Exercise device for the arm

This patent discloses an exercise device to strengthen and rehabilitate an arm. The exercise device may include a splint, a container, and a ball. The container may include a container shell having a container shell interior surface surrounding a container shell void. The container shell interior surface may form a spherical surface having a container shell interior center. The ball may be positioned within the container shell void and include a ball center where, when the exercise device is moved by the arm, both the container and the ball rotate together with the ball center additionally moving around a circumference that follows a circumference of the container shell interior surface. The container may be attached to the splint so that the container shell interior center may be positioned outside of a hand grab radius of a hand of the arm when the exercise device is attached to the arm.

BACKGROUND

The information disclosed in this patent relates to a portable exercise device that may work to strengthen and rehabilitate the arm and in particular the shoulder.

2. Background Information

In human anatomy, the shoulder is that part of the body where the arm attaches to the torso. Articulations between the upper arm bone, the collarbone, the shoulder blade, and the associated muscles, ligaments, and tendons that attach these three bones together make up the shoulder joints. A properly working shoulder is flexible over a wide range of motion required in the arms and hands. However, this tremendous range of motion also makes the shoulder extremely unstable, far more prone to dislocation and injury than other joints.

The shoulder is one of the most commonly injured joints in the body. This is due to the complex arrangement of the surrounding ligaments and tendon muscle groups that are needed for, first, stabilization of the joint, and then, second, for providing a coordinated movement of the shoulder through a three-dimensional space at varying velocities of acceleration and deceleration. Unlike the hip joint, which includes a bone socket for support, the shoulder lacks a bone socket and relies solely on the surrounding muscles, tendons, and ligaments for support and stabilization.

The rotator cuff is an anatomical term given to the group of small muscles and their tendons that act to stabilize the shoulder. Moving the shoulder through space requires the coordinated activation and deactivation of the rotator cuff while permitting the larger power muscle group, such as the deltoid and pectoral muscles, to provide the needed acceleration and torque when engaged in any type of throwing or swinging activity. Sports that place high demands on such coordinated efforts include baseball, football, tennis, volleyball, golf, and racquetball, just to name a few. Essentially any activity that requires the use of the arm needs shoulder stability and control to function. These may be anything from hanging a jacket on the coat rack to playing ping-pong or basketball, or holding onto the rope while water skiing.

Shoulder exercises typically are intended to strengthen the shoulder, thus preventing injury; or to rehabilitate the shoulder after injury or surgery. The most basic equipment for the aid of strengthening of the shoulder is the dumbbell. Free-weights allow front to back, up and down, or side-to-side exercises. The larger power muscles are strengthened while the small stabilizing muscle groups are ignored. Exercise rubber bands or tubes, and cable weight systems function similar to free weights. That is, unidirectional strengthening of muscle groups. By varying the technique of how the tube or the cable is pulled, a person may exercise some specific rotator cuff muscles. However, these exercise movements work on only a few muscle groups at a time in a unidirectional manner without the ability to vary the level of intensity during the workout period.

A more interesting training device, the Bodyblade® (U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,262), does require the coordinated efforts of a few opposing muscle groups during the exercise routine. It also has a benefit of allowing the individual to vary the intensity of the workout while in the midst of doing the workout by varying the speed or magnitude at which one moves the Bodyblade®. However, again, it lacks multidirectional, proprioceptive training of all of the surrounding shoulder muscle groups at the same time. The Bodyblade® moves only in a unidirectional plane, i.e. side to side or up and down.

The Dyna-Flex Pro Gyro Trainer® or the Dyna-Flex Power Ball Gyro Trainer® are hand-held devices that use gyroscopic principle for strengthening primarily of the wrist and forearm. However, these trainers include limitations such as (1) that the resistance cannot be varied much during use as it is preset predominantly by the pull of the cord in the rotor groove, and (2) very little resistance or workout ability can be transferred to the shoulder joint. The Center Force Golf Dyna Max Core Gyro Trainer®, although an excellent device, it again strengthens primarily the wrist and forearm grip strengths. The shoulder muscle groups are not isolated for dedicated strengthening because this device has to be gripped onto tightly by the hand, thus the effect of the exercise is directed to the hand, wrist, and forearm via the gripping force that is required while holding onto this device.

