Rehabilitative core training device

Abstract

A core training device and a method of training core muscles with a device. The core training device includes a pouch forming an interior compartment accessible through an access opening opened or closed by a closure, which may be a zipper. A resilient ball is selectively receivable in the interior compartment and retained so that, when the device is worn, the pouch abuts against a user's lumbar region and an inner surface of the pouch is drawn against the ball to limit its movement. One or more flaps extend from opposite sides of the pouch and carry releasable fasteners, such as mating hook-and-loop strips, that overlap to secure the device around the user. The pouch and straps may be formed of elastic fabric and may include mesh or webbing. The device provides lumbar support to facilitate engagement of core muscles during exercise.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for training core muscles, the device comprising:
 a pouch, the pouch forming an interior compartment and an access opening, wherein a ball is insertable through the access opening and retainable within the interior compartment;   a closure for selectively opening and selectively closing the access opening, the closure secured to the pouch;   at least one flap extending from the pouch; and   a releasable fastener formed on the at least one flap, the releasable fastener and the at least one flap cooperable to releasably secure the device around a portion of a user.   
     
     
         2 . The device as in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flap is a first flap and the device includes a second flap, the first flap and the second flap extending from opposite sides of the pouch. 
     
     
         3 . The device as in  claim 2 , wherein the releasable fastener comprises a first mating fastener and a second mating fastener, the first mating fastener formed on the first flap and the second mating fastener formed on the second flap. 
     
     
         4 . The device as in  claim 3 , wherein the releasable fastener comprises a hook and loop fastener, the first mating fastener including a strip of hooked material and the second mating fastener including a strip of looped material. 
     
     
         5 . The device as in  claim 1 , wherein the closure comprises a zipper, the zipper extending along edges of the access opening. 
     
     
         6 . A core training device comprising:
 a pouch forming an interior compartment, the pouch configured to abut against a lumbar region of a user, the pouch including an access opening extending therethrough;   a ball sized to be snugly received within the interior compartment;   a closure secured to the pouch and extending along edges of the access opening, the closure selectively adjustable to open the access opening to provide access to the interior compartment, and to close the access opening to seal the interior compartment;   a flap extending outward from the pouch; and   first and second mating fasteners, the first mating fastener mounted on the flap, and the second mating fastener mounted on the pouch at a location spaced apart from a proximal end of the flap, the first and second mating fasteners cooperable to releasably secure the core training device around a torso of the user such that the pouch abuts against the lumbar region of the user and the closure faces away from the user.   
     
     
         7 . The core training device as in  claim 6 , wherein when the closure is adjusted to close the access opening with the ball snugly received in the interior compartment, an inner surface of the pouch is drawn against an outer surface of the ball to limit movement of the ball within the interior compartment. 
     
     
         8 . The core training device as in  claim 6 , wherein the ball is generally spherical and is formed of a resilient elastomeric material. 
     
     
         9 . The core training device as in  claim 6 , wherein the closure comprises a zipper. 
     
     
         10 . The core training device as in  claim 6 , wherein the flap is a first flap and the device further comprises a second flap extending outward from the pouch opposite the first flap, wherein the second mating fastener is mounted on the second flap. 
     
     
         11 . The core training device as in  claim 10 , wherein the first flap and the second flap extend laterally outward from the pouch. 
     
     
         12 . The core training device as in  claim 10 , wherein a juncture of the pouch and the first flap forms a first flexible joint, and a juncture of the pouch and the second flap forms a second flexible joint. 
     
     
         13 . The core training device as in  claim 10 , wherein each of the first flap and the second flap extends from a respective proximal end to a respective distal end, the first mating fastener mounted on the first flap proximate the distal end thereof, and the second mating fastener mounted on the second flap proximate the distal end thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The core training device as in  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the pouch and the flap include webbed materials. 
     
     
         15 . The core training device as in  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the pouch and the flap is formed of a mesh material configured to enable airflow therethrough. 
     
     
         16 . A method of training core muscles, the method comprising:
 providing a device having:
 a pouch forming an interior compartment and an access opening; 
 a closure secured to the pouch; 
 at least one flap extending from the pouch; and 
 a releasable fastener formed on the at least one flap; 
   inserting a ball through the access opening;
 adjusting the closure to close the access opening and retain the ball within the interior compartment; 
 positioning the device such that the pouch with the ball inserted therein abuts against the lumbar region of a user; and 
 pulling the at least one flap around the torso of the user such that the at least one flap and the releasable fastener cooperate to releasably secure the device thereto. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method as in  claim 16 , further comprising a step of placing the ball between the lumbar region of the user and an exercise surface to support the core muscles of the user upon engagement thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method as in  claim 16 , wherein the access opening is formed through a rear face of the pouch, and wherein the step of positioning the device comprises positioning the device such that the access opening faces away from the lumbar region of the user. 
     
     
         19 . The method as in  claim 16 , wherein the at least one flap is a pair of flaps extending outward from opposite sides of the pouch, and the step of pulling the at least one flap comprises overlappingly wrapping the pair of flaps around the torso of the user.