Exercise bar

Abstract

An exercise bar is used to increase the moment of inertia of the body during twisting and flexing motions, thereby increasing exercise intensity. The bar includes a back portion that is adapted to be received by the mid-portion of the user's back. A pair of arms extends from the back portion and does so at an angle relative to each other. This angle is between 100 and 130 degrees and is optimally 114 degrees. The arms extend anteriorly away from the back of the user, allowing the user to grasp the arms with their shoulders depressed (below horizontal) rotated slightly forward (anteriorly). This proper positioning of the shoulder and upper extremities allows for increased blood supply to the extremities during exercise. In addition, this arm position has been shown to reduce undesirable superfluous nerve stimulation as compared to traditional straight bars or curved bars that are placed behind the neck. The mid-back, anterior positioned arms used by the disclosed invention provide a more comfortable shoulder position for performing trunk exercises.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An exercise bar comprising: 
 a substantially longitudinal first and;    a substantially longitudinal second arm; and    a back portion adapted to be supported by the back of a user and connecting said first arm and said second arm positioning said first arm and said second arm at a relative angle between 100 and 130 degrees.    
     
     
         2 . An exercise bar as in  claim 1 , wherein said back portion includes a structure comprising a single bend.  
     
     
         3 . An exercise bar as in  claim 2 , wherein said single bend is a radius between 4 and 12 inches.  
     
     
         4 . An exercise bar as in  claim 1 , wherein said back portion is comprised of a substantially straight portion.  
     
     
         5 . An exercise bar as in  claim 4 , wherein said angle is comprised of a 33-degree angle from a longitudinal axis of said straight portion to each arm.  
     
     
         6 . An exercise bar as in  claim 4 , wherein said straight portion is between 8 and 16 inches long.  
     
     
         7 . An exercise bar as in  claim 1 , wherein said relative angle is an angle between 105 and 125 degrees.  
     
     
         8 . An exercise bar as in  claim 1 , wherein said relative angle is an angle between 109 and 119 degrees.  
     
     
         9 . An exercise bar as in  claim 1 , wherein said relative angle is 114 degrees.  
     
     
         10 . An exercise bar as in  claim 1 , wherein said back portion includes a length adjustment.  
     
     
         11 . An exercise bar as in  claim 10 , wherein said length adjustment is comprised of a pair of tubes that telescope and a locking mechanism.  
     
     
         12 . An exercise bar as in  claim 11 , wherein said locking mechanism includes a lock selected from the group consisting of a shear pin and a detent pin.  
     
     
         13 . An exercise bar as in  claim 1 , wherein said first arm and said second arm include a length adjustment.  
     
     
         14 . An exercise bar as in  claim 13 , wherein said length adjustment is comprised of a pair of handles that are movably mounted each one to a distal end of an arm and including a locking mechanism.  
     
     
         15 . An exercise bar as in  claim 14 , wherein said locking mechanism includes a lock selected from the group consisting of a shear pin and a detent pin.  
     
     
         16 . An exercise bar comprising: 
 a substantially longitudinal pair of arms; and    a substantially longitudinal back portion connecting said pair of arms such that an angle between said pair of arms falls within the inclusive range of 100 and 130 degrees.    
     
     
         17 . An exercise bar as in  claim 16 , wherein said back portion includes a structure comprising a single bend.  
     
     
         18 . An exercise bar as in  claim 17 , wherein said single bend is a radius between 4 and 12 inches.  
     
     
         19 . An exercise bar as in  claim 16 , wherein said back portion is comprised of a substantially straight portion.  
     
     
         20 . An exercise bar as in  claim 19 , wherein said angle is comprised of a 33-degree angle from a longitudinal axis of said straight portion to each arm.  
     
     
         21 . An exercise bar as in  claim 19 , wherein said straight portion is between 8 and 16 inches long.  
     
     
         22 . An exercise bar as in  claim 16 , wherein said angle is an angle between 105 and 125 degrees.  
     
     
         23 . An exercise bar as in  claim 16 , wherein said angle is an angle between 109 and 119 degrees.  
     
     
         24 . An exercise bar as in  claim 16 , wherein said angle is 114 degrees.  
     
     
         25 . An exercise bar as in  claim 16 , wherein said back portion includes a length adjustment.  
     
     
         26 . An exercise bar as in  claim 25 , wherein said length adjustment is comprised of a pair of tubes that telescope and a locking mechanism.  
     
     
         27 . An exercise bar as in  claim 26 , wherein said locking mechanism includes a lock selected from the group consisting of a shear pin and a detent pin.  
     
     
         28 . An exercise bar as in  claim 16 , wherein said first arm and said second arm include a length adjustment.  
     
     
         29 . An exercise bar as in  claim 28 , wherein said length adjustment is comprised of a pair of handles that are movably mounted each one to a distal end of an arm and including a locking mechanism.  
     
     
         30 . An exercise bar as in  claim 29 , wherein said locking mechanism includes a lock selected from the group consisting of a shear pin and a detent pin.  
     
     
         31 . An exercise method including: 
 providing an exercise bar comprising: 
 a substantially longitudinal first arm;  
 a substantially longitudinal second arm; and  
 a back portion adapted to be supported by the back of a user and connecting said first arm and said second arm positioning said first arm and said second arm at a relative angle between 100 and 130 degrees;  
 positioning said bar with said back portion against the user's back with said first arm and said second arm extending laterally and anteriorly beneath the arms of the user; and  
 moving the torso of the user while holding said bar, thereby exercising the muscles of the user.  
   
     
     
         32 . An exercise method as in  claim 31 , further including the step of adjusting the length of said back portion.