An exercise machine includes a frame having a horizontally extending seat mounted thereon. A foot restraint assembly is pivotally mounted about a first horizontal pivot axis to the frame. A motion translation arrangement has one end pivotally secured about a second horizontal pivot axis to the frame, and an opposite end extending beyond the frame. An arm, back and head support is pivotally secured about a third horizontal pivot axis to the opposite end of the motion translation arrangement and is moveable forwardly relative to the foot restraint assembly. The second horizontal pivot axis and the third horizontal pivot axis enable a sequential, compound, articulated abdominal exercise movement as the arm, back and head support is moved towards the foot restraint assembly.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/556,117 filed Mar. 25, 2004.
An improved stretching apparatus includes a movable back rest and a movable foot manipulator which, when employed together, can provide therapeutic stretching to the leg muscles of a subject. For instance, the improved device can stretch the calves, hamstrings, and other leg muscles. An improved method of employing a stretching apparatus to perform a therapeutic stretching operation on the leg muscles of a subject includes engaging a subject's outstretched legs with a foot manipulator of the stretching apparatus, engaging the subject's back with a back rest of the stretching apparatus, and pivoting the foot manipulator in a stretching direction to move the feet in a dorsal direction to provide stretching of at least some of the leg muscles. The method can additionally include returning the foot manipulator to its original position, incrementally moving the back rest to take up some of the muscular looseness created by the movement of the foot manipulator in the stretching direction, and again pivoting the foot manipulator in a stretching direction to perform an additional stretching operation.
