ES2595405T3 - Apparatus for eccentric stimulation of the hamstrings - Google Patents

Abstract

Machine (1) for eccentric stimulation of the hamstrings, of the type comprising: * first means designed to receive the athlete who is going to perform physical exercise; and * second means designed to apply the load on the limb of the athlete, said load being due only to the descent by gravity of one or more weights (12); wherein said second means (4) that are designed to apply the load on the lower extremity of the athlete are located on one side of said machine (1), except a bar (16) and a pad (17), which are going to be fixed, for safety reasons, at a suitable distance from the body of said athlete, characterized in that said second means (4), designed to apply the load on the lower extremity of the athlete, said load being due to the descent by gravity of one or more weights (12), comprise third means, designed to lift said one or more weights (12), and fourth means, designed to convert the descent, by gravity only, of said one or more weights (12), into a load applied on the lower limb of the athlete, and because said third means, designed to lift only said one or more weights (12), comprise an electric motor (10), which, through a belt (11), rotates a pulley (8) , causing said pulley (8) the elevation d and said one or more weights (12).

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Apparatus for eccentric stimulation of the hamstrings

The present invention relates to a machine for the activity of muscular exercise and / or rehabilitation, in particular for eccentric stimulation of the hamstrings (ie, the flexor muscles of the thigh).

In the management of the training of athletes, it is necessary to take into account the fact that athletes are frequently subjected to tensions of different nature, mainly loads the musculoskeletal system, which can damage the structures of said apparatus, forcing the athlete to interrupt sports activity during a given period of time, which varies according to the amount of damage.

From the recorded data, it seems clear that the muscles most subject to injuries, both in football and in rugby or football, are hamstring muscles. This seems to confirm that the greater the ability of the agonist muscles to accelerate, the greater the tension that the muscles that control and slow this acceleration must suffer.

The aforementioned is true especially during the rapid extension of the knee, where there is a considerable demand on the flexor muscles to provide dynamic stabilization of the joint during said active extension of the knee.

Although many machines and various devices designed to exercise and reinforce, with "natural movements", one or more body muscles, a common problem is represented by the fact that none of them are specifically designed for eliminate the so-called concentric or positive phase of the effort, allowing the athlete to specifically exercise the muscles that only intervene in the negative or eccentric phase, which, given what has been mentioned above, are rarely exercised frequently and are therefore the source of frequent injuries.

From US6666801, a method and apparatus that provide resistance to train acceleration and the stretch-shortening cycle through a range of motion that simulates a particular sport or movement of a particular sport or activity such as running is known. . The joint is isolated using a three-point stabilization system. The isolated joint is trained using supramaximal techniques designed to achieve both maximum acceleration and a minimum stretch-shortening cycle.

The teachings disclosed in US 6666801 refer to the use of systems to restrict at least three points a work tip. The possibility of providing mechanical systems, pneumatic systems, etc., thus providing an active resistance function during the user's work is disclosed.

US5435798 discloses a resistance exercise apparatus that employs a suspended weight as a primary resistance source. A variable torque drive system is coupled to the suspended weight to selectively alter the amount of resistance experienced by the user. In one embodiment, the suspended weight is a single mass corresponding to the maximum resistance of the system. During the "positive" or forward course of an exercise, the drive system helps the user to lift the mass, the amount of assistance determined by a resistance value selectable by the user. During the "negative" or return exercise, a reduced level of assistance can be provided so that an increased negative resistance is experienced.

According to document US5435798, the electromechanical system applied during the exercise has the purpose of varying (through the motor action), the load moved by the user both in the positive (concentric) phase and in the negative (eccentric) phase.

US2008 / 176722 discloses a bidirectional resistance apparatus for exercise equipment, comprising a source of resistance coupled to a cable between first and second ends of the cable, a rotating resistance mechanism coupled to the first and second ends of the cable , and an exercise arm coupled to the rotary resistance mechanism to rotate in the first and second directions, the rotary resistance mechanism applying a substantially constant resistance to the exercise arm when the exercise arm is rotated in the first and second directions.

The system of document US2008 / 176722 applies to a HIP MACHINE. It has the function of making the load constant over the arc of movement, with the possibility of being able to work from both sides simply by pushing the lever to one side or the other with respect to the resting position (vertical). A pulley system is disclosed which has a weight stack connected to one end, and the lever that the user must move connected to the other end.

