Portable lower-body stretching apparatus

Abstract

A portable, adjustable apparatus for stretching the muscles of the lower body, in particular, the hip flexor and thigh muscles, comprised of a back support, a flexible line, a knee cradle attached to the mid-portion of the flexible line, and a line tensioning device which receives the free end of the line. The line-tensioning device allows a user to perform flexed-knee stretches such as the knee-to-chest stretch without having to manually hold the knee in the stretched position. The position of the back support and line-tensioning device relative to the knee cradle allows the knee to be drawn directly back towards the chest to optimally stretch the hip flexor and thigh muscles.

1 . A portable, adjustable lower-body stretching apparatus comprising:
 (a) a back support member which circumscribes a portion of an upper back;   (b) a knee cradle member;   (c) a releasable line-tensioning member which is fixably attached to an end of said back support member; and   (d) a flexible line member, one end of which is fixably attached to an end of said back support member, a proximate middle portion of which locates said knee cradle member, and a free end of which communicates with said line-tensioning member, wherein the improvement comprises providing a mechanically-assisted means of performing flexed-knee stretches without having to manually hold said knee with the hands.   
     
     
         2 . The lower-body stretching apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said back support member is substantially elongated in shape and comprised of an elastomeric material that will conform to the shape of the user's back and be comfortable to the user while lying in the supine position. 
     
     
         3 . The lower-body stretching apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said knee cradle member is slidably attached to said flexible line member. 
     
     
         4 . The lower-body stretching apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said knee cradle member is substantially arcuate in shape and is comprised of an exterior face portion and an interior cushion portion, said interior cushion portion being substantially comprised of a padding material to comfortably and securely hold the user's knee in place. 
     
     
         5 . The lower-body stretching apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the free end of said flexible line member further includes a loop, handle, or similar gripping means. 
     
     
         6 . The lower-body stretching apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said line tensioning member consists of a ratchet pulley, said ratchet pulley containing a rotatable sheave and a releasable ratchet which permits the sheave to rotate in one direction but not the other, unless the release is activated. 
     
     
         7 . The lower-body stretching apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said back support member is elongated in shape and comprised of an elastomeric material that will conform to the shape of the user's back and be comfortable to a user while lying in a supine position. 
     
     
         8 . The lower-body stretching apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said knee cradle member is slidably attached to said flexible line member. 
     
     
         9 . The lower-body stretching apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said knee cradle member is substantially arcuate in shape and is comprised of an exterior face portion and an interior cushion portion, said interior cushion portion being substantially comprised of a padding material to comfortably and securely hold the user's knee in place. 
     
     
         10 . The lower-body stretching apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the free end of said flexible line member further includes a loop, handle, or similar gripping means. 
     
     
         11 . The lower-body stretching apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said flexible line consists of a substantially flat strap, and said line-tensioning member consists of an adjustable strap buckle, said buckle having means of securably holding and releasing said strap. 
     
     
         12 . The lower-body stretching apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said back support member is elongated in shape and comprised of an elastomeric material that will conform to the shape of the user's back and be comfortable to a user while lying in a supine position. 
     
     
         13 . The lower-body stretching apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said knee cradle member is slidably attached to said flexible line member. 
     
     
         14 . The lower-body stretching apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said knee cradle member is substantially arcuate in shape and is comprised of an exterior face portion and an interior cushion portion, said interior cushion portion being substantially comprised of a padding material to comfortably and securely hold the user's knee in place. 
     
     
         15 . The lower-body stretching apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the free end of said flexible line member further includes a loop, handle, or similar gripping means. 
     
     
         16 . A method of stretching the hip flexor and thigh muscles in a supine position, comprising:
 (a) providing a lower-body stretching apparatus comprising:   (i) a back support member which circumscribes a portion of an upper-back;   (ii) a knee cradle member;   (iii) a releasable line-tensioning member, fixably attached to an end of said back support member; and   (iv) a flexible line member, one end of which is fixably attached to an end of said back support member, a proximate middle portion of which locates said knee cradle member, and a free end of which communicates with said line-tensioning member.   (b) lying on a surface in a generally upward direction;   (c) engaging the upper back region with said back support member;   (d) engaging the frontal portion of one leg with said knee cradle member; and   (e) drawing the thigh of the leg towards the chest by pulling said flexible line member through said line-tensioning member, wherein the improvement comprises providing a method of performing flexed-knee stretches without having to manually hold said knee with the hands.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said line tensioning member consists of a ratchet pulley, said ratchet pulley containing a rotatable sheave and a releasable ratchet which permits the sheave to rotate in one direction but not the other, unless the release is activated. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  where said flexible line member consists of a substantially flat strap, and said line-tensioning member consists of an adjustable strap buckle, said buckle having means of securably holding and releasing said strap.