Compressible Athletic Material for Proprioceptive Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals, especially those who are less physically fit or recovering from injuries, face challenges in improving their physical well-being due to the lack of effective footwear and equipment that can enhance proprioception and reduce joint and muscle strain during exercise.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating compressible materials with proprioceptive effects into athletic footwear, apparel, and equipment, such as gloves, shoes, mats, and wraps, to provide proprioceptive feedback and improve muscle engagement and balance during exercises.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional exercise equipment is used, then exercise can be performed, but proprioceptive feedback is insufficient and joint/muscle strain is not reduced
Solution Approach 1:
A compressible member is introduced as an intermediary element between the user's body and the exercise equipment or surface. This compressible member provides proprioceptive feedback to the user while reducing the direct transmission of impact forces to joints and muscles, thereby simultaneously improving proprioceptive feedback and reducing strain.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressible member changes its physical parameters (compression level, firmness) based on the user's body weight and exercise intensity. This dynamic parameter adjustment allows the system to provide appropriate proprioceptive feedback while adapting to different user needs and reducing strain under varying load conditions.
2Productivity
If exercise intensity is increased to improve fitness, then physical well-being improves, but risk of injury and muscle fatigue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compressible member provides real-time proprioceptive feedback to the user during exercise, enabling better awareness of body position and muscle engagement. This feedback mechanism allows users to maintain proper form and technique even at higher intensities, thereby improving fitness while reducing injury risk and excessive muscle fatigue.
3Productivity
If sedentary individuals or injury recoverees attempt exercise, then physical activity increases, but ability to maintain balance and proper form deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The compressible member acts as a mediator that enhances proprioceptive awareness for users with compromised balance or form control. By providing tactile feedback during movement, it helps sedentary individuals and injury recoverees maintain proper body alignment and balance, enabling them to safely increase their physical activity levels.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The use of compressible materials enhances proprioception, allowing for better body alignment and muscle engagement, reducing strain on joints and muscles, and improving overall exercise effectiveness and safety.
Implementation Method 1
compressible materials with proprioceptive effects into athletic footwear, apparel, and equipment
Implementation Method 2
compressible protrusions can be added to the anterior (palm) or dorsal (top) region as well as on the phalange region of gloves used for exercising
Data Source
AI summary
A compressible material is provided for use with athletic equipment and apparel for enhancing the effects of physical exercise for a person. The material can include one or more compression members that extend from shoes, insoles for shoes, exercise gloves, wraps for exercise equipment, exercise mat or floor covering, headbands, socks, exercise garments, free weights and sports helmets. The compression members can be made of one or more of rubber, thermoplastic rubber, foam rubber, polyurethane rubber, silicone rubber, thermoplastic resin and thermoplastic elastomer. Positioning the compressible material such that it is between the user and any surface for example when exercising, requires the person to maintain balance while performing the exercise by using other muscles that would not ordinarily be used during the exercise, and provides proprioceptive feedback to the person's central nervous system.