ITRM20100569A1 - EQUIPMENT FOR PHYSICAL EXERCISE INCLUDING A VIBRATING HANDLEBAR. - Google Patents

Description

EQUIPMENT FOR THE INCLUSIVE PHYSICAL EXERCISE

A VIBRATING HANDLEBAR

The present invention relates to a physical exercise equipment comprising at least one vibrating handlebar, which allows a user in a simple, effective, reliable, safe, comfortable and economical way to undergo a mechanical neuromuscular stimulation produced by mechanical vibrations, exercised using the handlebar on at least one upper limb of a user, for therapeutic and / or athletic strengthening purposes.

AND? I notice that when a muscle is stimulated through the application of mechanical vibrations, it contracts in a reflex way in a very similar way to what? which occurs when the muscle is made to work through voluntary contractions, for example during the execution of physical exercises.

In particular, by varying the frequency of mechanical vibration,? Is it possible to selectively work more muscles? or less rigid.

Recently, many equipment for physical exercise have been built having (at least) one vibrating element, usually driven by an electric motor, capable of exercising, through mechanical vibrations, a mechanical muscular stimulation; such equipments substantially comprise platforms for the muscles of the legs, and vibrating dumbbells for the muscles of the arms.

These equipment prove useful for training, since? allow to obtain results similar to those of the usual physical exercises in the gym in less time, for the achievement of a good muscle tone with a few minutes of application, and for physiotherapeutic uses aimed at maintaining muscle tone or functional recovery of the muscles, for example during or after periods of immobilization due to fractures or surgery.

However, the present equipments with vibrating elements have some drawbacks.

First, their use? not recommended for elderly people, or for those who have had recent trauma (or surgery, in particular orthopedic).

Furthermore, a further drawback arises from the fact that the limbs, subjected to mechanical vibratory stimulation, of any subject have a different stiffness, also called? Stiffness ?, and, consequently, tend to oppose differently to the same vibration (in amplitude and oscillation ) which is applied to the vibrating elements with which the limbs themselves interact. There? implies that the whole made up of the vibrating elements and the limbs with which they interact will react? in a different way to the vibrations generated by the engine depending on which limbs interact with the vibrating elements. By way of example, when both lower limbs are placed on the same vibrating platform, the latter will move? according to accelerations that are not exactly those corresponding to each of the two different limbs, so that neuromuscular stimulation does not have the maximum possible efficacy and, in some extreme cases (in particular when the stiffness of the two limbs is very different, as happens for example after a period of immobilization of one of the two limbs), can? also be harmful. Similar considerations apply to the interaction of the two upper limbs with a pair of vibrating dumbbells.

Again, over time the neuromuscular stimulation loses its effectiveness, due to the adaptation of the limbs to the vibratory stresses to which they are subjected.

The solution proposed according to the present invention comes to be inserted in this context.

The purpose of the present invention is therefore to allow a user in a simple, effective, reliable, safe, comfortable and economical way to undergo neuromuscular stimulation by means of vibrations transmitted to the muscles of the upper limbs, both therapeutic and strengthening. athletic.

The specific object of the present invention is an equipment for physical exercise comprising at least one handlebar, vibrating means being coupled to said at least one handlebar, the equipment being characterized in that said vibrating means are connected to a processing and control device housed in a control panel is in turn connected to interface means for entering data capable of setting a vibration frequency of said vibrating means, said at least one handlebar comprising first detector means adapted to detect a vibration frequency of said at least a handlebar and to send detection data to said processing and control device, said processing and control device controlling an operation of said vibrating means in such a way that the vibration frequency detected by said first detector means is equal to a vibration frequency set through said interface means.

Always according to the invention, said vibrating means can comprise at least one electric motor, housed in a respective seat of which? provided with said at least one handlebar, able to rotate an axis, preferably arranged along a longitudinal axis of said at least one handlebar, to which axis one or more? eccentric masses, said at least one handlebar also including? preferably a fan capable of causing an exchange of air between said seat of said at least one electric motor and the exterior of said at least one handlebar, said at least one electric motor being preferably capable of generating an undulatory movement at a frequency which is preferably variable between 1 and 1000 Hz, pi? preferably between 5 and 500 Hz, even more? preferably between 20 and 55 Hz, and of an amplitude preferably between 1 and 10 mm, plus? preferably between 2 and 5 mm, said at least one electric motor being preferably able to rotate both clockwise and counterclockwise and said interface means for entering data being able to set at least one direction of rotation of said at least an electric motor.

