Muscle conditioning apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus (10) for muscle conditioning comprises a supporting body (12), a hood-shaped pad (14), moveable relative to the body (12), and resistive means in the form of a weight stack (16) and suspension mechanism (18). The weight stack (16) is coupled to the hood-shaped pad (14) via the suspension mechanism (18), such that a resistive force can be applied against movement of the hood-shaped pad (14) from a first position relative to the body (12) to a second position relative to the body (12). The apparatus enables the conditioning of the muscles required for successful rugby scrummaging.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates to a muscle conditioning apparatus. Particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a muscle conditioning apparatus that can be used by rugby players to develop the muscles and technique required for producing an effective performance during scrummaging.BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION[0002]Rugby Union is a popular team sport that is renowned for its high intensity, full contact playing style. It is a sport that requires a variety of physical characteristics including high degrees of strength expression, power and aerobic ability.[0003]Physiologically, strength may either be isometric or isotonic. Isometric strength relates to muscular contraction against resistance, in which the length of the muscle, once contracted, remains the same. Applying a resistance at a fixed angle, such that there is no movement of the joint, can develop this type of strength. In contrast, isotonic strength relates to muscular contraction in which t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0020]Thus, according to this aspect of the invention, the relative arrangement of the head member and the chest member ensures that movement of the head against the resistive torque of the head member exercises the cervical section of the spine. In this way, the apparatus can be used for muscle conditioning to strengthen the necks of rugby players, as well as for the general physical exercise of others.

[0030]Thus, viewed from this aspect, the present invention enables the conditioning of the muscles required for successful scrummaging. In particular, the apparatus allows for development of isotonic cervical extension strength (ICES) through use of the pivotable head member. Consequently, the apparatus targets the semispinalis capitus and cervicis, multifidus and splenius muscles required for front row players to adopt the correct body position for the sustained push phase of scrummaging. Conditioning of these specific muscles also helps to provide protection against hyperflexion injury of the cervical spine. Through translational movement of the second member, the apparatus also allows for the conditioning of other muscles, in particular, those in the lower back. Thus helping to stabilise the entire spine to prevent hyper mobility of spinal segments resulting in burning pain, i.e. ‘stingers’, and disc protrusions, i.e. ‘slipped discs’.

[0031]The present invention also facilitates finctional training incorporating compound multi-joint exercises. Thus, the apparatus can be used to condition the gluteus maximus and quadriceps for the isotonic knee extension required during the sustained push phase of a scrum. It can also be used to condition the calf muscles to reduce the risk of calf injury, which is the most common scrum-related injury.

[0032]Players can use the muscle conditioning apparatus of the present invention, in order to train the muscles required during a scrum, in a much shorter period of time than if reliance were placed on many years of exposure to match conditions, as is currently the case. Not only that, but the gains in strength attainable through use of the present apparatus may in fact be greater than those achievable through repeated exposure to live scrums, and therefore the present invention may enable players to perform at a higher level than was previously attainable.

[0034]Preferably, a chest member is arranged to contact a user's trunk, when in use. This, therefore, can simulate the position of an opponent's head against the chest of a front row player. The chest member enables a user to more accurately generate the forces required in order to adopt the correct body position for the sustained push phase of a scrum.

[0040]Preferably, the resistive means comprises a weight stack and a suspension mechanism. Preferably, when a user applies a force against the shoulder and / or head members that causes movement and / or rotation of said shoulder and / or head members, the suspension mechanism causes a weight selected from the weight stack to be suspended. It will be understood that gravity acting on the suspended weight will act as a restoring or resistive force against the movement and / or rotation of said shoulder and / or head members. Selection of a greater weight will result in a larger resistive force being generated.

Problems solved by technology

As a result of the above, the defending player is forced to adopt a poor body position with extreme flexion of the cervical spine and poor thoracic spinal alignment.

Thus, the defending player is severely disadvantaged for exerting any force on his opponent.

However, there is a lack of specific conditioning equipment for the players in the front row of the scrum.

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