Upper leg and hip exercise method and device to preserve ankle and hip joint while exercising

Abstract

Provided is an exercise device for performing exercises suitable to strengthen thigh and hip muscles such as a leg press machine, a total hip, and more particularly provides an exercise device for strengthening thigh and hip muscles. The exercise method and the exercise device improve the exercise effect of strengthening thigh and hip muscles by increasing a hip joint motion range and a rotation axis.

1 . An exercise device for exercising upper leg portions and hips while protecting knee and ankle joints, the exercise device comprising:
 a frame;   a seat connected to the frame and configured to support a user in a sitting position;   an arm pivotably connected to the frame and rotatable;   a leg pad pivotably connected to a lower end of the arm and configured to contact the users leg during use;   wherein a pivot axis of the arm portion is rotatable about both a y-axis perpendicular to the ground and an x-axis parallel to the ground so that the user performs a rotation activity about both the x-axis and the y-axis.   wherein the exercise device is configured to allow the user to sit on the seat to have the sitting position, locate his/her leg on the leg pad, and move the leg backward from an exercise starting position where the leg is pulled toward the users chest; locate one leg at a left side and rotate the leg rightward or vice versa; or put his/her legs together and spread the legs apart or spread the legs apart and put the legs together.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise device of  claim 1 ,
 further comprising a resistive force generator configured to generate a resistive force against pivoting of the arm portion that rotates when the leg pad moves.   
     
     
         3 . The exercise device of  claim 1 ,
 further comprising a foot plate connected to a lower end of the frame, the seat, or the arm portion;   a foot plate connector having a first end portion connected to the foot plate and a second end portion pivotably connected to the arm.   
     
     
         4 . The exercise device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the arm connector comprises a first pivot axis parallel to the ground, a first roller configured to rotate about the first pivot axis, a first roller base configured to support rotation of the first roller, a bearing configured to support rotation of the first pivot axis, a second pivot axis perpendicular to the ground, a second roller configured to rotate about the second pivot axis, and a second roller base configured to support rotation of the second roller.   
     
     
         5 . An exercise device for exercising upper leg portions and hips while protecting knee and ankle joints, the exercise device comprising:
 a frame;   a seat connected to the frame and configured to support a user in a sitting or lying I position;   an arm pivotably connected to the frame and rotatable;   a leg pad pivotably connected to a lower end of the arm and configured to contact the users leg during use;   further comprising an upper support located in front of or behind the seat;   wherein a pivot axis of the arm portion is rotatable about both a y-axis perpendicular to the ground and an x-axis parallel to the ground so that the user performs a rotation activity about both the x-axis and the y-axis.   wherein the exercise device is configured to allow the user to sit or lie on the seat to have the sitting or lying position, locate his/her leg on the leg pad, and move the leg backward from an exercise starting position where the leg is pulled toward the users chest; locate one leg at a left side and rotate the leg rightward or vice versa; or put his/her legs together and spread the legs apart or spread the legs apart and put the legs together.   
     
     
         6 . An exercise device for exercising upper leg portions and hips while protecting knee and ankle joints, the exercise device comprising:
 a frame;   an arm connector connected to the frame;   a seat connected to the frame and configured to support a user in a sitting position;   an arm pivotably connected to the arm connector;   a leg pad pivotably connected to an end of the arm portion and configured to contact the users leg during use;   wherein the exercise device is configured to allow the user to sit on the seat to have the sitting position, place the users leg on the leg pad, and move the leg of the user backward from an exercise starting position where the leg is pulled toward the users chest such that the user's leg moves during exercises and the user flexes the hip while exercising;   further comprising a shaft changing portion configured to change a pivot axis of the arm portion between an x-axis direction parallel to the ground and a y-axis direction perpendicular to the ground.   
     
     
         7 . An exercise device for exercising upper leg portions and hips while protecting knee and ankle joints, the exercise device comprising:
 a frame;   an arm connector connected to the frame;   a seat connected to the frame and configured to support a user in a sitting or lying position;   an arm pivotably connected to the arm connector;   a leg pad pivotably connected to an end of the arm portion and configured to contact the users leg during use;   wherein the exercise device is configured to allow the user to sit or lie on the seat to have the sitting or lying position, place the users leg on the leg pad, and move the leg of the user backward from an exercise starting position where the leg is pulled toward the users chest such that the user's leg moves during exercises and the user flexes the hip while exercising;   further comprising an upper support located in front of or behind the seat;   a handle extending after being connected to a lower end of the seat or the frame;   further comprising a shaft changing portion configured to change a pivot axis of the arm portion between an x-axis direction parallel to the ground and a y-axis direction perpendicular to the ground.   
     
     
         7 . The exercise device of  claim 6 , wherein, the shaft changing portion comprises, a first roller base connected to the arm portion is connected by a hinge to the arm connector so that when a hinge base pivots about a hinge axis of the hinge and is horizontally located, the pivot axis of the arm portion is placed on a y-axis perpendicular to the ground, and when the hinge base pivots about the hinge axis of the hinge and is vertically located, the pivot axis of the arm portion is placed on an x-axis parallel to the ground. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise device of  claim 7 , wherein, the shaft changing portion comprises, a first roller base connected to the arm portion is connected by a hinge to the arm connector so that when a hinge base pivots about a hinge axis of the hinge and is horizontally located, the pivot axis of the arm portion is placed on a y-axis perpendicular to the ground, and when the hinge base pivots about the hinge axis of the hinge and is vertically located, the pivot axis of the arm portion is placed on an x-axis parallel to the ground. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein an arm pivot axis is on a rear end of the seat.