Abstract: An apparatus (10) that is used for exercising includes a barbell (12) having a longitudinal axis (14) and first and second axial ends (16, 18). First and second dumbbells (30, 32) are releasably connectable to the first and second axial ends (16, 18) of the barbell (12). Each of the first and second dumbbells (30, 32) has weighted opposite end portions (40, 42) and a handle (44) extending between the weighted opposite end portions (48, 50). Locking members (62) releasably connect the first and second dumbbells (30, 32) to the first and second axial ends (16, 18) of the barbell (12) so that longitudinal axes (14) of the first and second dumbbells (30, 32) are coaxial with the longitudinal axis (14) of the barbell (12). Each of the locking members (62) has a locking position in which the dumbbells (30, 32) are connected to the barbell (12).

Abstract: An exercise table and exercise routine useful in treatment of low back pain is disclosed. The table design permits a users to apply low levels of traction to the lower back by pushing lightly on adjustable arm support posts. The table design permits the users to have complete control of the level of traction applied to the lower back. An exercise routine uses the methodology of relaxing the user and applying very low levels of traction to the lower back. The low level of traction is alternated every few seconds and utilizes deep breaths to keep the user in a relaxed condition.

Abstract: A leg column extends between a user's legs, and a connected foot column extends front to back between the user's feet. Front and rear foot rods beneath the foot column bear against the soles of a user's feet. Cushioned front, rear and upper weight rods are connected to the leg and foot columns to bear against the foot above the user's toes, the user's feet above the heels and the lower legs at the shins, respectively. Barbell weights are removably connected to the weight rods. The relationships of the foot rods and weight rods are adjustable to suit a particular user. The leg barbell is completely free from connection to any fixed structure and, although secured to the user's legs and feet for a variety of exercises, is readily disengaged. The weight rods and foot rods may be connected with telescoping mounting members or perforated barstock to facilitate convenient adjustment.

Abstract: An exercise device is constructed and arranged to be used by a user to perform multiple exercises, which exercises utilize the user's weight as resistance. The exercise device comprises a pair of manually movable structures including U-shaped rocker elements having downwardly facing convex surfaces constructed and arranged to be supported on a horizontal surface. The pair of movable structures include a pair of hand grips which are to be moved by the user when supported by a user support structure connected between the pair of movable structures. Movement of the hand grips moves the user support structure disposed adjacent the horizontal surface upwardly from the horizontal surface enabling the user to resist such movement and manually resist a return movement by the supported weight of the user on the user support structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a javelin, especially for use in an indoor arena, which is essentially comprised of a shaft (2) whose javelin tip (3) is blunt and which comprises a hand grip (4) that is situated in the proximity of the center-of-gravity of the javelin. The shaft (2) is constructed as a core which is enclosed by a sheathing (7) made of a elastic material.

Abstract: A device for exercising abdominal muscles comprising a platform having an upper surface and a lower surface adapted for omni-directional motion, a pair of generally longitudinal limb supporting areas positioned on said upper surface, a pair of lateral hand grips each of said pair extending from the upper surface of the platform and disposed in opposed relation laterally and outwardly from one of said limb supporting areas, and a front hand grip extending from the upper surface of the platform and disposed generally forward of the limb supporting areas. Methods for using this device are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for specifically exercising the lower abdominal muscles, upper abdominal muscles, or both the lower and upper abdominal muscles together in combination of a human user. The apparatus includes a frame which accommodates the upper torso of a user and a resistance member pivotally connected to the frame on a latitudinal axis. The resistance member is capable of pivotal rotation about the axis, and includes a mechanism for varying the resistance of such pivotal rotation. As such, the knees of the user can be raised and lowered above horizontal without interference.