Document US2004 / 209745 refers to an exercise machine for training the muscle group

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hamstrings including a base, said base being formed by frame elements, a knee support provided on the base, a frame element that extends towards the rear that supports a transverse support, whereby the exerciser rests on the knee support and place your ankles under the ankle support, a vertical frame pivotally mounted to the base, including the upper end of the vertical frame a chest support, while various weights can be attached to the bottom of the next vertical frame to regulate the amount of tension exerted on the user while exercising on the exercise machine.

According to document US2004 / 209745, the device has a system that lightens the weight of the athlete / user, which works in reverse thanks to a so-called L-shaped structure that has the purpose of requesting the hamstring muscles. The user's position is with the knees supported on a base and located at the level of the rotation point of the L-shaped structure, subsequently blocking the user's ankles with cushions. It is a bipodal exercise and is carried out by placing the bust in contact with the upper part of the structure to cause the forward rotation of it due to the effect of gravity and the imbalance of the weight on one side rather than the other.

In a different way to all the prior art documents mentioned, the present invention relates to a technical solution that works by applying to the hamstrings only an eccentric stimulation and preventing any concentric stimulation of the same muscles. In other words, the present invention prevents the user from experiencing any concentric phase stimulation of the hamstrings. This allows the use of loads appropriate to the capacities of individual eccentric muscles.

In a different way to known systems, according to the present invention is provided:

- the elevation of the load by means of electromechanical systems, and

- Locking the load in its elevated position until the user is ready to perform the real muscular work (eccentric phase) through the unlocking of the high load.

Patent No. IT 1333435, filed on behalf of the present applicant, describes an apparatus that can specifically exercise, and naturally, the hamstrings to strengthen them to achieve a degree of force corresponding to that of the extensor muscles.

This has been achieved by means of a machine comprising means designed to lift a load and means designed to be applied to the athlete's limb only in the phase in which said load falls by gravity, that is, only for the eccentric phase.

Said apparatus has, however, a drawback, due to the fact that the weights necessary to load the muscles, which are considerable, are located in the immediate proximity of the subject using the machine. Therefore, interference between the mobile weights and the user's body is possible, which means the possibility of more or less serious injuries.

The present invention overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a machine for eccentric stimulation of the hamstring muscles as specified in claim 1. Said machine is of the type comprising means designed to receive the athlete who is going to perform physical exercise and means designed to apply the load on the lower extremity of the athlete only during the eccentric phase, said load being due to the descent by gravity of one or more weights, and is characterized in that said means, designed to apply the load on the lower extremity of the athlete, are placed in one side of said machine to be properly fixed, for safety reasons, at a distance from the body of the athlete himself.

The machine according to the invention basically comprises a system that oscillates, between two extreme positions, around an axis and, which is horizontal and transverse with respect to the machine itself, said oscillating system comprising a tree, mounted on the frame of said machine, free to rotate around said axis and, at whose end a pulley is mounted, on one side, and an arm, on the other.

Said pulley is rotated by an electric motor, the pulley causing the lifting of said weights through a cable and one or more crazy pulleys. When the pulley is released, the weights will fix it in rotation in the opposite direction, thus also causing rotation of the oscillating arm, which, through appropriate means, will apply on the distal part of the lower extremity of the athlete the load necessary to exercise hamstring muscles

Since the mobile mechanical elements (weights, pulleys, cables) are located on the side of the machine, at an adequate distance from the athlete, the possibilities of interference of the athlete's body with the mobile mechanical elements are significantly reduced, thus minimizing the risk of injury, also considering that the mechanical elements themselves, thanks to their arrangement, can be conveniently protected by deliberately provided protectors.

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The invention will be described below, merely by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, according to a preferred embodiment thereof and with reference to the attached figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows a machine according to the invention;

Figures 2a and 2b show the means to apply the load to the athlete's body and, therefore, for eccentric stimulation of the hamstrings;

Figure 3 is an exploded view of an oscillating system for applying the load to the athlete's body.

With reference to figure 1, a machine according to the invention is designated with 1. Said machine 1 comprises means, constituted by a pair of platforms 2 for feet and a handle 3, designed to receive the athlete who is going to perform physical exercise, and means 4, to apply the load to the athlete's body and, therefore, to eccentric stimulation of the hamstrings.

In Figure 1, the athlete rests his right foot on the platform 2 for the right foot and stays in balance by grasping the handle 3, the left leg of the athlete being ready to bend to counteract the thrust that is applied thereon through said means 4.

Figures 2a and 2b show, separately from the rest of the machine 1, said means 4 for eccentric muscle stimulation and the platforms 2 for feet, with the corresponding height adjustment means 5.

