Inertial exercise apparatus and method

摘要

An inertial training apparatus and method utilized for strength training and rehabilitation strength training of muscles. The inertial training apparatus and method allows for generation of rotational inertial forces by accelerating a mass by a concentric contraction of a muscle and converting the rotational inertial forces of the mass into a substantially equivalent eccentric action of the muscle used to decelerate the mass. A tether is coupled between the mass and a body part to transfer the tension forces provided by the body part to accelerate the mass and, in turn, those provided by the body part to decelerate the mass. A swing arm and a mass on the swing arm are rotatably mounted to a frame to preferably allow for low-friction rotation about a substantially vertical axis. A primary tether guide is preferably coupled to the frame and can be positioned near an intermediate rotational position of the swing arm where acceleration forces are transferred into deceleration forces. The tether is positioned through the primary tether guide and has one end attached to the swing arm and another end attached to a handle that engages the body part. The inertial training apparatus and method also allow for cyclical repetition of muscular loading caused by the acceleration and deceleration forces of the mass.