Described herein are embodiments of stationary exercise machines having reciprocating foot and/or hand members, such as foot pedals that move in a closed loop path. Some embodiments can include reciprocating foot pedals that cause a user's feet to move along a closed loop path that is substantially inclined, such that the foot motion simulates a climbing motion more than a flat walking or running motion. Some embodiments can further include reciprocating handles that are configured to move in coordination with the foot via a linkage to a crank wheel also coupled to the foot pedals. Variable resistance can be provided via a rotating air-resistance based mechanism, via a magnetism based mechanism, and/or via other mechanisms, one or more of which can be rapidly adjustable while the user is using the machine.

Described herein are embodiments of stationary exercise machines having reciprocating foot and/or hand members, such as foot pedals that move in a closed loop path. Some embodiments can include reciprocating foot pedals that cause a user's feet to move along a closed loop path that is substantially inclined, such that the foot motion simulates a climbing motion more than a flat walking or running motion. Some embodiments can further include reciprocating handles that are configured to move in coordination with the foot via a linkage to a crank wheel also coupled to the foot pedals. Variable resistance can be provided via a rotating air-resistance based mechanism, via a magnetism based mechanism, and/or via other mechanisms, one or more of which can be rapidly adjustable while the user is using the machine.

A rehabilitation therapy aid (FIG. 4), for use in aiding a patient to regain and improve movement and control in a limb, comprises a moveable structure (51) having engagement means (53) whereby the structure can be moved by the limb of a patient (72) requiring therapy and separate engagement means (52) whereby the structure can be moved in the same direction by a therapist (71) or by the patient's stronger limb. A movement detector (56) is arranged so that the movement of the structure (51) can be tracked by the patient and/or by the therapist.

A rehabilitation therapy aid (FIG. 4), for use in aiding a patient to regain and improve movement and control in a limb, comprises a moveable structure (51) having engagement means (53) whereby the structure can be moved by the limb of a patient (72) requiring therapy and separate engagement means (52) whereby the structure can be moved in the same direction by a therapist (71) or by the patient's stronger limb. A movement detector (56) is arranged so that the movement of the structure (51) can be tracked by the patient and/or by the therapist.

In an example, a bed exercise system includes a foot pad and first and second elastic connectors. The foot pad includes a rigid support member. The first elastic connector has a first end coupled to a first lateral side of the foot pad and a second end for coupling to a support structure. The second elastic connector has a first end coupled to a second lateral side of the foot pad and a second end coupling to the support structure. When the second ends of the first and second elastic connectors are coupled to the support structure: (i) the foot pad is movable between a first position and a second position relative to the support structure, and (ii) a tension on the first elastic connector and a tension on the second elastic connector increases as the foot pad moves from the first position to the second position.

A balance training system includes a moving carriage configured to be able to move on a moving surface by driving a driving unit, a calculation unit calculating a load's center of gravity of the training person's feet on a boarding surface from the detected load, a setting unit configured to set a stable range, the stable range being a range of the load's center of gravity, and the training person is assumed to maintain upright on the boarding surface in the range; and a control unit performing safety control for ensuring safety during a training attempt for driving the driving unit to move the moving carriage when the control unit determines that the load's center of gravity has fallen outside the stable range or when the control unit predicts that the load's center of gravity is going to fall outside the stable range.

A balance training system includes a moving carriage configured to be able to move on a moving surface by driving a driving unit, a calculation unit calculating a load's center of gravity of the training person's feet on a boarding surface from the detected load, a setting unit configured to set a stable range, the stable range being a range of the load's center of gravity, and the training person is assumed to maintain upright on the boarding surface in the range; and a control unit performing safety control for ensuring safety during a training attempt for driving the driving unit to move the moving carriage when the control unit determines that the load's center of gravity has fallen outside the stable range or when the control unit predicts that the load's center of gravity is going to fall outside the stable range.

A holding device for using gym equipment for the purpose of muscle building training. The holding device has a handle part and a bracket, and the hand of a person using the holding device can be inserted between the handle part and the bracket. The hand side of the handle part is convexly curved with the exception of local depressions and/or perforations, and parts for releasably securing a dumbbell plate can be releasably secured to the lower face of the handle part. The hand side of the handle part has four groove-shaped depressions which are dimensioned and spaced from one another such when using the holding device as intended with a hand placed on the hand side, each finger is positioned in a respective depression of the groove-shaped depressions with the exception of the thumb.

A weight sled for fitness training that uses a plurality of resistance mechanisms to allow for adjustment of resistance. Depending on the configuration, wheel skid or slippage control may be provided by electronic monitoring of the angular velocity of one or more wheels and electronic adjustment of the resistance of any skidding or slipping wheels, bias correction and directional control may be provided by using a plurality of resistance mechanisms via differential adjustment of the resistance of the plurality of resistance mechanisms, and differential adjustment of the resistance mechanisms may be used to manually or automatically offset a directional bias in the sled, ground surface, or the athlete's abilities to keep the sled moving in a linear motion, and to prevent wheel skid on surfaces with differing friction coefficients.

A weight sled for fitness training that uses a plurality of resistance mechanisms to allow for adjustment of resistance. Depending on the configuration, wheel skid or slippage control may be provided by electronic monitoring of the angular velocity of one or more wheels and electronic adjustment of the resistance of any skidding or slipping wheels, bias correction and directional control may be provided by using a plurality of resistance mechanisms via differential adjustment of the resistance of the plurality of resistance mechanisms, and differential adjustment of the resistance mechanisms may be used to manually or automatically offset a directional bias in the sled, ground surface, or the athlete's abilities to keep the sled moving in a linear motion, and to prevent wheel skid on surfaces with differing friction coefficients.