SHOULDER MUSCLE EXERCISE MACHINE

Abstract

A machine for exercising various shoulder muscles. The machine includes a plurality of structural elements having a main vertical beam, a cross beam and a base frame operable to be positioned on the ground, where the main beam extends vertically from the base frame and the cross beam is mounted to and extends perpendicular to the vertical beam. The machine further includes a support cup coupled to the main vertical beam, a pulley mounted to the cross beam, a cable extending through the pulley, a handle coupled to an end of the cable, and a seat mounted to the vertical beam. The configuration and orientation of the structural elements, pulleys, cables and handles allow a user seated in the seat to position the user's arm in the support cup and pull on the handle to exercise the user's shoulder muscles.

Claims

1. An exercise machine comprising: a plurality of structural elements including a main vertical beam, a cross beam and a base frame operable to be positioned on the ground, said main beam extending vertically from the base frame and said cross beam mounted to and extending perpendicular to the vertical beam; a left arm support cup coupled to the main vertical beam; a left-side pulley mounted to a left end of the cross beam; a left-side cable extending through the left-side pulley; a left-side handle coupled to an end of the left-side cable; a right arm support cup coupled to the main vertical beam; a right-side pulley mounted to a right end of the cross beam; a right-side cable extending through the right-side pulley; a right-side handle coupled to an end of the right-side cable; and a seat mounted to the vertical beam, wherein the configuration and orientation of the structural elements, pulleys, cables and handles allow a user seated in the seat to position the user's left and right arm in the left arm and right arm support cups and pull on the left-side and right-side handles to exercise the user's left and right side shoulder muscles.

2. The exercise machine according to claim 1 wherein the left arm support cup is mounted to the cross beam by a left-side bar and the right arm support cup is mounted to the cross beam by a right-side bar.

3. The exercise machine according to claim 2 wherein the support cups are pivotally secured to the bars.

4. The exercise machine according to claim 1 wherein the left arm support cup and the right arm support cup are shaped to accept the user's tricep.

5. The exercise machine according to claim 1 further comprising a weight assembly including a weight and a weight beam where the weight is movable along the weight beam and where the weight beam is mounted to the base frame at a pivot point, wherein moving the weight on the weight beam relative to the pivot point increases or decreases the weight of the exercises, said left-side and right-side cables being coupled to the weight beam.

6. The exercise machine according to claim 5 further comprising a weight lifting pulley, said left-side and right-side cables being coupled to the weight beam through the weight lifting pulley.

7. The exercise machine according to claim 6 further comprising a load cell coupled to the weight assembly, said load cell providing an output signal identifying a load on the weight.

8. The exercise machine according to claim 7 wherein the load cell is a strain gauge and the output signal is a voltage.

9. The exercise machine according to claim 7 wherein the load cell is positioned between the weight beam and the weight lifting pulley.

10. The exercise machine according to claim 5 further comprising a stop bar mounted to the base frame and positioned adjacent to the weight beam, said stop bar including a stop pin that prevents the weight beam from being lifted higher than the stop pin.

11. An exercise machine comprising: a plurality of structural elements including a main vertical beam and a base frame operable to be positioned on the ground, said main beam extending vertically from the base frame; an arm support cup coupled to the main vertical beam; a pulley coupled to the main vertical beam; a cable extending through the pulley; and a handle coupled to an end of the cable, wherein the configuration and orientation of the structural elements, pulley, cable and handle allow a user to position the user's arm in the support cup and pull on the handle to exercise the user's shoulder muscles.

12. The exercise machine according to claim 11 wherein the support cup is mounted to a cross beam by a bar.

13. The exercise machine according to claim 12 wherein the support cup is pivotally secured to the bar.

14. The exercise machine according to claim 11 wherein the support cup is shaped to accept the user's tricep.

15. The exercise machine according to claim 11 further comprising a weight assembly including a weight and a weight beam where the weight is movable along the weight beam and where the weight beam is mounted to the base frame at a pivot point, wherein moving the weight on the weight beam relative to the pivot point increases or decreases the weight of the exercises, said cable being coupled to the weight beam.

