Exercise Apparatus and Methods of Use

Abstract

The present invention includes an exercise apparatus 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 include an upper body support, a foot support, and an exercise space. 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 exercise apparatus is adapted to load a user's gluteus muscles throughout a generally large range of gluteus muscle flexion and extension.

1 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a base frame having a front end and a back end;   an upper body support having a top, wherein the upper body support is attached toward the back end of the base frame and the top of the upper body support is at least 30 cm from the ground;   a foot support having a top, wherein the foot support is attached to the base frame toward the front end of the foot support and the top of the foot support is at least 15 cm from the ground;   a resistance apparatus being connectable to a hip restraint to be worn by the user during exercise; and   an exercise space comprising at least 91 cm between the upper body support and foot support, the exercise space being adapted to (i) allow the user to place the user's upper back on the upper body support and at least one of the user's feet on the foot support, (ii) allow the user to flex the user's hips so that at least one of the user's femur angles is 90° or less, and (iii) allow the user to extend the user's hips so that at least one of the user's femur angles is at least 180°.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising handles, the handles being connected to the upper body support or an upper body support member, and extending toward the foot support outside the exercise space. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the upper body support or foot support is adjustable in an up and down direction. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the resistance apparatus comprises resistance band pegs connected to the base frame between the upper body support and foot support and one or more resistance bands functionally connected to the band pegs. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the resistance apparatus comprises a cable weight machine having a plate loading or weight stack structure, and a pulley system that is functionally connected to the base frame, the resistance apparatus adapted to apply resistance to the user as the user extends his/her hips upwardly away from the ground. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the pulley system is adjustable to allow the user to adjust the pulley system between the upper body support and foot support, the pulley system being adapted to adjust the direction of a loading force that is applied to the user. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base frame is adjustable, the adjustable base frame being adapted to permit a distance between the upper body support and the foot support to be adjusted. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the upper body support or foot support is adjustable in a horizontal direction so as to make the distance between the upper body support and foot support closer or further apart to accommodate different user heights. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the resistance apparatus is functionally connected to the base frame between the upper body support and foot support. 
     
     
         10 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 an upper body support, the upper body support being adapted to support a mass of at least 80 kilograms at a height of at least 25 cm above a surface on which the exercise apparatus rests;   a foot support, the foot support:
 being adapted to firmly support a mass of at least 80 kilograms at a height of at least 25 cm above a surface on which the exercise apparatus rests; 
 being coupled to the upper body support; being disposed at least 75 cm, but no more than 150 cm, from the upper body support; 
 including a foot plate comprising a substantially planar surface, the substantially planar surface having a surface area of at least 900 cm 2  and being adapted to support a mass of 80 kg at a height of at least 30 cm above the surface on which the exercise apparatus rests; and 
   an exercise space comprising a three dimensional space, the exercise space (i) being disposed substantially between the upper body support and the foot support, (ii) extending between the upper body support and the foot support along a straight line between the upper body support and the foot support, (iii) extending at least 50 cm in an upward direction from a point on the straight line between the upper body support and the foot support, the point being equidistant between the upper body support and the foot support, and the first direction being substantially perpendicular to the straight line between the upper body support and the foot support, (iii) extending at least 50 cm in a second direction from the point on the straight line between the upper body support and the foot support, the point being equidistant between the upper body support and the foot support, the second direction being substantially opposite the first direction, and (iv) being substantially empty of exercise apparatus components.   
     
     
         11 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the upper body support and the foot support are coupled by one or more substantially rigid members. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the distance between the upper body support and the foot support is readily adjustable. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the substantially planar surface is adapted to have a foot plate angle that is readily adjustable, the foot plate angle being the angle between the straight line between the upper body support and the foot support, and a plane of the substantially planar surface of the foot plate. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the height of the upper body support above the surface on which the exercise apparatus rests, or the height of the foot support above the surface on which the exercise rests, are substantially and readily adjustable. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a resistance apparatus, the resistance apparatus being adapted to apply a loading force to through a plurality of points within the exercise space, a direction of the loading force being downward at a plurality of points within the exercise space. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the resistance apparatus comprises one or more resistance band pegs. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the resistance apparatus comprises one or more pulleys. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the one or more pulleys is disposed substantially directly beneath any point in the exercise space.