FOAM ROLLER AND ROLLER INSERT MODULE FORMUSICAL THERAPY AND METHOD OF USE

Abstract

An improved foam roller having a sound card and one or more speakers included therewith so that the user may perform his/her exercises to music for greater motivation, adherence and compliance to an exercise regimen. Preferred embodiments would include Bluetooth connectivity and/or a USB port for downloading one's own preferred playlist. A timer with repetitions indicator would also be preferred. This device could be installed in a new or existing, cylindrically-shaped foam roller. A method for exercising with this improved foam roller is also disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A foam roller for performing exercises on one or more human body parts, said foam roller having at least one speaker connected to a sound board that at least temporarily affixes to a central interior section of the foam roller, said sound board being capable of receiving and playing radio station broadcasts or music through the at least one speaker while the foam roller is being used to perform exercises.

2. The foam roller of claim 1, which is substantially cylindrically shaped.

3. The foam roller of claim 2, which has a circular shape in cross-section.

4. The foam roller of claim 1, which further includes a USB connection port for downloading a user's playlist.

5. The foam roller of claim 1, which further includes Bluetooth connectivity.

6. The foam roller of claim 1, which further includes a resettable timer.

7. The foam roller of claim 6 wherein said timer includes a resettable indicator for a number of repetition exercises performed with the foam roller on one or more human body parts.

8. The foam roller of claim 1, which further includes a human body map adapted for touching in one or more areas to indicate a preferred minimum time to exercise with the foam roller the area or areas touched on the human body map.

9. The foam roller of claim 1, which further includes a video screen for displaying one or more preferred exercise routines using the foam roller.

10. An insert module for an existing cylindrical foam roller, said insert module including a durable sound board frame with a speaker connected at each opposed end, said sound board frame adapted for fitting inside the existing cylindrical foam roller and either: (a) receiving and playing radio station broadcasts or (b) receiving and playing downloaded music through the speakers while the existing cylindrical foam roller is being used to exercise one or more human body parts.

11. The foam roller insert module of claim 10, which further includes a USB connection port for downloading a user's playlist.

12. The foam roller insert module of claim 10, which further includes Bluetooth connectivity.

13. The foam roller insert module of claim 10, which further includes a resettable timer.

14. The foam roller insert module of claim 13, wherein said timer includes a resettable indicator for a number of repetition exercises performed with the existing cylindrical foam roller on one or more human body parts.

15. The foam roller insert module of claim 10, which further includes a human body map adapted for touching in one or more areas to indicate a preferred minimum time to exercise with the existing cylindrical foam roller the area or areas touched on the human body map.

16. The foam roller insert module of claim 10, which further includes a video screen for displaying one or more preferred exercise routines using the foam roller.

17. An improved method for performing exercises with a cylindrical foam roller, said method comprising: (a) providing the cylindrical foam roller with a programmable sound card having one or more speakers attached, said programmable sound card at least temporarily attached to a central recess of the cylindrical foam roller; and (b) performing one or more exercises using the cylindrical foam roller to music played from the programmable sound card through the one or more speakers.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the cylindrical foam roller may be programmed with customizable, downloadable music for each user.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the cylindrical foam roller includes a repeatedly reprogrammable timer for setting exercise duration.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the cylindrical foam roller includes a video display for showing clips on how to properly exercise different zones of the body with the cylindrical foam roller.

Description

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Further features, objectives and advantages of this invention will be made clearer from the following detailed description made with reference to Applicant's accompanying drawings in which:

[0024] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of foam roller according to this invention;

[0025] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the lateral (power) end of the foam roller from FIG. 1;

[0026] FIG. 3A is a top perspective view of the opposite end of the foam roller from FIGS. 1 and 2 with its full speaker shown;

[0027] FIG. 3B is a top perspective view of a first alternate end cap showing a body part display map, timer, USB port and smaller side speaker;

[0028] FIG. 3C is a top perspective view of a second alternate end cap showing a video screen display surrounded by a smaller, circumferential side speaker;

[0029] FIG. 4 is a top perspective, close up view of one type of sound speaker, from an end of the foam roller from FIGS. 1 through 3A; and

[0030] FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the sound card components for installing inside a new, or an existing, foam roller per the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] RecommendationsOverall, foam rolling/SMR is a known tool utilized by many healthcare professions to aid their athletes and/or patients recovering from specific soft tissue injuries. Foam rollers are also used in the warm-up phase of an activity to aid in soft tissue extensibility, muscle extensibility, increasing blood flow to muscles and/or to reduce fatigue and DOMS. Utilizing this tool can be mildly painful due to the depth of massaging factors from the roller itself. But the benefits from use outweigh the minor pain(s) observed from typical roller utilization. By combining foam roller use with music, Applicant hopes to motivate an individual to better use his/her foam rollerfor the recommended time frame and/or increased number of repetitions thus further reducing fatigue potential and the delayed onset of muscle soreness and pain.

