Exercise equipment for the performance of hamstring eccentric and concentric exercises

Abstract

The present invention is an inclined apparatus for undertaking exercises for hamstring eccentric and concentric loading and in particular, but not limited to, exercises such as a Nordic Hamstring Exercise, a Russian Hamstring Exercise, and Russian curls. The inclined apparatus can be utilized for sports training and preparation, injury recovery and rehabilitation, and injury prevention. A main body of the inclined apparatus is so inclined as to ensure that a user does not hyperextend their knee and cause additional injury. A height of the higher end of the inclined apparatus above ground level in conjunction with leg restraints enables avoidance of collateral injuries which may occur when undertaking an exercise regime in a traditional form of dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, and laterally in either direction.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus for a performance of hamstring eccentric and/or concentric exercises, the exercise apparatus comprising: i. a collapsible frame comprising: a main support bar running centrally to a length of the exercise apparatus; an extended horizontal bar substantially perpendicular to the main support bar attached at a center thereof to a lower end of the main support bar; and an extended vertical bar, substantially perpendicular both to the main support bar and to the extended horizontal bar, attached at a location along a length thereof to an upper end of the main support bar, so as to fix the main support bar in position, the extended vertical bar having a horizontal bar attached perpendicularly to a lower end thereof, such that, in combination with the extended horizontal bar at the lower end of the main support bar, a stable platform for the exercise apparatus is formed; ii. a kneeling pad fixed to an upper surface of the main support bar, the kneeling pad configured to be of sufficient length to accommodate lower legs of a user from the user's knees to the user's ankles; and iii. a foot anchor attached to an upper end of the extended vertical bar, proximal to an upper end of the kneeling pad, the foot anchor mounted above the kneeling pad and configured to maintain the lower legs of the user, from the user's knees to the user's ankles, against an upper face of the kneeling pad when the user performs the hamstring eccentric and/or concentric exercises, the foot anchor being linked to the collapsible frame in such a manner as to allow it to be height adjusted with respect to the kneeling pad; wherein the main support bar is fixable in an inclined position with respect to a surface on which the exercise apparatus rests; and wherein, when the exercise apparatus rests on the stable platform, the upper face of the kneeling pad is inclined between 5 degrees and 20 degrees with respect to a horizontal orientation relative to the surface, the extended vertical bar is adjacent to the kneeling pad, and the upper end of the extended vertical bar is spaced a vertical distance above the upper face of the kneeling pad.

2. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper face of the kneeling pad is inclined between 8 degrees and 12 degrees with respect to the horizontal orientation relative to the surface.

3. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the kneeling pad is cushioned for comfort of a user.

4. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the foot anchor comprises a T-piece wherein a substantially horizontal component thereof is centrally positioned above, and perpendicular to, a vertical member thereof extending downwards to the extended vertical bar of the collapsible frame, the substantially horizontal component being cushioned substantially along a length thereof to accommodate a back of a user's ankles and to protect the user's Achilles tendons.

5. The exercise apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the foot anchor is mounted telescopically with respect to the extended vertical bar of the collapsible frame.

6. The exercise apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the foot anchor comprises a rectangular hollow section, permanently affixed to the upper end of the extended vertical bar of the collapsible frame; a spring loaded pull pin connected to a base and fixed to the rectangular hollow section; a smaller rectangular section located inside the rectangular hollow section and with a series of holes to allow for foot anchor telescopic height adjustments with respect to the spring-loaded pull pin; a hollow cylindrical tubular section connected at a right angle at an upper end thereof to the smaller rectangular section, projecting outwards equally on opposite sides of the smaller rectangular section, said hollow cylindrical tubular section being covered along an exposed length thereof with foam rollers, wherein exposed ends of hollow sections of the foot anchor are fitted with plastic caps.

7. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the collapsible frame is made of tubular or box steel.

8. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the collapsible frame extends substantially beyond a lower end of the kneeling pad.

9. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the collapsible frame is length adjustable.

10. The exercise apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the main support bar is formed from two pieces, one fitting telescopically within the other, such that the main support bar may be collapsed in length to facilitate ease of storage.

11. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the collapsible frame is height adjustable.

12. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein side bars extend from the main support bar to provide a platform specifically for the kneeling pad.

13. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein feet of the exercise apparatus have high grip surfaces to ensure stability of the exercise apparatus in use on any floor.

14. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the foot anchor is fitted with a resistance spring.

15. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the exercise apparatus further comprises hollow sections with exposed ends, and wherein the exposed ends of hollow sections are fitted with plastic caps.

16. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the extended vertical bar is connected to the main support bar by a hinged connector which may be releasably bolted to secure the extended vertical bar substantially perpendicular to the main support bar, and which when released allows the extended vertical bar to fold in, parallel to the main support bar so as to facilitate ease of storage.

17. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper face of the kneeling pad is inclined between 5 degrees and 10 degrees with respect to the horizontal orientation relative to the surface.

18. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper face of the kneeling pad is inclined between 8 degrees and 10 degrees with respect to the horizontal orientation relative to the surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be more dearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a 3 dimensional view of an embodiment of an invention in which a main central spar provides the main support for the device

(3) FIG. 2 shows a 3 dimensional view of the same embodiment wherein the kneeling pad has been rendered transparent for clarity, and the ankle cushions have been removed.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a 3 dimensional view of the upper portion of the device indicating the adjustability in height of the ankle restraints.

(5) FIG. 3a shows a side elevation of the device, clearly showing the degree of inclination a.

(6) FIGS. 4a and b shows a stripped frame of the device (a) indicating how it may be compacted for storing and (b) shows the device compacted.

(7) FIG. 5 shows a 3 dimensional view of another embodiment of the invention wherein the device is supported by two parallel curved tubular spars.

(8) FIG. 5a shows a side elevation of this embodiment of the invention, where the device is supported by two parallel tubular spars, also clearly showing the degree of inclination of the device, .

(9) FIG. 6 shows a 3 dimensional view of a variant of the embodiment in FIG. 5 where in the support spars are shorter.

(10) FIGS. 7a, b and c shows the sequence for performing concentric hamstring exercises.

(11) FIGS. 8a, b and c shows the sequence for performing eccentric hamstring exercises.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(12) Referring now to the drawings and specifically FIGS. 1 and 2 an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in a 3 dimensional view. This embodiment comprises in a main central support spar (1), which is attached to a smaller substantially vertical spar (5). Flat spars at either end of the frame (13 and 14) provide stability to the frame. The ends of each flat spar may be coated with a high grip material (10) to ensure stability of the apparatus in use. A kneeling pad (2) sits at the upper end of the main centre spar. The pad is supported by side spars (7) projecting from either side of the central main spar. Referring to FIG. 3, an upper spar (6) sits telescopically in the upper end of the vertical spar (5) and to which are attached two side spars (3) which are sheathed with cylindrical cushions (4), thereby providing ankle restraints. A quick release bolt (9) in the main vertical spar (5) combined with complementary holes (15) in the inner spar (6) facilitate the height adjustability of the ankle restraints with respect to the kneeling pad. Optionally, the vertical spar itself may be height adjustable so as to alter the angle, , the main spar makes with respect to the horizontal.

(13) Referring now to FIG. 4, there is depicted a 3 dimensional view of a stripped frame according to a preferred embodiment (FIG. 4a). In this embodiment, optionally the main central spar may be formed from two lengths one of which fits telescopically into the other so as to allow length adjustability of the main spar for either convenience of use or storage. Also optionally, the vertical spar (5) may be affixed to the main spar (1) by means of a permanent hinge (11) and a releasable bolt (12), thereby allowing the apparatus to be stored more compactly (FIG. 4b).

(14) Figure S shows a different embodiment of the invention, in this embodiment main support is provided by a pair of curved parallel bars (101). Spars (107) running between the two curved bars provide stability to the frame and support for the kneeling pad (2). The ends of the main spars are curved to provide feet (110) which may be coated with high grip material. A vertical spar (105) is attached to the uppermost of the cross spars (107) to provide a means of attachment for the ankle restraints, which are as described above.

(15) Referring to FIG. 6, in another similar embodiment the main support spars (111) may be shorter for ease of transport.

(16) FIGS. 7 and 8 indicate how concentric and eccentric exercise may be performed on the apparatus discussed above. It should be noted that the apparatus according to FIG. 6 is not suitable for concentric exercise, unless the les beneath the ankle restraints are fixed to the ground. This is because concentric exercises require an apparatus with a centre of gravity in use which is further from the ankle restraints than is the case for eccentric exercises.

(17) All embodiments of the invention are characterised by the main frame defining an angle, , with respect to the horizontal. For concentric and eccentric hamstring exercises, this is necessary to ensure that there is no risk of hyperextension of the knee. This angle may range between 5 and 20. Preferably the angle should be set at between 8 and 12. More preferably, an angle of 10 is used. For other forms of exercise, a may be set to a different angle, depending on the nature of the exercise to be performed. For clarity, the angle, , is indicated for two different embodiments of the invention in FIGS. 3a and 5a.

(18) In use, the apparatus is subject to a certain degree of strain and a shifting centre of gravity. Accordingly, the apparatus is manufactured from suitably durable material to support the weight of any user while retaining a centre of gravity which resides within the foot print of the apparatus. As such, while tubular metal such as steel or aluminium may be preferred, other materials such as wood or reinforced plastic may also be envisaged.