Importance

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Abstract

An exercise appliance for conditioning the abdominal muscles of an individual includes a structure presenting a resiliently yieldable contact surface which provides a restoring force against a force applied thereto. The contact surface has a contour suitably sized and shaped to be at least partially fittable in the space formed between a support surface and a static lordotic curve of a lumbar back of an individual positioned with a remaining portion of the back of the individual in contact with the support surface. The structure may provide the resilient yieldability in a form permitting deformation of the contact surface, or may alternately include a rigid member arranged to permit resistive movement thereof in a direction towards a plane of the support surface. By positioning the resiliently yieldable portion of the appliance in the space formed between a support surface and the lumbar back, subsequent attempts by the individual to straighten the lumbar curvature by contraction of the abdominal muscles, forces the lumbar spine to flatten against the counter-force provided by the appliance, conditioning the abdominal muscles responsible for the action. In a further embodiment, the exercise appliance allows selection of the degree of resistance provided by the contact surface, allowing efficient use by individuals of varying levels of physical conditioning. The appliance may also be provided with a sensor which can output an audible or other type feedback signal indicative of the degree of compression of the mass, to insure proper performance of the exercise by the individual.

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First Claim