Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 0201~339 1998-12-11
EXERCISE DEVICE
This invention relates to an exercise device particularly for
the muscles of the upper leg and lower ~hdo~en.
When exercising the legs and lower abdomen muscles it is
necessary to provide an exercising device that will help to give the
adductor and abductor muscles (tendons and ligaments) acting on the
upper thigh, hip and buttocks (as well as the muscles of the lower
abdominal area) increased strength and flexibility and thereby an
improved toned shape as opposed to building an undesirable bulky
muscle mass which usually occurs with the use of weighted plate
machines. This more streamlined shape is particularly important to
women who are concerned about the appearance of their thighs, hips and
buttocks, and are desirous of a slender firmer appearance. Furthermore
and more importantly, this exercise device can be used for the
rehabilitation of people recovering from hip traumas and particularly
pre- and post-hip operative conditions.
Research into the applied anatomical interaction of muscles
(tendons and ligaments) shows that for the purpose of producing
increased strength (resulting in toning and firming) a muscle must
ideally be acting against positive and negative resistance through, as
much as possible, its full range of possible movement. This concept of
positive and negative resistance is utilised in this invention to
produce increased strength along with improved flexibility which is a
most important by-product of this invention.
There are various forms of exercise devices now available for
different parts of the human body. There are less desirable devices
which are rigid and which merely provide a means for resisting muscular
movement. However, generally such devices involve springs or plates
weighted to various levels of resistance in which pressure is applied
at both ends or at one end of the device, either inwardly or outwardly,
vertically upwards or downwards. The effort of overcoming the spring
or weight-loaded resistance provides the necessary tension to
strengthen the muscles of the arms, shoulders, chest, back, abdomen,
the flexors and extensors of the legs and the calves. Most of these
devices primarily operate by having pressure applied by the muscles,
through the hands. In the case of leg machines pressure is applied
through the feet and ankles. In both instances the force of exertion
is along the central axis of the body of the device, depending upon the
CA 0201~339 1998-12-11
nature of the resilient means. The spring or weighted plates can be
mounted outside that axis, for example in machines with semi-circular
springs as well as in many types of weights lifted via pulley systems
(as in training machines having pulleys with positive and negative cam
assisted weights).
With the exception of exercising devices which are freely
hand held and are particularly appropriate for exercising the muscles
of the arms, chest, shoulders and back, since it is relatively easy to
grasp one or both ends with the hands, most exercising devices are
usually large, bulky and very heavy machines which are very expensive.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a light weight
portable exercise device particularly for exercising the adductor and
abductor muscles of the thigh as well as muscles of the lower abdomen.
According to the present invention there is provided a
strapless exercise device for exercising the adductor and abductor
muscles of the legs comprising a cross member and twoside members
arranged to extend from the cross-member in the same direction
substantially at right angles thereto, the exercise device being
locatable either over or between the legs with the side members
extending from the cross-member by an amount to allow the thighs or
upper portion of the legs to be firmly located against the side members
inwardly or outwardly of the exercise device, thereby to allow exercise
by outward or inward movement of the users' legs.
The exercise device of this invention employs a blend of
isotonic, isometric and isokinetic principles in various forms and
degrees and provide, as described in detail belcw, in a most basic and
unique way, an opportunity for the adductors and abductors of the thigh
(femur) to be strengthened, resulting in an improved toned and firmed
appearance, by positive and negative resistance. With the preferred
exercise device utilising a spring or other resilient means, positive
resistance is produced when the adductors Longus, Magnus, Brevis,
Gracilis and Pectinius are emplayed in bringing the thighs against a
resistance force. Negative, abduction, resistance occurs when
controlling the return to the starting position after having achieved a
partial or complete thighs together position. In abducting or
separating the thighs the muscles Glutius Medius, Minimus and
Periformis are employed in positive muscle resistant functions.
CA 02015339 1998-12-11
- 2a -
This antagonistic effect of the adductors to the abductors
and vice versa is responsible to a very large degree for smoothness in
walking and strengthening of these muscles is therefore one of the
,, ,
CA 02015339 1998-12-11
most important functions of this invention. If these muscles are weak
or impaired the gait is markedly affected. Bending or standing while
on one leg would be most difficult or impossible without further
support.
Of equal importance the exercise device of the present
invention, whilst increasing strength, toning and firming of the
adductor and abductor muscles to develop the same, also increases the
flexibility of those muscles at the hip joint thereby improving the
tone and strength of the muscles in the upper legs and around the hip
joints thus rendering the invention particularly suitable for the
medical application of hip rehabilitation.
Therefore, the present invention provides an exercise device
for the muscles of adduction and abduction of the thigh (femur) and in
particular its mobile relationship to the hip and particularly the hip
joint (the ball and socket cavity). Additionally, and to a lesser
degree, the muscles and ligaments of the lower Rectus Abdominus will be
toned and firmed as a result of their consequential contraction and
release in the effort exerted in the course of the use of the exercise
device.
In one form of the invention a portion of the each end member
could be curved slightly inwardly so as to encompass the side of the
legs. For example, the inner side of the member could be curved so as
to encompass the outer portion of the leg while the outer portion could
be either straight or curved in the other direction for use of the
device between the legs.