Still according to the invention, said first detecting means can comprise an encoder (capable of detecting an angular position and / or a rotation speed and / or a rotation frequency of the axis.

Further according to the invention, said at least one handlebar can? be provided with at least one pressure sensor capable of detecting at least one pressure exerted on a handle of said at least one handlebar and of sending detection data to said processing and control device, said interface means comprising one or more? visual and / or acoustic signaling devices through which said processing and control device signals at least one gripping condition of said at least one handlebar dependent on said at least one pressure detected by said at least one pressure sensor.

Still according to the invention, said processing and control device can? signal a gripping condition in which it dictates at least one pressure detected? less than at least a minimum value.

Still according to the invention, said processing and control device can? to disable an operation of said vibrating means when it says at least one detected pressure? less than at least a minimum value.

Further according to the invention, the equipment can? also understand? a detection system comprising motion detecting means adapted to detect a movement of said at least one handlebar, said motion detecting means preferably comprising at least one triaxial accelerometer incorporated in or integrally coupled to said at least one handlebar, said motion detecting means being connected to said processing and control device to which they send detected data relating to one or more? movement parameters preferably selected from the group comprising amplitude of displacement, acceleration, and speed, said processing and control device preferably automatically controlling said vibrating means on the basis of said data detected by said movement detecting means.

Always according to the invention, the equipment can? also understand? vibration detecting means preferably comprising at least one triaxial accelerometer incorporated in or coupled to at least one support applicable to and / or wearable by a user, said at least one support being preferably selected from the group comprising an elastic collar and an elastic band, said vibration detecting means being connected to said processing and control device to which they send detected data relating to one or more? movement parameters preferably selected from the group comprising vibration amplitude, frequency, acceleration, and speed, said processing and control device preferably automatically controlling said vibrating means on the basis of said data detected by said vibration detecting means.

Further according to the invention, the equipment can? also understand? a system for determining an optimum frequency of a vibration generated by said vibrating means and for automatically setting the operating parameters of said vibrating means, comprising one or more? activity detectors electrical muscle, preferably electromyographs, applicable to one or more? muscles of a user, adapted to send detection data to said electronic processing and control device, said electronic processing and control device processing the data received from said one or more? detectors in such a way as to determine, within an interval comprised between a lower limit frequency, preferably equal to 1 Hz, pi? preferably variable, and an upper limit frequency, preferably equal to 1000 Hz, plus? preferably variable, an optimal frequency of the vibration generated by said vibrating means at which the activity? electric of said one or more? muscles of the user? maximum, said electronic processing and control device by setting a frequency of the vibration generated by said vibrating means so that it is equal to this optimal frequency.

The equipment for physical exercise according to the invention allows its use in complete safety even to subjects very sensitive to mechanical vibrations, such as elderly subjects, and / or suffering from osteoporosis, and / or who have had trauma (or orthopedic interventions ) recent. In particular, the physical exercise equipment according to the invention can? be used by subjects undergoing rehabilitation and therefore for physiotherapy use, where? a particularly calibrated use is necessary.

Further, the physical exercise equipment according to the invention? able to take into account the different stiffness, in particular neuromuscular, of the upper limbs of the user, which generates a different reaction of the neuromuscular system of each limb to the vibrations generated by the motor. In fact, the physical exercise equipment according to the invention allows to evaluate the different muscular stiffness of the user, monitoring the different acceleration to which each vibrating element is subjected, thus allowing a different neurostimulation of the limbs deriving from the different induced acceleration. by the different stiffness of the limbs themselves, allowing to obtain a high efficacy for each single upper limb of each specific user. There? causes the neuromuscular stimulation exerted by the physical exercise equipment according to the invention to be extremely effective.

Furthermore, the possibility? reversing the rotation directions of the vibrating motor allows to create a different neuromuscular stimulation, preventing the neuromuscular structures, in particular of the limbs, from adapting to the stimulation received and, consequently, maintaining the effectiveness of the stimulation itself over time.

