An exercise apparatus and method for working the hip muscles, in particular the glute muscle groups. Said exercise apparatus includes a low-profile chassis having a front portion and a rear portion, an elongated cross member having a pair of hip/lap cushions, a foot platform slidably mounted on the chassis, a shoulder/back support mounted on a support frame, a resistance member for loading the muscles of a user and a variable transmission adapted to act as a variable diameter pulley configured to reduce the input force required for a user to overcome the resistance member force.

A squat exerciser includes a base having a first support and a second support, and an extension is connected to the first support and the second support. Two leg bars extend from two lateral sides of the front end of the extension, and a support bar is connected to the rear end of the extension and located at a distance from the base. A seat is connected with an inner tube which is retractably inserted into an outer tube. A first link and two second links are pivotably connected between a protrusion on the extension and the outer tube. A cylinder is pivotably connected between the extension and a rod connected between the two second links. The height of the seat can be adjusted, and the first and second links and the cylinder can be folded toward the extension.

A brace for preventing injuries to annular pulley ligaments in fingers of human hands includes a proximal band dimensioned to be worn on a proximal phalanx of a finger, a distal band dimensioned to be worn on a middle phalanx, and a coupling attached to the bands. The band may be worn in position overlying an annular pulley ligament of the fingers. The coupling may bias the bands away from each other to promote retention over the annular pulley ligaments. The coupling may limit movement of bands (and thus finger) to a predetermined range of motion for avoiding tearing of the annular pulley ligament. The coupling may provide a mechanical stop limiting movement to positions in which annular pulley injuries are less likely. The coupling may be provided as a gas-pressurized struts or compressible coil springs, which may be mounted to the bands in diametrically opposed positions.

A direct-drive bicycle training system and methods of using the same are provided. The system includes a bicycle trainer that rests on a support surface and supports a bicycle frame in an upright manner with respect to the support surface. The bicycle trainer includes a stator, a rotor that rotates with respect to the stator, a cassette affixed to the rotor, a support frame supporting the stator, rotor, and cassette, and a resistance applying mechanism that operatively couples to a portion of a drivetrain of the bicycle frame and applies varying levels of resistance to the portion of the drivetrain. The support frame moves with respect to the support surface in response to a force applied to the drivetrain of the bicycle frame during use of the bicycle training system, generating a more natural movement of the bicycle and simulating on-road use.

An exercise machine comprises a tension generating device, a translatable arm mount coupled to the tension generating device, an arm coupled to the translatable arm mount, and a cable coupled to the tension generating device via the arm.

A wearable device such as a garment is disclosed, having at least one sensor, for sensing a parameter. Electronics are provided for processing the sensed parameter, and for providing feedback. Feedback may be in the form of proprioceptive tactile or audible feedback, or in the form of an adjustment of a performance parameter of the wearable device. In one implementation, the processor is configured to activate an effector to provide feedback to the wearer to make a body position correction to bring the position into alignment with predetermined body position reference data.

Various embodiments related to a recumbent therapeutic and exercise device are provided herein. The recumbent therapeutic and exercise device includes a frame; a hand crank system coupled to the frame, the hand crank system including a hand crank rotatable by a user, wherein the hand crank is movable in a substantially vertical plane closer to and further from a support surface for the frame; and a foot crank system coupled to the frame, the foot crank system including a foot crank rotatable by the user, wherein the foot crank is movable in a substantially horizontal plane relative to the support surface for the fame.

An exemplary variable force pneumatic exercise staff comprises at least one staff segment including a pneumatic cylinder and a handle element. The pneumatic cylinder is elongated and has a handle engagement end and a staff first end disposed oppositely of one another. The pneumatic cylinder is actuatable between a compressed configuration and an extended configuration such that a cylinder length is greater in the extended configuration than in the compressed configuration. The handle element is affixed to the handle engagement end. The cylinder is configured to user-adjustably provide an extension resistance force for resisting the actuation toward the extended configuration, and a compression resistance force for resisting the actuation toward the compressed configuration. The cylinder may include a resistance controller allowing a user to manually adjust the extension and compression resistance forces. A segment coupler may be configured to rigidly couple the staff segment to a second staff segment.

The pneumatic exercise device comprises a resistance base and an ergonomic handle. The pneumatic exercise device may be used in pairs to perform exercises and physical therapy. The resistance base provides resistance to movement of the ergonomic handle. The ergonomic handle is coupled to a shaft projecting from a top of the resistance base. Another end of the shaft is coupled to a piston within an air cylinder inside a housing of the resistance base. A pressure differential of an air caused movement of the piston creates the resistance. An amount of resistance may be changed by sliding a resistance adjustment lever on a side of the housing. The angle of the ergonomic handle is adjustable by pressing a pivot release on the side of the ergonomic handle. The pneumatic exercise device may include an auxiliary platform used to elevate a user's feet during exercise.

A portable exercise or rehabilitation device which permits users to perform a variety of stretching exercises includes a ground contacting member which the user uses to contact the ground, preferably between their legs, and a moveable handle which the user holds onto while performing stretching. The moveable handle slides away to greater and greater distances from the ground contacting member using a telescoping assembly. Once at a preferred separation distance, a lock holds the telescoping member in place so that the user may brace the ground contacting member against the ground and stretch his or her back, shoulders, or other muscles using the handle. The device preferably is on the order of sixteen to forty inches long in its non-extended state and can be conveniently carried in a gym pouch.