The means 4 for applying the load comprise a system 6, more clearly visible in the exploded view of Figure 3, which oscillates, around an axis and, which is horizontal and transverse with respect to the machine 1, between two positions extreme Two possible positions of the oscillating system 6, which the athlete can choose to carry out the exercise, are therefore illustrated by way of example in figures 2a and 2b, thus defining the working angle.

Said oscillating system 6 comprises a shaft 7, which is mounted on the frame of the machine 1 and is free to rotate about said axis and. A pulley 8, on one side, and an arm 9, on the other, are mounted at the end of said shaft 7, an electric motor 10 being provided there, which, through a belt 11, rotates said pulley 8, causing the elevation of one or more weights 12 through a cable 13 and one or more pulleys 14, 14a, 15 crazy.

In addition, a bar 16 is provided, mounted on said oscillating arm 9, at which end a pad 17 is applied, there being provided regulating means 18 to properly place said bar 16 with respect to said oscillating arm 9.

To apply the load correctly on the hamstrings, it is necessary that the axis of rotation of the knee coincides with said axis and around which said oscillating assembly 6 rotates. The height position of the 2 foot platforms will therefore be adjusted to bring the axis of rotation of the knee to match the y axis. Then, acting on the regulating means 18, the position of the bar 16 will be adjusted with respect to the oscillating arm 9 such that the pad 17 will press on the distal part of the lower extremity of the athlete.

After adjusting the position of the foot platforms 2 and the bar 16 according to what has been described above, the athlete climbs onto the foot platforms 2, and stabilizes his position by grasping the joints 3. Then, the athlete, then If the working angle is defined as described below, it activates machine 1, which will apply the load on the hamstrings according to the following stages:

• the electric motor 10, through the belt 11, acts on the pulley 8 causing it to rotate, from the position of figure 2a to the position of figure 2b, raising, through the cable 13 and the pulleys 14, 14a , 15 crazy, weights 12, thus bringing the oscillating arm 9 and therefore the bar 16 to the raised position;

• the athlete bends one leg and presses the distal part of the lower limb against the pad 17 of the bar 16;

• the pulley 8 is released and the weights 12, through the cable 13 and the pulleys 14, 15 crazy, cause the pulley 8 to rotate in the opposite direction so that the oscillating arm 9 rotates downwards, said movement being counteracted by the muscular reaction of the athlete.

To extend the sphere of application of the machine 1 and make its use more comfortable, means are provided for adjusting the amplitude of rotation of the pulley 8, that is, for setting the working angle, and means 21 for coupling-releasing said pulley 8, when the action of the electric motor 10 has ceased. Said means for adjusting the amplitude of rotation of the pulley 8 comprise a fastener 19, designed to fit in a plurality of holes 20 made on the side of said pulley 8, said fastener 19 being substantially fixed with respect to said pulley 8 by elastic means appropriate. Therefore, limitation of the oscillation of the pulley 8 is obtained due to the fact that the lever 19a is supported on said engagement-releasing means 21, which are

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designed to block and release said pulley 8. Said lever 19a can be advantageously mounted at the end of a rod 22, which selects the working angle and is free to rotate around the y-axis. In practice, the athlete adjusts the amplitude of rotation of the pulley 8, and therefore of the arm 9, by inserting the latch 19 into the hole 20 that he deems most appropriate; then it activates the electric motor 10, which will cause the rotation of the pulley 8 until the lever 19a becomes supported on said engagement-releasing means 21. For the proper operation of the electric motor 10 it is preferable to use a micro switch (not shown), fixed in a position corresponding to said engagement-release means 21, to interrupt the electric supply to the motor 10 when the pulley 8 has reached the end of the path .

When the athlete is ready to exert muscular effort, he acts on said means 21 of hook-release, releasing the pulley 8, which will therefore cause downward rotation of the oscillating arm 9 and, therefore, the application of the load on the muscles hamstrings of the athlete.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the latch 19 materially exerts the action of blocking the rod 22 that selects the working angle by entering the holes 20, while a clamp 19a allows the anchoring of the rod 22, and therefore of the whole from the oscillating assembly 6, to the coupling-release device 21.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the machine is provided with means (not shown) that can block the operation of the machine itself in the case in which the athlete's hands are not in the appropriate positions, said push means comprising, located at the empunadura and connected to means to block the mechanisms. In practice, in the case where the athlete was to remove his hands from the handle, he would no longer act on the pushbuttons, and the machine would be locked to prevent any possible injury.