16. The exercise machine according to claim 15 further comprising a weight lifting pulley, said cable being coupled to the weight beam through the weight lifting pulley.

17. The exercise machine according to claim 16 further comprising a load cell coupled to the weight assembly, said load cell providing an output signal identifying a load on the weight.

18. The exercise machine according to claim 17 wherein the load cell is a strain gauge and the output signal is a voltage.

19. The exercise machine according to claim 17 wherein the load cell is positioned between the weight beam and the weight lifting pulley.

20. The exercise machine according to claim 15 further comprising a stop bar mounted to the base frame and positioned adjacent to the weight beam, said stop bar including a stop pin that prevents the weight beam from being lifted higher than the stop pin.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of a machine for exercising the rotator cuff muscles;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a back isometric view of the machine for exercising the rotator cuff muscles;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a front view of the machine for exercising the rotator cuff muscles;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a back view of the machine for exercising the rotator cuff muscles;

[0015] FIG. 5 is a side view of the machine for exercising the rotator cuff muscles;

[0016] FIG. 6 is a top view of the machine for exercising the rotator cuff muscles;

[0017] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the machine for exercising the rotator cuff muscles;

[0018] FIG. 8 is a cut-away front view of the machine for exercising the rotator cuff muscles showing the gull wings in an up position;

[0019] FIG. 9 is a cut-away isometric view of the machine for exercising the rotator cuff muscles better illustrating the linear screw for positioning the gull wings;

[0020] FIG. 10 is a cut-away view of the machine for exercising the rotator cuff muscles showing one of the cable brakes;

[0021] FIG. 11 is a front isometric view of a shoulder muscle exercising machine for exercising various shoulder muscles; and

[0022] FIG. 12 is a rear isometric view of the shoulder muscle exercise machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0023] The following discussion of the embodiments of the disclosure directed to an exercise machine for exercising shoulder muscles is merely exemplary in nature, and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure or its applications or uses.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a front isometric view, FIG. 2 is a back isometric view, FIG. 3 is a front view, FIG. 4 is a back view, FIG. 5 is a side view, FIG. 6 is a top view and FIG. 7 is a bottom view of a machine 10 for exercising the rotator cuff muscles. As will be discussed in detail below, the exercise machine 10 operates to individually and separately isolate and exercise each of the four rotator cuff muscles for both arms of a person or user using the machine 10. As will also be discussed below, the machine 10 includes a number of structural elements typically made of steel that may be powder coated and assembled together in the configuration shown using any suitable securing devices, such as welds, bolts, screws, glue, etc. The machine 10 is shown open so that most of the internal components of the machine 10 are visible, where the final commercial product of the exercise machine 10 will include various protective covers, show surfaces, panels, etc., and where the internal components of the machine 10 may not be visible. Although some of these structural elements are shown having a general square or box configuration in this particular embodiment, that is by way of a non-limiting example in that any suitable shape for these structural elements can be employed, including round and oval shapes. Further, it is noted that the specific configuration of the structural elements is one design applicable for the features of the invention discussed herein, where other configurations may also be equally applicable. It is also noted that the machine 10 generally has left-right symmetry in that many of the elements of the machine 10 are identical on left and right sides of the machine 10 for providing exercises for both the left and right arm and shoulder of the user.

[0025] The structural support elements of the machine 10 include a main vertical beam 12 secured to a base frame 14 that sits on the floor, where the main beam 12 extends the height of the machine 10. The base frame 14 includes support bars 16, 18 and 20 and a plate 22 that define a frame structure. A left-side hollow platform 24 is secured to the left end of the base frame 14 and extends forward therefrom and a right-side hollow platform 26 is secured to a right end of the base frame 14 and extends forward therefrom. A left-side hollow vertical post 28 extends up from the platform 24 parallel to the main beam 12 at the front of the machine 10 and a right-side hollow vertical post 30 extends up from the platform 26 parallel to the main beam 12 at the front of the machine 10. A horizontal beam 32 is welded to and about half way up a back-side of the main beam 12 and extends substantially the width of the machine 10. A top plate 34 is welded to a top surface of the main beam 12 and acts as a support for some of the various pulleys that control the operation of the machine 10, as will be discussed in detail below.

