Exercise Device for the Shoulder

Abstract

The invention provides an exercise device for a rotator cuff of a shoulder of a user comprising a container housing, wherein the container housing comprises a first container shell, wherein the first container shell comprises a first container shell exterior surface and a first container shell interior surface surrounding a first container shell void, wherein the first container shell interior surface forms a substantially spherical surface; a second container shell, wherein the second container shell comprises a second container shell exterior surface and a second container shell interior surface, wherein the second container shell interior surface surrounds the first container shell exterior surface whereby the first container shell is nested inside the second container shell; and a spherical ball positioned within the first container shell void; wherein when the exercise device is in use, movement and rotation of an arm of a user causes movement and rotation of the container housing and movement and rotation of the ball within the container housing in a direction that follows a circumference of the first container shell interior surface, thereby exercising the rotator cuff of the shoulder of the user.

1 . An exercise device for a rotator cuff of a shoulder of a user comprising a container housing, wherein the container housing comprises
 i) a first container shell, wherein the first container shell comprises a first container shell exterior surface and a first container shell interior surface surrounding a first container shell void, wherein the first container shell interior surface forms a substantially spherical surface;   ii) a second container shell, wherein the second container shell comprises a second container shell exterior surface and a second container shell interior surface, wherein the second container shell interior surface surrounds the first container shell exterior surface whereby the first container shell is nested inside the second container shell; and   iii) a spherical ball positioned within the first container shell void;   
       wherein when the exercise device is in use, movement and rotation of an arm of a user causes movement and rotation of the container housing and movement and rotation of the ball within the container housing in a direction that follows a circumference of the first container shell interior surface, thereby exercising the rotator cuff of the shoulder of the user. 
     
     
         2 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the second container shell interior surface is substantially equal to the diameter of the first container shell exterior surface. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the first container shell comprises two substantially equal halves joined at a first seam, wherein the second container shell comprises two substantially equal halves joined at a second seam, wherein the first seam and the second seam do not occupy substantially the same plane. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise device of  claim 3 , wherein the substantially equal halves of each of the first container shell and/or the second container shell are joined together by adhesive, ultrasonic welding, chemical welding, glue, adhesive tape, or mechanical fasteners. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise device of  claim 4 , where the second container shell outer diameter is about 4 inches to about 6 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the ball has a rubber coating on its surface, wherein the ball comprises plastic, rubber, tempered glass, wood, metal, or metal alloy. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , where the ball has a weight of about 1 ounce to about 10 ounces. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , further comprising a splint, wherein the splint is attached to the container housing, wherein the splint effectively eliminates wrist motion and thereby imparts all active motion needed to spin the ball to the shoulder's rotator cuff muscle. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise device of  claim 8 , wherein the splint comprises i) a splint shell configured to be attached to the arm to restrain the wrist from moving in a turning motion, and ii) at least one strap attached to the splint shell. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise device of  claim 8 , wherein the splint comprises a splint shell configured to be attached to the arm to restrain the wrist from moving in a turning motion, wherein the user's forearm and/or wrist are stabilized onto the splint by an external wrap. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise device of  claim 8 , further comprising a sensor unit capable of detecting motion of the exercise device. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise device of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor unit is attached to the splint or the container housing. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise device of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor unit comprises an accelerometer. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise device of  claim 11 , where the sensor unit comprises an indicator of ball rotations within the container housing. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise device of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor unit is capable of storing information about the use of the exercise device and/or biometric data about the user. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise device of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor unit is capable of transmitting the information and/or biometric data to another device. 
     
     
         17 . A method of exercising a rotator cuff of a shoulder of a user, comprising providing the user with the exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the user moves the exercise device with their arm and rotates the container housing at a sufficient speed to move the ball within the container housing in a direction that follows a circumference of the first container shell interior surface, thereby exercising the rotator cuff of the shoulder of the user. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise device of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor unit comprises an indicator of ball rotations within the container housing, wherein the indicator is an emission of light, wherein the intensity of emission of light varies as a rheostat in accordance with the velocity of the spin rate of the ball. 
     
     
         19 . The exercise device of  claim 18 , wherein when the ball is rotating at about 10 to 320 rotations per minute a first intensity of light is emitted and a second intensity of light is emitted when the ball is rotating at greater than about 320 rotations per minute. 
     
     
         20 . The exercise device of  claim 18 , wherein a higher spin rate results in a greater intensity of light emission and a lower spin rate results in a dimming of the light emission intensity.