초록 ▼

Disclosed is a portable, manually manipulated perturbation device and methods for proprioceptive and reactive balance training and therapy. The perturbation device is manipulated by a person other than the user to impart linear, rotational or tilting movement, or a combination thereof. The device ge

Disclosed is a portable, manually manipulated perturbation device and methods for proprioceptive and reactive balance training and therapy. The perturbation device is manipulated by a person other than the user to impart linear, rotational or tilting movement, or a combination thereof. The device generally comprises a base, a movable assembly positioned on the base and configured to be stood upon by a user. The movable assembly is movable with respect to the base by a manually manipulated assembly connected to the movable assembly. The method generally comprises the steps of providing a perturbation device, positioning a user on the perturbation device and manipulating the perturbation device by a person other than the user to create the linear, rotational, or tilting movement, or a combination thereof.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A portable, manually manipulated perturbation device for proprioceptive and reactive balance training and therapy, comprising: (a) a generally stationary base having a base upper surface and a base sidewall extending upwardly from the outer edge of said base upper surface and defining a cavity, s

1. A portable, manually manipulated perturbation device for proprioceptive and reactive balance training and therapy, comprising: (a) a generally stationary base having a base upper surface and a base sidewall extending upwardly from the outer edge of said base upper surface and defining a cavity, said base sidewall including a slot;(b) a movable assembly configured to be positioned on said base upper surface within said cavity and having a generally horizontal surface configured to be stood upon by a user, said movable assembly being movable with respect to said base, said movable assembly comprising: i. a first plate having a plurality of first plate apertures and being positioned within said base cavity,ii. a plurality of ball bearings positioned within said plurality of first plate apertures,iii. an apparatus having a first portion with an upper surface and lower surface and a second portion, said first portion including a raised platform of a given height and wherein said lower surface of said first portion rests atop said plurality of ball bearings and said second portion extends through said slot; and(c) a manually manipulated assembly connected to said movable assembly and configured for manual manipulation by a person other than the user to effect movement of said movable assembly, said manually manipulated assembly comprising a handle connected to said second portion and is configured to be movable within said slot. 2. The portable, manually manipulated perturbation device for proprioceptive and reactive balance training and therapy of claim 1, wherein said handle is configured to be generally rigid and said handle is hingedly connected to said second portion. 3. The portable, manually manipulated perturbation device for proprioceptive and reactive balance training and therapy of claim 1, further comprising a visual cueing system. 4. The portable, manually manipulated perturbation device for proprioceptive and reactive balance training and therapy of claim 1, wherein said base, movable assembly and manually manipulated assembly are formed of one or more of wood, plastic, or metal. 5. The portable, manually manipulated perturbation device for proprioceptive and reactive balance training and therapy of claim 1, further comprising: (d) a user configurable attachment assembly positionable atop said movable assembly and comprising, i. a generally circular attachment plate,ii. a plurality of hemispherical pieces,iii. a fastening system for selectively, removably attaching one or more of said hemispherical pieces to said attachment plate, andiv. a positioning plate configured to rest atop said movable assembly and including a plurality of apertures in geometric, correspondence with said one or more hemispherical pieces when attached to said attachment plate by said fastening system. 6. The portable, manually manipulated perturbation device for proprioceptive and reactive balance training and therapy of claim 5, wherein said positioning plate is removably secured to said movable assembly and said cover plate is removably secured to said base. 7. The portable, manually manipulated perturbation device for proprioceptive and reactive balance training and therapy of claim 5, wherein said attachment plate, hemispherical pieces, and positioning plate are formed of one or more of wood, plastic, or metal. 8. The portable, manually manipulated perturbation device for proprioceptive and reactive balance training and therapy of claim 1, wherein said first plate includes one or more weight reduction openings. 9. The portable, manually manipulated perturbation device for proprioceptive and reactive balance training and therapy, comprising: (a) a generally stationary circular base having a base upper surface, and a base sidewall extending upwardly from the outer edge of said base upper surface and circumscribing a given portion of said base to define a slot and a base cavity;(b) a generally circular first plate having a plate upper surface and a plate lower surface, and a plurality of first plate apertures, said first plate being positioned within said base cavity;(c) a plurality of ball bearings positioned within said plurality of first plate apertures;(d) a generally paddle-shaped apparatus having a first paddle portion being generally circular with an upper surface and lower surface and a second paddle portion being generally rectangular, said first paddle portion including a raised platform of a given height and wherein said lower surface of said paddle portion rests atop said plurality of ball bearings and said second paddle portion extends through said slot;(e) a handle connected to said second paddle portion; and(f) a cover plate having a cover plate aperture and a given cover plate thickness, said cover plate thickness being less than said height of said platform, and said cover plate being configured to rest atop said first paddle upper surface. 