1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to an exercise device for a human user; more particularly, to an exercise device that activates, strengthens, and conditions core and other muscles while the user performs sit-ups and other core exercises.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Exercise equipment comprises many different devices for exercising the core muscles, including the back and abdominal muscles of the human body. The exercises may be used as physical therapy to strengthen muscles in an area that has been injured or suffers from some other pathological condition. In fact, exercises that invoke the transversus abdominus muscles (corset muscles) and other core muscles are used to treat and manage 1) spondylosis (degenerative osteoarthritis of the joints between the spinal vertebrae) and spondylolithesis (displacement of the vertebrae or vertebral column, sometimes called curvature of the back); 2) chronic or acute lower back dysfunction (LBD); 3) spina bifida; 4) hamstring strains; and 5) problems with the adductor magnus. In addition to physical therapy for rehabilitation, core exercises may be used to strengthen the muscles thereby improving the user's athletic performance or the user's appearance by reducing sagging and otherwise tightening and improving the tone of the core muscles.
Prior art core exercise devices, such as a slant board or roman chair, usually adopt “sit-up,” “crunch,” or “leg-lift,” like body movements or combinations of two or more of these body movements. The goal of such exercise equipment is to strengthen core muscles including the abdomen and back muscles. Specific names of such muscles include, but are not limited to, the rectus abdominis, the external and internal abdominal obliques, adductor magnus, transversus abdominis, multifidus, and erector spinae.
In addition, exercise devices have been created which require a user to maintain balance and equilibrium. The goal of exercising with these types of equipment is to improve a user's core muscles or “stability muscles,” thereby also improving the user's balance. Such muscles are located in a person's lower-torso region. Examples of equipment that facilitate balance are inflatable exercise balls such as the Swiss ball and the BOSU® ball, cylindrical rollers such as Air Roller™, and balancing pads such as DuraDisk™.
However, what is needed is a core exercise device that facilitates exercises dedicated to strengthening the aforementioned core muscles while improving balance. The present invention combines exercises for strengthening the core muscles with a balancing exercise without having to perform separate exercises on separate exercise devices.