Exercise machine For Use with Lower Body Negative Pressure Box

Abstract

A compact, portable, lightweight, easily transportable leg press exercise apparatus to simulate both exercise and the daily activity of sitting in a microgravity environment. The exercise portion of the apparatus creates stress on the lower extremities by supplying a variable resistance to a reciprocating foot pedal by way of a coil spring and damper system acting through a four-bar linkage. The leg press exercise apparatus is paired with an existing Lower Body Negative Pressure (LBNP) box to add an evenly distributed pressure-induced stress to the lower extremities. By combining resistance exercise and lower body negative pressure with the LBNP leg press exercise apparatus, the users experience one or more times body weight (BW) in stress on their musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and nervous systems. By achieving one times BW or greater (artificial gravity) during exercise and two-thirds BW during sitting, the gap between the precondition and post condition syndrome will become smaller.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 767,551 filed on Feb. 21, 2013, and incorporated herein by reference, and is related to U.S. application Ser. No. ______, filed concurrently herewith.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention is directed to a physical conditioning apparatus for space travel and terrestrial rehabilitation protocols, and more particularly, to an exercise machine that can operate in a microgravity environment with a Lower Body Negative Pressure Box or as an apparatus for rehabilitation purposes.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Gravity has had a profound effect on the development of life on Earth over millions of years and has shaped the anatomy and physiology of human beings. Exposure to microgravity has been shown to affect the body causing it to undergo a reduction in heart size and blood volume, impaired balance control, changes in nervous system sensitivity, decreases in bone and musc...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a resistance exercise machine for the lower body that can help prevent microgravity-induced deconditioning during space flight. The machine simulates the features of upright exercise and daily activities by creating variable resistance for the user to exercise against. The machine can be used in combination with a lower body negative pressure box to create realistic stress on the muscles and cardiovascular system. The machine can also be used for data collection and rehabilitation purposes.

Problems solved by technology

The development of a compact, lightweight, and effective resistance exercise machine that works within a LBNP Box has, however, proven to be difficult.

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