Abstract: Method and apparatus for exercising the muscles of the upper legs and lower torso wherein the exerciser is placed on his/her side in a generally horizontal position on a support including a movable portion which rotates about a vertical axis in response to forces generated by the exerciser. At least two vertically extending pads are secured to the movable support portion to receive the exerciser therebetween. The pads serve to position and retain the exerciser as well as to transmit forces from the exerciser to the movable support portion to rotate the same. A weight stack is connected to the rotatable support portion by a drive mechanism located below the support portion and connected to the bottom of a weight rod included in the weight stack. During the exercise, the movable support portion is rotated by the exerciser from a start position in one direction against the resistance of the weight stack and then returned to the start position whereupon the exercise is repeated.

Abstract: A machine for exercising the bicep muscles of the arms includes a movement arm rotatable about a horizontal axis by exertion of the bicep muscles of a user who is in seated position while gripping the handle of the movement arm and pivoting the forearm upwardly about the elbow. The backs of the upper arms rest on a roller pad while the forearms engage a forearm pad that moves along an arc with the movement arm about a horizontal axis to properly position the forearms and prevent forward movement of the user's body during rotation of the movement arm. A compound weight stack provides a yieldable resistance to the movement arm and is connected thereto through a drive lever and linkage positioned below the level of the weight stack.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for exercising and/or testing the cervical muscles of the neck wherein a seated person is secured against a backrest to isolate movement of his head and neck from the remainder of his body. For exercising the cervical muscles between opposite positions of full extension and flexion, the muscles are used to move the head rearwardly against a pivotable movement arm to move the latter against a yieldable resistance weight connected to the movement arm to bias the movement arm in one direction. The head is then moved forwardly and the process is repeated until the movement arm can no longer be moved by said muscles. The number of repetitions is measured and recorded throughout the exercise.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for exercising the lumbar muscles including a movement arm which is moved about either a vertical or a horizontal axis depending on how a support for the movement arm is oriented relative to a primary support. In one position of the support the movement arm is moveable about a horizontal axis with the person seated in a generally upright position while in another position of the support, the movement arm is moveable about a generally vertical axis with the person positioned on his/her side. During exercise, the position of the persons head is fixed relative to the movement arm, and the pelvis is also fixed against movement.

Abstract: A method of testing muscles of the lower trunk of a subject human body including the steps of restraining the pelvis against movement, connecting to a movement arm to a resistance weight of known force less than the maximum static strength of the muscles to pivot the movement arm in one direction to lift the resistance weight and then in an opposite direction to relieve the force on the movement arm to cause the resistance weight to return to its starting position, repeating the steps until the muscles fatigue and, wherein there is further included the steps of counterbalancing the upper trunk by a counter-weight connected to the movement arm wherein the stroke of the resistance weight is limited to three inches in order to reduce kinetic energy of the weight.

Abstract: Apparatus for exercising rotary neck muscles having a compound cam for transmitting forces from the neck muscles through a movement arm and to a resistance weight to lift the weight. A pin mounted to move with the movement arm is receivable in one of a plurality of apertures in the cam to rotate the cam with the movement arm. The cam transmits drive to lift the resistance weight by a cam follower engageable with either of a pair of cam surfaces formed on the periphery of the cam depending upon the direction of rotation of the cam. Adjustable stop mechanisms are also disclosed for limiting the range of angular movement of the movement arm.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for testing and/or exercising the rotary neck muscles which are used to twist or turn the neck from side-to-side about a generally vertical pivot axis passing through the cervical vertebrae. The head is held by and between a pair of pads mounted on a rotatable frame fixed to a movement arm in the form of a vertical pivot shaft rotatable about the pivot axis. The movement arm is connectable to resistance weight stack to oppose pivotal movement of the movement arm in one direction. During exercise, the subject is seated against a backrest with a front pad assembly immobilizing the chest and shoulder areas of the subject. Additionally, the head pads prevent forward and rearward movement of the neck in extension and flexion so that only the rotary torsion muscles of the neck are exercised.

