Method and Apparatus for Athletic Training

Abstract

A method of use of resistant and assistant forces of increasing values applied timely to the legs of an athlete, whereby an athlete's central nervous system is acclimated toward a pattern of enhancement of use of the legs of the athlete and resultant overall enhancement of the stride of the athlete. In one embodiment, apparatus comprising of a pair of ankle bands which are interconnectable by a variety of elastic cords, each of a predetermined length but with varying degrees of elasticity, is provided. After a time period of workout with a first configuration of elastic cord having a first resistance to elongation, a second configuration of elastic cord of a second, greater resistance to elongation is employed. After a time period of workout with the second configuration, a third configuration of elastic cord having a third, greater resistance to elongation than that of the second configuration is employed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Not ApplicableSTATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not ApplicableFIELD OF INVENTION[0003]This invention relates to methods and apparatus useful in training an athlete with respect to his / her (hereinafter, “their”) leg movements, and is especially useful for enhancement of the stride (length) of the displacement movements of the legs of the athlete and the speed (turn over rate) of such stride.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0004]In the prior art there are numerous training routines for athletes, such as for example runners, some standing alone and some having apparatus associated with the routine. Most commonly, such routines emphasize resistance, as opposed to assistance, training routines. For example such routines concentrate on increasing the strength of the legs of an athlete, especially a runner, but not on the combination of stride turn over rate and the stride length of the athlete. These two factors are mu...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the present inventor has found that through the use of resistance / assistance-type forces of changing values applied timely to the legs of an athlete, the athlete's central nervous system may be acclimated toward a pattern of unusual enhancement of both the turn over rate and length of stride of the runner.

[0011]With their legs so interconnected by the first cord, as the trainee commences to run and a first one of their legs is moved forward of the other leg, the first cord elongates with increasing resistance to such elongation as the cord grows taut. This action subjects the trainee's leg to increasing resistance to elongation of this cord as respective ones of their legs is moved through a stride. The trainee's central nervous system senses this increasing resistance thereby training the central nervous system to recognize the approach of a maximum elongation of the cord which the leg can effect, and the need to plant the trainee's forward moving foot onto a supporting surface (e.g. a running track). Upon this first leg of the runner reaching such maximum permissible elongation of the cord, the central nervous system recognizes such as a stop position for the forward motion of the first leg and records the same. Simultaneously, the forward movement of the first leg serves to build up energy within the cord (i.e., resistance to elongation of the cord) and simultaneously increasing demand upon the trainee's leg, hence resistance strengthening of the leg. In the present invention, due to the relative low resistance to elongation of this first cord, during the initial training, the trainee employs a relatively long stride length before reaching the stop point in elongation of this first cord. In turn, this action results in a relatively longer time to execute a cycle of each leg. However, these actions introduce the runner to both the resistance and assistance aspects of the cord-controlled movements of their legs.

[0012]Upon the approach and actual arrival at such stop position of the first leg, the central nervous system signals the second leg to lift off the supporting surface and commence its forward motion while the first foot remains planted. As with the movement of the first leg, the approach of the second leg to the maximum permissible elongation of the cord and its actual arrival at its maximum permissible elongation are all sensed by the trainee's central nervous system and recorded within the central nervous system. Importantly, as the forward movement of the trainee's first leg stretches the cord, resistance to such stretching builds up in the second foot of the trainee. Upon the second foot being lifted off its supporting surface, the built-up energy within the cord reacts to aid in pulling of such second foot off the supporting surface and to propelling of such second foot forward thereby enhancing the turn over rate for the second leg of the trainee. This assistive action is repeated with each leg as each such leg completes a turn over, resulting in development within the central nervous system of an engrained pattern of leg movements that includes the turn over rate for each leg.

[0015]By reason of the increased resistance to elongation of the second cord, the energy required for the trainee to elongate the second cord is greater than the energy expended by the trainee when elongating the first cord. This action is sensed and adopted by the central nervous system of the trainee. Also, the enhanced turn over rate of the leg working with the second cord is detected and stored within the trainee's central nervous system, thereby replacing the overall learned pattern of leg movements associated with the first cord.

[0016]After a preselected number of repetitions of the “running” of the trainee employing the second cord, such second cord is replaced with a third elastic cord which is of substantially the same length (i.e., 8 inches) as the first and second cords, but which exhibits a greater resistance to elongation relative to the second cord. By way of example, this 8-inch long third cord may be elongated by the trainee to a length of only about 32 inches. With the trainee's legs connected to one another employing the third cord, the trainee commences running, but the permissible stride length of the trainee is restricted by the increased resistance to elongation of this third cord. Thus, when attempting to run, the trainee, functioning under the influence of the turn over rate developed and engrained with the trainee's central nervous system while training with the second cord, is forced to employ a shorter stride length which, in turn, urges the trainee to increase the turn over rate of their stride. As the trainee repeats such faster turn over rate, the activity involved is sensed and recorded within the trainee's central nervous system. Simultaneously, the strength of the trainee's legs is enhanced by the added resistance to elongation of the third cord. Likewise, the energy built up in the third cord increases, thereby providing a greater and stronger force to assist the rear foot to move forward in its cycles with resulting enhancement of the turn over rate of the leg by the third cord.

Problems solved by technology

These two factors are mutually independent, so that in the known prior art training routines, the athlete fails to achieve optimization of the speed (turn over rate) of the movement of their legs when running, and especially does not move toward optimization of both their turn over rate and the length of their stride.

Second, there is often inconsistent pull or tug upon each one of the runners; hence often the individual needs of neither runner are met.

Also, such cords often break with undesirable, often dangerous, effects on one or both of the runners.

Images