Therapeutic exercise contour support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional flat bench surfaces restrict scapulae movement, cause shoulder pain and injury, and fail to support the lordotic curve of the lower-back and cervical curve of the neck during dumbbell/barbell bench press exercises, leading to poor posture and muscle imbalances.
Innovation Solution
An ergonomic upper body contoured foam support surface with a removable neck support that can be mounted to traditional bench press equipment, featuring a curved design to allow natural scapula-humeral rhythm, prevent lateral instability, and maintain cervical curvature, thereby supporting the spine and neck.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a flat bench surface is used for bench press exercises, then the bench press can be performed with simple equipment, but scapulae movement is restricted and shoulder pain and injury occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by replacing the flat bench surface with a contoured surface that features a thoracic curve and lumbar curve. This curved design allows the scapulae to retract and protract naturally during pressing movements, preventing shoulder pain and injury while maintaining exercise effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The contoured bench features different curvature zones: a thoracic curve portion that elevates the upper back and a lumbar curve portion that supports the lower back. This local differentiation of surface properties provides targeted support to different body regions, allowing proper scapulae articulation while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
2Device complexity
If a flat bench surface is used, then the bench structure remains simple, but the lordotic curve of the lower-back and cervical curve of the neck are not supported
Solution Approach 1:
The contoured bench incorporates curved surfaces that match the natural anatomy of the human body. The thoracic curve and lumbar curve are designed to support the lordotic and cervical curves respectively, providing ergonomic posture support without requiring complex mechanical structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The contoured bench is pre-shaped with the appropriate curves before use, so that when the user lies on it, the spine is automatically positioned in the correct alignment. This preliminary configuration of the support surface eliminates the need for active posture adjustment during exercise.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a contoured surface that elevates the spine is used, then scapulae can retract and range of motion is restored, but the bench design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The contoured bench uses a thoracic curve that creates space between the contoured surfaces and the scapulae, allowing natural scapula-humeral rhythm and proper scapula retraction. This curved geometry directly enables improved scapulae articulation and restored range of motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The contoured bench serves multiple functions: it supports the thoracic spine, supports the lumbar spine, enables proper scapulae articulation, and provides neck support. By integrating these functions into a single contoured surface, the design achieves complex functionality without proportionally increasing structural complexity.
4Device complexity
If the neck is unsupported during bench press, then the bench design remains simple, but cervical spinal discs and ligaments are put under undue strain
Solution Approach 1:
The contoured bench includes a cervical curve portion that cradles the neck, maintaining the natural cervical curvature during bench press exercises. This curved support prevents the head from tilting backward and reduces strain on cervical spinal discs and ligaments.
Solution Approach 2:
The contoured bench acts as an intermediary support between the user's body and the flat bench surface. The cervical curve portion specifically mediates the interaction between the neck and the bench, distributing forces evenly and preventing concentrated stress on vulnerable cervical structures.
Data Source
AI summary
The therapeutic exercise contour support (TECS), made of high density flexible foam, which can either be used on traditional bench press equipment or as a stand-alone apparatus. The TECS provides support for the neck, upper body and lower back when performing bench press exercise. The TECS has a distinctive contoured surface that elevates the spine and allows the user to have a natural scapula-humeral rhythm when performing the bench press at inclined, horizontal and declined inclinations. An adjustable ergonomic neck foam support can be attached to the main contour support to maintain proper cervical curvature. The TECS can also be used for therapy by placing it on a horizontal surface and then lying on it in a supine position. This helps the scapulae to retract as they should, which may assist in alleviating pain in the upper back due to poor posture and muscle imbalance.