The invention is embodied in an exercise system that can allow its user to counterbalance the effects associated with a predominantly sedentary lifestyle though a fitness device that comprises a combination of (a) supporting the lower body in a manner that permits a user's upper body to act as a third class lever with the user's hips operating as fulcrum and (b) engaging in resistance exercises with the upper body in a horizontal position, unsupported above the greater trochanter.

A chair for providing seating support to a user and for providing ways for the user to perform exercises. The chair includes a back support that is flexible such that when a force is applied to it by the user's body, the back support bends. The back support may be configured to adapt to the curvature of the user's spine when the user is seated in the chair. The back support may further be configured such that the user can rotate the back support by rotating the user's upper body.

An apparatus for use in assessing strength of at least one knee flexor muscle of a subject, the apparatus including a support, two securing members, each securing member securing a respective lower leg of the subject in a position that in use is substantially fixed relative to the support and at least one sensor, which in use senses a force indicative of the strength of the at least one knee flexor muscle in at least one leg of the subject while the subject performs an eccentric contraction of the at least one knee flexor muscle.

The method and apparatus for stretching, i.e., the so-called A POLE simulator, consists of one or two or more curved planks with several round apertures along the planks, which apertures serve for inserting upper cylindrical handles perpendicular to the planks, onto which cylindrical handles a patient holds onto with both of her/his hands, while pressing his/her forehead against the plank(s), thus stretching his/her spine, with the bottom ends of the planks containing round apertures for inserting lower cylindrical handles, onto which two foam rollers are pulled, in order to ensure comfort of the user when the roller is stuck into the crevasse or space between the upper thigh and the bottom of the stomach in the user's sitting position, and where by increasing the forward incline of the torso progressively in 5-10 degree increments and holding a fixed position at 10-15 second intervals until a maximum stretching distance forward is reached, after which the user returns in the initial position by moving the torso backwards in 5-10 degree increments (hereinafter the simulator) is intended for decompression of the spinal column, which effectively relieves stress, stretches and weakens the muscles of the back, muscles of the abdomen and chest. The simulator is a curved rod made of solid material In the upper part of the rod there are a number of holes, they serve to insert the upper crossbar perpendicular to the rod. The user, depending on his height, sets the crossbar to the required height and grabs the crossbar with both hands. In the lower part of the rod there is a hole for inserting the lower crossbar, on which shock absorbers are installed on both sides, which provide comfort to the user. The lower bar is placed under the stomach to the user's pelvic bone in a sitting position. By increasing the dosed tilt and holding the user's body forward for several seconds, the spinal column is decompressed, tension is relieved, back muscles, abdominal and chest muscles are stretched and relaxed. The device uses harnesses for people with disabilities to secure the arms of a disable person through armpits to the upper bar thus ensuring that the person is able to do the exercises. The angle of the tilt is determined by a tilt angle indicator bubble level located on rod or plank. The device is also designed to be portable and foldable in half in the middle of the plan or rod by using a hinge and a latch.

This application discloses a portable exercise device for flexibility and strengthening. In some embodiments, the device is comprised of one elastic band of surgical tubing or like material and one non-elastic band, with two pairs of looped handles tied to each end of the elastic band. These looped handles can attach to a user's limb without any need for grasping. The non-elastic end of the device can be affixed to an anchor point. The exercise device offers light but adjustable resistance via a resistance modulator, allowing the user to engage in a full range of standing and seated exercises with forces comparable to swimming. In addition, two instances of the device can be combined to engage both the user's hands and feet simultaneously.

An exercise device for lifting up the lower back by raising a user's knees upward from a resting position. An elongated fixed strut extends upward from the base, and a carriage is placed on the elongated fixed strut, capable of moving on the elongated fixed strut between a lower position and an upper position relative to the elongated fixed strut. Knee supports are attached to the carriage, allowing a user to place their knees on the knee supports. As the carriage moves upward on the elongated fixed strut, the user's knees are lifted upward, thereby causing the hips and pelvis to rise, producing a flexion of the lower back. The upward movement of the hips and pelvis produces the distraction of the lumbar spinal segments.

A core strengthening assembly for performing core strengthening exercises includes a ball that may be positioned on a support surface. A harness is positioned around the ball and the ball rotates freely in the harness. A pair of pedals is each removably coupled to the harness. Each of the pedals may have one of a user's feet positioned thereon. In this way the user's feet are spaced from the support surface when the user performs core strengthening exercises.

A core wheel exercise device has a wheel with an axle and a shaft which extends through the wheel axle to which are mounted two handles. The handles in an extended configuration may be gripped or engaged by a user for exercise purposes, and in a collapsed storage configuration are aligned parallel to the wheel radius with a collapsed length equal to or slightly longer than the wheel radius so the core wheel may be supported on the ends of the handles. The handles are moved from the extended to the collapsed configuration by pushing the handles toward the wheel along dovetailed grooves in blocks on the shaft, allowing the handles to be rotated perpendicular to the shaft for storage. The blocks have an extension on one side of the shaft so the handles support a user so the handles cannot collapse under the load.

A training tight having preconfigured compression zones with integrated knit structure patterns is provided herein. The compression zones may have differing compressive properties where zones having a higher compression force are located at the waist and thigh areas of the tight, and zones having a lower compression force are located at the knee and calf area of the tight. The integrated structure patterns modify the compressive properties of the zones in the areas where the patterns are located in order to further customize the compressive properties of the training tight.

A core strengthening assembly for performing core strengthening exercises includes a ball that may be positioned on a support surface. A harness is positioned around the ball and the ball rotates freely in the harness. A pair of pedals is each removably coupled to the harness. Each of the pedals may have one of a user's feet positioned thereon. In this way the user's feet are spaced from the support surface when the user performs core strengthening exercises.