Exercise Apparatus and Methods for Use

Abstract

A plyometric exercise device having an elongated shaft, a hand-grip attached to the shaft, and counterweights at the two opposing ends of the elongated shaft, for use in strength development of a user's shoulder and shoulder muscles is described. Also described are methods of using such a plyometric exercise device. In use, the user typically grasps the device and moves their arm up and down, while the exercise device oscillates in phase with the user's movements in an omni-directional manner. This omni-directional movement provides both eccentric and concentric muscle contraction in the shoulder of the user, and may act to strengthen the shoulder.

1 . A plyometric exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a longitudinally extending shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and an external diameter d 2 ;    a handle attached to the shaft intermediate between the proximal end and the distal end; and    a first counterweight and a second counterweight, having a diameter d 1 ,    wherein the first counterweight is attached to the proximal end of the shaft and the second counterweight is attached to the distal end of the shaft, and    wherein during operation the device has a biased omni-directional movement.    
   
   
       2 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the shaft, the first counterweight, or the second counterweight are comprise of nylon, acetal homopolymers and co-polymers, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene and polypropylene, acrylic polymer, polyetherimide, polyether-ketone type polymers, especially a multi-ether polymer, acrylonitrile, butadiene-styrene type polymers, polyesters, polyester-vinyl polymers, polybutylene-terephthalate type polymers, polyaramid homo and copolymers and mixtures thereof, polyphenylene sulfide homo and copolymers, halogenated vinyl type polymers, polyamide-imide type polymers, polyvinylidene flouride type polymers, polyurethane polymers, phenolic type polymers, polypropylene and polypropylene-type polymers, and combinations thereof  
   
   
       3 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft, the first counterweight and the second counterweight are comprised of a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of acetal co-polymers, acetal homo-polymers, nylon, polypropylene, and mixtures thereof  
   
   
       4 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter d 1  is greater than the diameter d 2 .  
   
   
       5 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of counterweight diameter d 1  to shaft diameter d 2  is about 2:1.  
   
   
       6 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus has an overall length from about 120 cm to about 180 cm.  
   
   
       7 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first counterweight and the second counterweight are attached to the proximal and distal ends of the elongated shaft in a manner such that the apparatus is generally an elongated cylindrical shaft that is symmetrical about the longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       8 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft, the first counterweight and the second counterweight have a substantially circular cross section.  
   
   
       9 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a rate of oscillation is from about 1 to about 2.7 oscillations per second.  
   
   
       10 . A method of exercising using a plyometric exercise apparatus that oscillates in an omni-directional manner during use, the method comprising: 
 providing a plyometric exercise apparatus having an elongated shaft with counterweights at opposing ends and a substantially circular cross section;    grasping the plyometric exercise apparatus near the middle of the elongated shaft; and    moving the plyometric exercise apparatus back and forth so as to cause the counterweights at the opposing ends to oscillate in a biased omni-directional manner,    wherein the back and forth movement and the omni-directional oscillation are not coplanar.    
   
   
       11 . The method of exercising of  claim 10 , wherein the grasping step includes grasping a handle portion located at the middle portion of the elongated shaft.  
   
   
       12 . The method of exercising of  claim 10 , wherein moving the plyometric exercise apparatus occurs at a rate of about 1 to about 2.7 oscillations per second.