Articles of Apparel Providing Enhanced Body Position Feedback

Abstract

Articles of apparel include: (a) a garment structure having one or more fabric elements structured and arranged to provide a close fit to at least one predetermined portion of a body (e.g., area(s) of the body for which enhanced position sensing and/or feedback are desired); and (b) a body position feedback system engaged with or integrally formed as part of the garment structure. The body position feedback system may apply higher tensile or constricting (compressive) forces to selected portions of the wearer's body and/or stretch resistance, which can help stimulate or interact with nerves and deep tissue receptors located in various portions of the body. The increased forces at selected locations of the body give the wearer sensory feedback regarding the position or orientation of these parts of the body and can improve or accelerate development of “muscle memory.”

We claim: 
     
         1 . An article of apparel, comprising:
 a garment structure for covering at least an abdominal core portion of a human torso, wherein the garment structure includes one or more fabric elements, and wherein the garment structure is structured and arranged so as to provide a close fit to at least the abdominal core portion; and   a first abdominal core position feedback system engaged with the garment structure at the abdominal core portion, wherein the first abdominal core position feedback system includes at least a first region in the abdominal core portion having a higher compressive force application capability than a compressive force application capability of the fabric element making up a largest proportion of the garment structure, and wherein the first abdominal core position feedback system extends from a central front portion of the garment structure at least to a central rear portion of the garment structure.