A compressible material is provided for use with athletic equipment and apparel for enhancing the effects of physical exercise for a person. The material can include one or more compression members that extend from shoes, insoles for shoes, exercise gloves, wraps for exercise equipment, exercise mat or floor covering, headbands, socks, exercise garments, free weights and sports helmets. The compression members can be made of one or more of rubber, thermoplastic rubber, foam rubber, polyurethane rubber, silicone rubber, thermoplastic resin and thermoplastic elastomer. Positioning the compressible material such that it is between the user and any surface for example when exercising, requires the person to maintain balance while performing the exercise by using other muscles that would not ordinarily be used during the exercise, and provides proprioceptive feedback to the person's central nervous system.

An exercise apparatus for use in for example a leg exercise comprises at least one track each extending in a respective longitudinal direction, and each carrying in sliding movement therealong a limb receiving member for supporting a limb of the user. The apparatus includes a resistance generating member in the form of a plunger cooperating with a stop surface to provide gradual resistance to movement of the limb receiving member in a user-driven direction. The resistance generating member is mounted on the limb receiving member so as to be movable therewith and is arranged for releasable contact with the stop surface defined on the respective track.

A fitness ball includes a ball portion having a generally spherical-shaped resilient shell, a pocket disposed in the ball portion and defining an opening in the ball portion, and a handle extending from a first point on an inner surface of the pocket to a second point on the inner surface of the pocket. In some embodiments, the fitness ball further includes an impact-absorbent filler material disposed in an inner cavity defined by the resilient shell and the pocket. In other embodiments, the fitness ball includes one or more gel inserts embedded in the pocket to cushion impact of a user's hand with the pocket. In other embodiments, the pocket is adhered to the resilient shell by an adhesive disposed between an interfacing portion of the resilient shell and a corresponding lip of the pocket which overlaps the interfacing portion of the resilient shell.

An exercise device includes a resilient compression member configured to be placed between inner thighs of a user and resist a compressive force from the inner thighs and gluteals of the user. The exercise device also includes a resilient tension member configured to couple to opposing sides of the compression member, form a first portion of a loop around the compression member and outer thighs of the user, and resist a tensile force from the outer thighs of the user. The exercise device also includes an extension member configured to connect with opposing ends of the tension member to form a second portion of the loop around the compression member and outer thighs of the user.

Embodiments relate to perineometer device for providing accurate biofeedback. In an embodiment, the device comprises a cap, at least one first finger and at least one plate, at least one battery for applying an electrical potential difference to the at least one first finger and the at least one plate, a capacitive measuring microchip for measuring capacitance between the at least one finger and the at least one plate and a processor for recording capacitance measured by the capacitive measuring microchip and transmitting capacitance value or force data to a user interface device via radio frequency.

An adjustable pedal assembly for an exercise machine, such as an elliptical trainer, may include a link and a pedal pivotally connected to the link The pedal assembly may further include a damping assembly, which may provide dynamic damping to the pedal during use of the exercise machine. The damping assembly may be adjustable such that a user can select the level of damping. The damping assembly may include at least one resilient member configured to engage the pedal for damping pivotal movement of the pedal, and an actuator operable to selected a level of damping provided to the pedal by the at least one resilient member.

In one example, a muscle exercise device includes a first arm, and a second arm rotatably connected to the first arm, and the second arm and first arm are movable to cooperatively define a recess. The muscle exercise device also includes a resistance element configured to reside in the recess and be compressed between the arms.

Hand held weight units of light weight manufactured as a solid unit, a shell unit with core insert combinations or modular units with interlocking ends. Shell units with core inserts and modular interlocking units allow for the changing of held weight by inserting or removing inserts or by locking or unlocking of modular weight unit sets creating varying held weight. The weight units are primarily used with upper body exercises during aerobic exercises in the home, outdoors, or in a gym setting such as walking or running to vary the intensity of workout during use.

The portable balancing device is formed from two modules optionally connected by a width-adjusting mechanism. The primary component of the portable balancing platform is a module. Each module may also be referred to as half of the pair of modules. Each module is formed from an upper platform and a lower platform. The upper and lower platform are separated by compressible elements that deform under a user's weight. Alternatively, a single lower platform is common across both modules, with separate upper platforms.

The present invention is an adjustable leg exercise apparatus for allowing a user to perform a leg exercise while sitting on a sitting structure, or alternatively, when standing in a modified standing position. In a first embodiment, the adjustable leg exercise apparatus includes a foot engagement member; a knee-thigh engagement member; at least one elastic resistance member; at least one foot securing mechanism for securing or locking the foot engagement member to the at least one elastic resistance member; at least one knee-thigh securing mechanism for securing or locking the knee-thigh engagement member to the at least one elastic resistance member; and a plurality of length adjustment and securing devices for securing each of the at least one elastic resistance member in any one of a plurality of predetermined adjustment positions. In a second embodiment, the knee-thigh engagement member may include a knee-thigh wrapping device.