An exercise device for exercising the lower legs of airline passengers. The device includes a support structure, and a foot platform that is movably mounted to the support structure. A motor is interconnected with the foot platform by a crank arrangement to provide powered reciprocation of the foot platform. The exercise device has a low profile, enabling the exercise device to fit under an airline seat. Elastic straps or other suitable restraints are provided on the moving foot platform to hold a passenger's feet in place. The ankle motion resulting from the reciprocation of the foot support stretches and/or relaxes the lower leg muscles to alleviate blood stasis of the lower leg.

The invention provides a calf exerciser which safely duplicates the desirable aspects of stair-edge toe lifts. The present exerciser allows a user to transition from a fully contracted position (a "tip-toe" stance) to a fully extended position (much as if one's heels were dropped below the level of the stair on which one rests his or her forefoot to the extent allowed by the exerciser's flexibility). A pivoting forefoot plate pivots with the user's forefoot as he or she transitions between the extended and contracted limits of the toe lift cycles. This eliminates the presentation at any phase of the exercise cycle of a sharp edge (like a stair-edge) to the foot, as well as insures that the user's forefoot (or corresponding shoe portion) remains squarely and safely in contact with a stable surface, despite inherent rocking motion of the feet during each toe lift cycle. The forefoot plate is biased toward the position for the extended phase of a toe lift exercise, so that the transition through the exercise is smooth and safe, and to provide a bit more resistance when transitioning toward the contracted phase of the exercise.

A rocking-type foot and lower leg exercising apparatus incorporates one or two centrally pivoted pedals mounted upon a base in a position facilitating the placement of the feet of the user upon such pedals while seated in a chair and rocking of the pedals with the foot positioned upon them to provide a soothing motion that will maintain the tone of the muscles of the legs and encourages blood circulation in the feet and legs. The pivot point of the pedals may be located at any vertical position between the base and the pedal, but is located longitudinally between about one fourth to one half of the distance from the end of the heel position on the pedals.

An exercise apparatus and method are provided for permitting a seated user, such as a wheelchair occupant, to perform a variety of exercises, primarily lower extremity exercises but also upper body exercises, without the need to leave a seated position. According to one embodiment, the exercise apparatus includes a support base, and first and second foot assemblies each configured to receive a respective foot of a seated user of the apparatus. The first and second foot assemblies are mounted on the support base to permit selective performance and switching between a pivoting exercise and a translational sliding exercise.

An exercise device for providing resisted movement of the ankle through the full range of motion thereof to exercise the muscles in the ankle, foot, lower leg and especially shin area. This exercise device comprises: (a) a base; and (b) a foot receiving member having an ankle section. The foot receiving member is mounted on the base for resisted pivotal movement about: (1) a substantially horizontal axis extending transversely and underneath the ankle section of the foot receiving member; and (2) a substantially vertical axis extending from the base and through the ankle section of the foot receiving member.