Abstract: A frame has a continuous upper surface with a pair of side-by-side elongate openings for receiving foot pedals. Each pedal is hingedly mounted to the frame near the heel. A motor is mounted on the frame for rotating a shaft. A cam is mounted on the shaft for supporting the pedal between the toe and the hinged frame mounting. The cams associated with the pedals extend in radially opposite directions from the shaft so as to produce counter-reciprocating motion in the pedals during shaft rotation. A resistance device, such as a spring, fluid cylinder, shaft brake or motor, provide resistance to downward movement of each pedal during manual operation. One or more switches or other control device is mounted relative to the frame or pedal that is manipulable by a user's foot or hand for controlling operation of the motor.

Abstract: The present invention is a device or apparatus to stretch and massage the back and shoulders in an active way in order to naturally fix the muscles and shoulders of these areas and obtain a correct and natural position of the shoulders, spine and back. It includes a frame/base and a back support anchored to a handle in the obverse of the upper end of the support, so that the support is attached and held in place by means of a steel cable that anchors in turn to a pulley inside the motor-reductor on the base frame. The back support is attached to the base frame in its lower end by means of a pivot axis inserted in a steel countersheet joint. This system is operated through an electrical motor-reductor that gradually pulls the cable and rolls it up to an internal pulley, thus inclining or retracting the support on which the user lies face up and is firmly held against a handle or grip with his/her arms up, allowing the back muscles and shoulders to stretch and the spine to return to its correct position.

Abstract: A device, together with a method for its use, for ensuring that a patient's limb is maintained in a steady, predetermined oriented relative to the torso of the patient during an entire exercise routine. The device is versatile and, through particularly adapted to benefit shoulder rehabilitation and strengthening therapy, may potentially also be utilized for many other types of therapy related to any limb. The device comprises a first member for supporting the extremity of the patient, a second member for engaging the torso of the patient, and a third member for connecting the first and second members. In its preferred embodiments, the third member comprises a telescoping shaft, which is adjustable to a plurality of potentially desirable lengths. The second member preferably comprises a tubular structure having an arcuate configuration, being generally “C”-shaped and having a convex side and a concave side, wherein the concave side thereof is adapted to engage the torso of the patient.

Abstract: Device for stimulating venous return in the lower limbs including a frame (1) intended to rest with a supporting surface against a foundation such as a floor, a bed head, a wall etc. The device is distinguished in that a foot plate (4) is arranged to tilt on frame (1) from an starting position that is angled in relation to the floor and thus frame (1) around an axle (5), that foot plate (4) is provided with a leaf spring (9) acting between a section (7) of the frame and the underside of foot plate (4), that the section (7) has such a form that when foot plate (4) pivots from the said starting position, leaf spring (9), by being progressively tensioned by the interaction of the frame with the section of the spring, increases the resistance against the pivoting of foot plate.

Abstract: An ergonomically designed weightlifting bench that is provided with an adjustable foot rest and an adjustable knee support. The bench is made of a frame that includes arms that support an Olympic or other weightlifting bar. A pair of pads are mounted to the top of the frame of the bench. The adjustable foot rest is mounted to the frame of the bench. The adjustable foot rest is made of an extendable arm that pivotally mounts to the frame of the bench. A foot pad is mounted at the top of the extendable arm. An adjustable knee support is provided in the center of the bench.

Abstract: An inertial training apparatus and method utilized for strength training and rehabilitation strength training of muscles. The inertial training apparatus and method allows for generation of rotational inertial forces by accelerating a mass by a concentric contraction of a muscle and converting the rotational inertial forces of the mass into a substantially equivalent eccentric action of the muscle used to decelerate the mass. A tether is coupled between the mass and a body part to transfer the tension forces provided by the body part to accelerate the mass and, in turn, those provided by the body part to decelerate the mass. A swing arm and a mass on the swing arm are rotatably mounted to a frame to preferably allow for low-friction rotation about a substantially vertical axis. A primary tether guide is preferably coupled to the frame and can be positioned near an intermediate rotational position of the swing arm where acceleration forces are transferred into deceleration forces.

