Sliding exercise apparatus

Abstract

A sliding exercise apparatus which in some embodiments may include a hard layer frame which may comprise a hard surface; a body contacting layer which may comprise a body contacting surface located opposite to said hard surface and which may be coupled to the hard layer frame opposite to the hard surface; and a removable cover which may be configured to cover a portion of the hard surface. A method of providing flexion and extension exercise to a joint using the sliding exercise apparatus is also provided. The method may include moving an appendage of a user that is in communication with an appendage joint in flexion motion and/or extension motion under a level of frictional resistance by moving the appendage and apparatus across a resistive surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing flexion and extension exercise to a joint that is in communication with an appendage of a user having a torso with a sliding exercise apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a hard layer frame comprising a hard surface;   a body contacting layer comprising a body contacting surface located opposite to said hard surface and coupled to the hard layer frame opposite to the hard surface;   a removable cover configured to cover a portion of the hard surface, and wherein the removable cover comprises a removable cover surface; and   wherein said hard surface is configured to make contact with a resistive surface when the removable cover is removed from covering the hard surface, and wherein said removable cover is configured to make contact with the resistive surface when the removable cover is positioned over a portion of the hard surface, and the method comprising:   removing torso weight from acting on the appendage;   positioning sliding exercise apparatus on a resistive surface;   positioning appendage on body contacting surface of sliding exercise apparatus;   moving appendage joint in flexion motion under a level of frictional resistance by moving appendage on apparatus towards the torso; and   moving appendage joint in extension motion under the level of frictional resistance by moving appendage on apparatus away from the torso.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the removable cover is constructed from one of cloth or fabric material. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the removable cover is removably coupled to the hard layer frame. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the removable cover further comprises resilient perimeter. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the resilient perimeter may be stretched over the hard surface to removably couple the removable cover to the hard layer frame. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hard surface contains a planar ground contacting region with a smooth finish. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hard layer frame is constructed from a substantially rigid plastic material. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the hard layer frame is constructed from a substantially rigid material selected from one of nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), or low density polyethylene (LDPE). 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hard layer frame comprises a beveled edge that extends around and protrudes away from the perimeter of the hard surface. 
     
     
         10 . A method of providing flexion and extension exercise under different levels of frictional resistance to a joint that is in communication with an appendage of a user having a torso with a sliding exercise apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a hard layer frame comprising a hard surface;   a body contacting layer comprising a body contacting surface located opposite to said hard surface and coupled to the hard layer frame opposite to the hard surface;   a removable cover configured to cover a portion of the hard surface, and wherein the removable cover comprises a removable cover surface; and   wherein said hard surface is configured to make contact with a resistive surface when the removable cover is removed from covering the hard surface, and wherein said removable cover is configured to make contact with the resistive surface when the removable cover is positioned over a portion of the hard surface, and the method comprising:   removing torso weight from acting on the appendage;   positioning sliding exercise apparatus on a resistive surface so that hard surface is in contact with resistive surface to provide first level of frictional resistance;   positioning sliding exercise apparatus on a resistive surface so that removable cover surface is in contact with resistive surface to provide second level of frictional resistance   positioning appendage on sliding exercise apparatus;   moving appendage joint in flexion motion with selected level of frictional resistance by moving appendage on apparatus towards torso; and   moving appendage joint in extension motion with selected level of frictional resistance by moving appendage on apparatus away from torso.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the removable cover is removably coupled to the hard layer frame. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the removable cover is constructed from one of cloth or fabric material. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the hard surface contains a planar ground contacting region with a smooth finish. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the hard layer frame is constructed from a substantially rigid plastic material. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the apparatus is positioned on a resistive surface so that the hard surface is in contact with resistive surface to provide first level of resistance, and wherein apparatus is positioned on a resistive surface so that the removable cover surface is in contact with resistive surface to provide second level of resistance. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first level of resistance is different than the second level of resistance. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first level of resistance is greater than the second level of resistance. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first level of resistance is less than the second level of resistance. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the removable cover further comprises a resilient perimeter. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the resilient perimeter may be stretched over the hard surface and the beveled edge to removably couple the removable cover to the hard layer frame.