Abstract: An exercise device for stretching the lower back and leg muscles of a user includes a flexible footrest and a handle device. The handle device is designed to be grasped by the hands of a user and the cable is attached, at one end, to a footrest or fixed location. The other end of the cable is engaged by a rotatable member in the handle device; and a pawl and ratchet mechanism in the handle device rotates the rotatable member to draw the cable member into the device. A reciprocating lever member is operated by the user, grasping the handle member to effect incremental stepwise rotation of the rotatable member through the pawl and ratchet mechanism.

Abstract: An exercise device for stretching the lower back and leg muscles of a user includes a flexible cable located between a foot rest portion and a handle member. The handle member is designed to be grasped by the hands of a user; and the cable is fixedly attached to one or the other of the foot rest or the handle. The other end of the cable is attached to a rotatable reel; and a motor is provided for operating the reel to wind up the cable to reduce the distance between the handle and the foot rest at a predetermined rate. Controls are provided for controlling the operation of the motor and for controlling its direction of operation. In some embodiments, the motor is a battery-operated motor located within the handle member, which also includes batteries for operating the motor.