Systems and methods for simultaneously contracting body core

Abstract

Some embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed allow for simultaneous contraction of body core and adductor muscles. Some embodiments allow for a variety of exercises, including the isolation of various muscle groups, including the abdominal, back, and adductor muscle groups. Some embodiments also provide adjustable resistance levels.

1 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a first thigh member and a second thigh member moving in a first reciprocal motion when the user engages the first and second thigh members, the first reciprocal motion varying a first distance between the first and second thigh members; and   a chest contact member moving in a second reciprocal motion when a user engages the chest contact member, the second reciprocal motion varying a second distance between the chest contact member and the first and second thigh members.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a first resistance member, wherein the first resistance member provides a restoring force on the first thigh member relative to the second thigh member when the first distance decreases. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein a maximum distance between the first and second thigh members is adjustable. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise apparatus of any of  claims 1 - 3 , wherein the first reciprocal motion comprises both the first thigh member and the second thigh member moving relative to a centerline of the exercise apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise apparatus of any of  claims 1 - 4 , further comprising a second resistance member, wherein the second resistance member provides a restoring force on the chest contact member when the second distance decreases. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise apparatus of any of  claims 1 - 5 , further comprising an abdominal contact member moving in a third reciprocal motion when the user engages the abdominal contact member, the third reciprocal motion varying a third distance between the abdominal contact member and the first and second thigh members. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising an abdominal crunch base guiding the abdominal contact member when the abdominal contact member moves in the third reciprocal motion. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 6  or  7 , further comprising a third resistance member, wherein the third resistance member provides a restoring force on the abdominal contact member when the third distance decreases. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise apparatus of any of  claims 1 - 8 , wherein the first and second thigh members are further configured to move in a fourth reciprocal motion when the user engages the first and second thigh members, the fourth reciprocal motion varying a fourth distance between the chest contact member and one or more of the first and second thigh members . 
     
     
         10 . The exercise apparatus of any of  claim 9 , further comprising a fourth resistance member, wherein the fourth resistance member provides a restoring force on the one or more of the first and second thigh members relative to the chest contact member when the fourth distance decreases. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise apparatus of any of  claims 2 - 10 , wherein the restoring force of one or more of the resistance members is adjustable. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise apparatus of any of  claims 2 - 11 , wherein one or more of the resistance members are interchangeable with other resistance members. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise apparatus of any of  claims 1 - 12 , wherein the exercise apparatus further comprises one or more handles. 
     
     
         14 . A method of exercising using an exercise apparatus comprising:
 engaging a first thigh member and a second thigh member;   engaging a chest contact member, wherein the chest crunch comprises a chest contact member;   overcoming a restoring force provided by a first resistance member to vary a first distance between the first and second thigh members to move the first and second thigh members in a first reciprocal motion; and   overcoming a restoring force provided by a second resistance member to vary a second distance between the chest contact member and one or more of the first and second thigh members to move the chest contact member in a second reciprocal motion, wherein overcoming the restoring force provided by the first resistance member is performed simultaneously with overcoming the restoring force provided by the second resistance member.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising engaging an abdominal contact member; and
 overcoming a restoring force provided by a third resistance member to vary a third distance between the abdominal contact member and one or more of the first and second thigh members to move the abdominal contact member in a third reciprocal motion, wherein overcoming the restoring force provided by the third resistance member is performed simultaneously with overcoming the restoring force provided by the first and second resistance members.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  or  15 , wherein overcoming the restoring force provided by the second resistance member or the third resistance member further comprises engaging one or more handles to pull the exercise apparatus towards a user's body. 
     
     
         17 . The method of any of  claims 14 - 16 , further comprising overcoming a restoring force provided by a fourth resistance member to vary a fourth distance between one or more of the first and second thigh members and chest contact member to move one or more of the first and second thigh members in a fourth reciprocal motion, wherein overcoming the restoring force provided by the fourth resistance member is performed simultaneously with overcoming the restoring force provided by the first and second resistance members. 
     
     
         18 . The method of any of  claims 14 - 17 , wherein the restoring force of one or more of the resistance members is adjustable. 
     
     
         19 . The method of any of  claims 14 - 18 , wherein one or more of the resistance members is interchangeable with other resistance members. 
     
     
         20 . A resistance member comprising
 a first anchor;   a second anchor configured to move in a reciprocal motion relative to the first anchor;   a spring resisting relative movement of the first and second anchor in a first direction of the reciprocal motion and aiding relative movement of the first and second anchor in a second direction of the reciprocal motion opposite to the first direction; and a spacer that limits relative motion of the first and second anchor in the first direction to a minimum distance between the first and second anchor, wherein the spring is in tension when the first and second anchor are at the minimum distance.   
     
     
         21 . The resistance member of  claim 20 , wherein the spacer is configured to maintain a distance between the first anchor and the second anchor of between ⅛ of an inch and 20 inches, between ¼ of an inch and 18 inches, between ½ of an inch and 16 inches, between 1 inch and 14 inches, between 2 inches and 12 inches, between 3 and 8 inches, between 3.5 and 6 inches, or between 4 and 5 inches. 
     
     
         22 . The resistance member of  claim 21 , wherein the spacer is configured to maintain a distance between the first anchor and the second anchor of ⅛, ¼, or ½ of an inch, or 1, 2, 3, or 4 inches. 
     
