Resistance exercise clothing

Abstract

A method and apparatus for exercising a muscle in a given agonist and antagonist muscle pair of a user's human body by providing an elongated elastic band having a first length when no external forces are applied thereto, elongating the elastic band to a second length that is greater than the first length, securing the elastic band to a garment in a manner whereby when the elastic band is installed on the garment an axial force is imposed on the body of the user and the elastic band is disposed in aligned proximate relationship with at least one of the muscles in a given pair of muscles comprising an agonist muscle and antagonist muscle pair.

1 . A method for exercising a muscle in a given agonist and antagonist muscle pair of a user's human body by
 providing an elongated elastic band having a first length when no external forces are applied thereto,   elongating the elastic band to a second length that is greater than the first length,   securing the elastic band to a garment in a manner whereby when the elastic band is installed on the garment an axial force is imposed on the body of the user and each such elastic band is disposed in aligned proximate relationship with at least one of the muscles in a given pair of muscles comprising an agonist muscle and antagonist muscle.   
     
     
         2 . The method as described in  claim 1  wherein elongated elastic members are positioned in aligned proximate relationship with respect to both of the muscles in a given pair of muscles comprising an agonist muscle and antagonist muscle. 
     
     
         3 . The method as described as described in  claim 1  wherein the step of attaching an elongated elastic member to a garment in a manner whereby when the garment is installed an axial force is imposed on the body of the user with each such member disposed in aligned proximate relationship with at least one of the muscles in a given pair of muscles comprising an agonist muscle and antagonist muscle includes attaching a first elastic band having a first end disposed at one of the insertion paths of the muscles at both the intertubercular groove (sulcus) and the crest of the greater tubercle. 
     
     
         4 . The method as described in  claim 2  including attaching first and second elastic bands having respective first ends disposed at left and right insertion paths of the muscles at both the intertubercular groove (sulcus) and the crest of the greater tubercle. 
     
     
         5 . The method as described in  claim 4  wherein the step of attaching includes positioning the first and second elastic bands to extend downwardly generally aligned with the infraspinatus muscle. 
     
     
         6 . The method as described in  claim 5  wherein the step of attaching includes attaching each of the second ends of the elastic bands across the back of the shirt to the side thereof distal from the first end thereof. 
     
     
         7 . A garment for use by a human having an elongated elastic member fabricated into the garment which is in tension when the garment is worn by the user and disposed in aligned proximate relationship with at least one of the muscles in a given pair of muscles comprising an agonist muscle and antagonist muscle. 
     
     
         8 . The garment as described in  claim 7  wherein exercise of an agonist muscle in a given pair of muscles is achieved by imposing a force on the body of the person wearing the garment that simulates the force and direction that would be produced by the antagonistic muscle if the antagonist muscle was contracted. 
     
     
         9 . The garment as described in  claim 8  wherein an elongated elastic member is disposed in aligned proximate relation with respect to the antagonistic muscle in the pair of muscles on a garment worn by the user whereby the agonist muscle has to work harder to overcome the forces imposed by the elongated elastic member and improved exercise of the agonist muscle is achieved. 
     
     
         10 . A garment having at least (a) one elongated elastic band having first and second axial spaced points of the equilibrium length of the elastic band fixed to (b) first and second axial spaced points of the garment without the application of external forces and the first and second points on the elastic band are closer together than the first and second points on the garment without the application of external forces and said first and second points on said elastic band and said first and second points on said garment are dimensioned and configured to be aligned with a specific muscle. 
     
     
         11 . The garment as described in  claim 10  wherein said first and second points on said elastic band and said first and second points on said garment are dimensioned and configured to align with an antagonist muscle. 
     
     
         12 . The garment as described in  claim 12  including a first elastic band having a first end disposed at one of the insertion paths of the muscles at both the intertubercular groove (sulcus) and the crest of the greater tubercle. 
     
     
         13 . The garment as described in  claim 12  including a first and second elastic bands each having a first end disposed at both left and right insertion paths of the muscles at an intertubercular groove (sulcus) and the crest of the greater tubercle. 
     
     
         14 . The garment as described in  claim 13  wherein said first and second elastic bands to extend downwardly from said first end and are generally aligned with the infraspinatus muscle when the garment is worn. 
     
     
         15 . The garment as described in  claim 14  wherein each of the second ends of the elastic bands across the back of the shirt to the side thereof distal from the first end thereof.