[0026] A seat support bar 50 extends perpendicularly from the main beam 12 and a seat 54 is slidably mounted to the support bar 50. The orientation of the left-side and right-side of the machine 10 as discussed herein is relative to the left and right arms of a person sitting in the seat 54 and facing forward with their back to the beam 12. The bar 50 is mounted to a slide mechanism 52 that is capable of being slid along some distance of the length of the main beam 12 and be locked at different seating height locations for users of different heights by a suitable hook and pin design, or other suitable structure. For example, a spring loaded pull pin 118 mounted to the mechanism 52 may be retracted into a support opening in the beam 12, where the pin 58 can be withdrawn from the opening against the spring bias to move the mechanism 52 to a higher or lower location where the pin 58 is released to be inserted into to another opening at that level. The seat 54 is also positionable at different distances from the main beam 12 along the bar 50 by activating a release lever 56 also for different sized users.

[0027] A weight assembly 60 including a cylindrical weight 62 is mounted to the base frame 14, as shown. The weight assembly 60 includes an angled weight beam 64 on which the weight 62 is mounted, where the weight 62 is positionable at any location along the beam 64 by a linear screw 66 to increase or decrease the lifting load of the exercise for any weight within a certain range. In this non-limiting embodiment, an electric motor 70 controlled by a control box 72 mounted to a top of the post 28 electrically rotates the linear screw 66, and a linear actuator 74 measures the position of the weight 62. The control box 72 includes a display 84 that displays the selected weight. The size of the weight 62 can be any suitable weight, such as 100 lbs. A top end of the beam 64 is pivotally mounted to a post 68 extending from the bar 18 of the frame 14. An opposite end of the beam 64 is pivotally mounted to a support box 76 by a pivot joint 86 that is liftable therefrom during operation of the machine 10, as will be discussed in detail below. A pulley 80 is rotatably mounted in the box 76 and a stabilizing bar 82 extends through the box 76, where a lower end of the bar 82 is slidably positioned on the plate 22 and a top end of the bar 82 is pivotally mounted to the top plate 34 by a pivot pin 36. Each of the exercises discussed below causes the box 76 to be lifted along the bar 82, where the box 76 rides on linear bearings (not shown) on the bar 82, and where the bar 82 keeps the pulley 80 aligned with a pulley assembly, discussed below. The location of the weight 62 on the beam 64 determines how much weight resistance the user will feel, and where the amount of weight for a particular exercise increases as the weight 62 is moved closer to the box 76.

[0028] The machine 10 also includes a gull wing assembly 90 mounted to a front side of the main beam 12 opposite to the horizontal bar 32 and above the seat 54. The gull wing assembly 90 includes a back plate 96 mounted to the beam 12 and having an upper track 98 and a lower track 100. A left-side slide assembly 102 and a right-side slide assembly 104 are slidably mounted by slide bearings on the tracks 98 and 100. The assembly 90 also includes a left-side gull wing 92 and right-side gull wing 94 shown in their down position substantially perpendicular to the ground in FIGS. 1-7. The gull wing assembly 90 is shown separated from the machine 10 in FIG. 8 with the gull wings 92 and 94 in their up and locked position substantially parallel to the ground. A spring loaded pin 46 is pulled out to release the pin 46 from an opening 78 in the slide assembly 102 to allow the gull wing 92 to be rotated to its down position, and a spring loaded pin 48 is pulled out to release the pin 48 from an opening 88 in the slide assembly 104 to allow the gull wing 94 to be rotated to its down position.

[0029] The slide assemblies 102 and 104 can be positioned at any location along the length of the tracks 98 and 100 to position the gull wings 92 and 94 closer or farther apart depending on the size of the particular user. In this embodiment, the position of the assemblies 102 and 104 is set by a linear screw 38 that extends through the beam 12. FIG. 9 is a cut-away isometric view of the machine 10 better illustrating the linear screw 38. A bracket 40 is slidably mounted to the screw 38 and rigidly mounted to the assembly 102 and a bracket 42 is slidably mounted to the screw 38 and rigidly mounted to the assembly 104. Rotation of a knob 44 in either the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction causes the screw 38 to rotate in the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction to move the assemblies 102 and 104 together or apart. The gull wing 92 is mounted to the slide assembly 102 at pivot rod 106 by a bar 108, and the gull wing 94 is mounted to the slide assembly 104 at pivot rod 110 by a bar 112, where the pivot rods 106 and 110 allow the gull wings 92 and 94 to be rotated between the up and down positions for different exercises, as will be discussed below.

