Hip Flexor Stretch Device

Abstract

A lower-body stretching device and method of use has a back support belt slidably connected to a line, the line further slidably connected to a knee pad. The length of line extends around an outer side of the belt and knee pad, such as through an outerly-disposed channel of each. The line thus forms a closed loop around the pad and belt. During use of the device, a person applies pressure against the belt (using his/her back) and the pad (using his/her knee and/or lower leg) with a taut line. An adjustable length connector situated along a length of the line, has a locked and an unlocked configuration in embodiments of the disclosed technology.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A lower-body stretching device, comprising:
 a belt deformable between a linear and curvilinear configuration;   a rigid curvilinear pad;   a length of line extending around a convex side of said curvilinear pad and a side of said belt distal relative to said curvilinear pad forming a closed loop.   
     
     
         2 . The lower-body stretching device of  claim 1 , further comprising an adjustable length connector situated along a length of said line, said adjustable length connector having a locked and an unlocked configuration;
 wherein said length of line passing within said adjustable length connector being in a locked position results in a fixed maximum distance between said belt and said curvilinear pad.   
     
     
         3 . The lower-body stretching device of  claim 2 , wherein a concave side of said curvilinear pad faces towards said belt; and
 said closed loop extends around said belt and said convex side of said curvilinear pad at a circumference calibrated such that said pad and said belt positioned around a posterior side and back of said wearer requires each of a knee and a hip of said intended wearer to be in flexion positions.   
     
     
         4 . The lower-body stretching device of  claim 3 , wherein said posterior side and back of said wearer is limited to the group consisting of a latus region and hypochondriac region. 
     
     
         5 . The lower-body stretching device of  claim 4 , wherein said calibrated circumference is further calibrated such that said pad is positioned on an anterior side of a lower leg of said intended wearer. 
     
     
         6 . A method of using said lower-body stretching device of  claim 5 , comprising positioning said anterior side of said curvilinear pad against said anterior side of said lower leg. 
     
     
         7 . The method of using said lower-body stretching device of  claim 6 , further comprising positioning said belt around a selected area of said latus region and hypochondriac region. 
     
     
         8 . The method of using said lower-body stretching device of  claim 7 , further comprising extending said lower leg into said curvilinear pad causing stretching a muscle within a leg. 
     
     
         9 . The lower body stretching device of  claim 2 , wherein said adjustable length connector is a pulley. 
     
     
         10 . A lower-body stretching device, comprising:
 a length of line forming a closed loop held together by an adjustable length connector;   an exterior side of each of a pad and a belt attached to said length of line;   wherein said pad is slidably connected to said length of line.   
     
     
         11 . The lower-body stretching device of  claim 10 , wherein said belt is in a fixed position relative to said length of line. 
     
     
         12 . The lower-body stretching device of  claim 11 , wherein a fixed maximum distance between said pad and said belt is adjustable by way of passing said line through said adjustable length connector and locking said line into said adjustable length connector. 
     
     
         13 . The lower-body stretching device of  claim 12 , wherein locking comprising placing said line in said adjustable length connector such that said line is immovable through said adjustable length connector by way of extension of a leg of an intended user. 
     
     
         14 . The lower-body stretching device of  claim 12 , wherein said fixed maximum distance is set at a distance requiring flexion of a knee and hip of an intended user when said pad is placed over either a knee or lower leg, and said belt is placed around a posterior side of a torso. 
     
     
         15 . The lower-body stretching device of  claim 12 , wherein said posterior side of said torso is limited to a latus and hypochondriac region thereof. 
     
     
         16 . A method of using said lower-body stretching device of  claim 12 , comprising, in any order, placing said pad against an anterior side of said lower leg, placing said belt around said posterior side of said torso, and an intended user attempting extension of said knee against said pad. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising a step of lying supine on said posterior side of said torso and setting said fixed maximum distance while said pad is against said lower leg and said belt is against said posterior side of said torso. 
     
     
         18 . The lower-body stretching device of  claim 10 , wherein said adjustable length connector is a pulley.