatus according to  claim 2 , further provided with a flexible line having one end and an end opposite to the one end, the one end being connected to the base portion of the board support device and the end opposite to the one end being connected to the balance board via an easily disconnectable lock located on the balance board in a position easily accessible to a user. 
     
     
         10 . The aquatic exercise apparatus according to  claim 3 , further provided with a flexible line having one end and an end opposite to the one end, the one end being connected to the base portion of the board support device and the end opposite to the one end being connected to the balance board via an easily disconnectable lock located on the balance board in a position easily accessible to a user. 
     
     
         11 . The aquatic exercise apparatus according to  claim 5 , further provided with a flexible line having one end and an end opposite to the one end, the one end being connected to the base portion of the board support device and the end opposite to the one end being connected to the balance board via an easily disconnectable lock located on the balance board in a position easily accessible to a user. 
     
     
         12 . The aquatic exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the base portion has a tubular extension formed on an upper end of the base portion, the tubular extension having a first transverse hole, the elongated member having a plurality of second transverse holes, the apparatus being further provided with a lock pin that locks the elongated member in the tubular extension of the base portion by passing through the first transverse hole and a second transverse hole selected from the plurality of second transverse holes, when the first transverse hole and the second transverse hole are aligned. 
     
     
         13 . The aquatic exercise apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the base portion has a tubular extension formed on an upper end of the base portion, the tubular extension having a first transverse hole, the elongated member having a plurality of second transverse holes, the apparatus being further provided with a lock pin that locks the elongated member in the tubular extension of the base portion by passing through the first transverse hole and a second transverse hole selected from the plurality of second transverse holes, when the first transverse hole and the second transverse hole are aligned. 
     
     
         14 . The aquatic exercise apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the base portion has a tubular extension formed on an upper end of the base portion, the tubular extension having a first transverse hole, the elongated member having a plurality of second transverse holes, the apparatus being further provided with a lock pin that locks the elongated member in the tubular extension of the base portion by passing through the first transverse hole and a second transverse hole selected from the plurality of second transverse holes, when the first transverse hole and the second transverse hole are aligned. 
     
     
         15 . The aquatic exercise apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the base portion has a tubular extension formed on an upper end of the base portion, the tubular extension having a first transverse hole, the elongated member having a plurality of second transverse holes, the apparatus being further provided with a lock pin that locks the elongated member in the tubular extension of the base portion by passing through the first transverse hole and a second transverse hole selected from the plurality of second transverse holes, when the first transverse hole and the second transverse hole are aligned. 
     
     
         16 . The aquatic exercise apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the base portion comprises a structure that tapers upward from the aquatic exercise apparatus support surface, and the upper end of the tubular member, which is slidingly inserted into the opening of the solid body, rigidly supports a spherical body that facilitates rotation and tilting of the balance board in any direction. 
     
     
         17 . The aquatic exercise apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the base portion comprises a structure that tapers upward from the aquatic exercise apparatus support surface, the upper end of the tubular member, which is slidingly inserted into the opening of the solid body, rigidly supports a spherical body that facilitates rotation and tilting of the balance board in any direction. 
     
     
         18 . The aquatic exercise apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the base portion comprises a structure that tapers upward from the aquatic exercise apparatus support surface, the upper end of the tubular member, which is slidingly inserted into the opening of the solid body, rigidly supports a spherical body that facilitates rotation and tilting of the balance board in any direction. 
     
     
         19 . The aquatic exercise apparatus according to  claim 18 , further provided with buoyancy-possessing wet vest which is needed to make it easier for the user to take a vertical position on the balance board. 
     
     
         20 . A method of aquatic exercising for improving balance ability of a user comprising:
 providing and apparatus comprising: a balance board having a face side, and a back side; a balance board support device for resting on an aquatic exercise apparatus support surface, the balance board support device comprising: a base portion for resting on the aquatic exercise apparatus support surface, an elongated member slidingly installed in the base portion with possibility of fixation in a selected vertical position relative to the base portion, and a resilient member that links the elongated member with the balance board via a connection mechanism that removably and rotationally connects the elongated member with the resilient member;   immersing the apparatus into water to a selected depth;   taking a vertical position on the balance board while being immersed in water to a depth that is selected by fixing the elongated member in the base portion in said selected vertical position; and   improving body mobility by performing appropriate rotary, gyratory and tilting motions, possible due to a provision of the resilient member, while staying on the balance board in water.