The present invention provides for an exercise apparatus comprising a pair of footplates arranged for reciprocal movement on respective supports, the supports extending outwardly from either side of a central frame portion of the apparatus, the footplates being arranged to receive a pair of human feet and so as to be moved by a user in a reciprocal manner in the direction of the supports as part of an exercise routine, and wherein the apparatus includes handgrip portions extending from the central frame portion of the apparatus, the handgrip portions being arranged for movement, such as for example upward and/or downward movement against a resilient bias during the exercise routine.

A power rowing machine that combines the seat of a rowing machine with a weight arm for resistance training. The power rowing machine avoids the flywheel of a conventional rowing machine and instead uses a weight arm. The weight arm serves two purposes. First, weight can be added to the arm for progressive resistance training. Second, the pivoting action varies the resistance through the movement. As a slow controlled resistance exercise the back and then arms of the rowing stroke cannot move the same resistance as the legs. Similarly, a user at the beginning of the rowing motion, with the legs compressed, cannot move as much resistance as with knees at a 90-degree angle.

A cross country skiing exercise machine is disclosed. The machine has ski members slidingly mounted to a base frame and front and rear arm exercise units mounted towards the front and rear of the base frame, respectively. The front arm exercise unit has a front pair of flexible lines to be gripped by a user's hands to permit the user to reciprocally pull back on said front pair of flexible lines. The rear arm exercise unit has a rear pair of flexible lines having straps configured to be attached to the user's arms to permit the user to reciprocally pull forward on the rear pair of flexible lines. The front and rear arm exercise units are configured to apply a drag force to the front and rear pair of flexible lines, respectively. A rear leg exercise unit having flexible lines for mounting to the user's legs is also provided.

Systems, methods, and devices for measuring force applied to a machine, where an exercise machine comprises a frame; a motor assembly; a mounting plate, wherein the mounting plate is attached to the motor assembly; a force transducer. The force transducer is attached to the mounting plate and the frame and is the only point of contact between the frame and the motor assembly. The force transducer is configured to measure force applied to the motor assembly.

A system and method for networking fitness machines for allowing a fitness trainer or instructor to control various settings for a plurality of exercise machines simultaneously, and further for allowing an individual user and/or trainer to modify the settings of an individual exercise machine. The system and method for networking fitness machines generally includes a trainer remote control device, one or more machine-mounted onboard trainer controllers, and a machine-mounted onboard user controller. The trainer remote control device may be securely mounted to the arm of a trainer so that the trainer's hands remain free to instruct exercisers. The trainer remote control device includes a touch screen that displays selections corresponding to various settings on the exercise machines, such as tilt and roll, elevation, resistance level, and body positioning light indicia. The trainer remote control communicates with the plurality of exercise machines via a wireless network or Bluetooth connection allowing the trainer to change the settings of a plurality of exercise machines in a class mode simultaneously. The machine-mounted onboard trainer controllers and user controller provide the ability for the trainer or an exerciser to change the settings of an individual machine either during class in a class mode or in a private training mode.

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.

Systems, methods, and devices for measuring force applied to a machine, where an exercise machine comprises a frame; a motor assembly; a mounting plate, wherein the mounting plate is attached to the motor assembly; a force transducer. The force transducer is attached to the mounting plate and the frame and is the only point of contact between the frame and the motor assembly. The force transducer is configured to measure force applied to the motor assembly.

A spinal treatment system includes a traction device, an exercise device adapted for imparting curvature to the lumbar or sacral spine of a user and for manipulating the spine and intervertebral discs with decompression force, and a cushion coupled to the traction device and configured to bear against one or both of a head of the user and the thoracic spine of the user. The exercise device includes a frame for placement on the floor. A pad or inflatable bladder is carried by the top surface of the frame. A body strap attachment portion encompasses the thoracic-sacral spinal vertebrae region of the user and secures the frame to the user. The cushion includes one or more pad sections or inflatable bladder sections.

An exercise bench contains a frame (100), an overlying seat (102), a seatback (104) having a longitudinal centerline (124), a connection mechanism (106) for flexibly and/or adjustably connecting the seatback to the frame or/and the seat so that the seatback is at an adjustable angle () to the seat, and at least three pairs of symmetrically positioned handles (108L and 108R, 110L and 110R, 240L and 240R, 242L and 242R, and 250L and 250R) connected to the frame, the seat, the seatback, or/and the connection mechanism. The connection mechanism has a swivel axis (122) which extends generally parallel to the seatback's centerline and about which the connection mechanism is turnable to enable the seatback to swivel.

A stepper includes a base defining a horizontal plane, a first track structure coupled to the base and configured to translate along a first track, a first force receiving member coupled to the first track structure, a second track structure coupled to the base and configured to translate along a second track, a second force receiving member coupled to the second track structure, and a reciprocating mechanism coupled to the first track structure and the second track structure such that translation of the first force receiving member in a first direction causes the second force receiving member to translate in a second direction opposite the first direction.