[0032] In their study, Weller et al.sup.2 noted that music (in a NON-SMR context) had the potential to: increase level of engagement, decrease perceived subjective exertion and muscle lactate during physical training, and produce a state for relaxation. This invention takes the knowledge of music and purposefully combines same with the growing knowledge of benefits from foam roller exercising/treatment sessions to potentially aid in further increasing the physiological benefits, adherence and compliance observed.

Structure of Project Design:

[0033] Applicant's research was guided toward utilizing a foam roller, in combination with music, to innovate a foam roller design that incorporates harmonizing speakers and Bluetooth capabilities into the foam roller exercising regimen. This included structuring the coding for Bluetooth capabilities while piecing together components that would allow for music to be played from within a DURABLE foam roller exercising device knowing the degrees to which foam rollers (without musical components) are subjected to physical abuses inside a typical exercise room and/or training facility. This invention does not merely add a radio to the interior of a cylindrical foam roller body. The components of the sound card shown in FIG. 5 must withstand the rigors of being tossed about, from one user to another, in an athletic training room, and/or repeatedly rolled over by the full body weight of an individual using that roller to perform warm up and/or treatment exercises therewith.

Marketing Strategy:

[0034] Foam rollers are a continuously expanding tool for therapeutic and functional benefits in secondary schools, university/colleges, professional facilities, therapeutic facilities, fitness centers and hospitals. The foam roller can be utilized by individuals of any age to help contribute to that user's increased ROM and blood flow, decreased muscle soreness and/or to otherwise help prepare for his/her upcoming (warm up) activities. This invention improves upon the basic foam roller by integrating Bluetooth-synchronized speakers that can relate to increased adherence and workout compliance by athletes and patients alike.

Strengths:

[0035] A truly innovative improvement to the foam roller design that can translate into increased duration, adherence, and physiological benefits from an extended, yet comfortable music-stimulated foam roller session or sessions. [0036] The market range for the foam roller product attracts individuals of all ages. [0037] Attracts a large array of the health care professions ranging from therapeutic settings to hospitals, fitness centers, high schools, and professional facilities. [0038] Easy to use, Bluetooth capabilities that will produce an efficient sound quality under otherwise less than ideal (potentially wet and sweaty) conditions. [0039] A more functional Bluetooth capability will allow each foam roller user to customize his/her music of choice to be played there through. [0040] An internalized music source will remove the possibility of any/all interference from external music headphone wires. [0041] Combines foam rollers and audio systems at a reasonable, reduced cost.

Opportunity:

[0042] Distributed to national and international markets regarding therapeutic settings to hospitals, fitness centers, high schools, and professional facilities. [0043] Large market circulation which will translate into availability for still further future advancement(s).

Current Prototype

[0044] Referring to accompanying FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, 4 and 5, there is shown a first model of foam roller F that is columnar in shape with a circularly-shaped cross-section (as opposed to slightly oval, square or triangular shaped alternative). Foam roller F has a plurality of padded regions P, in varying shapes and sizes, about its exterior skin. Though not shown, it may be possible to encase the main cylindrical body (excluding its speaker end caps) of foam roller F in a towel or other sweat absorbing cover for greater hygiene between users. That cover may be washed and replaced or made to be disposable.

[0045] The foam roller F depicted will have at least one speaker S1 at a first end E, preferably adjacent its power button B. In FIG. 3A, the opposite end O will have a second, similarly sized and shaped speaker (also S1) for the ultimate in sound balance.

[0046] In a first alternative embodiment, FIG. 3B, the opposite end cap is provided with a smaller, round speaker S2 in an end cap that further includes a timer T, USB port aperture A and an interactive human body part display map M, the latter being touch sensitive so as to activate the timer T for the preferred duration of exercising the particular body part selected with foam roller F. Beneath timer T, there are a plurality of repetition buttons R (four are shown) for lighting up following the completion of the same exercise, multiple times, on the same body part with foam roller F.

[0047] Applicant's preferred product designs should include a timer T that correlates with the Bluetooth synchronizer during the playing of music from foam roller F. While the foam roller is being utilized for therapeutic benefits, the resettable timer can keep track of the amount of time spent for each exercise. Once that time has been completed, the Bluetooth synchronizer will disconnect or otherwise audibly notify the individual that his/her time has been completed. This will allow for proper time spent using the foam roller and can aid in therapeutic settings with proper time management and care of patients.

