Gender-specific sports mats for stabilizing the sacroiliac joints and optimizing movement mechanics

Abstract

Gender-specific exercise mat for stabilizing the sacroiliac joints and optimizing movement mechanics, including: a) a mat made of soft, stable material with marked areas for hip, knee and foot pads as well as a topper to determine and compensate for the side of the body that deviates from the axis, whereby the mat is gender-specifically designed for women or men, b) a topper with a one-sided elevation for determining the tilted body axis in the cross-legged position, which is used for all seated exercises, whereby the topper is adapted to the gender-specific biomechanical requirements, c) a hip pad for stabilising the sacroiliac joint in the supine and lateral positions, a knee pad for kneeling exercises and a foot pad for standing exercises, with the pads having gender-specific sizes and heights.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of sports equipment, particularly sports mats designed for use in fitness, yoga, gymnastics, rehabilitation and other movement activities. It aims to take into account sex-specific biomechanical differences between men and women, especially with respect to connective tissue and mobility of the ilio-sacral joints (ISG), in order to improve stability due to lateral muscle tone augmentation, muscle coordination and injury protection.Sports mats are widely used tools to provide cushioning and stability during sports activities. Conventional sports mats do not usually take account of sex-specific differences in biomechanics and anatomy. For example, DE102014110378B4 discloses a sports mat with specific shape, but without sex-specific adaptations. DE202021000228U1 describes a training mat with specific surface properties, but does not address the different requirements of the sexes.Studies have shown, however, that there are significant differences between men and women, particularly with regard to connective tissue stability and mobility of the ilio-sacral joints (ISG). Women generally have a loose connective tissue, resulting in increased mobility in the iliosakral joint (ISG). This can increase the risk of injury and impair the lateral muscle tone. In addition, women tend to be more frequently X-legs, while men tend to develop O-legs. These differences affect the entire locomotor apparatus, from the hull to the arms. Medicine has long considered the male body as a standard, but for women, these standards are often not applicable. Their softer tissue structures and other bio-mechanical properties require special solutions.The invention aims to overcome these disadvantages by providing a sex specific sports mat that stabilizes the ISG, increases the in-side muscle tone and optimizes muscle strength.The sports mat comprises: 1. a mat (5) with markings indicating the centre of the mat and the positions for additional elements. 2. a topper (1) used to determine to which side the body axis slopes. The topper is raised on one side to assist in proper alignment of the body. 3. a hip pad (2) used in backsheet and sidesheet to stabilize the ISG. 4. a knee pad (3) used in kneeling to stabilize the ISG. 5. a foot pad (4) used in standing and kneeling to stabilize the ISG.The sex-specific sports mat is offered in variants for women and men.The sports mat consists of a mat made of soft-stable material with marked regions for receiving hip, knee and foot pads and a topper in order to determine and balance the body side which is off-axis, wherein the mat is designed sex-specific for women or men.It comprises a topper with a one-sided elevation for determining the tilted body axis in the cutter seat, wherein the topper is adapted to the sex-specific biomechanical requirements.The sports mat further includes a hip pad for stabilizing the ilio-sacral joints in the supine and lateral positions, a knee pad for kneeing exercises and a foot pad for standing exercises, the pads having sex-specific sizes and heights.Preferably, the sports mat has a size of 1980 x 600 x 3 mm for women and a size of 2050 x 650 x 5 mm for men.In particular, the topsheet comprises a size of 420 x 240 x 10 mm with a one-sided elevation of 12 mm for women and a size of 420 x 240 x 10 mm with a one-sided elevation of 10 mm for men.Preferably, the pads comprise a 300 x 300 x 6 mm hip pad, a 180 x 300 x 10 mm knee pad and a 300 x 350 x 12 mm foot pad for women, and a 325 x 325 x 5 mm hip pad, a 180 x 300 x 8 mm knee pad and a 325 x 380 x 10 mm foot pad for men.In a particularly preferred embodiment, the topsheet and the pads are comprised of an upper layer of soft stable material having a thickness of 3 mm for women and 4 mm for men, respectively, and a chassis of stable, non-slipping material such as EVA foam.In particular, the sports mat has markings which indicate the centre and the regions for hip, knee and foot pads, the pads being displaceable within these regions.Preferably, the mat is made of a composite material that provides a recovery of at least 90% upon load and the cushioning properties are matched to the lower muscle strength of women of 60-70% compared to men and the denser connective tissue structure of men, respectively.In an advantageous embodiment, the pads can be used in combination, for example hip and foot pads in the backsheet / side layer or knee and foot pads in knee exercises in order to maximize the ISG stability.Preferably, the sports mat is designed for women for body lengths of 158 to 188 cm and for men for body lengths of 165 to 195 cm, with the possibility of special manufacture for body lengths outside these ranges.The mat according to the invention enables the sex-specific optimized execution of gymnastic exercises and training measures within the scope of physiology therapy.The topper is used in the cutter seat to determine the tilted body axis (right or left) by mirror observation. The side with uniform knee heights and lower leg angles indicates the tilting direction. Based on this analysis, the pads (hip, knee, foot pad) are placed on the corresponding side of the mat to stabilize the ISG and balance muscle tension.The sex specific sizes and heights of the pads allow for greater ISG mobility (up to 2 cm) in women and also for more stable structure in men.The invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Rather, a large number of variants and modifications are conceivable which make use of the inventive concept and therefore likewise fall within the scope of protection.The mat according to the invention has a number of advantageous features and properties, in particular:• Biomechanical Optimization: The mat stabilizes the ISG and compensates for the body axis and increases the lateral muscle tone.• Prevention of injury: The mat reduces sex-specific risks (cross-band cracks in women, muscle injuries in men).• Sex-specific adaptation: The mat takes into account the loose connective tissue structure in women and the more solid in men.• Efficient training: The mat improves muscle coordination by axis alignment.• Versatility: The mat is adaptable to various exercises and body sizes.List of reference numbers:1 Topsheet 2 Hip pad 3 Knee pad 4 Foot pad 5 MatTable of the Figures (Figures):FIG. 1 : a perspective view of the sports mat with topper and pads.References included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedDE 102014110378B4