Since? the physical exercise equipment according to the invention can be equipped with an automatic or manual control of the engine operation, through the flexible possibilities? combinatorics of amplitude, frequency, and acceleration on all axes, it? suitable for any subject, with very sweet and pleasant vibrations for the elderly and newbies, indispensable in the early stages of rehabilitation from injuries or postoperative, for stretching and detensioning, but also with powerful vibrations to improve the use of strength.

In this regard, the physical exercise equipment according to the invention has numerous advantageous applications. By way of example, but not limiting, it can? be used in the context of strategies aimed at particular geriatric pathologies, as in the case of osteoporosis, and in all those plans, whether rehabilitative or not, aimed at improving quality? of life, understood in terms of level of functionality? articular, muscular and neuromuscular, of the subject of geriatric interest. Again, the physical exercise equipment according to the invention can be used. be advantageously used in the field of sports training, especially when the latter is aimed at increasing the levels of explosive strength, revealing itself to be an excellent alternative and / or complementary method to classic strength training. Further, the physical exercise equipment according to the invention can be used. still be advantageously used as an integral part of all programs in which maximum extensibility is sought? limb-muscle, as well as? in work plans aimed at chronic painful pathologies that can benefit from an increase in muscle-tendon compliance.

The present invention will come now described, for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred executive variants, with particular reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a dumbbell of a first embodiment of the physical exercise equipment according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows a schematic view of the first embodiment of the physical exercise equipment according to the invention; Figure 3 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of the physical exercise equipment according to the invention; and Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of the exercise equipment according to the invention.

In the remainder of the description, the same references will be used to indicate identical elements in the Figures.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, can you? observe that a first embodiment of the physical exercise equipment according to the invention comprises a dumbbell 200 at one end. of which? coupled with an electric motor 5, housed in a respective seat, inside a container 207, closed by a removable cap 208, removably fixed to the container 207 by means of screws 230 (or other conventional fastening means). A fan 217, positioned in the vicinity? of the motor 5, provides for the cooling of this, thanks to suitable openings (not shown) which allow the flow of the hot air produced by the motor 5 from the inside of the container 207 towards the outside. Engine 5? able to rotate an axis 201, arranged along the longitudinal axis 202 of the handlebar 200, to which the eccentric masses 204 are integrally coupled, preferably symmetrically with respect to a transverse axis 203 of the handlebar 200. In this way, when the electric motor 5 rotates the axis 201, this sets the eccentric masses 204 in rotation, inside the respective internal housing seats at the ends? 205 and 206 of the handlebar 200, transmitting vibrations to the same handlebar 200. Advantageously, the handlebar 200? provided with an anti-slip coating (not shown), for example in rubbery material, to allow a firm grip to the user.

The motor 5 generates an undulatory movement at a variable frequency preferably between 1 and 1000 Hz, plus? preferably between 5 and 500 Hz, even more? preferably between 20 and 55 Hz, and of an amplitude preferably between 1 and 10 mm, plus? preferably between 2 and 5 mm. In addition, the engine 5 can? rotate both clockwise and anticlockwise.

The handlebar motor 5 200? connected via a cable connection 213 to a control panel 209 provided with a processing device connected to a viewer or display 210, to a keyboard (not shown) for data entry, to an on and off button 211, and to a button 212 for switching off the engine 5 in the event of an emergency. Alternatively, the connection between motor 5 and control panel 209 can? also be wireless or wireless, for example in the case in which the power necessary for the operation of the motor 5 is supplied by means of a battery housed in the same handlebar 200 or by means of an alternative connection to a power supply network. The keyboard of the control panel 209 can? also be integrated into the display 210, which in that case? touch sensitive type (touch screen). The control panel 209 allows a user to set and control the operation of the motor 5. In particular, when the motor 5 rotates, clockwise or counterclockwise, it causes the handlebar 200 to perform a specific waving-vibrating movement in accordance with the direction. rotation of the motor 5. Therefore, the two different directions of rotation of this allow to generate two different neuromuscular stimulations.

The user (or a supervisory operator, such as, for example, a physiotherapist) can? set the direction of rotation of motor 5 on the control panel 209, cos? like its frequency. In other embodiments of the exercise equipment according to the invention? The vibration amplitude can also be set using the control panel 209, for example by automatically selecting the number and / or weight of the eccentric weights 204 which are removably coupled to the axis 201.

Other embodiments of the physical exercise equipment according to the invention may provide that the vibrating handlebar comprises more? of a vibrating motor (or two or more other vibrating means), preferably two or more? electric motors with eccentric masses, having pi? preferably the longitudinal axes aligned along the longitudinal axis 202 of the handlebar 200.

