Exercise treadmill for pulling and dragging action

Abstract

An exercise treadmill of the type having an endless moveable surface looped around rollers or pulleys to form an upper run and a lower run, the movable surface being rotated when one of the rollers or pulleys is rotated, an exercise surface on for walking or running while exercising, and a weight resistance means for simulating the dragging or pulling of a load, wherein the endless movable surface moves in a direction simulating walking or running backwards.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This patent application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 289,916 having a filing date of 30 Nov. 2005 entitled Exercise Treadmill For Pulling And Dragging Action, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Technical Field [0003] This invention relates to the general technical field of exercise, physical fitness and physical therapy equipment and machines and to the more specific novel technical field of a mechanically, electrically and electronically operated reverse treadmill machine designed to simulate a dragging or pulling motion when operated by the user. [0004] 2. Prior Art [0005] Exercise, physical fitness and physical therapy equipment and machines are available in various configurations and for various purposes, and are available for all of the major muscle groups. The majority of such equipment and machines, especially in the exercise fie...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] The muscle activity of the lower body is much greater in backward walking versus forward walking and the heart rate is elevated 30% to 35% higher over the same forward walking speed. Thus, a person can expend more energy in a shorter period of time walking backwards. Adding the additional load factor of a hand held horizontal resistance (dragging motion) and the energy expenditure and muscle loading to the lower body is increased. This increased energy output allows an individual to achieve and maintain their desired heart rate at a traction of the speed of any forward motion oriented exercise.

[0015] Further, the overall force of impact is reduced at a backward walk versus forward motion oriented exercises due to the reduced stride length, foot pattern contact and lower extremity kinematics pattern. The sheer force to the knees is reduced because the sheer force is reversed while walking backwards. Moreover, the range of motion of the knee joint is reduced to incorporating a nearly isometric pattern following contact compared to a more stressful eccentric loading. This can be very beneficial to the exercisers with knee joint injuries or those who experience knee pain during forward motion oriented exercises. Most knee joint injuries can even continue to heal during a backward walking training program. Hip joint stress is reduced during backward walking because the overall range of motion of the hip joint is reduced by incorporating greater hip flexation but much less hip extension.

[0016] During backward walking the hamstring muscles are stretched prior to activation and foot plant due to hip flexation. Given the prestretch, the load is not introduced until the weight bearing phase of the movement where the hamstring muscle is much more capable of accepting the load factors. Subsequently, it is more beneficial and less injury prone to add additional hand held horizontal resistance (dragging motion) to the ham string muscle in a backward walking motion. Therefore, during a backward dragging motion the user can achieve greater blood flow to and activation of the hamstring muscles at a slower walking speed than walking without the added load factor of the dragging motion.

Problems solved by technology

However, the inventor is unaware of any specific exercise treadmill that is structured to allow the user to comfortably simulate a dragging or pulling motion; that is, a backwards walking motion either on a level plane or uphill.

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