1. Field of the Invention
The invention is an apparatus which is useful for training the upper extremities of an individual with respect to certain sporting activities which require finger, hand, wrist, and forearm strength as well as general upper body strength. More specifically, the invention relates to the field of training devices and apparatuses intended to strengthen the upper extremities of rock climbers and the like. The apparatus of the invention uses resistance, realistic handholds, and a range of motion to train the fingers, hands, upper extremities, and upper body of the user in order to better enable them to partake in rock climbing and similar activities.
2. Background Art
Training equipment and programs for upper extremity sports, such as rock climbing, have been in existence for a number of years, and have been used with varying degrees of success. Such training programs generally seek to increase the upper extremity body strength of the person in order to increase strength to weight ratio, tone the muscles of the upper extremities, especially the fingers and hands, and to train the muscles in order to remain flexed and weight-bearing for increasing periods of time in the range of 30 seconds to 60 seconds or even longer.
As an example, simple torsion resistance handgrips have been suggested as one means for training the fingers, hands, wrists and forearms in preparation for rock climbing. While simple torsion resistance handgrips are easy to use, small and convenient, and can be carried so the training can occur at virtually any location, they lack the realistic feel and structure of the typical handhold structures encountered during actual rock climbing, and therefore do not provide an adequate job of training, especially, the finger muscles to grip and hold a typical rock climbing hold as would be encountered in either the gymnasium or outdoors rock climbing on, for instance, stone structures. Therefore, simple torsion resistance handgrips are not optimum devices for such training.
Another technique of the prior art used for training the muscles of the fingers, hands and wrists is the fingertip push-up. The fingertip push-up is an exercise that incorporates isotonic contractions of the chest, shoulders, and triceps, and isometric exercise for the hands. A fingertip pushup is performed as a standard pushup, but instead of resting the palms flat on the supporting surface, which may be, for example, a floor, the user supports themselves with their fingertips only. Although this exercise is excruciating for most beginners, hand-strength may improve with regular training. However, fingertip push-ups exhibit the same shortcoming as the torsion resistance handgrips described above, in that they do not train the muscles of the fingers and hands to grip and hold a typical rock climbing hold as would be encountered either in the gymnasium or outdoors.
Another technique for strengthening the muscles of the fingers, hands, wrists and forearms is to simply do more rock climbing in either a gymnasium or outdoor setting. However, such rock climbing sessions typically take more time than is available during the average working day, as a rock climbing session may last anywhere from one to five hours or longer, especially if the rock climbing is done outdoors and in a remote environment. In such cases, travel time to and from the rock climbing site or gymnasium must also be taken into account. Thus, the opportunities to participate in actual rock climbing, in either indoor or outdoor setting, may be restricted by the available time in the day. Weather may also play a role in reducing the time available for rock climbing. Furthermore, training by simply doing more rock climbing does not allow an individual to incrementally change the training resistance parameters in order to systematically increase strength. Simply training by rock climbing may lead to discouragement if systematic, measurable incremental progress is not seen by the climber.
What is needed therefore is an effective apparatus and method for training the fingers, hands, wrists, and forearms of the user that, preferably, simulates an actual rock climbing environment, and is adaptable to be used in a home or other convenient setting without requiring travel to remote climbing sites, gymnasium sessions, or identification of outdoor climbing facilities in order to be utilized. The present invention provides these features, and overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by operation of its novel and unique feature set.