[0030] As will be discussed in detail below, the user will sit in the seat 54 to exercise each of the separate rotator cuff muscles for both the user's right shoulder and left shoulder by lifting the weight 62. Each exercise requires a combination of certain handles, pulleys, cables, etc. interconnected to the various structural elements of the machine 10 discussed above. Those various handles, pulleys, cables and other components will be specifically identified through a discussion of each separate exercise below.

[0031] A first exercise cable 120 is employed for the exercises for the left-side supraspinatus muscle and the left-side teres minor muscle. The components used to exercise the left-side supraspinatus muscle include a U-shaped handle 122 that is slidably mounted to a lower end of a specially configured bar 124 along a track 126 so as to be self-adjusting for different sized users. A counter weight 128 is rigidly mounted to an opposite end of the bar 124 from the handle 122. The bar 124 is pivotally mounted to a left-side end of the horizontal beam 32 by a pivot bolt 130. A cable bar 132 is rigidly mounted to and extends from the bar 124 proximate the pivot bolt 130 and includes a coupler 134 at an opposite end from the bar 124 to which one end of the cable 120 is secured. The cable 120 extends through an opening in the plate 34, around a pulley 140 mounted to a top surface of the plate 34 and around a pulley 142 also mounted to the top surface of the plate 34. The cable 120 then extends down through an opening in the plate 34 and around an upper pulley 144 that is part of a pulley assembly 146 that includes a lower pulley 148.

[0032] The components used to exercise the left-side teres minor muscle include a handle 160 held in a handle holder 162 when not in use, where the handle 160 is coupled to an opposite end of the first cable 120 from the bar 124. This end of the cable 120 wraps around a pulley (not shown) positioned within a pulley housing 164, around a pulley 166 mounted within the platform 24, around a pulley 168 mounted to a left-side bottom end of the main beam 12, extends through an opening in the top plate 34, around a pulley 170 mounted to the top surface of the top plate 34, around a pulley 172 also mounted to the top surface of the top plate 34, and back through an opening in the top plate 34 to the upper pulley 144.

[0033] To exercise the left-side supraspinatus muscle, the user holds the handle 122 with his or her thumb pointing towards their body and lifts their arm upward away from their body so that the bar 124 pivots on the pivot bolt 130. The orientation of the bar 124 maintains the angle of the lifting motion of the user's arm at 30 relative to a plane through the user's body, which is the required angle to specifically isolate the supraspinatus muscle without firing other muscles. As the user lifts up on the handle 122 and the bar 124 pivots on the pivot bolt 130, the end of the cable 120 coupled to the coupler 134 is drawn downward away from the plate 34 lifting up on the pulley 144, where the cable 120 on the other side of the pulley 144 is anchored by the handle 160. Lifting the pulley 144 lifts the pulley assembly 146, which pulls up on the pulley 80, which pulls a third cable discussed below, which lifts the weight beam 64 causing the box 76 to move along the rod 82 against the weight 62. When the bar 124 is pivoted on the pivot bolt 130, and the counter weight 128 goes over center, the counter weight 128 counters the weight of the handle 122 so that the true weight of the weight 62 is being lifted.

[0034] To exercise the left-side teres minor muscle, the user will position the left-side gull wing 92 in its up and locked position as shown in FIG. 8 and will rest their left upper arm on top of the gull wing 92. The height of the seat 54 is adjusted so that the upper arm of the user is substantially parallel to the floor on the gull wing 92 during this exercise. While in this position, the user will hold the handle 160 and externally rotate their shoulder while resting their upper arm on the gull wing 92. This motion draws the cable 120 and causes the pulley 144 and the pulley assembly 146 to be raised, thus raising the weight beam 64 and the weight 62 in the manner discussed above. The cable 120 on other side of the pulley 144 is anchored by the bar 124.

