An exercise device for exercising abdominal muscles and lower back muscles without putting undue stress on lumbar and cervical spinal discs and without over-exercising the hip flexor muscles is for use by a person sitting on a chair. The device includes a pushbar supported on a vertical column including a compression spring means. This column is supported on the floor. The person exercising sits with his or her chin at the height of a horizontally positioned pushbar, puts his or her arms over the pushbar and performs a trunk curl against the resistive force of the spring. The exerciser curls his trunk against the resistive force, holds it for a second, twists to the right and left, and then very slowly allows the resistive force to push the trunk upward to resume the original upright position.
A compact portable abdominal exercise apparatus comprising a first member that concentrically slides in a second member, and resistance is provided by elastic attached between the distal end of the first member and the distal end of the second member. Handles position the user in an ergonomically neutral position that requires a user to crunch straight downward for the first member to slide properly within the second member. The straight downward crunching motion requires flexion of the user's lower vertebra column, thereby isolating the abdominal muscles from the hip flexors and back muscles. Molded covers protect the user from moving parts associated with the connector assembly. The elastic members can be quickly changed by the user.
An inventive exercise device is disclosed for facilitating the strengthening of abdominal and back muscles, and includes a resistance member coupled between a lap engageable base and an arm positioning member. The arm positioning member helps to maintain the back of the user in a substantially upright position as the arm positioning member applies and releases reciprocatively and alternatingly in a substantially vertical path of travel of the upper body of the user against the force on the resistance member during repetitions of use of the device. The resistance member resists substantially vertical downward movement relative to the base member to enhance the development of muscle strength by enabling the upper body of the user to contract and expand reciprocatively vertically without leaning forwardly in a safe and effective manner. The exercise device may have at least one swivel connecting the arm positioning member to the base that allows the exercise device to be used while the user leans left or leans right, thus exercising auxiliary back muscles. Further, the swivel and a torso adjustment assembly allow the user to maintain a comfortable, safe, and effective exercise position.
A two-part traction device for applying caudal pressure against the forehead of the user comprising a first part back support and a second part, or traction unit. The user lies with his neck extended over the padded back support which supports the thorax of the patient in a face up position. The second part, or traction unit, comprises a spring loaded tube which is used to apply the compressive force against the user's forehead in this position. The traction unit has a bowl shaped forehead engaging member with a padded material portion for engagement with the forehead. The force applied to the user may be varied by rotation of the spring loaded tube by various degrees thus elongating the spring tube and increasing the pressure transmitted through to the headpiece.
A resistance exercise apparatus is provided which comprises generally means for receiving a body extremity of a user, the means for receiving a body extremity subject to a force provided by the body extremity, this force resulting in limited movement of the means for receiving a body extremity; means for maintaining the means for receiving a body extremity in a predefined plane during movement; and a means for providing resistance to movement upon application of the force to the means for receiving a body extremity. The apparatus may include a self supporting base portion, or may be adaptable for temporary connection for a bed. This apparatus, both portable and stationery versions, combines the well-known resistance methods of isometrics and isotonics to provide a more efficient exercise. Resistance is provide within a single plane by an elastic cord or by a fluid device.
A new and improved portable arm exercising apparatus includes a belt assembly adapted to fit around and adapted to be secured to a waist of a user. A first support assembly is connected to the belt assembly; a first swivel assembly is connected to the first support assembly; and a first counterforce unit is connected to the first swivel assembly. A second support assembly is connected to the belt assembly; a second swivel assembly is connected to the second support assembly; and a second counterforce unit is connected to the second swivel assembly. The first swivel assembly permits the first counterforce unit to swing in a substantially 180 angular degree are around the first support assembly in a plane contiguous to a first plane, and the first swivel assembly permits the first counterforce unit to rotate substantially 360 angular degrees around the first support assembly in a plane contiguous to a second plane. The first plane and the second plane are perpendicular to each other. The second swivel assembly permits the second counterforce unit to swing in a substantially 180 degree are around the second support assembly in a plane contiguous to a third plane, and the second swivel assembly permits the second counterforce unit to rotate substantially 360 angular degrees around the second support assembly in a plane contiguous to a fourth plane. An adjustment assembly is provided for adjusting tension in the spiral spring.
