Exercise Apparatus and Methods of Use

Abstract

The present invention relates to an exercise apparatus and method of use adapted to exercise a user's gluteus muscles. The exercise apparatus and method of use allow the user to focus on and exercise gluteus muscles with specificity. Embodiments of the exercise apparatus comprise an upper body support, a foot support, an exercise space, and a way of applying a loading force to a user's hips. The exercise space is typically disposed substantially between an upper body support and a foot support, and permits substantial movement of a user's hips in both a forward direction and a rearward direction, substantially in or parallel to a user's sagittal plane. The loading force has a direction approximately perpendicular to a user's spine, directed rearwardly and substantially in or parallel to a user's sagittal plane. The exercise apparatus and method of use are adapted to load a user's gluteus muscles throughout a generally large range of gluteus muscle flexion and extension.

1 - 69 . (canceled) 
   
   
       70 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 an upper body support, the upper body support being adapted to support a mass of at least 80 kilograms; and   a foot support, the foot support being:
 adapted to support a mass of at least 80 kilograms; and 
 coupled to the upper body support, and; 
 disposed at a distance of at least 83 cm, but no more than 150 cm, from the upper body support; and 
   an exercise space, the exercise space:
 being disposed substantially between the upper body support and the foot support, and 
 extending between the upper body support and the foot support along a straight line between the upper body support and the foot support; and 
 extending upwardly at least 37.5 cm from a midpoint and downwardly at least 37.5 cm from the midpoint, the midpoint being on the straight line between the upper body support and the foot support and being equidistant between the upper body support and the foot support; and 
 extending at least 25 cm in all directions from the midpoint; and 
 being substantially empty of exercise apparatus components. 
   
   
   
       71 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 70 , wherein a height of the upper body support above a surface on which the exercise apparatus rests is within 41 cm of a height of the foot support above the surface on which the exercise apparatus rests. 
   
   
       72 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 70 , wherein the upper body support and the foot support are coupled by one or more substantially rigid members. 
   
   
       73 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 72 , wherein a horizontal distance between the upper body support and the foot support is readily adjustable, the horizontal distance being a horizontal component of the distance from the upper body support to the foot support. 
   
   
       74 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 70 , wherein the foot support comprises a foot plate, the foot plate (i) comprising a substantially planar surface, the substantially planar surface having a surface area of at least 900 cm 2 , and (ii) being adapted to support a mass of 80 kg at a height of at least 25 cm above the surface on which the exercise apparatus rests. 
   
   
       75 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 74 , wherein the substantially planar surface is adapted to have a foot plate angle that is readily adjustable, the foot plate angle being an angle between the substantially planar surface and a horizontal plane. 
   
   
       76 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 70 , wherein a height of either or both of the upper body support or the foot support are readily adjustable. 
   
   
       77 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 70 , further comprising a resistance apparatus, the resistance apparatus being adapted to apply a loading force through a plurality of points within the exercise space. 
   
   
       78 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 77 , wherein the resistance apparatus comprises one or more resistance bands. 
   
   
       79 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 77 , wherein the resistance apparatus comprises one or more pulleys. 
   
   
       80 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 77 , wherein the resistance apparatus comprises a weight stack. 
   
   
       81 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 an upper body support, the upper body support being adapted to support a mass of at least 80 kilograms and comprising a padded member; and   a foot support, the foot support being (i) adapted to support a mass of at least 80 kilograms, (ii) disposed at least 83 cm but not more than 150 cm from the upper body support, and coupled to the upper body support; and   an exercise space, the exercise space comprising a cylindrical void, the cylindrical void being shaped like a cylinder and substantially empty of exercise apparatus components, and comprising:
 a center, the center being disposed on a midpoint, the midpoint being disposed equidistant between the upper body support and the foot support on a straight line between the upper body support and the foot support; and 
 a radius, the radius having a length of at least 40 cm and being disposed on the straight line between the upper body support and the foot support; and 
 a volume, the volume being at least 0.251 cubic meters. 
   
   
   
       82 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 81 , wherein a distance between the foot support and the upper body support is adjustable from less than 100 cm to greater than 120 cm. 
   
   
       83 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 81 , wherein:
 the upper body support further comprises an upper portion, the upper portion of the upper body support being of adjustable height; and   the foot support comprises an upper portion, the upper portion of the foot support being of adjustable height.   
   
   
       84 . A method of performing an exercise routine comprising:
 providing the exercise apparatus of  claim 81 ; and   supporting an upper body of a user with the upper body support; and   placing a foot of the user on the foot support, the foot of the user being directly coupled to a leg of the user; and   the user moving from a hip flexed position to a hip extended position, the hip flexed position and the hip extended position comprising, respectively:
 a femur angle being about 90°, the femur angle relating to the leg of the user, and a hip of the user being disposed dorsally behind a midpoint, the midpoint comprising a point on a straight line between a sternum of the user and the foot of the user and the midpoint being equidistant between the sternum of the user and the foot of the user; and 
 the femur angle being about 180° and the hip of the user being disposed ventrally in front of the midpoint. 
   
   
   
       85 . The method of performing an exercise routine of  claim 84 , further comprising:
 supporting a substantial entirety of a body weight of the user by use of the upper body of the user in concert with the foot of the user; and   the user moving from the hip flexed position to the hip extended position while the substantial entirety of the body weight of the user is supported by the upper body of the user in concert with the foot of the user.   
   
   
       86 . A method of performing an exercise routine comprising:
 providing an exercise apparatus, the exercise apparatus comprising an upper body support and a foot support, a distance between the upper body support and the foot support being in a range between 83 cm and 150 cm, and   a user assuming a hip flexed position, the hip flexed position comprising;
 an upper back of the user residing against the upper body support, and a foot of the user residing on the foot support, the foot of the user being directly coupled to the leg of the user; and 
 a hip of the user being disposed posterior to a midpoint, the midpoint comprising a point on a straight line between a sternum of the user and the foot of the user and the midpoint being equidistant between the sternum of the user and the foot of the user; and 
 a femur angle of the user being about 90°, the femur angle relating to the leg of the user; and 
 an active knee of the user being bent at an angle of about 90°, the active knee of the user being part of the leg of the user; and 
   extending the hip of the user from the hip flexed position to a hip extended position, the hip extended position comprising;
 the upper back of the user being against the upper body support and the foot of the user being on the foot support; and 
 the femur angle of the user being about 180°; and 
 the active knee of the user remaining bent at an angle of about 90°. 
   
   
   
       87 . The method of performing an exercise routine of  claim 86 , further comprising having a substantial entirety of the body weight of the user being supported by the upper back of the user and the foot of the user while extending the hip of the user from the hip flexed position to a hip extended position. 
   
   
       88 . The method of performing an exercise routine of  claim 86 , further comprising providing a resistance apparatus, the resistance apparatus applying a loading force to the hip of the user, the direction of the loading force being approximately opposite the direction of a motion of the hip of the user as the user extends the hip of the user from the hip flexed position to the hip extended position. 
   
   
       89 . The method of performing an exercise routine of  claim 86 , further comprising a user returning to the hip flexed position.