The handlebar 200? provided with a system for detecting the vibration frequency of the handlebar 200, which in the preferred embodiment shown in the Figures comprises a speed sensor? axis 201 rotation. This system allows you to precisely control that the handlebar 200 actually vibrates at the vibration frequency set on the control panel 209. In fact, over time the wear of the vibrating means, comprising in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 the motor 5, the axis 201 and the eccentric masses 204, causes a consequent modification of the mechanical resistances which in fact vary the actual frequency. vibration (in the case of Figures 1 and 2, the wear of the eccentric masses 204 causes a variation in the speed of rotation of the same eccentric masses 204). In the preferred embodiment, this speed detection system? rotation of the motor 5 comprises an encoder 218 applied to the axis 201 which sends the detected data, relating to the angular position and / or speed? of rotation and / or at the rotation frequency of axis 201, to the processing device of the control panel 209. The processing device of the control panel 209 processes the data received from the encoder 218 and adjusts the speed accordingly. rotation of the motor 5 so that the vibration frequency of the handlebar 200 is equal to the vibration frequency set on the control panel 209. Alternatively to or in combination with the encoder 218, the system for detecting the vibration frequency of the handlebar 200 can? include other sensors, such as angular motion sensors.

The handlebar 200? also? provided with a system for detecting the movement of the handlebar 200. This system comprises (at least) a vibration sensor (not shown in the Figures), such as a triaxial accelerometer, preferably integrally coupled to one end? of the handlebar 200 or incorporated in a corresponding internal seat of the handlebar 200, so as to detect the accelerations along the three Cartesian axes. The triaxial accelerometer sends the detected data, relating to one or more? movement parameters (such as, for example, amplitude of displacement, acceleration and speed), to the processing device of the control panel 209, which processes them, for example, to obtain the relative amplitudes of the oscillations and indirectly define the degree of contraction and relaxation of the user's peripheral muscles. Alternatively to or in combination with the triaxial accelerometer, the detection system can? include other handlebar motion sensors 200.

This system for detecting the movement of the handlebar 200, directly providing data relating to the movement of the handlebar 200, dependent on the neuromuscular reaction of the user's limbs, allows a supervisory operator to monitor and characterize the best use of the handlebar 200 itself. Indeed, the handlebar movement 200? strongly influenced by the skills? of the user to manage the vibrations (e.g. through the stiffness of the limbs, muscle elasticity, etc.). By way of example but not limiting, if the acceleration detected by the triaxial accelerometer is lower than a maximum threshold, then the use of the handlebar 200 is not? harmful to the user, otherwise, i.e. if the detected acceleration is equal to or greater than said maximum threshold,? it is necessary to modify, possibly also automatically by means of the processing device, the frequency at which the vibrating motor 5 operates since? the high acceleration detected? an indication that the user is not absorbing vibrations; said maximum acceleration threshold? preferably a value dependent on the amplitude and / or the frequency at which the vibrating motor operates, and more? preferably? adjustable according to the state of the user, being able to be more? high for an athlete than for an elderly or traumatized person.

Alternatively to or in combination with the sensors (preferably triaxial accelerometers) for detecting the movement parameters of the handlebar 200, the detection system just described can? comprise (at least) a second triaxial accelerometer (or other sensor), indicated in Figure 2 with the reference number 214, connected via wireless (wireless) or wired connection to the processing device, applicable, preferably by means of an elastic collar or a band elastic (in which it is preferably inserted), to the user 215, preferably at the end proximal humerus (i.e. at the head of the humerus) of the arm interacting with the handlebar 200 and / or at the base of the neck and / or around the waist and / or around another limb of the user 215. Such ( at least one) second triaxial accelerometer 214? able to detect one or more? vibration parameters (such as, for example, amplitude, frequency, acceleration and speed) transmitted to the user 215, allowing automatic control of the vibrating motor 5 by the processing device or manual by an operator (for example a physiotherapist ) to prevent the vibrations generated from reaching the soft parts of the user 215.

