EXERCISE EQUIPMENT FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF HAMSTRING ECCENTRIC AND CONCENTRIC EXERCISES

Abstract

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

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus for the performance of hamstring eccentrics and/or concentrics comprising; i. a collapsible frame comprising a main support spar running centrally the length of the apparatus with an extended horizontal bar substantially perpendicular to the main spar attached at its centre to the lower end of the main spar, and ii. an extended vertical bar, substantially perpendicular both to the main spar and to the horizontal bar, attached somewhere along its length to the upper end of the main spar, so as to fix the main spar in position, the vertical bar having a horizontal bar attached perpendicularly to its tower end, such that, in combination with the horizontal bar at the opposite end of the main spar, a stable platform for the apparatus is formed; iii. a kneeling pad fixed to the upper surface of the main spar; and iv. a foot anchor attached to the upper end of the vertical bar, proximal to the upper end of the Kneeling pad, the foot anchor being linked to the frame in such a manner as to allow it to be height adjusted with respect to the kneeling pad; characterised in that the main support spar is fixable in an inclined position with respect to the surface on which the apparatus rests.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein, when the apparatus rests on its support frame, the upper face of the device presenting to the user is lifted between 5 to 20 with respect to the horizontal

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the main support spar is tilted between 8 and 12.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the kneeling pad is of sufficient length to accommodate the lower legs of a user from the knee to the ankle.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pad is cushioned for the comfort of the user.

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

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the foot anchor is unitary with the frame.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the foot anchor is mounted telescopically with respect to the vertical bar of the frame.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the foot anchor comprises a rectangular hollow section, permanently affixed to the upper end of the vertical bar of the frame; fixed to this hollow section, a spring loaded pull pin connected to the base; inside this section, a smaller rectangular section with a series of holes to allow for foot anchor telescopic height adjustments with respect to the pull pin; connected to this smaller adjustable section at a right angle at its upper end, a hollow cylindrical tubular section, projecting outwards equally on opposite sides of the adjustable section, said cylindrical section being covered along its exposed length with foam rollers, all exposed ends of the hollow sections being fitted with plastic caps.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame is made of tubular or box steel.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame extends substantially beyond the lower extremity of the kneeling pad.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame is length adjustable.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the main spar is formed from two pieces, one fitting telescopically within the other, such that the main spar may be collapsed in length to facilitate ease of storage.

14. The apparatus according to claim wherein the frame is height is adjustable.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein side bars extend from the main spar to provide a platform specifically for the kneeling pad.

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

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the ankle anchor restraint is fitted with a resistance spring.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein all exposed ends of hollow sections are fitted with plastic caps.

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

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0035] 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

[0036] 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.

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a 3 dimensional view of the upper portion of the device indicating the adjustability in height of the ankle restraints.

[0038] FIG. 3a shows a side elevation of the device, clearly showing the degree of inclination .

[0039] FIG. 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.

[0040] FIG. 5 shows a 3 dimensional view of another embodiment of the invention wherein the device is supported by two parallel curved tubular spars.

[0041] 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, .

[0042] FIG. 6 shows a 3 dimensional view of a variant of the embodiment in FIG. 5 where in the support spars are shorter.

[0043] FIG. 7a, b and c shows the sequence for performing concentric hamstring exercises.

[0044] FIG. 5a, b and c shows the sequence for performing eccentric hamstring exercises.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] 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.

[0046] 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). FIG. 5 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 we as described above.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 6, in another similar embodiment the main support spars (111) may be shorter for ease of transport.

[0048] 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 it not suitable for concentric exercise, unless the legs beneath the ankle restraints are fixed to the ground. The 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.

[0049] 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, 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.

[0050] 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.