[0035] A second exercise cable 180 is employed for the exercises for the right-side supraspinatus muscle and the right-side teres minor muscle. The components used to exercise the right-side supraspinatus muscle include a U-shaped handle 182 that is slidably mounted to a lower end of a specially configured bar 184 along a track 186 so as to be self-adjusting for different sized users. A counter weight 188 is rigidly mounted to an opposite end of the bar 184. The bar 184 is pivotally mounted to the right-side end of the horizontal beam 32 by a pivot bolt 190 opposite to the pivot bolt 130. A cable bar 192 is rigidly mounted to and extends from the bar 184 proximate the pivot bolt 190 and includes a coupler 194 at an opposite end from the bar 184 to which one end of the second cable 180 is secured. The cable 180 extends through an opening in the plate 34, around a pulley 216 mounted to a top surface of the plate 34 and around a pulley 218 also mounted to the top surface of the plate 34. The cable 180 then extends down through an opening in the plate 34 and around an upper pulley 196 that is part of a pulley assembly 198 that includes a lower pulley 200.

[0036] The components used to exercise the right-side teres minor muscle include a handle 202 held in a handle holder 204 when not in use, where the handle 202 is coupled to an opposite end of the second cable 180 from the bar 184. This end of the cable 180 wraps around a pulley (not shown) positioned in a pulley housing 206, around a pulley 208 mounted within the platform 26, around a pulley 210 mounted to a right-side bottom end of the main beam 12 opposite to the pulley 168, around a pulley 212 mounted to a bottom surface of the plate 34, around a pulley 214 also mounted to a bottom surface of the plate 34, and then to the upper pulley 196.

[0037] To exercise the right-side supraspinatus muscle, the user holds the handle 182 with their thumb pointing towards their body and lifts their arm upward away from their body so that the bar 184 pivots on the pivot bolt 190. The orientation of the bar 184 maintains the angle of the lifting motion of the user's arm at 30 relative to a plane through the user's body, which is the required angle to specifically isolate the supraspinatus muscle without firing other muscles. As the user lifts up on the handle 182 and the bar 184 pivots on the pivot bolt 190, the cable 180 is drawn downward lifting up on the upper pulley 196, where the cable 180 on the other side of the pulley 196 is anchored by the handle 202. Lifting the pulley 196 lifts the pulley assembly 198, which pulls up on the pulley 80, which pulls the third cable, discussed below, which lifts the end of the weight beam 64 causing the box 76 to move along the rod 82 against the weight 62. The rod 82 keeps the pulley 80 aligned with the pulley assembly 198. When the bar 184 is pivoted on the pivot bolt 190, and the counter weight 188 goes over center, the counter weight 188 counters the weight of the handle 182 so that the true weight of the weight 62 is being lifted.

[0038] To exercise the right-side teres minor muscle, the user will position the right-side gull wing 94 in its up and locked position as shown in FIG. 8 and will rest their left forearm on top of the gull wing 94. The height of the seat 54 is adjusted so that the upper arm of the user is substantially parallel to the floor on the gull wing 94 during this exercise. While in this position, the user will hold the handle 202 and extendedly rotate their shoulder while resting their upper arm on the gull wing 94. This motion draws the cable 180 and causes the pulley 196 and the pulley assembly 198 to be raised, thus raising the weight beam 64 and the weight 62 in the manner discussed above. The cable 180 on other side of the pulley 196 is anchored by the bar 184.

