A Vertical Running Machine called a VARRIVertical, Anti-Gravity, Re-habilitation, Recovery, and Impact Resistant. It relates to the field of bio-mechanical technology, human physiological facts, and the relationship of gravity and the functionality of the body in motion. This is a Vertical, Anti-gravity device created for Recovery from injuries, physical therapy Rehabilitation with the functional characteristics of Impact-free conditioning and by providing a non-impact system to improve the conditioning or recovery of the user, the patient or the elderly. The device provides a method of a more rapid and safer recovery from injuries and surgery and also is capable to provide enhanced athletic performance by using a vertical, non-impact system which alleviates the damages on the muscles and skeletal structure of the body from the continuous impact of horizontal running on the ground.

An exercise apparatus comprising a foot support movable by the user on the frame back and forth through any one of a plurality of complete, reproducible and different arc segments of a master arcuate path, the foot support being interconnected to an arc segment selection device that is manually actuatable to enable the user to manually select any one of the plurality of different arc segments, the foot support being interconnected to an arm having a handle manually graspable by the user to reduce or increase power or energy required by the user to move the foot support.

An exercise device providing a fore and aft horizontal component of striding motion that is dynamically user-defined, while providing a vertical component of the motion that is maintained on a predetermined vertically reciprocating path in some embodiments. The exercise device guides the user's foot in a pseudo-elliptical stride path, while providing a dynamically variable stride length that allows the user to move with a natural stride length. The exercise device allows tall and short users to extend or curtail the stride length to match their natural stride lengths. The length of the reciprocating path is dynamically adjusted during the exercise operation without equipment adjustments by changes in the length of the stride input by the user at a pair of foot engagement pads disposed on laterally spaced apart foot support members.

An exercise apparatus comprising a foot support movable by the user on the frame back and forth through any one of a plurality of complete, reproducible and different arc segments of a master arcuate path, the foot support being interconnected to an arc segment selection device that is manually actuatable to enable the user to manually select any one of the plurality of different arc segments, the foot support being interconnected to an arm having a handle manually graspable by the user to reduce or increase power or energy required by the user to move the foot support.

A composite motion exercise machine includes a control panel which provides a plurality of movement modes and allows a user to issue a command to change the configuration of linkage units of the exercise machine to have the machine perform a movement mode without manual adjustment, so that the pedal of each linkage unit can be moved along a closed trajectory. The control panel also allows the user to finely adjust the trajectory and the resistance associated therewith. The trajectory performed by each pedal of the exercise machine is ergonomic so that the user can be protected from exercise injury.

An exercise device featuring a pair of knee joints, each pivotally coupled to a pair of calf linkages having foot pedals at their opposite lower end that support low impact user-defined natural exercise gait patterns. The knee pivots joints are supported and directed to travel by linkage and/or carriage systems that operate substantially below the user hip area, and direct the knee pivot joints in a variety of travel paths, ranging from having a constant arc, linear pathway, to having a variety of irregular arc shaped paths, as well as, pathways that may change during use. A secondary system coupled to the knee pivot support system, provides lift and dampening forces to influence the responsiveness of the foot pedals via the bending and straightening of the calf linkage about the knee pivot joint, yet do not restrict the back and forth travel of the knee joint.

Disclosed herein is a dynamic load sensor system for use in microgravity environments. The dynamic load sensor system may include a first sensor pad unit, a second sensor pad unit, processing unit, and an operator interface module. Each of the first sensor pad unit and the second sensor pad unit may include a sensor base plate, a top plate, and a plurality of load cells positioned therebetween. The processing unit may include a processor operatively coupled with an internal memory device, while the operator interface module includes a display device and a plurality of operator input devices.

Split-crank pedaling devices and methods of operation support patient use and rehabilitation, particularly for stroke patients. A split-crank pedaling device includes first and second crank assemblies. First and second motors are operably connected to the first and second crank assemblies. A first shaft sensor produces an indication of a position of the shaft of the first crank assembly. A second shaft sensor produces an indication of a position of the shaft of the second crank assembly. A controller is communicatively connected to the first and second motors and the first and second shaft sensors and calculates a phase error between the positions of the first and second shafts and a predetermined phase relationship between the first and second shafts. The controller operates at least one of the first motor or the second motor to provide a supplemental torque to one of the first crank assembly and the second crank assembly.

The present device relates to means for the individual training of highly-qualified athletes in cyclic sports. The technical result is the more reliable transfer of power from a drive to a working mechanism with the possibility of smoothing out ultrashort fluctuations (0.3-0.7 seconds) in force. The athlete training device comprises two spaced-apart bases, each having a pulley attached thereto for rotation in a single plane. An annular cable track is fastened between the pulleys, to which track a lanyard is secured by one end, the other end of the lanyard being fastened to a device for attaching the athlete. With the aid of a motor, a rotation rate is transmitted to one of the pulleys via a shaft. The shaft, which consists of a driving part and a driven part, has mounted thereon an adjustable transmission for controlling torque. The adjustable transmission is in the form of an electromagnetic powder clutch, consisting of a driving part, connected to the driving part of the shaft, and a driven part, connected to the driven part of the shaft. The driving and driven parts of the clutch are configured in the form of steel cylinders. An annular groove in the driven part contains an excitation winding, which is connected via slip rings and brushes to a dc power supply. The driven part of the clutch is mounted with clearance in a coaxial cavity in the driving part, the clearance gap between the driving part and the driven part of the clutch containing a ferromagnetic powder, the viscosity of which is adjusted by a clutch controller.

An exercise apparatus comprising a foot support movable by the user on the frame back and forth through any one of a plurality of complete, reproducible and different arc segments of a master arcuate path, the foot support being interconnected to an arc segment selection device that is manually actuatable to enable the user to manually select any one of the plurality of different arc segments, the foot support being interconnected to an arm having a handle manually graspable by the user to reduce or increase power or energy required by the user to move the foot support.