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Method and apparatus for torso muscle lengthening

Inactive Publication Date: 2006-10-19
KOCH CYNTHIA N
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0031] In the current invention, these front torso muscles 410 are lengthened, thereby permitting the back muscles 420 to relax or shorten, and permitting the head 400 to be held in a more vertical position as indicated in FIG. IB. One measurement of the effectiveness of this lengthening of the torso muscles is the increase of distance between the hip and the rib.
[0036] The stretch movements leave the added benefit of waking up the lower stomach muscles and providing new vitality. As a person performs the stretches, the shortened muscles that connect the lower abdomen to the top of the leg begin lengthening, giving more freedom of motion in the pelvic area.
[0040] In another embodiment of the invention, a system of exercise and measurement is provided which comprises the stretching exercises, the stretch strap, the recording of exercise date and times, and the recording of “hip-to-rib”, “pledge”, and “shoulder-to-shoulder” measurements. The expected outcome of a diligent exercise program is that all of the measurements would show a sustained improvement. These measurements are quantifiable indices of improved posture. Other benefits of improved posture, such as improved breathing, improved appearance, and improved self esteem, are more difficult to quantify, but should accompany improvements in the measurements. The measurements serve both to feedback the results of the exercise, and to motivate a person to continue the exercise program and to seek continued improvement through advanced techniques such as yoga, Pilates, or massage.

Problems solved by technology

A very common problem is the “forward head position” as indicated in the simplified schematic of FIG.
Once this condition occurs, it is not effective to simply attempt to hold the head back in its preferred orientation.
This attempt will lead to discomfort in a short time.

Method used

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  • Method and apparatus for torso muscle lengthening
  • Method and apparatus for torso muscle lengthening
  • Method and apparatus for torso muscle lengthening

Examples

Experimental program
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Embodiment Construction

TORSO MUSCLE LENGTHENING WITH STRETCH SEQUENCE

[0065] In this embodiment, a person performs a series of six stretch exercises, preferably three times per day. Each exercise set takes approximately 3-5 minutes to perform until the person becomes comfortable with the set of movements, and then it becomes her choice as to how long to hold each movement.

[0066] An unexpected result of the current invention is that significant improvement in posture can be obtained by regular performance of a short series of stretching exercises.

[0067] Each exercise has a stance, and a hand grip position on a towel or stretch strap as described below. Each exercise uses a non-elastic strap, such as a medium weight towel, bathrobe belt, a necktie, or a strip of fabric. Elastic bands, such as physical therapist devices, should not be used for these stretches.

[0068] In this embodiment, the positions are named in a manner to suggest the desired position for executing the stretch. The stretches are designat...

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PUM

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Abstract

Posture improvement by conducting a set of stretch protocols with an inelastic strap which lengthen front torso muscles in order to reduce forward head position, and to decrease rounded shoulders. Posture improvement is monitored by periodically taking hip to rib, sternum to shoulder, and shoulder to shoulder measurements. The protocols may be performed at home, or in groups such as company sponsored activity. The strap may include markings to permit a participant to readily determine desired hand positions on the strap for a stretch protocol.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to a method and apparatus for lengthening human torso muscles by a series of manual stretching exercises conducted with a strap, and monitoring the improvement from those exercises with specific posture-related measurements. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Today's lifestyle of television, computers, and automobile driving has led to a decline in most people's posture. In general, that impaired posture is a combination of a forward head position, rounded shoulders, and raised shoulders. The forward head position causes, or is caused by, a shortening of some torso muscles and a corresponding lengthening of muscles in the back. Similarly, the rounded shoulders cause, or, are caused by shortening of upper chest muscles—the pec minor and the pectoralis; and involuntary lengthening of the upper back muscles, the trapezius, deltoid and rhomboid, and the neck muscles—lavatory, scapula and stenoid, thus creating both rounded shoulders and f...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): A63B21/002A63B23/00
CPCA63B21/0004A63B23/12A63B21/0023A63B23/03533A63B23/1209A63B21/4043
Inventor KOCH, CYNTHIA N.
Owner KOCH CYNTHIA N
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