As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, weights 12 and pulley 8 are located on one side of the machine 1. Acting on the length of the shaft 7, which connects the pulley 8 to the oscillating arm 9, the athlete You can change said weights 12 and said pulley 8 as much as you wish to eliminate virtually any interference of the weights and other mechanical elements with your body, thereby minimizing the possibility of injury. To further increase the safety of the machine, appropriate protectors 23 may be provided, as illustrated in Figure 1.

With the described arrangement, the only mobile elements that are in the vicinity of the athlete are the swing arm 9 and the bar 16, whose degree of danger is much lower than that of the other mechanical elements, it being possible to further reduce said danger by making the bar 16 of a convenient length.

The invention has been described, by way of illustration and not limitation, according to a preferred embodiment. The expert in the sector can devise other embodiments, all of which are within the scope of protection of the appended claims.

Claims (8)

one. 10 fifteen twenty 2. 25 3. Four. 30 5. 35 40 6. 7. Four. Five 8. fifty 55 9. 10. 60 eleven. Machine (1) for eccentric stimulation of the hamstrings, of the type comprising: • first means designed to receive the athlete who is going to perform physical exercise; Y • second means designed to apply the load on the limb of the athlete, said load being due only to the descent by gravity of one or more weights (12); wherein said second means (4) that are designed to apply the load on the lower extremity of the athlete are located on one side of said machine (1), except a bar (16) and a pad (17), which are to be fixed, for safety reasons, at an adequate distance from the body of said athlete, characterized in that said second means (4), designed to apply the load on the lower extremity of the athlete, said load being due to the descent by gravity of one or more weights (12), they comprise third means, designed to raise said one or more weights (12), and fourth means, designed to convert the descent, by gravity alone, of said one or more weights (12) , in a load applied on the lower extremity of the athlete, and because said third means, designed to lift only said one or more weights (12), comprise an electric motor (10), which, through a belt (11), rotates a pulley (8), causing said pulley (8) to lift said one or more weights (12). Machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said first means, designed to receive the athlete who is going to perform physical exercise, comprise a pair of platforms (2) for feet and a pair of handles (3). Machine (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the position of said foot platforms (2) is height adjustable. Machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said pulley (8), driven by said electric motor (10) through said belt (11), causes the elevation of said one or more weights (12), through a cable (13) and one or more pulleys (14, 14a, 15) crazy. Machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said fourth means, designed to convert the descent by gravity of said one or more weights (12) into a load applied on the lower extremity of the athlete, comprise a system (6), which it oscillates between two extreme positions, around an axis and, horizontal and transverse with respect to the machine (1), said system (6) comprising a tree (7), which is mounted on the frame of said machine (1), so that it is free to rotate about said axis and, said pulley (8) being mounted therein at one end of said shaft (7) and at the other end an arm (9). Machine (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that it also provides a bar (16), mounted on said oscillating arm (9), at which end a pad (17) is applied, there being provided there means (18) of regulation to properly place said bar (16) with respect to said oscillating arm (9). Machine (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that it provides means (21) for coupling-releasing said pulley (8) when the action of the electric motor (10) has ceased, said coupling-releasing means (21) being designed for hooking and releasing a fastener (19), fixed with respect to said pulley (8), or a clamp (19a) fixed in the immediate proximity of said fastener (19). Machine (1) according to claims 5 and 7, characterized in that it provides means for regulating the amplitude of rotation of the pulley (8), said regulating means comprising said fastener (19), designed to be introduced into 1 plurality of holes (20) made on the side of said pulley (8), or said clamp (19a), fixed in the immediate proximity of said fastener (19), said fastener (19), or said clamp (19a), being attached to said means (21) of hook-release. Machine (1) according to claims 5, 7 and 8, characterized in that said fastener (19) is mounted on the end of a rod (22) that is free to rotate about said axis and. Machine (1) according to claims 5, 7, 8 and 9, characterized in that said clamp (19a) is mounted at the end of said rod (22), free to rotate about said axis and. Machine (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it provides means designed to block the mechanisms of said machine (1) in the case where the athlete's hands are not in the appropriate positions, said means comprising push-buttons, located on the handle (3) and connected to means to block the mechanisms of said machine (1) in such a way that, in the case where the athlete was to remove his hands from the handle, he would no longer act on said push buttons, and the machine would lock. Machine (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it provides protectors (23) for the protection of mobile mechanical elements.