Abstract: An integrated hand exercise device with a hand-held container or a hand-carried object such as a briefcase, handbag, umbrella or a walker-cane is provided. The integrated hand grip exercise device generally includes a handgrip exerciser combined with a handle of the hand-held container or hand-carried object. Such combination oft he handgrip exerciser with the handle permits the hand exercise device to be operated as the briefcase, handbag or umbrella is being used by a user. The handgrip exerciser generally includes one or more springs and a handlebar for interposing a desired resistance or compressible tension between the handle and the handlebar for exercising hands, wrists and arms. Alternatively, a squeezable resilient member may provide a desired resistance or compressible tension. The integrated hand exercise device may be detachable from the hand-held container or hand-carried object, and the resistance or compressible tension maybe user-selectable.

Abstract: An angle-adjustable rowing exerciser, which includes a wheeled base frame, a fixed mattress and a pivoted mattress supported on the base frame, a transverse frame bar pivotally mounted on the base frame at the bottom, two handlebars respectively adjustably connected to two adjustable ratchet connectors at the ends of the transverse frame bar for turning by hand to rotate the transverse frame bar, and two actuating bars perpendicularly and fixedly connected to the transverse frame bar and forced to tilt the base frame or the movable mattress up and down upon turning of the handlebars.

Abstract: A translational exercise machine with horizontal free planar motion, has a base frame, supporting an optional upper horizontal frame with seat and backrests supporting the user, and supporting an intermediate wheeled horizontal frame, supporting an upper wheeled frame. A vertical frame with horizontal handlebar with hand/foot grips is provided, which frame is optionally attached to the upper horizontal frame, or to the upper wheeled horizontal frame. With hand or foot use of the hand/foot grips, the user can propel self and wheeled frames in any horizontal motion. Exercise is caused by acceleration of the user and wheeled frame masses in a horizontal plane, and by braking assemblies between frames.

Abstract: An adjusting mechanism for a seat back of an exerciser includes a pressure rod provided behind a seat back frame. The pressure rod has a cylinder, with its top surface pivotally connected to the seat back frame and a cylinder piston rod having a pressure-leaking valve provided at a lower end to leak out pressure in the cylinder and activate the cylinder piston rod to extend and shrink. A control rod base is fixed behind the seat back frame, having a housing for receiving the cylinder shaft. A control rod is fitted with the control rod base, with its horizontal end contacting with the pressure-leaking valve and its vertical rod positioned beside the seat frame. When the vertical rod is swung up, the pressure-leaking valve leak out the pressure in the cylinder and the cylinder piston rod activate the seat back frame to move backward to any angle.

Abstract: A jungle gym requiring a small storage space and easy assembly is provided. A jungle gym comprises a main frame body comprising connecting bars extending vertically or horizontally. The main frame body has a shape of an approximate cube or an approximate rectangular parallelepiped as a whole by connecting the connecting bars. The jungle gym also has a sub-frame body being attached to the main frame body and turnable around one of connecting bars of the main frame body or around an axis being parallel to the one of connecting bars. The sub-frame body is capable of folding along the main frame body.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus, a method of using the apparatus, and a method of exercising are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the exercise apparatus comprises an exercise platform comprising a base and a lid, the platform defining an interior space accessible by moving the lid from a closed to an open position with respect to the base, at least one handle associated with the platform for use by a user in moving the exercise apparatus, at least one wheel movably mounted to the base and permitting the platform to be rolled along a surface, at least one riser for use in supporting the platform upon a surface to increase a height thereof and sized to fit within the interior space when not in use, at least one resistive element for selective attachment to the platform for use in an exercise by a user, at least one mount associated with the platform to which the at least one resistive element may be attached, and at least one hand/foot peg for use with the platform.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for restoring the balance of the human body, consisting essentially of a platform (2) for supporting the subject to be treated and capable of being actuated with an oscillating movement. The invention is characterized in that said platform is power-driven and receives its oscillating movement about a central support axis (6), movement associated with a rotational reciprocating movement, the amplitude and the speed of both the oscillation and the rotation being adjustable and capable of being varied while the apparatus is being used.