[0039] A third cable 220 is employed for all of the exercises for the left-side infraspinatus muscle, the right-side infraspinatus muscle, the left-side subscapularus muscle and the right-side subscapularus muscle. It is necessary that the user hold their upper arm against their body and pivot their forearm away from their body in order for the infraspinatus muscle to be isolated and the exercise to be performed properly. To insure that this happens, the machine 10 includes a left-side cable brake 222 and a right-side cable brake 224, where a broken-away view of the machine 10 is shown in FIG. 10 highlighting the left-side cable brake 222. The brakes 222 and 224 include a spring loaded piston 226 that pushes the cable 220 against a braking bumper 228 to prevent it from moving. The piston 226 is pulled away from the bumper 228 against the spring force by activating a left-side brake cable 230 for the left-side brake 222 and a right-side brake cable 232 for the right-side brake 224. An end of the brake cable 230 opposite to the brake 222 is coupled to a right-side lever 114 pivotally mounted to the right-side slide assembly 104 so that when the user pushes their right upper arm against an outside surface of the gull wing 94 when it is in the down position and against their body, the lever 114 pivots, which draws the cable 230 to release the brake 222. Likewise, an end of the brake cable 232 opposite to the brake 224 is coupled to a left-side lever 116 pivotally mounted to the left-side slide assembly 102 so that when the user pushes their left upper arm against an outside surface of the gull wing 92 when it is in the down position and against their body, the lever 116 pivots, which draws the cable 232 to release the brake 224.

[0040] The components used to perform the exercises for both the right-side infraspinatus muscle and the left-side subscapularus muscle include a handle 240 coupled to one end of the cable 220. The cable 220 extends around a pulley 242 mounted in the top end of the post 28, around a pulley (not shown) mounted in a bottom end of the post 28, around a pulley 246 mounted at a back end of the platform 24, around a pulley 248 mounted to the plate 22, around the lower pulley 148 and to the pulley 80. Likewise, the components used to perform the exercises for both the left-side infraspinatus muscle and the right-side subscapularus muscle include a handle 250 coupled to an opposite end of the cable 220. The cable 220 extends around a pulley 252 mounted in a top end of the post 30, around a pulley (not shown) mounted in a bottom end of the post 30, around a pulley 256 mounted to a back end of the platform 26 and around the lower pulley 200 to the pulley 80.

[0041] When performing the right-side infraspinatus muscle exercise, the user will hold their upper right arm against the gull wing 94 to release the brake 222 as described above. With the brake 222 released, the user will also hold the handle 240 in their right hand and pivot their right forearm at the elbow, away from their body, which draws the cable 220 through the pulleys 242, 246, 248 and 148, which causes the pulley 80 and thus the end of the weight beam 64 to be lifted because the opposite end of the cable 220 is held by the brake 224. Likewise, when the user performs the left-side subscapularus muscle exercise the user will hold their right upper arm against the gull wing 94 to release the brake 222. With the brake 222 released, the user will hold the handle 240 in their left hand and pull in towards their umbilicus, which draws the cable 220 through the pulleys 242, 246, 248 and 148, which causes the pulley 80 and thus the end of the weight beam 64 to be lifted against the weight 62 because the opposite end of the cable 220 is held by the brake 224.

[0042] When performing the left-side infraspinatus muscle exercise, the user will hold their upper left arm against the gull wing 92 to release the brake 224 as described above. With the brake 224 released, the user will also hold the handle 250 in their left hand and pivot their left forearm at the elbow, away from their body which draws the cable 220 through the pulleys 252, 256 and 148, which causes the pulley 80 and thus the end of the weight beam 64 to be lifted because the opposite end of the cable 220 is held by the brake 222. Likewise, when the user performs the right-side subscapularis muscle exercise the user will hold their left upper arm against the gull wing 92 to release the brake 224. With the brake 224 released, the user will hold the handle 250 in their right hand and pull the handle 250 towards their umbilicus, which draws the cable 220 through the pulleys 252, 256, and 200, which causes the pulley 80 and thus the weight beam 64 to be lifted against the weight 62 because the opposite end of the cable 220 is held by the brake 222.

[0043] FIG. 11 is a front isometric view and FIG. 12 is a rear isometric view of a shoulder muscle exercise machine 260 for exercising various shoulder muscles as discussed below that is similar to the machine 10 discussed above, where like elements are identified by the same reference number. The machine 260 includes all of the necessary elements and components to exercise the rotator cuff muscles in a similar or the same manner as the machine 10. The machine 260 also includes all of the necessary elements and components to exercise other shoulder muscles. One of those exercises is referred to herein as the House Combo exercise. The House Combo exercise is a complex movement that involves the coordination of the periscapular muscles with the glenohumeral joint muscles to promote synergy for the safe, efficient and effective transfer of energy in the overhead athlete. The House Combo exercise optimizes the strength, stability and performance of the shoulder joint in one motion. It is noted that most of the cables are not shown for clarity.

