Muscle stretching apparatus and method

Abstract

A muscle stretching apparatus includes a flexible, essentially inextensible main support structure of elongate dimension. At least a pair of bilateral auxiliary support structures is carried on the main support structure, each provided as serially arranged segments along at least a portion of an overall length of the main support structure. Each of the segments is connected with the main support structure creating a loop defining a bounded opening between each segment of the auxiliary support structure and the main support structure, thereby forming a handle structure for engagement by a hand or other appendage. Optionally, at least one end of the muscle stretching apparatus terminates in a loop free of the centrally disposed main support structure, for facilitated reception of, for example, a foot therein. Tension applied between an anchored position of the apparatus and at least one grasped position is used to stretch a selected muscle or muscles.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a muscle stretching apparatus and a method for stretching various muscles and muscle groups.[0002]Most forms of exercise, whether directed to strength training programs or aerobic cardiovascular workouts, cause the involved muscles to contract in order to flex the associated body part or region controlled thereby. Stretching after exercise can help to relax tension on muscles that have been exercised, and hence, subjected to repeated contraction. Stretching before or after exercise can, therefore, be an important part of any strength / endurance program, as well as being believed to provide independent health-related advantages when used alone.[0003]Studies have shown that stretching increases flexibility, which in turn can make routine physical tasks easier to perform, with less effort and fatigue. Additionally, stretching improves range of joint motion, which in turn translates into better balance, thereby maintaining...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]These and other objects are achieved by a muscle stretching apparatus according to the invention which broadly comprises a flexible, essentially inextensible main support structure of elongate dimension, and a pair of bilaterally disposed auxiliary support structures carried on the main support structure, each of the bilateral pair being provided as individually defined segments, serially arranged along a length of the flexible main support structure. Each of the segments (of each pair) defined by the serially arranged sub-divided auxiliary support structure is connected with the main support structure so as to form a closed loop (or handle) defining a discrete bounded opening between a given one of the pair of auxiliary support structures and the centrally disposed main support structure for each segment. Optionally, at least one terminal longitudinal end of the muscle stretching apparatus includes a loop structure in which the centrally disposed main support structure is absent, thereby allowing for facilitated reception of a larger-dimensioned body portion, for example, a foot therein.

[0016]Since an achievable degree of stretching is generally directly related to a measure of an approximation (bringing closer) of one body part to another, the auxiliary support segments of at least one of the pair of auxiliary support structures will advantageously be sequentially marked with indicia along the longitudinal direction, thereby enabling the user to gauge progress by noting the particular marking on a support segment corresponding to a region of the muscle stretching apparatus being held by the user during a particular stretch. These indicia are conveniently provided in the form of sequential arabic numerals, for example, “1” for the optional terminal end loop for reception of a foot, and progressively higher ascending numbers for auxiliary support segments spaced with increasing distance from the terminal end. In this way, as the user's ability to stretch improves, and greater approximation is achieved, progress is easily monitored by noting a decrease in a number associated with a particular auxiliary support segment portion or portions being held, or a smaller numerical difference between two positions being held. These indicia concomitantly provide advantage for training purposes, wherein an instructor can easily indicate a correct position at which to grasp the muscle stretching apparatus.

Problems solved by technology

Depending on the particular muscle or muscle group involved, stretching one's own muscles and muscle groups may at times be difficult without the assistance of another person.

While useful in facilitating stretching without requiring assistance of a second individual, the range and variety of stretching techniques is limited to only certain muscle groups, such as the those in the upper arms and legs.

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