Exercise apparatuses and methods of using the same

Abstract

An exercise apparatus includes a pair of step-up apparatuses wearable on feet of a user. Each step-up apparatus is configurable between an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration to simulate a selected motion when the user wearing the pair of step-up apparatuses travels by foot. One of the step-up apparatuses moves towards the expanded configuration while the other step-up apparatus moves towards the compressed configuration.

1 .- 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A footwear system, comprising:
 a first footwear apparatus including
 a wirelessly programmable first controller, 
 a first adjustment device configured to communicate with the wirelessly programmable first controller, and 
 one or more first sensors configured to output first data provided to the wirelessly programmable first controller, wherein the wirelessly programmable first controller is programmed to cause the first adjustment device to control adjustment to a configuration of the first footwear apparatus based on the outputted first data and a program selected by a user from a plurality of available programs. 
   
     
     
         20 . The footwear system of  claim 19 , wherein each one of the plurality of available programs corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of exercise activities, wherein the plurality of exercise activities includes walking, running, jogging, and/or climbing stairs. 
     
     
         21 . The footwear system of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of available programs provide different exercise simulations based on the first adjustment device controlling collapsing of the first footwear apparatus during use. 
     
     
         22 . The footwear system of  claim 19 , wherein the first controller is programmed to control the adjustment based on one or more force settings, control maps, characteristics of motion, and/or control curves. 
     
     
         23 . The footwear system of  claim 19 , further comprising a second footwear apparatus including a second controller and one or more second sensors configured to output second data used by the second controller to control adjustment to a configuration of the second footwear apparatus. 
     
     
         24 . The footwear system of  claim 19 , further comprising a second footwear apparatus programmed to wirelessly communicate with the first footwear apparatus to coordinate operation between the first and second footwear apparatuses. 
     
     
         25 . The footwear system of  claim 19 , wherein the output first data is stored for viewing by the user via a display screen, 
     
     
         26 . The footwear system of  claim 19 , further comprising adjusting the configuration of the first footwear apparatus based on the outputted first data for each step taken by the user. 
     
     
         27 . A footwear system comprising:
 a pair of footwear apparatuses each including
 an adjustment device, 
 at least one sensor configured to output data, and 
 a controller in communication with the adjustment device and the at least one sensor, wherein the controller is programmed to cause the adjustment device to control a configuration of the footwear apparatus based on the outputted data and an exercise program selected by a user from a plurality of exercise programs. 
   
     
     
         28 . The footwear system of  claim 27 , wherein the footwear apparatuses communicate with one another to coordinate the reconfiguration of the footwear apparatuses. 
     
     
         29 . The footwear system of  claim 27 , wherein each footwear apparatus is reconfigured by the respective adjustment device to simulate an exercise activity according to the exercise program selected by the user. 
     
     
         30 . The footwear system of  claim 27 , wherein the plurality of exercise programs correspond to different levels of exercise. 
     
     
         31 . The footwear system of  claim 27 , wherein each one of the plurality of exercise programs corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of exercise activities that include walking, running, jogging, and/or climbing stairs. 
     
     
         32 . The footwear system of  claim 27 , wherein the output data is stored for viewing by the user. 
     
     
         33 . The footwear system of  claim 27 , further comprising setting the configurations of the pair of footwear apparatuses based on user input. 
     
     
         34 . The footwear system of  claim 27 , wherein the configuration of the footwear apparatuses corresponds a preselected exercise routine. 
     
     
         35 . A footwear system comprising:
 a footwear apparatus having a plurality of user-set exercise settings corresponding to exercise configurations of the footwear apparatus, wherein each exercise configuration provides a respective level of exercise for a user wearing the footwear apparatus when walking, running, jogging, and/or simulating climbing stairs, and wherein the levels of exercise are substantially different from one another.