U.S. patent application number 10/474183 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-07 for dynamic balance board.
Invention is credited to Brydson, Gillian, Rafferty, Daniel.
Application Number | 20040198573 10/474183 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 9912225 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040198573 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brydson, Gillian ; et
al. |
October 7, 2004 |
Dynamic balance board
Abstract
A dynamic balance board is described that incorporates a means
for providing objective measurements on a user's dynamic balance.
The balance board comprises a top board, a rocker base and a
plurality of force sensitive transducers strategically positioned
on the rocker base. When a user stands on the top board the rocker
base permits the oscillation of the top board about an equilibrium
position. The force sensitive switches then provide output
information regarding the angle of the top board and the rotational
movement of the balance board relative to the equilibrium position.
By monitoring the output information the dynamic balance board
provides an objective measurement of the user's ability to balance
on the top board.
Inventors: |
Brydson, Gillian; (Glasgow,
GB) ; Rafferty, Daniel; (Glasgow, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RATNERPRESTIA
P O BOX 980
VALLEY FORGE
PA
19482-0980
US
|
Family ID: |
9912225 |
Appl. No.: |
10/474183 |
Filed: |
April 19, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
April 3, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB02/01325 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/146 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2208/12 20130101;
A63B 26/003 20130101; A63B 2220/51 20130101; A63B 21/0004 20130101;
A63B 22/18 20130101; A63B 2022/0033 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/146 |
International
Class: |
A63B 022/14; A63B
022/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 4, 2001 |
GB |
0108421.9 |
Claims
1. A dynamic balance board comprising a top board, a rocking means
and one or more detection means, wherein the rocking means permits
the oscillation of the top board about an equilibrium position and
the detection means provides output information regarding the angle
of the top board relative to the equilibrium position.
2. A dynamic balance board according to claim 1 wherein the
detection means provides output information regarding the rotation
of the dynamic balance relative to an equilibrium position.
3. A dynamic balance board according to claim 1 wherein the output
information of the detection is binary, such that the output is off
when the top board is substantially horizontal and on when the top
board rotates through a predetermined angle.
4. A dynamic balance board according to claim 3 wherein the
predetermined angle is determined by the location of the detection
means on the rocking means.
5. A dynamic balance board according to claim 1 wherein the rocking
means comprises a dome.
6. A dynamic balance board according to claim 5 wherein the dome is
substantially hemispherical.
7. A dynamic balance board according to claim 1 wherein the
detection means comprises one or more force sensitive switches.
8. A dynamic balance board according to claim 7 wherein the rocking
means comprises a dome and the force sensitive switches comprise
transducers mounted on the dome at predetermined locations, whereby
when a force, greater than a critical magnitude, is applied to the
transducers a resultant output voltage from the transducer is
produced.
9. A dynamic balance board according to claim 8 wherein the
transducers are mounted on the dome in a substantially radial
manner.
10. A dynamic balance board according to claim 8 wherein
transducers on different radii are located on the dome at
predetermined latitudes, defined by the diameter of a horizontal
chord of the dome, whereby when the top board tilts through the
predetermined angle, a force applied to the transducer is greater
than the critical magnitude.
11. A dynamic balance board according to claim 8 wherein the
transducers provide output signals which are transmitted to a
recording and processing means that provides a time dependent
profile of the angle of the top board.
12. A dynamic balance board according to claim 8 wherein the
transducers provide output signals which are transmitted to-the
recording and processing means that provides a time dependent
profile of the rotational movement of the dynamic balance
board.
13. A dynamic balance board according to claim 1 further comprising
a biofeedback device capable of relaying information regarding the
use to the recording and processing means.
14. A dynamic balance board according to claim 11 wherein the
recording and processing means is a microcomputer.
15. A dynamic balance board according to claim 11 wherein the
recording and processing means is a computer.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of balance
boards. In particular, it relates to a balance board for the
automated measurement of dynamic balance.
[0002] Wobble or rocker style balance boards are commonly used by
physiotherapists in the rehabilitation of patients with a variety
of diagnoses and within a range of clinical specialisms. Such
boards are purported to improve dynamic balance, range of movement,
co-ordination, proprioception (joint position sense) and
confidence. They comprise a non-flexing piece of plywood oh a
rocker base that provide approximately 10-20 degrees of tilt. If
the range of motion over which this tilt is exhibited is 180
degrees then the board is referred to in the prior art as a rocker
board. If such a range is 360 degrees then the board is refereed to
as a wobble board, and as such, wobble boards offer a greater
challenge to a patient.
[0003] Wobble and rocker boards are routinely used for patients
with ankle and knee ligament injuries to improve a patient's
proprioceptive ability. They also help increase the available range
of movement of the ankle and foot so improving movement and a
patient's perception of stiffness. A third area where such devices
are commonly employed is in helping patients with balance problems
arising as a result of neurological, orthopaedic problems or normal
ageing.
[0004] Such devices are suitable for use across the whole spectrum
of patients. For example they may-be employed in the rehabilitation
of children or athletes as well as to improve independent mobility
in the elderly.
[0005] Wobble and rocker boards are popular, because they are
cheap, portable easy to use and are understood by both clinicians
and patients alike. They are designed to be used independently by
patients and are easily graded so as to progress difficulty.
However, the devices are limited when in comes to the provision of
an objective measurement on a patient's progress. There is an
increasing movement for physiotherapists to formally audit the
outcome of their work with patients by showing what progress has
been made. Although there are some balance monitor systems
available on the market they do not directly measure performance in
a manner familiar to the patient. Also such devices tend not to be
portable and are considerably more expensive that traditional
wobble or rocker boards.
