Method and device to enable and assist the elderly and females to exercise their leg and chest muscles

Abstract

This combined chest press and leg press exercise machine is comprised of an inclined seat with a weight resistance mechanism attached to handles and a foot-plate for providing adjustable resistance to arm and leg movement. At least one hand rail is positioned to aid entry to and exit from the machine and to stabilize the user while exercising.

A method for using the chest and leg exercise machine is for the user to sit on the inclined seat, hold the weight resistance handles and place his feet on the weight resistance foot-plate. He then pushes with his hands, the said handles forwards, away from the direction of the user's body. Simultaneously, he pushes with his legs on the said foot-plate also away from the direction of the user's body. The said handles and the said foot-plate are then controllably returned to their starting position and the exercise is repeated as desired.

Other methods for using the chest and leg exercise machine could be to operate the chest press and leg press independently or alternately or mostly the chest press with some help from the leg press or visa versa.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention is in the field of exercise resistance machines for improvement of general health, especially strengthening chest and leg muscles providing the physiotherapeutic effects to strengthen, build and rebuild muscle and bone mass, and prevents muscle and bone mass deterioration. This patent relates to and caters for the special needs of the elderly, those convalescing from injury or surgery and females.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The use of machines for exercising the body is well known in the art. For many decades it has been considered beneficial for a person's health to exercise regularly. The benefits are many and probably some that we are not yet aware. A few of the better known benefits are to the functioning of the heart, the blood vessels, the blood cells, the muscles, the bone structure, the functioning of the brain, the levels of cholesterol and blood sugars, and the general feeling of well-being. There was a time when it was felt ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0031]Another object of this invention is to ease the access to and exit from the exercise machine where for example, there is a minimum of overhanging apparatus potentially capable of causing head or other injury and without sharp edges protruding from the apparatus.

[0032]Another object of the invention is to have at least one static support handle to increase the user's stability while entering or exiting the said exercise machine or to hold onto with one hand when operating the said exercise machine with the other hand.

[0033]Another object of the invention is for the angles of the axles and other stress taking connecting pieces to be such that they best exercise the aforementioned muscles without causing strain to other parts of the body.

[0034]Another object of the invention is to make instructions for the user simple to understand and written in large print in a color that contrasts with its background. It is also an object to make the said instructions readable while the user is in position on the exercise machine.

[0035]Another object of the invention is to have a picture on the body of the apparatus in a clearly visible position and color, illustrating an everyday task. This task the infirm often find difficult to carry out and is made easier by strengthening the specific muscles that the machine of this invention helps to strengthen. State of art exercise machines often mention on the machine the name of the muscles that will be strengthened by the machine or sometimes they have a picture of those muscles in a picture of a body. The user of an exercise machine will be able to relate much easier to a picture of the everyday task that will be enhanced by using the machine. It will give the user a greater incentive to work diligently at the said exercises.

Problems solved by technology

One of the factors that make it difficult for the elderly is their lack of agility.

They often have pain when moving their various limbs.

If they avoid exercising then they do not enjoy the many side benefits of exercising and a vicious cycle is sometimes created whereby their health deteriorates generally.

Most prior art exercise machines do not take into account the special needs of the elderly and therefore help to create this barrier.

The machines are often cumbersome, sometimes complicated to operate, without easily understandable instructions, without handles to aid entering and exiting and without taking into account the sometimes frail and painful limbs of the elderly.

The elderly either currently suffer from ailments that are best assisted by controlled exercise or are likely to suffer from such ailments if they do not exercise, for example, heart disease, weight control, walking stability, osteoporosis, lower back pains.

Daily activities, that a younger person performs automatically without realizing how many muscles and joints are involved, can be a major cause of pain and other discomforts throughout the day for the elderly and disabled.

These are but a few of the hundreds of activities that an elderly person has to do daily and without regular exercising and muscle strengthening these everyday activities become more difficult as the person ages.

The Japanese Patent No. 2004016577 issued to Shigeo et al. reveals an exercise machine where the user can exercise in a recumbent position but the range of movements of the arms and legs is limited with no possibility of increasing or decreasing the stress to the arms or legs.

As a result these health funds often subsidize for their members, the membership fees of exercise clubs.

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