The most expensive and complex piece of machinery that physical therapy and rehabilitation centers posses is the Upper Body Ergometer® (UBE). This essentially is a freestanding machine with two crank peddles that allow the user to peddle through as if “riding the bicycle” with the arms. Variable resistances may be set. Drawbacks of the UBE include its expense, non-portability, and lack of variability for training of different shoulder muscle groups.

As noted above, traditional shoulder exercise devices provide exercises in a unidirectional—side-to-side or up and down—manner. However, the shoulder functions in a complex multidirectional manner through three-dimensional space. Although traditional exercises provide some benefits, they lack an ability to strengthen and educate the shoulder in a multidirectional manner that is needed for the numerous types of demands placed upon the shoulder by an infinite number of types of activities. Thus, there is a need for an improved shoulder exercise device for shoulder strengthening and rehabilitation.

SUMMARY

This patent discloses an exercise device to strengthen and rehabilitate an arm. The exercise device may include a splint, a container, and a ball. The container may include a container shell having a container shell interior surface surrounding a container shell void. The container shell interior surface may form a spherical surface having a container shell interior center. The ball may be positioned within the container shell void and include a ball center where, when the exercise device is moved by the arm, both the container and the ball rotate together with the ball center additionally moving around a circumference that follows a circumference of the container shell interior surface. The container may be attached to the splint so that the container shell interior center may be positioned outside of a hand grab radius of a hand of the arm when the exercise device is attached to the arm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is a right side view of an exercise device100attached to an arm10. Exercise device100may be a portable exercise device that may work to strengthen and rehabilitate arm10and in particular the shoulder of that arm10. Exercise device100may include a splint200configured to be attached to arm10, a container300attached to splint200at a predetermined location, and a ball400positioned within container300.

In operation, a user may attach exercise device100to arm10and position a user hand12at various positions within three-dimensional space, i.e. in front of his/her body, to his/her side, above his/her head, or in front of the face. The user then may move arm10in a circular and multidirectional fashion to cause weighted ball400to rotate within container300in a centrifugal manner in a bounded area positioned at a predetermined distance from hand12. The remote centrifugal movement of ball400may generate a resistance particular to exercise device100that may help exercise the various muscles groups in the person's shoulder, including the small, surrounding stabilizing muscles known as the rotator cuff. By utilizing balls400of different weights/diameters and containers300of different diameter, an individual may vary the resistance provided by exercise device100to provide an effective way to strengthen and rehabilitate the muscles within the shoulder joint and, in turn, help expedite the recovery process after injury or surgery.

Before describing exercise device100, it may help to have some human anatomy information.FIG. 2is a perspective view of arm10and hand12in relation to movement of ball400. Arm10in colloquial speech may refer to the entire upper limb of a person from a shoulder14through an elbow16to a wrist18. Wrist18may be a flexible and narrower connection between a forearm20and hand12. Forearm20may be the structure on the upper limb of the person, between elbow16and wrist18and hand12may be a prehensile body part located at an end of arm10. Human hand12may include digits22extending from a palm24and a dorsum26(FIG. 1). Palm24may be an inner surface of hand12extending from wrist18to a digit base28of digits22and dorsum26may be a back of hand12position on hand12on a side that is opposite of palm24. Digits22may include fingers30, including middle finger32, and a thumb34extending from digit base28.

Proprioception is the sense of the relative position of neighboring parts of the body. Unlike the six exteroceptive senses (sight, taste, smell, touch, hearing, and balance) by which individuals perceive the outside world, and interoceptive senses, by which individuals perceive the pain and the stretching of internal organs, proprioception is a third distinct sensory modality that provides feedback solely on the status of the body internally. It is the sense that indicates whether the body is moving with required effort, as well as where the various parts of the body are located in relation to each other. Exercise device100provides proprioceptive training of all of the surrounding shoulder muscle groups at the same time.