[0044] To perform the House Combo exercise, the machine 260 includes a left arm support cup 262 pivotally coupled to a bar 264 by a connector (not shown), where the bar 264 is pivotally coupled to the bar 108. The machine 260 also includes a right arm support cup 270 pivotally coupled to a bar 272 by a connector 274, where the bar 272 is pivotally coupled to the bar 112. The machine 260 includes a left-side pulley 280 pivotally coupled to one end of a bracket 282 by a pivot connector 284, where an opposite end of the bracket 282 is secured to the horizontal beam 32. A left-side handle 286 is secured to a cable 288 that extends through the pulley 280 and is coupled to the weight beam 64 in the manner discussed above. The machine 260 also includes a right-side pulley 290 pivotally coupled to one end of a bracket 292 by a pivot connector 294, where an opposite end of the bracket 292 is secured to the horizontal beam 32. A right-side handle 296 is secured to a cable 298 that extends through the pulley 290 and is coupled to the weight beam 64 in the manner discussed above.

[0045] The shoulder having the muscles to be exercised by the House Combo exercise begins in the 90 abducted and 90 externally rotated position. The user's tricep is firmly seated in the support cup 262, 270 to maintain the shoulder joint and arm in the proper position throughout the entire range of motion during the House Combo exercise. This, along with the starting position of the handle, ensures proper activation of the muscles involved in the exercise and provides the proper force vector to approximate the overhead motion of the rotational athlete. While in this starting position, the user grasps the handle 286, 296 and internally rotates his/her shoulder while keeping his/her tricep in the cup 262, 270 and his/her elbow bent at 90. As the user pulls on the handle 286, 296, the weight bar 64 is lifted providing the resistance. This downward rotating motion continues until the user's hand is pointing toward the floor while keeping his/her shoulder in the original abducted position. The force generated by the movement can be recorded for analysis.

[0046] The deltoid muscle keeps the shoulder abducted at 90 during the entire movement during the House Combo exercise. The subscapularis, pectoralis major, anterior head of the deltoid, latissimus dorsi and teres major muscles all contract to internally rotate the shoulder throughout the movement during the House Combo exercise. The teres minor and infraspinatus muscles act as a force to provide a posterior stabilizing force. The serratus anterior muscle contracts to stabilize the scapula against the thoracic wall. The pectoralis minor muscle also contracts to draw the scapula anteriorly and inferiorly to stabilize the scapula on the thoracic wall. The levator scapulae, rhomboid major, rhomboid minor and the trapezius muscles also contract to stabilize the scapula on the thoracic wall.

[0047] The machine 260 includes a load cell 300 mounted between the end of the weight beam 64 opposite to the motor 70 and the pulley 80 that moves the weight beam 64 up and down. In one non-limiting embodiment, the load cell 300 is a simple strain gauge that outputs a voltage according to how much load it sees when an exercise is performed and the weight beam 64 is raised, which allows measurement of the users strength or progress as they use the machine 260. The machine 260 also includes an adjustable stop bar 302 having holes 304 secured to the frame 14 at one end and positioned adjacent to the weight beam 64. A stop pin 306 is inserted into one of holes 304 that prevents the beam 64 from being further raised that allows the user to restrict or stop the weight system anywhere in their range of motion for each exercise. When the user selects a strength test from a main screen 308 the weight system returns to the home position. The user slowly moves through the exercise until they feel resistance when the weight beam 64 contacts the stop pin 306. They then try to develop a maximum force and hold this for two seconds. The load cell 300 outputs a voltage to a controller 310, which is scaled to a force or weight. The strength test can be done on any of the exercises discussed herein. The user selects their dominant and non-dominant arms, and the controller 310 calculates a difference between the two arms. The data is saved and is stored in software.

[0048] The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion and from the accompanying drawings and claims that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined in the following claims.