[0048] In the end cap depicted in FIG. 3C, there is shown a circumferential speaker S3 that surrounds a video display screen V on which may be shown specific videos for the user to watch indicating how best to exercise a particular body part/region with the foam roller F after that body part is selected, either from a drop-down menu, or a human body part display map shown on that video display screen V.

[0049] FIG. 4 shows a representative speaker S1 is side view with its wire connectors C to an internal sound board (see, FIG. 5) and its lower screw in, base mount BM for attaching to the inside frame of the foam roller F . . . at one or both ends depending on the model selected.

[0050] FIG. 5 shows one end to a typical sound board SB for use with either version of this invention, namely, a new foam roller construction, or a retrofit for adding to the inside cylindrical chamber of an existing foam roller model. In addition to its wire connectors C to speaker S1 in this view, sound board SB shows its central frame support FS that is a rigid, durable base capable of securely anchoring inside a cylindrical foam roller central support pipe while still withstanding the rigors of daily use (including the abuses of being periodically tossed about an exercise room, and repeatedly rolled upon for doing various body part exercises with said foam roller.

[0051] Though the aforementioned speaker and sound board components are shown in some detail in accompanying FIGS. 4 and 5, it is to be understood that Applicant's invention should NOT be limited to any one sound system, sound board, or even foam roller exterior configuration(s).

[0052] Though not shown, it is understood that the aforementioned sound board would be powered by one or more, rechargeable batteries.

[0053] It is anticipated that future improvements to Applicant's basic product design will have a smart phone app that for controlling: the timer on the foam roller, the music plated there through; or both. The true purpose of such an app would be to access a 3D model of the anatomical body so the individual can tap on the body where their soreness or pain is located. A video (or gif) describing how to properly use the foam roller for that particular body area tapped will appear. Ideally, this same phone app can include a timer with repetition buttons like that described above for FIG. 3B.

REFERENCES

[0054] 1) Curran P, Fiore R, Crisco J. A Comparison of the Pressure Exerted on Soft Tissue by 2 Myofascial Rollers. Journal Of Sport Rehabilitation [serial online]. November 2008; 17(4):432-442. Available from: SPORTDiscus with Full Text, Ipswich, Mass. Accessed Feb. 9, 2017. [0055] 2) Weller, C. M., & Baker, F. A. (2011). The role of music therapy in physical rehabilitation: A systematic literature review. Nordic Journal of Music Therapy, 20(1), 43-61. doi: 10.1080/08098131.2010.485785 [0056] 3) Couture G, Karlik D, Glass S, Hatzel B. The Effect of Foam Rolling Duration on Hamstring Range of Motion. The Open Orthopedics Journal [serial online]. Oct. 2, 2015; 9:450-455. Available from: MEDLINE, Ipswich, Mass. Accessed Feb. 9, 2017. [0057] 4) Vaughan B, McLaughlin P. Immediate changes in pressure pain threshold in the iliotibial band using a myofascial (foam) roller. International Journal Of Therapy & Rehabilitation [serial online]. December 2014; 21(12):569-574. Available from: CINAHL Complete, Ipswich, Mass. Accessed Feb. 9, 2017. [0058] 5) Murray A, Jones T, Horobeanu C, Turner A, Sproule J. Sixty Seconds of Foam Rolling Does Not Affect Functional Flexibility or Change Muscle Temperature in Adolescent Athletes. International Journal Of Sports Physical Therapy [serial online]. October 2016; 11(5):765-776. Available from: SPORTDiscus with Full Text, Ipswich, Mass. Accessed Feb. 9, 2017. [0059] 6) Healey K C, Hatfield D L, Blanpied P, Dorfman L R, Riebe D (2014) The effects of myofascial release with foam rolling on performance. J Strength Cond Res 28(1): 61-8. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182956569 [0060] 7) Mohr A, Long B, Goad C. Effect of Foam Rolling and Static Stretching on Passive Hip-Flexion Range of Motion. Journal Of Sport Rehabilitation [serial online]. November 2014; 23(4):296-299. Available from: SPORTDiscus with Full Text, Ipswich, Mass. Accessed Feb. 9, 2017. [0061] 8) Alter D, O'Sullivan M, Bartel L, et al. Synchronized personalized music audio-playlists to improve adherence to physical activity among patients participating in a structured exercise program: a proof-of-principle feasibility study. Sports MedicineOpen [serial online]. 2015; 1(1):7. Available from: MEDLINE, Ipswich, Mass. Accessed Feb. 10, 2017.

[0062] Having described the presently preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention may be further covered by the scope of the following provisionally filed product and method claims.