Method and Apparatus for Athletic Training

Abstract

A method of use of resistant and assistant forces of increasing values applied timely to the legs of an athlete, whereby an athlete's central nervous system is acclimated toward a pattern of enhancement of use of the legs of the athlete and resultant overall enhancement of the stride of the athlete. In one embodiment, apparatus comprising of a pair of ankle bands which are interconnectable by a variety of elastic cords, each of a predetermined length but with varying degrees of elasticity, is provided. After a time period of workout with a first configuration of elastic cord having a first resistance to elongation, a second configuration of elastic cord of a second, greater resistance to elongation is employed. After a time period of workout with the second configuration, a third configuration of elastic cord having a third, greater resistance to elongation than that of the second configuration is employed.

1 . A method for speed and stride training of lower limb movements of an athlete comprising the steps of:
 a. applying first and second bands in encircling arrangement about respective ones of the ankles of the athlete;   b. providing a first elastic cord of a given length having first and second opposite ends, and which exhibits a first degree of resistance to elongation;   c. attaching a first one of said opposite ends of said first elastic cord to said first band and the second of said opposite ends of said first elastic cord to said second band thereby interconnecting the legs of the athlete such that movement of one of such legs relative to the other of such legs is accompanied by elongation or relaxation of said first elastic cord as a function of the movement of such leg relative to the other of such legs;   d. moving one of said legs of the athlete through a first cycle of movement of said leg relative to the other of said legs, whereby said movement through such cycle is in part limited by resistance to elongation of said cord and is in part assisted by energy stored within said cord, wherein the central nervous system of the athlete senses and records at least the start and stop limits of such cyclic leg movement thereby causing the athlete to have engrained within their central nervous system a pattern of the mentally recorded limits of such cyclic movement;   e. repeating said cyclical movement employing each of said legs multiple times and employing said first cord;   f. thereafter substituting a second elastic cord of substantially the same length as said first cord, but of a greater resistance to elongation than said first cord, between said first and second bands;   g. repeating said cyclical movements of each leg as performed when employing said first cord but to the limits defined in part by the greater resistance to elongation of said second cord and in part assisted by energy stored within said second cord, whereby said central nervous system of the athlete senses and records a pattern of the start and stop limits of such cyclical leg movement when employing said second cord, thereby causing the athlete to have engrained within their central nervous system the recorded limits of speed and stride of such cyclical movement when employing said second cord;   h. repeating said cyclical leg movements of each of the legs multiple times with said second cord;   i. substituting a third elastic cord of substantially the same length as said first and second elastic cords, but of a greater resistance to elongation than said second elastic cord, between said first and second bands;   j. repeating said cyclical leg movements of each of the legs as performed when employing said first cord but to the limits defined in part by the greater resistance to elongation of said third cord and in part assisted by energy stored within said third cord, whereby said central nervous system of the athlete senses and records a pattern of the start and stop limits of such cyclical leg movements when employing said third cord, thereby causing the athlete to have engrained within their central nervous system the recorded limits of speed and stride of such cyclical movement when employing said third cord;   k. repeating said cyclical movements of said legs multiple times employing said third cord; and,   l. removing said cuffs from the athlete whereupon when the athlete runs, the athlete exhibits that pattern of leg movements learned during training with said cords interconnecting the athlete's legs.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  and in advance of commencement of said step of moving one of said legs of the athlete through a first cycle of movement, acclimating said athlete to the actions and resulting forces of said movement of one of such legs relative to the other of such legs as is generated by elongation or relaxation of said first elastic cord. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said acclimation includes leg movements which are constrained to the extent that the likelihood of injury of misuse of said method are minimized. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said cyclical movements of each of said legs are continued with one or more additional cords, each of which exhibits an increased resistance to elongation relative to its preceding cord. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said leg movements mimic those leg movements commonly associated with running. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said leg movements mimic those leg movements commonly associated with at least one of the group consisting of running, walking, side-stepping, soccer, football, tennis and baseball. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus useful for training lower limb movements of an athlete comprising:
 first and second ankle bands adapted to be releaseably attached in encircling relationship with respective ankles of the athlete;   first, second and third flexible elastic cords, said cords being of substantially equal length and exhibiting incrementally increasing individual resistance to elongation, said first cord exhibiting the lesser of such resistances to elongation and said third cord exhibiting the greater of such resistances to elongation; each of the respective opposite ends of each of said cords including means for releasably attaching a first end of said cord to one of said ankle bands and means for releasably attaching a second end of said cord to the other of said ankle bands; whereby said cords elastically interconnect said ankle bands to one another.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein each of said cords is of a length of between about 8 and about 12 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said first cord exhibits a resistance to elongation of between about 11 lbs at 100% elongation of said cord and about 17 lbs at 200% elongation of said cord. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said second cord exhibits a resistance to elongation of between about 16 lbs at 100% elongation of said second cord and about 21 lbs at 200% elongation of said second cord. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said third cord exhibits a resistance to elongation of between about 18 lbs at 100% elongation of said third cord and about 27 lbs resistance to elongation at 200% elongation of said third cord.