[0002] DE 2020210228U1

[0002]

Claims

A sex-specific sports mat for stabilizing the ilio-sacral joints and optimizing the mechanics of movement, comprising: a) a mat of soft-stable material with marked areas for receiving hip, knee and foot pads as well as a topper around the off-axis body side to determine and balance, wherein the mat is designed sex-specific for women or men, b) a topper with a one-sided elevation for determining the tilted body axis in the cutter seat, which is used in all sitting exercises, wherein the topper is adapted to the sex-specific bio-mechanical requirements, c) a hip pad for stabilizing the ISG in the back position and side position, a knee pad for kneeing exercises and a foot pad for standing exercises, wherein the pads have sex-specific sizes and heights.The sports mat of claim 1, wherein the mat has a size of 1980 x 600 x 3 mm for women and a size of 2050 x 650 x 5 mm for men.Sports mat according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the topper comprises a size of 420 x 240 x 10 mm with a one-sided elevation of 12 mm for women and a size of 420 x 240 x 10 mm with a one-sided elevation of 10 mm for men.The sports mat of any preceding claim, wherein the pads comprise a hip pad of 300 x 300 x 6 mm, a knee pad of 180 x 300 x 10 mm and a foot pad of 300 x 350 x 12 mm for women, and a hip pad of 325 x 325 x 5 mm, a knee pad of 180 x 300 x 8 mm and a foot pad of 325 x 380 x 10 mm for men.Sports mat according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the topper and the pads comprise an upper layer of soft stable material with a thickness of 3 mm for women and 4 mm for men respectively and a base of stable, non-slipping material such as EVA foam.A sports mat according to any preceding claim, wherein the mat includes indicia indicating the centre as well as the areas for hip, knee and foot pads, and the pads are slidable within these areas.Sports mat according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mat is made of a composite material that provides a recovery of at least 90% after load and the cushioning properties are adapted to the lower muscle power of women of 60-70% compared to men and the denser connective tissue structure of men, respectively.Sports mat according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pads can be used in combination, such as hip and foot pad in backsheet / side layer or knee and foot pad in kneeing exercises to maximize ISG stability.Sports mat according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mat is designed for women for body lengths of 158 to 188 cm and for men for body lengths of 165 to 195 cm, with the possibility of special manufacturing for body lengths outside these ranges.

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