Abstract: Method for exercising and/or testing the cervical muscles of the neck wherein a seated person is secured against a backrest to isolate movement of his head and neck from the remainder of his body. For exercising the cervical muscles between opposite positions of full extension and flexion, the muscles are used to move the head rearwardly against a pivotable movement arm to move the latter against a yieldable resistance weight connected to the movement arm to bias the movement arm in one direction. The head is then moved forwardly and the process is repeated until the movement arm can no longer be moved by said muscles. The number of repetitions is measured and recorded throughout the exercise.

Abstract: Method for exercising or testing the rotary torso muscles in which the chest and shoulder area of the subject is secured against movement while the pelvis is also secured against movement to isolate the rotary torso muscles for testing or exercise. The subject while so secured and seated exerts a force with the rotary torso muscles to rotate a movement arm about a vertical axis against a resistance suitably chosen from a weight stack to be less than the maximum static strength of said muscles. The subject then returns to the starting position and repeats the exercise until the rotary torso muscles can no longer rotate the movement arm. The subject's static strength is measured by fixing the movement arm in several different angular positions and measuring the force exerted by said muscles on the movement arm in each of said positions.

Abstract: Method of testing muscles of the lower trunk of a subject human body including the steps of restraining the pelvis against movement, connecting to a movement arm a resistance weight of known force less than the maximum static strength of said muscles, having the subject move the resistance weight by exerting the muscles to pivot the movement arm in one direction to lift the resistance weight and then in an opposite direction to relieve the force on the movement arm to cause the resistance weight to return to its starting position, repeating the steps until the muscles fatigue and, wherein there is a further included the steps of counter-balancing the upper trunk by a counter-weight connected to the movement arm and wherein the stroke of the resistance weight is limited to three inches in order to reduce kinetic energy of the weight.

Abstract: Apparatus for exercising and/or testign the cervical muscles of the neck wherein a seated person is secured against a backrest to isolate movement of his head and neck from the remainder of his body. For exercising the cervical muscles between opposite positions of full extension and flexion, the muscles are used to move the head rearwardly against a pivotable movement arm to move the later against a yieldable resistance weight connected to the movement arm to bias the movement arm in one direction. The head is then moved forwardly and the process is repeated until the movement arm can no longer be moved by said muscles. The number of repetitions is measured and recorded throughout the exercise.

Abstract: Apparatus for testing and/or exercising the rotary neck muscles which are used to twist or turn the neck from side-to-side about a generally vertical pivot axis passing through the cervical vertebrae. The head is held by and between a pair of pads mounted on a rotatable frame fixed to a movement arm in the form of a vertical pivot shaft rotatable about the pivot axis. The movement arm is connectable to a resistance weight stack to oppose pivotal movement of the movement arm in one direction. During exercise, the subject is seated against a backrest with a front pad assembly immobilizing the chest and shoulder areas of the subject. Additionally, the head pads prevent forward and rearward movement of the neck in extension and flexion so that only the rotary torsion muscles of the neck are exercised. The front pad assembly includes a frame holding a plurality of pads for movement into and out of an operative position in which the pads engage the chest and shoulder areas.

Abstract: Apparatus for exercising or testing the rotary torso muscles in whch the chest and shoulder area of the subject is secured against movement while the pelvis is also secured against movement to isolate the rotary torso muscles for testing or exercise. The subject while so secured and seated exerts a force with the rotary torso muscles to rotate a movement arm about a vertical axis against a resistance suitably chosen from a weight stack to be less than the maximum static strength of said muscles. The subject then returns to the starting position and repeats the exercise until the rotary torso muscles can no longer rotate the movement arm. The subject's static strength is measured by fixing the movement arm in several different angular positions and measuring the force exerted by said muscles on the movement arm in each of said positions.

Abstract: Method and apparatus of the present invention fix the legs of a seated human body with the knees bent and the thighs including the femurs extending downwardly and rearwardly with the rear of the pelvis engaged against a pelvic pad located above the rear of the seat on which the body is seated. Forward movement of the legs is restrained by footrests receiving the feet of the body while upward movement of the legs and thighs is prevented by a pad extending across the top of the thighs. Because of the orientation and fixation of the femurs which are connected to the pelvis, the pelvis cannot rotate or pivot and nor can the legs due to their restraint by the thigh pads and footrests. In the apparatus disclosed, the thigh pad is fixed to a pivot arm pivotable in a plane between the legs, and the pad and its pivot arm are held in operative position due to the inclination of the thighs and the restraint of the legs.

