Rotatable Push-Up Handles for Joint Stress Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional push-ups place stress on wrists, elbows, and shoulders, and restrict natural muscle and joint rotation, limiting the effectiveness of the exercise.
Innovation Solution
A push-up exercise device with rotatable hand supports and a ball-bearing rotational system that allows for natural arm rotation, reducing joint stress and engaging more muscle groups, featuring a base support with a non-skid rubberized pad and handle assembly made from durable, impact-resistant materials like ABS.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional push-ups are performed with hands placed directly on a hard surface, then the exercise structure is simple and stable, but stress is placed on wrists, elbows, and shoulders while preventing natural rotation of muscles and joints
Solution Approach 1:
The hand support structure is designed to rotate dynamically during the push-up exercise, allowing the user's arms to rotate naturally at the shoulders while maintaining contact with the support surface. This dynamic rotation capability eliminates the restriction on natural muscle and joint rotation while keeping the exercise structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The hand support structure acts as an intermediary between the user's hands and the hard exercise surface. It provides a stable base for support while enabling natural arm rotation, thereby mediating between the need for stability and the need for natural movement, reducing stress on wrists, elbows, and shoulders.
2Reliability
If a rotatable hand support structure is introduced to allow natural arm rotation, then joint stress is reduced and muscle engagement is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hand support structure incorporates a simple rotation mechanism that allows dynamic movement during exercise. This dynamic capability provides reliable joint stress reduction and improved muscle engagement without requiring complex mechanical systems, maintaining relatively simple device construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The hand support structure is segmented into distinct functional components: a base portion for stability, a rotation mechanism for movement, and support surfaces for hand placement. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while keeping the overall device complexity manageable.
3Strength
If durable impact-resistant materials like ABS are used for the handle assembly, then the device durability and impact resistance are improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The handle assembly utilizes composite material construction, combining ABS plastic with metal reinforcement elements. This composite approach provides superior impact resistance and durability while maintaining ease of manufacture through standard molding and assembly processes for each material type.
Solution Approach 2:
The material selection focuses on ABS plastic with specific impact resistance parameters optimized for exercise equipment applications. By selecting materials with appropriate parameter specifications rather than maximizing all properties, the design achieves adequate durability while simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing costs.
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 allows for natural muscle rotation during push-ups, reducing joint stress and maximizing workout effectiveness by engaging additional muscle groups, while being durable and suitable for use on various surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
a ball-bearing rotational system that allows for natural arm rotation
Implementation Method 2
a base support with a non-skid rubberized pad
Data Source
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AI summary
A push-up exercise unit and device is described which may enable a user to move with his/her body's natural rotation to engage additional muscle groups with reduced stress on joints. The device can include a handle support structure having a pair of columns between a lower base and a separate end cap such that the handle intersects a corresponding end cap and upper portion of a corresponding column of the handle support structure. The device includes a fixed base support attached to the handle support structure, and a bearing assembly to permit rotation of the contiguous handle, end caps and handle support structure by a user with the base support resting on a planar surface. In another example, the handle assembly is detachable from a first surface on the handle support structure and inserted into a second surface to facilitate stowage for travel.