1. An exercise device comprising:
a top surface opposite a bottom surface;
a first end opposite a second end, said first end substantially parallel to said second end in at least one plane to enhance stability in a second configuration;
a first side opposite a second side;
a convex dome on said bottom surface;
an arched ridge on said top surface for supporting directly thereon a portion of an exerciser’s body in at least one exercise configuration, said ridge extending from said first side to said second side, said arched ridge having an arch curvature that is substantially constant along a length of said arched ridge;
a first trough formed between said arched ridge and said first end; and
a second trough formed between said arched ridge and said second end;
in a first configuration said exercise device configured to provide an unstable exercise platform when said bottom surface is positioned downward with said convex dome contacting a support surface;
in said second configuration said exercise device configured to provide a stable exercise platform when said top surface is positioned downward with both said first end and said second end contacting said support surface.
2. The exercise device of claim 1 further comprising a contour formed on each of said first end and said second end configured to be manually gripped during exercise.
3. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein in said second configuration said first end and said second end are the only portions contacting said support surface.
4. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein said portion of said exerciser’s body directly supported by said arched ridge is a lower back when in said first configuration.
5. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein said portion of said exerciser’s body directly supported by said arched ridge is an exerciser’s foot arch when in said first configuration.
6. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein said first end and said second end are arranged such that rocking is substantially prohibited in said second configuration.
7. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein said portion of said exerciser’s body is supported on and positioned substantially transverse to said length of said arched ridge.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
We claim as follows:
1. A method for treatment of male incontinence comprising the steps of:
securing a sling material between the descending rami of the pubic bone by use of at least one bone anchor located in the pubic bone and locating said sling material below the urethra.
2. A method for treatment of male incontinence according to claim 1, wherein said sling material is synthetic material, autologous or cadaveric fascia.
3. A method for treatment of male incontinence according to claim 1 further comprising a step of positioning an inflatable device between said sling material and the urethra to provide desired compression of the urethra, said device being anchored to the right and left descending pubic rami.
4. A method for treatment of male incontinence according to claim 3 wherein said step of positioning an inflatable device further comprises the steps of inserting a needle percutaneously through the perineal area, inflating said inflatable device with fluid passing through said needle, and adjusting the volume and said desired compression of said inflatable device by selective inflation or reduction of the fluid inside said inflatable device.
5. A method for treatment of male incontinence according to claim 3 wherein said sling material is a component of said inflatable device.
6. A method for treatment of male incontinence according to claim 3 wherein said sling material and said inflatable device are an integral unit.
7. A method for treatment of male incontinence according to claim 1, further comprising the step of measuring urethral resistance and adjusting the tension of said sling material to obtain a desired level of urethral resistance.
8. A method for female cystocele repair comprising the steps of:
securing a sling material between the descending rami of the pubic bone by use of at least one bone anchor located in the pubic bone and locating said sling material below the posterior bladder wall.
9. A method for female cystocele repair according to claim 8, wherein said sling material is synthetic material, autologous or cadaveric fascia.
10. A method for female cystocele repair according to claim 8, wherein said sling material is located between the pubic bone and the descending pubic bone rami.
11. A method for female cystocele repair according to claim 8, wherein said step of secuing said sling material by use of at least one of said bone anchors located in the pubic bone further comprises the steps of:
threading each of said anchors with suture,
loading said anchor onto an inserter device,
palpating a ligament with a finger to locate a desired location for said anchor,
advancing said inserter device with said anchor along the finger until a tip of said anchor perforates said ligament,
deploying said anchor from said inserter device into said ligament so that said anchor firmly attaches to the ligament, and
removing said inserter device.
12. A method for female cystocele repair as claimed in claim 11 wherein said inserter device is used pervaginally.