Shoulder strengthening apparatus

Abstract

Shoulder strengthening apparatus including a base, a first shaft, a hand rest coupled to the first shaft, and a stabilization element. The first shaft has a distal end portion and a proximal end portion and is coupled to the base such that movement of the first shaft relative to the base is restrictable. The hand rest is coupled to the distal end portion of the first shaft and is configured to support one or both of a hand or a wrist of a user. The stabilization element is pivotable around a first axis and includes a second shaft, a horizontal member coupled to a lower end portion of the second shaft, and an arm rest coupled to an upper end portion of the second shaft. The arm rest is configured to support at least a portion of an arm of the user.

1 . A shoulder strengthening apparatus comprising:
 a base;   a first shaft having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, wherein the first shaft is coupled to the base such that movement of the first shaft relative to the base is restrictable;   a hand rest coupled to the distal end portion of the first shaft, wherein the hand rest is configured to support one or both of a hand or a wrist of a user; and   a stabilization element comprising a second shaft, a horizontal member coupled to a lower end portion of the second shaft, and an arm rest coupled to an upper end portion of the second shaft, wherein the arm rest configured to support at least a portion of an arm of the user, wherein the stabilization element is pivotable around a first axis.   
     
     
         2 . The shoulder strengthening apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilization element is configured to limit rearward motion of the arm of the user during use of the shoulder strengthening apparatus. 
     
     
         3 . The shoulder strengthening apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first shaft is a telescopic shaft, wherein the telescopic shaft is extendable and compressible. 
     
     
         4 . The shoulder strengthening apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a joint coupled to the proximal end portion of the first shaft, wherein the first shaft rotatable relative to the base via the joint. 
     
     
         5 . The shoulder strengthening apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the joint comprises a ball-and-socket joint, wherein the ball-and-socket joint comprises a ball disposed in a socket, wherein the proximal end portion of the first shaft is coupled to the ball and the base comprises the socket. 
     
     
         6 . The shoulder strengthening apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hand rest is pivotable around a longitudinal axis of the first shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The shoulder strengthening apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein arm rest is pivotable around a longitudinal axis of the second shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The shoulder strengthening apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a height of the second shaft is adjustable to adjust a distance between the arm rest and the horizontal member. 
     
     
         9 . The shoulder strengthening apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the second shaft is a telescoping shaft that includes a lock for locking the telescoping shaft at a selected height. 
     
     
         10 . The shoulder strengthening apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the horizontal member is adjustable to adjust a distance between the second shaft and the first axis. 
     
     
         11 . The shoulder strengthening apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a resistance mechanism, wherein the resistance mechanism is an annular structure and comprises an internal thread disposed on an inner surface of the annular structure, the internal threads being configured to mate with an external thread disposed an outer surface of the base such that the resistance mechanism is rotatably coupled to the base, and wherein rotation of the resistance mechanism relative to the base produces relative axial motion between the resistance mechanism and both the base and the first shaft such that the resistance mechanism engages and applies an adjustable frictional force. 
     
     
         12 . A shoulder strengthening apparatus comprising:
 a base;   a joint coupled to the base;   a first shaft having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, the proximal end portion coupled to the joint, wherein the first shaft is configured for multidirectional movement relative to the base via the joint;   a hand rest coupled to the distal end portion of the first shaft; and   a stabilization element comprising a second shaft and an arm rest coupled to the second shaft, wherein the stabilization element is independently moveable relative to the first shaft and is configured to support at least a portion of a user's arm during use of the shoulder strengthening apparatus.   
     
     
         13 . The shoulder strengthening apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a resistance mechanism coupled to the joint and configured to adjustably restrict movement of the first shaft relative to the base. 
     
     
         14 . The shoulder strengthening apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the stabilization element further comprises a horizontal member, wherein a first end portion of the horizontal member is coupled to a lower end portion of the second shaft, wherein the arm rest is coupled to an upper end portion of the second shaft, wherein the arm rest and the second shaft move together with the horizontal member to pivot around a first axis. 
     
     
         15 . The shoulder strengthening apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein a length of the horizontal member is adjustable to adjust a distance between the second shaft and the first axis. 
     
     
         16 . The shoulder strengthening apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the hand rest is pivotable around a longitudinal axis of the first shaft and the arm rest is pivotable around a longitudinal axis of the second shaft. 
     
     
         17 . The shoulder strengthening apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the stabilization element is configured to limit rearward motion of a user's arm during use of the shoulder strengthening apparatus. 
     
     
         18 . A shoulder strengthening apparatus comprising:
 a first shaft having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion;   a joint coupled to the proximal end portion of the first shaft, wherein the joint is configured to adjustably restrict movement of the first shaft;   a hand rest coupled to the distal end portion of the first shaft, wherein the hand rest is configured to support one or both of a hand or a wrist of a user; and   a stabilization element comprising a second shaft, an arm rest coupled to an upper end portion of the second shaft, and a horizontal member coupled to a lower end portion of the second shaft;   wherein the second shaft is independently moveable relative to the first shaft.   
     
     
         19 . The shoulder strengthening apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein each of the first shaft and the second shaft is pivotably coupled to a base. 
     
     
         20 . The shoulder strengthening apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the stabilization element is configured to support at least a portion of a user's arm during use of the shoulder strengthening apparatus, and wherein the stabilization element is configured to limit rearward motion of a user's arm during use of the shoulder strengthening apparatus.