Method and device to enable and assist the elderly and females to exercise their thigh and gluteus muscles

Abstract

This squat exercise machine is comprised of a dynamic seat connected to a dynamic foot-plate where the weights are used to counter the weight of the exerciser and thereby assist him to raise himself from a squatting position to a starting sitting position. The squat exercise machine exercises the thigh muscles otherwise known as the quadriceps and the buttock muscles otherwise known as the gluteus group of muscles. At least one adjustable hand bar is positioned to aid entry to and exit from the machine and at least one handle to help to stabilize the user while exercising.A method for using the assisted squat exerciser is comprised of sitting on the dynamic seat, and with the aid of gravity, allowing the body to lower towards the floor whereupon the legs will be in a squatting position. With the aid of the weights, the thigh and gluteus muscles lift the seated body to its starting sitting position.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention is in the field of exercise resistance machines for improvement of general heath, especially strengthening the thigh and buttock muscles known in Latin as quadriceps and gluteus. These muscles control the ability to stand up from a seated position, increase thigh strength, knee stability and thereby reduce falls, improves walking, standing, and movement. The exercising provides physiotherapeutic effects to strengthen, build and rebuild muscles and bone mass and prevent muscle and bone mass deterioration. This patent relates to and caters for the special needs of the elderly, those convalescing from injury or surgery and for women.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The use of machines for exercising the body is well known in the art. For many decades it has been considered beneficial for a person's health to exercise regularly. The benefits are many and probably some that we are not yet aware. A few of the better known benefits are to the func...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0022]An object of this invention is to provide a machine to exercise and thereby strengthen the thigh (quadriceps) and buttock (gluteus) muscles as well as maintain bone mass of the elderly, infirm and females. This muscle strengthening and bone mass maintenance will in turn help to improve balance, improve posture, increase ability to stand from the sitting position, increase pelvic suspension and reduce incidence of falls.

[0030]Another object of the invention is to have a picture on the body of the apparatus in a clearly visible position and color, illustrating an everyday task. This task the infirm often find difficult to carry out and is made easier by strengthening the specific muscles that the machine of this invention helps to strengthen. State of art exercise machines often mention on the machine the name of the muscles that will be strengthened by the machine or sometimes they have a picture of those muscles in a picture of a body. The user of an exercise machine will be able to relate much easier to a picture of the everyday task that will be enhanced by using the machine. It will give the user a greater incentive to work diligently at the said exercises.

Problems solved by technology

One of the factors that make it difficult for the elderly is their lack of agility.

They often have pain when moving their various limbs.

If they avoid exercising then they do not enjoy the many side benefits of exercising and a vicious cycle is sometimes created whereby their health deteriorates generally.

Most prior art exercise machines do not take into account the special needs of the elderly and therefore help to create this barrier.

The machines are often cumbersome, sometimes complicated to operate, without easily understandable instructions, without handles to aid entering and exiting and without taking into account the sometimes frail and painful limbs of the elderly.

The elderly either currently suffer from ailments that are best assisted by controlled exercise or are likely to suffer from such ailments if they do not exercise, for example, heart disease, weight control, walking stability, osteoporosis or lower back pains.

Daily activities, that a younger person performs automatically without realizing how many muscles and joints are involved, can be a major cause of pain and other discomforts throughout the day for the elderly or disabled.

These are but a few of the hundreds of activities that an elderly person has to do daily and without regular exercising and muscle strengthening these everyday activities become more difficult as the person ages.

The Japanese Patent No. 2004016577 issued to Shigeo et al. reveals an exercise machine where the user can exercise in a recumbent position but the range of movements of the arms and legs is limited with no possibility of increasing or decreasing the stress to the arms or legs.

As a result these health funds often subsidize for their members, the membership fees of exercise clubs.

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