[0006] It is an object of an aspect of the present invention to
provide a balance board that incorporates a means for providing
objective measurements on a user's dynamic balance, thereby
permitting an objective measurement of progress to be made.
[0007] A further object of an aspect of the present invention is to
provide a balance board capable of producing dynamic balance
measurements that is highly portable and cost effective to
produce.
[0008] According to the present invention there is provided a
dynamic balance board comprising a top board, a rocking means and
one or more detection means, whereby the rocking means permits the
oscillation of the top board about an equilibrium position and the
detection means provides output information regarding the angle of
the top board relative to the equilibrium position.
[0009] Preferably the detection means provides output information
regarding the rotation of the dynamic balance board relative to an
equilibrium position
[0010] Most preferably the output information of the detection
means is binary, whereby the output is off when the top board is
substantially horizontal and on when the top board rotates through
a predetermined angle.
[0011] Preferably the predetermined angle is determined by the
location of the detection means on the rocking means.
[0012] Preferably the rocking means comprises a dome.
[0013] Preferably the dome is substantially hemispherical.
[0014] Preferably the detection means comprises one or more force
sensitive switches.
[0015] Preferably the force sensitive switches comprise active
transducers mounted on the dome at predetermined locations, whereby
when a force, greater than a critical magnitude, is applied to the
transducer a resultant output voltage from the transducer is
produced.
[0016] Preferably the transducers are mounted on the dome in a
substantially radial manner.
[0017] Most preferably transducers on different radii are located
on the dome at predetermined latitudes, defined by the diameter of
a horizontal chord of the dome, whereby when the top board tilts
through the predetermined angle a force applied to the transducer
is greater than the critical magnitude.
[0018] Preferably the output signals from the transducers are
transmitted to a recording and processing means that provides a
time dependent profile of the angle of the top board. Optionally
the recording and processing means provides a time dependent
profile of the rotational movement of the dynamic balance
board.
[0019] Preferably the dynamic balance board comprises a biofeedback
device capable of relaying information regarding the user to the
recording and processing means.
[0020] Optionally the recording and processing means is a
microcomputer. Alternatively the recording and processing means is
a computer.
[0021] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described,
by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a side elevation of a dynamic balance
board;
[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom elevation of a rocker base of
the dynamic balance board of FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates a top elevation of a force sensitive
switch of the dynamic balance board of FIG. 1;
[0025] FIG. 4 illustrates a side elevation of the force sensitive
switch of the dynamic balance board of FIG. 1; and
[0026] FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the rocker
base of the dynamic balance board of FIG. 1.
[0027] Referring initially to FIG. 1 a dynamic balance board 1 is
generally depicted and can be seen to comprise a top board 2 and a
rocker base 3 in the shape of a hemisphere.
[0028] FIG. 2 presents a bottom view of the rocker base 3. As can
be observed the force sensitive switches 4 are mounted on the
rocker base 3. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show further detail of the force
sensitive switches 4. Each switch 4 can be seen to comprise an
active transducer 5 and an electrical connector 6. The force
sensitive switches 4 operate in a binary mode. When no external
force is applied to the active transducer 5 the force sensitive
switch 4 remains in an off position. However, the application of a
force to the active transducer 5, greater than a critical
magnitude, activates the force sensitive switch 4.
[0029] With the force sensitive switches 4 mounted on the rocker
base 3 they operate in conjunction-with the angle of the top board
2. When the top board 2 is substantially horizontal the force
sensitive switches 4 are all off and so provide no output. However,
when the top board 2 tilts more than an angle as determined by the
location of the force active switches on the rocker base (for
example 10 degrees relative to horizontal) a force of sufficient
magnitude is applied to the active transducer 5 so activating the
switch 4.
[0030] The output from each force sensitive switch 4 is connected
to an electronic comparator (not shown) that produce TTL
(transistor-transistor logic) pulses that form the digital input
for an electronic display (not shown). The period of time that any
force sensitive switch 4 is activated can then be calculated, hence
the period of time that a patient spends at 10 degrees or more from
the horizontal equilibrium position can be recorded. The time and
direction of tilt can then be expressed as a percentage of the
overall test duration, therefore producing a dynamic measurement of
a patient's ability to balance the board 1.
[0031] In an alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, the rocker
base 3 is populated with force sensitive switches 4 located at two
separate diameters on the rocker base 3.
[0032] The mounting of the force sensitive switches 4 at a second
diameter provides means for taking secondary angular measurements
of the tilt angle of the top board, as described previously.
However, in this embodiment an switches corresponding to what
diameter the switch is located. Therefore, employment of this
second embodiment provides greater information on the angle of tilt
and the time spent at these angles.
[0033] Additional force sensitive switches 4 can easily be
incorporated on the rocker base 3. These additional switches 4
would increases the accuracy of the dynamic balance profile
obtained since the discrete directions in which the angle of tilt
is measured would increase. Therefore, the dynamic balance board 1
could readily be employed to provide information regarding
rotational movement as well as that relating to angular tilt.
[0034] A yet further embodiment includes the incorporation of
biofeedback devices to the dynamic balance board in order to allow
patients to self-monitor their own progress. Such direct feedback
has been shown to improve patient recovery as motivation levels to
continue with exercise are increased.
[0035] An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a
balance board that incorporates a means for providing objective
measurements on a user's dynamic balance.
[0036] A second advantage of the present invention is that it is
small and portable, not requiring a separate computer to record
data, thereby making it easy for user's to deploy and store.
[0037] Further modifications and improvements may be incorporated
without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the
appended claims.
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