Offset weight exercise device and methods of use thereof

Abstract

Offset weight devices and methods of use. Some devices including a handle having a beveled end, an arm attached to the handle and at least one weight attached to the arm. Other devices include a central handle, a frame circumscribing at least part of the outer edge of the central handle, a rope or cable affixed to the frame, and at least one weight affixed to the rope or cable. The methods include holding an exercise device having a handle and at least one offset weight in a hand, and performing a fundamental upper extremity exercise. Other methods include determining an exercise protocol by evaluating a physical skill to determine fundamental motions associated with the skill and specifying an exercise using an offset weight device. Also included is a system for exercising with an offset weight device having a measuring device to measuring the results of using the offset device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to Provisional Application No. 60 / 684,598, filed May 25, 2005.BACKGROUND [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The invention is generally directed to the field of exercise devices and particularly to exercise devices having an off-set weight and methods of using the exercise devices. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] In the following discussion certain articles and methods will be described for background and introductory purposes. Nothing contained herein is to be construed as an “admission” of prior art. Applicant expressly reserves the right to demonstrate, where appropriate, that the articles and methods referenced herein do not constitute prior art under the applicable statutory provisions. [0006] In the field of upper extremity rehabilitation, delivering the highest quality of care possible to an injured person is very important to help the person regain as much functional strength ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides an exercise device with a handle and an arm that can be attached to weights or a rope / cable. The device can be used to perform various upper extremity exercises. The invention also includes a method for determining an exercise protocol based on a physical skill and a system for measuring the results of using the exercise device. The technical effects of the invention include improved strength, flexibility, and overall fitness."

Problems solved by technology

If the rehabilitation device does not provide forces throughout the full functional range, form is compromised.

This type of rehabilitation equipment is, however, difficult and expensive for use outside of clinic.

Due to the large size, high-end equipment is difficult and cumbersome to deploy.

Further, because high-end equipment has so many moving parts, it requires regular maintenance, special handling, and is easily damaged with rough handling and without proper care.

Additionally, due to high cost and size, high-end equipment is impractical for widespread distribution.

Moreover, rehabilitation with this type of equipment requires bringing the injured person in to a rehab clinic, a geographic constraint requiring presence in and transportation to and from the clinic site.

This is often very difficult and cumbersome, because many people with minor conditions such as moderate elbow, wrist, or hand tendonitis often do not feel their conditions are severe enough to keep them from working for a trip to a rehab clinic.

Many soldiers with apparently minor injuries do not feel their conditions are severe enough to keep them from deploying, on a mission for a trip to a rehab clinic.

It is currently, however, difficult for physical and occupational therapists to address this problem with high-quality rehab equipment being so bulky and difficult to deploy.

Additionally, because such equipment is designed only for in-clinic use many people are unable to enjoy the benefits of high quality rehab when they are away from the clinic, and cannot enjoy the benefits of high-quality exercise between visits.

Due to these constraints, therapists often cannot use high-quality therapeutic devices to rehabilitate soldiers, and have no choice but to use practical alternatives that are less effective, such as, for example, a hammer as shown in FIG. 3.

Although much less extensive and more convenient, there is a significant gap in terms of quality and consistency of the forces provided between high-quality machinery such as the Multi Wrist™ and the hammer or vertical shaft with adjustable weights.

With a vertical shaft there are several significant problems.

If they do not, they will be functionally weaker at the ranges where they did not strength train.

For example, if after an injury, the patient only works his biceps by doing bicep curls starting with the arm straight down and then stopping at 90° rather than curling through a complete 180°, the patient will not enjoy the benefit of stronger muscles for much of the remaining 90° because the muscle fibers have not been strengthened for that region.

In areas where the patient has not been strength trained, the patient will be weak.

This leads to the very serious issue of improper recovery that can lead to long-lasting pain and a higher chance of re-injury.

A vertical weight does not provide this.

Although this is much cheaper, there is an enormous gap in terms of quality and consistency of the forces provided between high-quality machinery and the hammer or vertical shaft with adjustable weights.

In fact, the vertical weight device only provides an adequate torque at positions, unluckily, outside the most desired range of motion (beyond the limits illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5C).

This can be a problem, because during the course of rotation, there is initially no significant induction of rotation.

This extreme variation does not provide a consistent exercise.

Thus it is a very common feature in most rehab clinics despite its lack of effectiveness.

As discussed above, the simple vertical exercise device cannot efficaciously strengthen these muscles.

Further, unless the athlete has unfettered access to high-end machines such as the Multi Wrist™, the athlete faces several problems.

First, without the ability to regularly exercise throughout the full range of motion, it is difficult for the athlete to enhance performance.

Second, weakness in these muscle groups leave an athlete more prone to injury than if they had a practical method to strength train these muscles.

For a soldier in the infantry, operating virtually any type of military equipment is rendered extremely difficult without the ability to perform pronation, supination, ulnar deviation and radial deviation with one's hands and wrists.

The keyboard and mouse interfaces common in the majority of most computers are also rendered extremely difficult to use with injuries that limit these movements.

In addition, wrist pain is notorious for being so pervasive in that it affects such a significant portion of the activities one has to perform that it may reduce the mental clarity of the patient.

This can vastly diminish the patient's quality of work.

Further, this can be frustrating and lead to a vicious cycle of diminished image of self-worth because the soldier understands that without full function of their hands, they are physically capable of far less.

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