Method and apparatus for land and aquatic exercise

Abstract

An aquatic exercise tool for use with a user's body part includes a strip of elastomeric material with an engagement area spaced from and proximate one end. The engagement area defines an opening with a rest perimeter, and the engagement area has an elasticity sufficient to stretch the opening from the rest perimeter to a larger perimeter sufficient to receive the body part when it is inserted with a minimum predetermined force. When the opening is stretched above the rest perimeter, the engagement area exerts a tightening force into the opening to tighten against the body part. A method includes inserting the body part into the opening, fixing the other end of the strip to an anchor, and stretching the strip with the body part away from the anchor while the user is at least partially submerged in water.

1 . An exercise apparatus for use with a body part, the apparatus comprising:
 a substantially planar strip of elastomeric material having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and an engagement area spaced from and proximate to the first end,   wherein the engagement area defines an opening through the substantially planar strip, the opening having a rest perimeter, the engagement area having an elasticity sufficient to stretch the opening from the rest perimeter to at least a larger, body part perimeter when receiving said body part through the opening with a minimum predetermined force, and wherein when the opening is stretched above the rest perimeter, the engagement area exerts a tightening force into the opening.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said body part is an anchoring body part fixed to an adjacent body part having a smaller cross-sectional perimeter than the anchoring body part, and wherein the body part perimeter is sized to receive the entire anchoring body part therethrough such that the opening receives the adjacent body part. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body part perimeter is substantially the same as a perimeter of a human hand. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the body part perimeter is substantially the same as a maximum cross-sectional perimeter of a human hand. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body part perimeter is substantially the same as a perimeter of a human foot. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the body part perimeter is substantially the same as a maximum cross-sectional perimeter of a human foot. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric material has a substantially elongate shape. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the engagement area is located at least 125 mm from the first end. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement area comprises an edge along the opening, wherein the edge is substantially smooth. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement area defining the opening is substantially free of jagged or frayed edges. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further for use with a second body part, and wherein the engagement area is a first engagement area, the opening is a first opening, the tightening force is a first tightening force, the rest perimeter is a first rest perimeter, the body part perimeter is a first body part perimeter, the elasticity is a first elasticity, the minimum predetermined force is a first minimum predetermined force and the tightening force is a first tightening force, the apparatus further comprising:
 a second engagement area proximate to and spaced from the second end, 
 wherein the second engagement area defines a second opening therein, the second opening having a second rest perimeter, the second engagement area having a second elasticity sufficient to stretch the second opening from the second rest perimeter to at least a larger, second body part perimeter when receiving said second body part through the second opening with a second minimum predetermined force, and wherein when the second opening is stretched above the second rest perimeter, the second engagement area exerts a second tightening force into the second opening. 
 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein a distance between center points of the first engagement area and the second engagement area is between approximately 600 mm and 800 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first body part perimeter is substantially the same as a perimeter of a human hand. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the second body part perimeter is substantially the same as a perimeter of a human hand. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the second body part perimeter is substantially the same as a perimeter of a human foot. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric material is water resistant. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tightening force is sufficient to prevent movement of said body part out of the opening with less than the predetermined minimum force. 
     
     
         18 . A method of aquatic exercising by a user with a body part comprising:
 providing a substantially planar strip of elastomeric material having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and an engagement area spaced from and proximate to the first end, wherein the engagement area defines an opening therein, the opening having a rest perimeter, the engagement area having an elasticity sufficient to stretch the opening from the rest perimeter to a larger, body part perimeter when receiving said body part through the opening with a minimum predetermined force, and wherein when the opening is stretched above the rest perimeter, the engagement area exerts a tightening force into the opening;   providing an anchor;   inserting the body part into the opening with at least the minimum predetermined force;   fixing the second end of the elastomeric material to the anchor;   submerging the user at least partially in water; and   stretching the strip of elastomeric material by moving the body part away from the anchor while the user is at least partially submerged.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the anchor is a heavy object. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the anchor is a second body part of the user, and wherein the strip of elastomeric material further comprises a second engagement area spaced from and proximate to the second end, the second engagement area defining a second opening therein, and wherein the fixing the second end of the elastomeric material to the anchor comprises inserting the second body part into the second opening.