Combined therapeutic exercise apparatus for the back

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for combiningly performing four important exercises localized to the lower back with the addition of weight resistance: a) the rotation or torsion of the lower spine and the lower back muscles; b) the bending of the spine forward and the exercising of abdominal muscles; c) the bending of the spine rearward and the exercising of the lumbar and erector muscles; d) the stretching and self-postural adjustment of the spine. The user performs the four exercises in the horizontal position with both legs in raised position. A swinging member accommodates the legs and allows the swinging, side-to-side motion of the legs. A second pivotal member helps the bending of the pelvis forward and rearward. A roller support assembly supports and massages the entire back during exercises. The user's body rests on an anatomical cushion support during exercises. The body's user experiences both the stretching of the intravertebral ligament and cartilage, while building postural awareness and self-adjusting spinal posture.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A therapeutic exercise apparatus for the back, comprising: 
       a bench for supporting the user in a reclined position;  
       a leg swinging mechanism comprising a swinging member having an intermediate portion pivotally attached a forward end of the bench for rotation about a first horizontal axis, a lower portion having means for holding a weight resistance such that swinging movement of the swinging member is resisted, and an upper portion having a leg rest for engaging a user's legs behind the knees and a foot rest for receiving their feet;  
       a pivoting lever having an intermediate portion pivotally attached to a side of the bench for rotation about a second horizontal axis transverse to the first, a forward portion having a second means for holding a weight resistance such that forward and rearward movement of the pivoting lever are selectively resisted, and a rearward portion having handle bars and a pivoting support for receiving the user's back.  
     
     
       2. The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bench includes padding at its forward and rearward ends. 
     
     
       3. The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the padding at the forward end of the bench is anatomically shaped. 
     
     
       4. The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a mechanism for adjusting the position of the foot rest along the swinging member. 
     
     
       5. The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the foot rest is pivotally attached to the swinging member. 
     
     
       6. The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a mechanism for adjusting the distance between the leg rest and the first axis. 
     
     
       7. The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the leg rest adjusting mechanism comprises a spur gear and a rack. 
     
     
       8. The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said means for holding a weight resistance comprises a rod for holding a stack of weights. 
     
     
       9. The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pivoting lever comprises a frame that is pivotally attached to both sides of the bench. 
     
     
       10. The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the handle bars are arched. 
     
     
       11. The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a mechanism for adjusting the position of the handle bars along the pivoting lever. 
     
     
       12. The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pivoting back support comprises a pivoting frame and a plurality of rollers attached thereto. 
     
     
       13. The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the rollers are supported by springs. 
     
     
       14. The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a roller for receiving the neck of the user. 
     
     
       15. The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a swing member locking mechanism for locking the swing mechanism in place. 
     
     
       16. The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a pivoting lever locking mechanism for locking the pivoting lever in place. 
     
     
       17. The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a resilient resistance member attached to the pivoting lever and the bench. 
     
     
       18. The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the leg rest comprises a padding for engaging a user's legs both behind the knees and between the knees. 
     
     
       19. The therapeutic exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second means for holding a weight resistance comprises a weight stack holder hinged to the pivoting lever for moving a weight stack between a rearward position for resisting forward movement of the lever and a forward position for resisting rearward movement of the lever. 
     
     
       20. A method of abdominal and lumbar exercise comprising the following steps by a user: 
       
         providing an exercise machine including  
       
       
         a bench for supporting the user in a reclined position;  
       
       
         a leg swinging mechanism comprising a swinging member having an intermediate portion pivotally attached a forward end of the bench for rotation about a first horizontal axis, a lower portion having means for holding a weight resistance such that swinging movement of the swinging member is resisted, and an upper portion having a leg rest for engaging a user's legs behind the knees and a foot rest for receiving their feet;  
       
       
         a pivoting lever having an intermediate portion pivotally attached to a side of the bench for rotation about a second horizontal axis transverse to the first,  
       
       
         a forward portion having a second means for holding a weight resistance such that forward and rearward movement of the pivoting lever are selectively resisted, and  
       
       
         a rearward portion having handle bars and a pivoting support for receiving the user's back  
       
       
         and wherein the second means for holding a weight resistance comprises a weight stack holder hinged to the pivoting lever for moving a weight stack between a rearward position for resisting forward movement of the lever and a forward position for resisting rearward movement of the lever;  
       
       
         engaging the user's legs on said leg rest;  
       
       
         engaging user's feet with said foot rest;  
       
       
         lying on said bench of said exercise machine in a reclined position; and  
       
       
         swinging the user's legs about said horizontal axis. 
       
     
     
       21. The method abdominal and lumbar exercise according to  claim 20  comprising an additional step after the step of lying on said exercise machine in a reclined position, comprising: 
       
         elevating at least a portion of both of the user's legs. 
       
