Elastic Hip Training Device for Spinal Load Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sports training devices fail to effectively prevent back injuries and develop proper muscle memory, as they either require abrupt deceleration or normal-speed swings, which strain the spine and hinder efficient muscle engagement.
Innovation Solution
A warm-up and training device with an adjustable elastic attachment that simulates sports motions by setting the attachment height to define an angle α backwards from vertical, allowing users to practice slower motions with reduced spinal load, using handles specific to the sport, and incorporating instructional videos or sensor arrays for proper hip engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional practice swing devices are used, then practice swings can be performed, but the user must stop the forward motion of the swing which leaves the user prone to injury and inhibits development of proper action muscle memory
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic band acts as an intermediary element between the user and the swing motion control. Instead of requiring the user to abruptly stop the swing, the elastic band provides a gradual, controlled resistance that naturally decelerates the swing motion, eliminating the need for forced stopping and reducing injury risk while maintaining muscle memory development
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic band changes the dynamic parameters of the swing motion by providing variable resistance throughout the motion cycle. This transforms the swing from a high-speed, abrupt-stop motion to a controlled, gradual-deceleration motion, improving both safety and muscle engagement quality
2Speed
If contact with a practice ball or other object is used to create deceleration, then the swing motion can be normal speed, but the swing motion is normal speed thereby preventing muscle memory to efficiently develop
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic band modifies the speed parameter dynamically throughout the swing motion, providing higher resistance during the acceleration phase and lower resistance during the deceleration phase. This creates an optimized speed profile that maintains muscle engagement quality while allowing natural motion flow, unlike fixed-speed or abrupt-stop methods
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 device significantly reduces lower back injuries and improves sports performance by engaging the hips and legs more effectively, allowing users to practice hip engagement without straining their spines, as demonstrated by reduced injury rates in trained golfers.
Implementation Method 1
A warm-up and training device has a handle connected to an elastic band or cord
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for preventing back injuries related to sport motions or swings that includes setting an attachment height of a distal end of an elastic of a warmup and training device, the attachment height set to define an angle α backwards from vertical above center of a practice motion specific to a sport to be practiced, attaching a handle to a proximal end of the elastic where a type of the handle corresponds to the sporting activity to be performed, performing the practice motion while holding the handle and stretching the elastic, and returning to the beginning of the practice motion to repeat the activity.