In the simplest form of the exercise device the device
consists of a cross-bar with two dependent rigid side members which
could have upholstered cushion portions on those parts which would bear
against the legs so as to make the device more comfortable in use. The
device could then be placed between the legs so as to provide a
resistance for the legs when moved together or alternatively the legs
could be placed relatively close to each other, the device placed
downwards over the legs or upwards under the legs and then the legs
could bear on the side members when moved apart. The cushion covers on
the exercise device could be polymeric pads and the upholstered
coverings could be made of material such as cotton or Lycra/nylon or
cotton/Lycra which can be removed for cleaning, as well as vinyl wipe
off coverings of a more permanent nature. As already mentioned the
CA 0201~339 1998-12-11
side members can be configured so as to fit about or into the curve of
the leg as appropriate to assist both in comfort and in providing
greater gripping of the leg against the device when in use. The side
members could be hinged to the main cross member so as to permit
folding away after use although for application to inward movement of
the leg exercises the side members would have to be lockable in
position.
The device can be formed so as to be adjustable either for
assistance in the exercises or for the individual. For example the
cross member could be in two portions, one sliding within the other, a
locking means being provided to lock the one part of the cross member
in a fixed relationship to the other. This could be done by integral
locking devices or by pins being slipped through holes in the two
respective portions of the cross member.
In another and preferred embodiment of the invention the
cross member can again be in two portions, the movement of the two
portions being resisted by a spring or other resilient means against
either inward or outward or both movements of the two end members. For
example the cross member could be a tube with a spring located at one
end the other portion of the cross member being movable within the tube
and bearing on the spring or being locked to the end of the spring so
that the spring resists movements of the two portions of the cross
member away from each other. In such a device again locking means can
be provided to limit the degree of movement of the two portions of the
cross member in respect to each other.
Such a device could be provided with various means of
recording the degree of movement. The recording means can either be a
simple mechanical pointer or could be a micro-electronic device which
measures the movement either in terms of distance or in terms of
exercise potential e.g. resistance employed. The device could be
provided with a memory of previous operations so that the increasing
strength of the muscles being exercised could be measured and recorded.
For example, there could be provided groups of springs of
different resistance to extensibility/compression or a single spring
with adjustment means and the spring or springs or other tensioning
means can be adjusted to vary the resistance of the exercise device.
Such a device could be provided with an appropriate conventional
digital readout in liquid crystal or similar form.
CA 0201~339 1998-12-11
The invention will now be described with a reference to the
accompanying drawings in which;
Fig. 1 illustrates a simple static exercise device according
to the present invention;
Fig. 2 shows a cross section of an adjustable exercise
device according to the present invention;
Fig. 3 shows the cross section of a spring loaded exercise
device according to the present invention.
In each device there is provided a cross member 10 and two
10 side or end members 11 and 12. In Figure 1 these are simple cross
members with the side members in fixed relationship. Cushioning can be
provided either on the inside or the outside or both sides on the end
members and on appropriate portions of the cross member as shown at 13.
In Figure 2 the cross member is two portions 14 and 15, 14 being a
channel or tube in which 15 or a narrower portion slides. Matching
holes 16 are provided in the two portions through which a pin 17 can be
inserted to lock one portion in relation to the other.
In Figure 3 as in Figure 2 one portion is provided for the
cross member which is a channel or tube within which the other portion
slides, springs 18 being provided in one member and attached to the end
of the other portion as shown in Figure 3. A mechanical pointer 19
moves along a scale 20 to provide an indication of the movement of
pressure applied but this could be replaced by an electronic reading
means in which either the force is read directly or by the movement of
member and converted into a readout in a conventional digital readout
device.
The exercising device in any of the forms illustrated is
employed by placing the device either between the legs so that the
inner portions of the legs bear against the outer sides of the end
members or by placing the cross member across the upper thighs with the
thigh, knee or other parts of the leg bearing on the inside portions of
the two end members or alternatively placing the cross member
underneath the legs so that the end members point upwardly and engage
against the thighs, knees or the other parts of the legs. Movement of
the leg inwardly, adduction, or outwardly, abduction, as the case may
be exercises the muscles Longus, Magnus, Brevis, Gracilis, Pectinius
and Glutius Medius, Minimus and Periformis respectively and to a lesser
extent the lower Rectus Abdominus. By alternating the location of the
CA 0201~339 1998-12-11
device from between the legs to the outside of the legs as well as
controlling the power of the resilient means, the exercises can be
alternated. The device can also be located at different positions
along the leg.
Whilst the exercise device of the present invention has been
described as having two springs 18, one or more springs can be
utilised. The spring or springs 18 can be replaced by other resistance
producing devices, such as pneumatic devices. In either event an
adjustment device can be provided to adjust the resistant forces of the
exercise device as indicated by adjustment knob 21 in Fig. 3.
Conveniently, the end members can be hingedly connected with
the cross member for folding up against the cross member when not in
use. A locking mechanism is preferably provided to lock the end
members in their operative position.