     
     
       22. A method of abdominal and lumbar exercise comprising the following steps by a user: 
       
         providing an exercise machine, including:  
       
       
         a bench for supporting the user in a reclined position;  
       
       
         a leg swinging mechanism comprising a swinging member having an intermediate portion pivotally attached a forward end of the bench for rotation about a first horizontal axis, a lower portion having means for holding a weight resistance such that swinging movement of the swinging member is resisted, and an upper portion having a leg rest for engaging a user's legs behind the knees and a foot rest for receiving their feet;  
       
       
         a pivoting lever having an intermediate portion pivotally attached to a side of the bench for rotation about a second horizontal axis transverse to the first,  
       
       
         a forward portion having a second means for holding a weight resistance such that forward and rearward movement of the pivoting lever are selectively resisted, and  
       
       
         a rearward portion having handle bars and a pivoting support for receiving the user's back  
       
       
         and wherein the second means for holding a weight resistance comprises a weight stack holder hinged to the pivoting lever for moving a weight stack between a rearward position for resisting forward movement of the lever and a forward position for resisting rearward movement of the lever;  
       
       
         moving said weight rearward to said rearward position for resisting forward movement of the lever;  
       
       
         lying on said bench of said exercise machine in a reclined position;  
       
       
         grasping said handle bars; and  
       
       
         pulling forward with the torso against said lever. 
       
     
     
       23. The method abdominal and lumbar exercise according to  claim 22  comprising an additional step after the step of lying on said exercise machine in a reclined position, comprising: 
       
         elevating at least a portion of both of the user's legs. 
       
     
     
       24. The method of abdominal and lumbar exercise according to  claim 22  wherein the step of providing an exercise machine includes said pivoting back support comprising a pivoting frame and a plurality of rollers attached thereto for massaging the user's back during the step of pulling forward with the torso against said lever. 
     
     
       25. The method of abdominal and lumbar exercise according to  claim 22  wherein the step of providing an exercise machine includes said pivoting back support further comprises a roller for receiving the neck of the user for massaging the user's back during the step of pulling forward with the torso against said lever. 
     
     
       26. A method of abdominal and lumbar exercise comprising the following steps by a user: 
       
         providing an exercise machine comprising:  
       
       
         a bench for supporting the user in a reclined position;  
       
       
         a leg swinging mechanism comprising a swinging member having an intermediate portion pivotally attached a forward end of the bench for rotation about a first horizontal axis, a lower portion having means for holding a weight resistance such that swinging movement of the swinging member is resisted, and an upper portion having a leg rest for engaging a user's legs behind the knees and a foot rest for receiving their feet;  
       
       
         a pivoting lever having an intermediate portion pivotally attached to a side of the bench for rotation about a second horizontal axis transverse to the first, horizontal axis, operably connected to said bench and,  
       
       
         a forward portion having a second means for holding a weight resistance such that forward and rearward movement of the pivoting lever are selectively resisted,  
       
       
         a rearward portion having handle bars and a pivoting support for receiving the user's back; and  
       
       
         wherein the second means for holding a weight resistance comprises a weight stack holder hinged to the pivoting lever for moving a weight stack between a rearward position for resisting forward movement of the lever and a forward position for resisting rearward movement of the lever;  
       
       
         lying on said bench of said exercise machine in a reclined position;  
       
       
         engaging the user's legs on said leg rest;  
       
       
         engaging user's feet with said foot rest;  
       
       
         elevating at least a portion of both of the user's legs;  
       
       
         moving said weight forward to said forward position for resisting rearward movement of the bench; and  
       
       
         pushing back with the torso against said bench. 
       
     
     
       27. The method of abdominal and lumbar exercise according to  claim 26  wherein the step of providing an exercise machine includes said pivoting back support further comprising a pivoting frame and a plurality of rollers attached thereto for massaging the user's back during the step of pushing back with the torso against said bench. 
     
     
       28. The method of abdominal and lumbar exercise according to  claim 26  wherein the step of providing an exercise machine includes said pivoting back support comprising a pivoting frame and a plurality of rollers attached thereto and further comprising a roller for receiving the neck of the user for massaging the user's back during the step of pushing back with the torso against said bench. 
     
     
       29. A method of abdominal and lumbar exercise comprising the following steps by a user: 
       
         providing an exercise machine comprising:  
       
       
         a bench for supporting the user in a reclined position;  
       
       
         a leg swinging mechanism comprising a swinging member having an intermediate portion pivotally attached to a forward end of the bench for rotation about a first horizontal axis, a lower portion having means for holding a weight resistance such that swinging movement of the swinging member is resisted, and an upper portion having a leg rest for engaging a user's legs behind the knees and a foot rest for receiving their feet;  
       
       
         a pivoting lever operably connected to said bench and having an intermediate portion pivotally attached to a side of the bench for rotation about a second horizontal axis transverse to the first,  
       
       
         a forward portion having a second means for holding a weight resistance such that forward and rearward movement of the pivoting lever are selectively resisted, and  
       
       
         a rearward portion having handle bars and a pivoting support for receiving the user's back  
       
       
         and wherein the second means for holding a weight resistance comprises a weight stack holder hinged to the pivoting lever for moving a weight stack between a rearward position for resisting forward movement of the lever and a forward position for resisting rearward movement of the lever;  
       
       
         lying on said bench of said exercise machine in a reclined position;  
       
       
         moving said weight forward to said forward position for resisting rearward movement of the bench; and  
       
       
         pushing back with the users torso against said bench. 
       
     
     
       30. The method of abdominal and lumbar exercise according to  claim 29  wherein the step of providing an exercise machine includes said pivoting back support comprising a pivoting frame and a plurality of rollers attached thereto for massaging the user's back during the step of pushing back with the users torso against said bench. 
     
     
       31. The method of abdominal and lumbar exercise according to  claim 29  wherein the step of providing an exercise machine includes said pivoting back support comprising a pivoting frame and a plurality of rollers attached thereto and further comprising a roller for receiving the neck of the user for massaging the user's back during the step of pushing back with the torso against said bench.