Other embodiments of the vibrating handlebar according to the invention can also be provided with a system for determining the optimal vibration frequency and for automatically setting the operating parameters of the (at least one) vibrating motor 5. In fact, each organ or body segment ,? describable as a body that has its own resonant frequency of vibration, thus damping different vibratory frequencies. In this regard, the exposure of body segments and internal organs to resonant frequencies, must be limited, as it can? be harmful to some organs. This means that each person and each muscle of the same person corresponds to an optimal frequency of muscle activation.

Preferably, the system for determining the optimum vibration frequency and automatically setting the operating parameters of the (at least one) vibrating motor 5 of which it can? be provided with the handlebar 200 according to the invention? that described in International Application No. WO 01/56650. To identify if a vibrating muscle is vibrating at its optimal activation frequency, this system can? advantageously use one or more? surface electromyographs, applied to one of the extensor muscles of the user's arm interacting with the dumbbell 200, preferably on the biceps muscle. This system allows you to test more? muscle groups, through a plurality? of electromyographic channels, to compare them and to define the state of use of the muscular systems considered.

In the following, the fundamental characteristics of the system object of the International Application No. WO 01/56650 applied to the equipment for physical exercise according to the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 are briefly recalled.

The motor 5 is driven by an electronic processing and control device, preferably housed in the control panel 209 of the handlebar 200 (and possibly coinciding with the processing device of the previously described detection system), which regulates its vibration frequency. In particular, such an electronic device? adapted to be connected by means of a cable 216 to one or more? activity detectors electrical muscle (preferably electromyographs) applicable to the muscles of the user 215, adapted to output a digital signal which is read by the electronic device; alternatively, the activity detectors? electric muscle can be connected to the electronic device by wireless connection. The electronic device processes the data coming from said one or more? detectors in such a way as to determine, within an interval between a lower limit frequency, preferably equal to 1 Hz, and an upper limit frequency, preferably equal to 1000 Hz, the optimum vibration frequency of the motor 5 at which the muscle of which ? detected the activity? has the maximum response to stimulation and consequently setting the vibration frequency of the motor itself. In particular, the lower limit frequency and the upper limit frequency could be variable, according to the specific fibers of the particular muscle to be stimulated, and can be set by means of the control panel 209 of the handlebar 200.

Once you say one or more? detectors have been applied, in a conventional way, to corresponding muscles of the user, the method of identifying the optimal frequency preferably comprises the following steps:

- repeat for a number N of times, with N preferably equal to eight, a data acquisition phase in which the electronic device:

- activates the constant frequency vibration of the motor 5 for a time? t, with? t preferably equal to 5 or 10 seconds, with a gradually increasing vibration frequency from one repetition to the next and between the lower limit frequency and the upper limit frequency ,

- elaborates, for each repetition, the average of the amplitude of the signal coming from each of said one or more? detectors and stores it individually and / or stores at least one function (for example a sum or an average, possibly weighted) of the averages coming from all the detectors, together with the value of the corresponding vibration frequency; - determine the maximum electrical response, in which the electronic device determines, among those stored, the average (or at least a function of the averages) having a maximum value, identifying, consequently, the optimal frequency of vibration, at which the muscles of which yes ? detected the activity? electric have the maximum response.

Preferably, the frequencies of consecutive repetitions, during the data acquisitions, have a constant difference between them, more? preferably equal (for eight repetitions) to, respectively, 20 Hz, 25 Hz, 30 Hz, 35 Hz, 40 Hz, 45 Hz, 50 Hz, and 55 Hz. also foresee a variable and increasing difference as a function of the absolute value of the frequency of the previous repetition.

Once the optimal frequency has been determined, you can? start the muscle stimulation phase, in which the electronic device activates the vibration of the motor 5 at this optimum frequency for a predetermined time interval or selectable by the user 215 (or by a supervisor operator) via the handlebar control panel 209 200 .

Eventually, the phase of identification of the optimal frequency can? be repeated periodically, especially if the time interval of physical exercise is long.