     
         23 . The resistance member of any of  claims 20 - 22 , wherein the spring comprises latex or rubber. 
     
     
         24 . The resistance member of any of  claims 20 - 23 , wherein the spring comprises a continuous band encircling a first band connector and a second band connector. 
     
     
         25 . The resistance member of  claim 24 , wherein the first band connector is connected to the first anchor and the second band connector is connected to the second anchor. 
     
     
         26 . The resistance member of any of  claims 20 - 25 , further comprising a housing comprising the first anchor, second anchor, and the spring, wherein a length of housing is between 2-20 inches, between 2.5 and 12 inches, between 3 and 8 inches, between 3.5 and 6 inches, or between 4 and 5 inches, a width of between 1 and 6 inches, between 1.5 and 4 inches, or between 2 and 3 inches, and a height of between 0.5 and 3 inches, or between 1 and 2, inches. 
     
     
         27 . The resistance member of  claim 26 , wherein the housing comprises a length of  4  inches, a width of 2 inches, and a height of 1 inch. 
     
     
         28 . The resistance member of any of  claims 26 - 27 , wherein the housing comprises a first housing comprising the first anchor and a second housing comprising the second anchor, wherein at least one of the first and second anchors comprise an outer surface of the first and second housing. 
     
     
         29 . The resistance member of any of  claims 20 - 28 , further comprising a third anchor fixed relative to one of the first and second anchor and configured to move in a reciprocal motion relative to the other of the first and second anchor. 
     
     
         30 . The resistance member of  claim 29 , wherein the third anchor comprises a protrusion from one of the first and second housings. 
     
     
         31 . The resistance member of any of  claims 29 - 30 , further comprising a fourth anchor fixed relative to the third anchor. 
     
     
         32 . The resistance member of  claim 31 , wherein the fourth anchor comprises a protrusion from one of the first and second housings. 
     
     
         33 . The resistance member of any of  claims 20 - 32 , wherein the first anchor is configured to engage a chest contact member and the second anchor is configured to engage a chest crunch member. 
     
     
         34 . The resistance member of any of  claims 20 - 32 , wherein the first anchor is configured to engage an abdominal contact member and the second anchor is configured to engage an abdominal crunch member. 
     
     
         35 . The resistance member of any of  claims 20 - 32 , wherein the first anchor is configured to engage a first thigh member and the second anchor is configured to engage a second thigh member. 
     
     
         36 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a body contact member; and   a base, wherein
 one of the body contact member and the base comprises a tube and the other comprises an insert configured to move in a reciprocal motion within the tube, 
 the tube comprises a hollow internal space comprising an inner wall, 
 the insert comprises an outer wall, 
 the reciprocal motion comprises the inner wall facing, and moving relative, to the outer wall, and 
 the tube and the insert comprise complimentary guides to prevent contact between the inner wall and outer wall during the reciprocal motion. 
   
     
     
         37 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the complementary guides comprise a bearing and a female guide rail. 
     
     
         38 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 36  or  37 , wherein the complementary guides reduce an angular range of motion of tube relative to the insert. 
     
     
         39 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a body contact member; and   a base, wherein
 one of the body contact member and the base comprises a tube and the other comprises an insert, wherein 
 the insert moves in a reciprocal motion within the tube, wherein the insert comprises a first anchor engagement and the tube comprises a second 
 anchor engagement, wherein the first anchor engagement moves relative to the second anchor engagement, and wherein the tube comprises an aperture sized to receive a resistance member that engages with the first anchor engagement and the second anchor engagement. 
   
     
     
         40 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the resistance member comprises the resistance member of any one of  claims 20 - 35 . 
     
     
         41 . A resistance member comprising a first spring connector;
 a second spring connector, wherein a first distance between the first spring connector and second spring connector is fixed;   a spring connected to the first spring connector and the second spring connector; and   a paddle configured to engage the spring,   wherein the paddle is configured to move in a reciprocal motion relative to the first and second anchors, and wherein the spring resists relative movement between the paddle and the first and second anchors in a first direction of the reciprocal motion and aids relative movement between the paddle and the first and second anchors in a direction of the reciprocal motion opposite the first direction.   
     
     
         42 . The resistance member of  claim 41 , wherein the spring comprises a continuous band encircling the first spring connector and the second spring connector. 
     
     
         43 . The resistance member of  claim 41 , wherein the spring comprises latex or rubber. 
     
     
         44 . The resistance member of  claim 41 , wherein the reciprocal motion is between 2 and 18 inches, between 4 and 16 inches, between 5 and 12 inches, or between 6 and 8 inches. 
     
     
         45 . The resistance member of  claim 44 , wherein the reciprocal motion is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 inches. 
     
     
         46 . The resistance member of  claim 41 , wherein one of an abdominal contact member or an abdominal crunch base comprises or is connected to the paddle and the other of the abdominal crunch member or abdominal crunch bases comprises or is connected to the first and second spring connector. 
     
     
         47 . The resistance member of  claim 41 , wherein one of a chest contact member or a chest crunch base comprises or is connected to the paddle and the other of the chest crunch member or chest crunch bases comprises or is connected to the first and second spring connector. 
     
     
         48 . The resistance member of  claim 41 , wherein a first thigh member comprises or is connected to the paddle and a second thigh member comprises or is connected to the first and second spring connector.