Abstract: A machine for exercising or testing the lumbar muscles of the human body. The machine has a movement arm pivotable about a horizontal axis through forces exerted by said muscles while the subject is seated with his pelvis restrained against movement and with his back engaging a resistance pad. The rear of the pelvis engages a pelvic pad which is movable to detect any unwanted movement of the pelvis during the exercise. The resistance pad is movable relative to the movement arm to enable measurement of the effective lever arm of the moment applied to the movement arm by the subject. On one side of the movement arm is a mechanism for connecting the movement arm to a weight stack to impose a predetermined yieldable resistance to the movement arm. On the other side of the movement arm is an adjustable counterweight mechanism which may be releasably connected to the movement arm to counterbalance the subject's torso mass.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for exercising or testing the rotary torso muscles in which the chest and shoulder area of the subject is secured against movement while the pelvis is also secured against movement to isolate the rotary torso muscles for testing or exercise. The subject while so secured and seated exerts a force with the rotary torso muscles to rotate a movement arm about a vertical axis against a resistance suitably chosen from a weight stack to be less than the maximum static strength of said muscles. The subject then returns to the starting position and repeats the exercise until the rotary torso muscles can no longer rotate the movement arm. The subject's static strength is measured by fixing the movement arm in several different angular positions and measuring the force exerted by said muscles on the movement arm in each of said positions.

Abstract: Apparatus for exercising and/or testing the cervical muscles of the neck wherein a seated person is secured against a backrest to isolate movement of his head and neck from the remainder of his body. For exercising the cervical muscles between opposite positions of full extension and flexion, the muscles are used to move the head rearwardly against a pivotable movement arm to move the latter against a yieldable resistance weight connected to the movement arm to bias the movement arm in one direction. The head is then moved forwardly and the process is repeated until the movement arm can no longer be moved by said muscles. The number of repetitions is measured and recorded throughout the exercise.

Abstract: Method for testing and/or exercising the rotary neck muscles which are used to twist or turn the neck from side-to-side about a generally vertical pivot axis passing through the cervical vertebrae. The head is held by and between a pair of pads mounted on a rotatable frame fixed to a movement arm in the form of a vertical pivot shaft rotatable about the pivot axis. The movement arm is connectable to a resistance weight stack to oppose pivotal movement of the movement arm in one direction. During exercise, the subject is seated against a backrest with a front pad assembly immobilizing the chest and shoulder areas of the subject. Additionally, the head pads prevent forward and rearward movement of the neck in extension and flexion so that only the rotary torsion muscles of the neck are exercised.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for exercising or testing the strength of muscles in the lower trunk of the human body. The patient or exerciser is seated with his pelvis and legs fixed against movement and with his head, arms and upper back fixed relative to a movement arm which extends above the seat and is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the seat about a horizontal axis. While the movement arm is in a predetermined position, the patient applies a force through the upper back to the movement arm to stress the muscles of the lower trunk, and the strength of these muscles is measured. To exercise these muscles, the movement arm is moved by a force exerted by the upper back against a bias of a resistance weight to lift the weight, and then the force is released to lower the weight and the process is repeated. A compound weight system is employed to allow precise weight adjustment to suit the strength of the exerciser.

Abstract: A machine for exercising or testing the lumbar muscles of the human body. The machine has a movement arm pivotable about a horizontal axis through forces exerted by said muscles while the subject is seated with his pelvis restrained against movement and with his back engaging a resistance pad. The rear of the pelvis engages a pelvic pad which is movable to detect any unwanted movement of the pelvis during the exercise. The resistance pad is movable relative to the movement arm to enable measurement of the effective lever arm of the moment applied to the movement arm by the subject. On one side of the movement arm is a mechanism for connecting the movement arm to a weight stack to impose a predetermined yieldable resistance to the movement arm. This mechanism also is adjustable to vary the range of movement of the movement arm during exercise or to place the movement arm into various angular fixed positions for testing the static strength of the muscles at those positions.