Alternatively, the method of identifying the optimal frequency could determine this frequency by successive approximations, by carrying out the following steps:

- iterate for a number M of times, with M preferably equal to two, of cycles of a number N i of repetitions, where i identifies l? i? th iteration, of data acquisition phases in which the electronic device activates the constant frequency vibration of the motor 5 for a time? t, with? t preferably equal to 10 seconds, with a progressively increasing vibration frequency, from one repetition to the between a first lower frequency and a second higher frequency, the frequencies of consecutive repetitions having a constant difference between them? f i, where preferably, for the first iteration, the first lower frequency coincides with the lower limit frequency and / or the second upper frequency coincides with the upper limit frequency, the electronic device processing, for each repetition, the average of the amplitude of the signal coming from said one or more? detectors and storing it together with the value of the corresponding vibration frequency, the electronic device determining for each iteration i, the average having the maximum value and identifying the corresponding best frequency, at each iteration i, subsequent to the first, the interval between the first lower frequency and the second higher frequency comprising the best frequency identified at the previous iteration, preferably as intermediate frequency, at each iteration i, subsequent to the first, the constant difference? f i between the consecutive repetition frequencies being smaller than the difference? f i? 1 of the previous iteration (? F i <? F i? 1);

- determine the optimal frequency, at the end of the M? th iteration, in which the best frequency identified at the M? th iteration? stored as the optimum frequency, at which the muscles of which you? detected the activity? electric have the maximum response.

In other words, the method just described determines the optimal frequency by identifying with progressively better resolution the vibration frequency at which the muscles of which you? detected the activity? electric have the maximum response.

Optionally, the values of the optimum frequencies corresponding to various muscles of the same user could also be stored on mobile memory supports, such as magnetic and / or optical cards or disks, through an interface of the control panel 209 of the handlebar 200, in order to be able to be subsequently read by the interface itself, avoiding further executions of the method for determining the optimal frequency.

The handlebar 200? also? provided with a pressure sensor 219 (shown in Figure 2), positioned in the grip area of the same handlebar 200, connected to the processing device housed in the control panel 209 to which it sends the detected data. The processing device evaluates and displays on the display 210 the trend of the pressure exerted by the hand of the user 215 who holds the handlebar 200, to allow the user 215 (and / or a supervisory operator) to monitor the use of the handlebar 200 during exercise, including for diagnostic purposes. In fact, a variation in the pressure exerted by the hand of the user 215 holding the handlebar 200 substantially modifies the activity? of the muscles to which the vibration is transmitted. Therefore, ? It is important to keep the pressure exerted by the hand of the user 215 who holds the handlebar 200 as much as possible. as close as possible to a reference value, in such a way as to correctly perform physical exercise and also to correctly evaluate the variations of activity? electromyography detected by activity detectors? electrical muscle at different frequencies to search for the optimal vibration frequency as previously described. By way of example, the processing device can? signal (e.g. visually, via the 210 display or specific LEDs, and / or acoustically, via the buzzer and / or loudspeakers):

- if the pressure exerted by the user 215 on the handlebar 200? lower than a minimum value, preferably requiring a better grip (i.e. greater pressure) before enabling the operation of the motor 5 if off or automatically interrupting (possibly after a period of warning time) the operation of the motor 5 if already? working;

- if the pressure exerted by the user 215 on the handlebar 200? higher than the minimum value but still lower than a tolerance value (which is greater than the minimum value), preferably requiring a better grip (i.e. greater pressure) before enabling the operation of motor 5 (while if the motor 5 is already in operation is not interrupted if the pressure does not drop below the minimum value or if the pressure exceeds the tolerance value within a warning time period).

Other embodiments of the handlebar 200 can be without such a pressure sensor 219.

Other embodiments of the exercise equipment according to the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 may also be equipped, in a conventional way, with a heart rate monitor.

Figure 3 schematically shows a second embodiment of the physical exercise equipment according to the invention different from that shown in Figures 1 and 2, in which the encoder 218 (or other angular velocity sensor)? solidly coupled to the same end? of the handlebar 200 which? coupled the motor 5.

Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of the equipment for physical exercise according to the invention, comprising a pair of vibrating dumbbells 200, connected to the same panel 209? control, preferably provided with two displays 210 and respective keyboards, supported by a column 220. The equipment of Figure 4 allows a user to perform a specific mechanical neuromuscular stimulation on both arms.

Obviously, the electrical wiring provided for the equipment for physical exercise according to the invention must be suitably insulated in order to guarantee the safety of the user, and arranged in such a way as not to hinder the execution of the gymnastic exercises.

