Exemplary arrangements provide leg training devices suitable for high intensity training of hip flexors while simultaneously training the extensors of hip and knee joints. The exemplary leg training devices include foot fixings which are permanent vertically movable components of the device, each of which are configured to releasably engage a foot of a user in operative engagement therewith while limiting the movement of the foot relative to the foot fixings. Each of the foot fixings is operatively connected to a suitable mechanism that provides a resistance force to vertical movement of the foot fixing by the user's leg. In exemplary arrangements the resistance force may be selectively variable with regard to the magnitude and/or point of application so as to provide the desired training regimen.

A compact, portable, lightweight, easily transportable leg press exercise apparatus to simulate both exercise and the daily activity of sitting in a microgravity environment. The exercise portion of the apparatus creates stress on the lower extremities by supplying a variable resistance to a reciprocating foot pedal by way of a coil spring and damper system acting through a four-bar linkage. The chair is adjustable in angle to fit each user and to simulate a force that is two-thirds of body weight. By combining resistance exercise and lower body negative pressure with the LBNP leg press exercise apparatus, the users experience one or more times body weight (BW) in stress on their musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and nervous systems. By achieving one times BW or greater (artificial gravity) during exercise and two-thirds BW during sitting, the gap between the precondition and post condition syndrome will become smaller.

A ground-effect footplate against which a user applies plantar force and moves their foot in 3D across all seven lower-extremity biomechanical axes to accomplish specific as well as global ambulatory objectives related to lower extremity performance improvement, injury prevention and rehabilitation. A device comprising at least one articulating leg connected to a ground-effect footplate and a surface for a user to position against. The device can be used in conjunction with software to create virtual ambulatory environments that mimic GRFVs and cause moments of force that initiate muscular activations that substantially mimic human ambulation, and can couple those movements with non-functional movements in order to improve ROM, speed, strength, and proprioception.

A ground-effect footplate against which a user applies plantar force and moves their foot in 3D across all seven lower-extremity biomechanical axes to accomplish specific as well as global ambulatory objectives related to lower extremity performance improvement, injury prevention and rehabilitation. A device comprising at least one articulating leg connected to a ground-effect footplate and a surface for a user to position against. The device can be used in conjunction with software to create virtual ambulatory environments that mimic GRFVs and cause moments of force that initiate muscular activations that substantially mimic human ambulation, and can couple those movements with non-functional movements in order to improve ROM, speed, strength, and proprioception.

A ground-effect footplate against which a user applies plantar force and moves their foot in 3D across all seven lower-extremity biomechanical axes to accomplish specific as well as global ambulatory objectives related to lower extremity performance improvement, injury prevention and rehabilitation. A device comprising at least one articulating leg connected to a ground-effect footplate and a surface for a user to position against. The device can be used in conjunction with software to create virtual ambulatory environments that mimic GRFVs and cause moments of force that initiate muscular activations that substantially mimic human ambulation, and can couple those movements with non-functional movements in order to improve ROM, speed, strength, and proprioception.

A ground-effect footplate against which a user applies plantar force and moves their foot in 3D across all seven lower-extremity biomechanical axes to accomplish specific as well as global ambulatory objectives related to lower extremity performance improvement, injury prevention and rehabilitation. A device comprising at least one articulating leg connected to a ground-effect footplate and a surface for a user to position against. The device can be used in conjunction with software to create virtual ambulatory environments that mimic GRFVs and cause moments of force that initiate muscular activations that substantially mimic human ambulation, and can couple those movements with non-functional movements in order to improve ROM, speed, strength, and proprioception.

A ground-effect footplate against which a user applies plantar force and moves their foot in 3D across all seven lower-extremity biomechanical axes to accomplish specific as well as global ambulatory objectives related to lower extremity performance improvement, injury prevention and rehabilitation. A device comprising at least one articulating leg connected to a ground-effect footplate and a surface for a user to position against. The device can be used in conjunction with software to create virtual ambulatory environments that mimic GRFVs and cause moments of force that initiate muscular activations that substantially mimic human ambulation, and can couple those movements with non-functional movements in order to improve ROM, speed, strength, and proprioception.

A leg press exercise machine, including: a main frame with first and second rotating bars connected thereto; a support assembly connected to each of the first and second rotating bars, wherein rotation of the first and second rotating bars causes the support assembly to move with respect to the main frame; a seat support bar; and a seat mounted onto the seat support bar, wherein the support assembly holds the seat support bar at a downward angle and wherein the rotating bars are disposed at an angle from 0 to 30 or about 20 degrees to the vertical when the machine is in its rest position.

A device for an exercise apparatus includes a linear adjustment system and a sensor coupled to the linear adjustment system. The exercise apparatus includes a loading interface and a frame coupled to the loading interface for performing an exercise. The linear adjustment system fixes the loading interface of the exercise apparatus at any one of a plurality of functional positions in a functional range of the loading interface. The sensor measures the force exerted on the linear adjustment system. A correlating mechanism is used to correlate the force exerted on the linear adjustment system with the force exerted on the loading interface. The device allows exercisers to exert high or maximum loads in any one of a plurality of positions throughout their entire range of motion without first passing through a weak range of motion.

A leg press exercise machine, including: a main frame with first and second rotating bars connected thereto; a support assembly connected to each of the first and second rotating bars, wherein rotation of the first and second rotating bars causes the support assembly to move with respect to the main frame; a seat support bar; and a seat mounted onto the seat support bar, wherein the support assembly holds the seat support bar at a downward angle and wherein the rotating bars are disposed at an angle from 0 to 30 or about 20 degrees to the vertical when the machine is in its rest position.