10. The portable, manually manipulated perturbation device for proprioceptive and reactive balance training and therapy of claim 9, wherein said handle is configured to be generally rigid and said handle is hingedly connected to said second paddle portion. 11. The portable, manually manipulated perturbation device for proprioceptive and reactive balance training and therapy of claim 9, wherein said first plate includes one or more weight reduction openings. 12. The portable, manually manipulated perturbation device for proprioceptive and reactive balance training and therapy of claim 9, further comprising: (g) a user configurable attachment system positionable atop said movable assembly and comprising, i. a generally circular attachment plate,ii. a plurality of hemispherical pieces,iii. a fastening system for selectively, removably attaching one or more of said hemispherical pieces to said attachment plate, andiv. a positioning plate configured to rest atop said movable assembly and including a plurality of apertures in geometric correspondence with said one or more hemispherical pieces when attached to said attachment plate by said fastening system. 13. The portable, manually manipulated perturbation device for proprioceptive and reactive balance training and therapy of claim 12, wherein said positioning plate is removably secured to said movable assembly and said cover plate is removably secured to said base. 14. A method for providing proprioceptive and reactive balance training and therapy to a user, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a manually manipulated perturbation device capable of linear and rotational movement;(b) providing a user configurable attachment system capable of tilting movement;(c) configuring said user configurable attachment system for said user;(d) positioning said user configurable attachment system on said perturbation device;(e) positioning said user on said user configurable attachment system; and(f) manually manipulating said manually manipulated perturbation device to effect one or more of said linear, rotational and tilting movement. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein: said step (a) further comprises providing said manually manipulated perturbation training and therapy device, including, i. a generally stationary circular base having a base upper surface, and a base sidewall extending upwardly from the outer edge of said base upper surface and circumscribing a given portion of said base to define a slot and a base cavity;ii. a generally circular first plate having a plate upper surface and a plate lower surface, and a plurality of first plate apertures, and a plurality of weight reduction openings, said first plate being positioned within said base cavity;iii. a plurality of ball bearings positioned within said plurality of first plate apertures:iv. a generally paddle-shaped apparatus having a first paddle portion being generally circular with an upper surface and lower surface and a second paddle portion being generally rectangular, said first paddle portion including a raised platform of a given height and wherein said lower surface of said paddle portion rests atop said plurality of ball bearings and said second paddle portion extends through said slot;v. a generally rigid handle connected to said second paddle portion; andvi. a cover plate having a cover plate aperture and a given cover plate thickness, said cover plate thickness being less than said height of said platform, and said cover plate being configured to rest atop said first paddle upper surface, andvii. a user configurable attachment system positionable atop said movable assembly and comprising a generally circular attachment plate, a plurality of hemispherical pieces, a fastening system for selectively, removably attaching one or more of said hemispherical pieces to said attachment plate, and a positioning plate configured to rest atop said movable assembly and including a plurality of apertures in geometric correspondence with said one or more hemispherical pieces when attached to said attachment plate by said fastening system; andsaid step (c) further comprises grasping said handle and moving said handle within said slot to effect said linear, rotational and tilting movement. 16. A portable, manually manipulated perturbation device for proprioceptive and reactive balance training and therapy, comprising: (a) a generally stationary base having a base upper surface and a base sidewall extending upwardly from the outer edge of said base upper surface and defining a cavity said base sidewall including a slot;(b) a movable assembly configured to be positioned on said base upper surface within said cavity and having a generally horizontal surface configured to be stood upon by a user, said movable assembly being movable with respect to said base, said movable assembly comprising: i. a first plate having a plurality of first plate apertures and being positioned within said base cavity,ii. a plurality of ball bearings positioned within said plurality of first plate apertures,iii. an apparatus having a first portion with an upper surface and lower surface and a second portion, said first portion including a raised platform of a given height and wherein said lower surface of said first portion rests atop said plurality of ball bearings and said second portion extends through said slot; and(c) a manually manipulated assembly connected to said movable assembly and configured for manual manipulation by a person other than the user to effect movement of said movable assembly, said manually manipulated assembly comprising a handle connected to said second portion and is configured to be movable within said slot, said being configured to be generally rigid and said handle is hingedly connected to said second portion; and(d) a visual cueing system. 17. The portable, manually manipulated perturbation device for proprioceptive and reactive balance training and therapy of claim 16, further comprising: (a) a user configurable attachment assembly positionable atop said movable assembly and comprising, i. a generally circular attachment plate,ii. a plurality of hemispherical pieces,iii. a fastening system for selectively, removably attaching one or more of said hemispherical pieces to said attachment plate, andiv. a positioning plate configured to rest atop said movable assembly and including a plurality of apertures in geometric, correspondence with said one or more hemispherical pieces when attached to said attachment plate by said fastening system.