In the foregoing, preferred embodiments have been described and variants of the present invention have been suggested, but? it is to be understood that those skilled in the art will be able to make modifications and changes without thereby? exit from its scope of protection, as defined by the attached claims.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS 1. Equipment for physical exercise comprising at least one handlebar (200), vibrating means (5, 201, 204) being coupled to said at least one handlebar (200), the equipment being characterized in that said vibrating means (5, 201, 204) are connected to a processing and control device housed in a control panel (209) and connected in turn to interface means (210) for the insertion of data capable of setting a vibration frequency of said vibrating means (5, 201, 204), said at least one handlebar (200) comprising first detector means (218) adapted to detect a vibration frequency of said at least one handlebar (200) and to send detection data to said processing device and control, said processing and control device by controlling an operation of said vibrating means (5, 201, 204) in such a way that the vibration frequency detected by said first detector means (218) is equal to a vibration frequency i set through said interface means (210). 2. Equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that said vibrating means comprise at least one electric motor (5), housed in a respective seat of which? provided with said at least one handlebar (200), able to rotate an axis (201), preferably arranged along a longitudinal axis (202) of said at least one handlebar (200), to which axis (201) one or more ? eccentric masses (204), said at least one handlebar (200) also comprising? preferably a fan (217) capable of causing an exchange of air between said seat of said at least one electric motor (5) and the outside of said at least one handlebar (200), said at least one electric motor (5) being preferably capable of generates an undulatory movement at a variable frequency preferably between 1 and 1000 Hz, pi? preferably between 5 and 500 Hz, even more? preferably between 20 and 55 Hz, and of an amplitude preferably between 1 and 10 mm, plus? preferably between 2 and 5 mm, said at least one electric motor (5) being preferably able to rotate both clockwise and counterclockwise and said interface means (210) for entering data being able to set at least one direction of rotation of said at least one electric motor (5). 3. Equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that said first detection means (218) comprise an encoder (capable of detecting an angular position and / or a rotation speed and / or a rotation frequency of the axis (201 ). 4. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one handlebar (200)? provided with at least one pressure sensor (219) capable of detecting at least one pressure exerted on a handle of said at least one handlebar (200) and of sending detection data to said processing and control device, said interface means (210) including one or more? visual and / or acoustic signaling devices through which said processing and control device signals at least one gripping condition of said at least one handlebar (200) dependent on said at least one pressure detected by said at least one pressure sensor (219). 5. Equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that said processing and control device signals a gripping condition in which said at least one pressure detected? less than at least a minimum value. 6. Equipment according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said processing and control device disables an operation of said vibrating means (5, 201, 204) when said at least one pressure detected? less than at least a minimum value. 7. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it also comprises? a detection system comprising motion detecting means adapted to detect a movement of said at least one handlebar (200), said motion detecting means preferably comprising at least one triaxial accelerometer incorporated in or integrally coupled to said at least one handlebar (200), said means motion detectors being connected to said processing and control device to which they send detected data relating to one or more? movement parameters preferably selected from the group comprising amplitude of displacement, acceleration and speed, said processing and control device preferably automatically controlling said vibrating means (5, 201, 204) on the basis of said data detected by said movement detecting means. 8. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it also comprises? vibration detecting means preferably comprising at least one triaxial accelerometer incorporated in or coupled to at least one support applicable to and / or wearable by a user, said at least one support being preferably selected from the group comprising an elastic collar and an elastic band, said vibration detecting means being connected to said processing and control device to which they send detected data relating to one or more? movement parameters preferably selected from the group comprising amplitude of vibration, frequency, acceleration, and speed, said processing and control device preferably automatically controlling said vibrating means (5, 201, 204) on the basis of said data detected by said detection means vibration. 9. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it also comprises? a system for determining an optimal frequency of a vibration generated by said vibrating means (5, 201, 204) and for automatically setting the operating parameters of said vibrating means (5, 201, 204), comprising one or more? activity detectors electrical muscle, preferably electromyographs, applicable to one or more? muscles of a user, adapted to send detection data to said electronic processing and control device, said electronic processing and control device processing the data received from said one or more? detectors in such a way as to determine, within an interval comprised between a lower limit frequency, preferably equal to 1 Hz, pi? preferably variable, and an upper limit frequency, preferably equal to 1000 Hz, plus? preferably variable, an optimal frequency of the vibration generated by said vibrating means (5, 201, 204) at which the activity? electric of said one or more? muscles of the user? maximum, said electronic processing and control device by setting a frequency of the vibration generated by said vibrating means (5, 201, 204) so that it is equal to this optimal frequency.