Digits22of human hand12may be extend outward to be position approximately in the same plane as palm24. The distance from the base of hand12at a wrist crease36of wrist18to a middle finger tip38of the middle finger32for most adults ranges approximately from 6.3 inches to 8.6 inches. When fingers30and thumb34are brought together to hold an object such as by making the letter “O”, for example, middle finger32and thumb34may form a grab enclosure having a hand grab radius40. Hand grab radius40may be measured from wrist crease36to a palm center42and may be measured from palm center42to an upper surface of the meeting of middle finger32and thumb34. For most adults, hand grab radius40approximately is three to four inches. Since hand12need not grip exercise device100and a container shell interior center322(FIG. 5) of container300may be position outside hand grab radius40of hand12, the resistance provided by exercise device100is directed away from hand12, wrist18, and forearm20and is directed towards all of the surrounding muscle groups of shoulder14. Experiments have shown this works to increase the sense of whether shoulder14is moving with the effort needed to control the resistance provided by exercise device100.

FIG. 3is a bottom isometric view of splint200.FIG. 4is a top isometric view of splint200. Splint200may be a static hand-wrist orthosis to hold wrist18at a particular angle and to provide support and proper positioning of hand12. Splint200may include a splint shell202, a forearm strap204, a hand strap206, and buckle body208. Forearm strap204and hand strap206may be laced into splint shell202and buckle body208may be attached to splint shell202.

Splint shell202may be a rigid form that may follow the contour along forearm20, over wrist18, and along palm24. Splint shell202may include slots210and a shell bump212having a shell bump peak214. Slots210may be elongated openings within splint shell202that may be configured to receive forearm strap204and hand strap206. Shell bump212may be a curvature in a profile of splint shell202to permit splint shell202to transition from over wrist18and along palm24. Shell bump peak214may be a top point of shell bump212. With splint200attached to arm10, shell bump peak214may be configured to align approximately near the area where wrist18meets palm24. Splint shell202may be made of lightweight thermoplastic material or of a generally planar malleable metal core covered by a layer of synthetic foam padding material on each of its opposite sides and protected by an outer cover of fabric.

Forearm strap204and hand strap206each may be an elongated piece of material having ends that may fasten together using hook fasteners216and loop fasteners218. Forearm strap204and hand strap206each may be laced through slots210. Hook fasteners216and loop fasteners218may be brought together to fasten forearm strap204around forearm20and hand strap206around hand12.

To attach container300to splint200, exercise device100may include a buckle body and latch system. Buckle body208may be part of the buckle body and latch system. Buckle body208may include a buckle body boss220and a buckle body housing222attached to buckle body boss220.

Buckle body boss220may be a projection fixed to splint200along shell bump peak214at a midpoint of shell bump peak214. In one example, screws may removeably fix buckle body boss220to splint200. In another example, rivets may fix buckle body boss220to splint200to prevent removal of buckle body208from splint shell202.

Buckle body housing222may be a six sided, rectangular structure configured to receive and retain a buckle latch tongue330(FIG. 5). Buckle body housing222may have a buckle body housing interior224, a buckle body housing latch opening226, and a buckle body housing lock opening228(FIG. 7), each of which may lead to buckle body housing interior224. Buckle body208may be attached to splint shell202so that buckle body housing latch opening226faces hand strap206and fingers30.

FIG. 5is a side view of container300having container shell interior center322.FIG. 6is a side view of container300in a partially open position. Container300may be an object to encompass ball400and to provide rotation paths for ball400to roll around inside container300. When exercise device100is moved by arm10, both container300and ball400may rotate together clockwise or counterclockwise with ball400additionally moving around within container300.

Container300may include a container shell302, a hinge304, a lock306, a stand308, and a buckle latch310. Hinge304, lock306, stand308, and buckle latch310each may be attached to container shell302.

Container shell302may include a container shell exterior surface312, a container shell interior surface314, a container shell void316, a container shell upper part318, and a container shell lower part320.

Container shell exterior surface312may be that surface positioned on the outer side of container shell302and container shell interior surface314may be that surface positioned on the inside of container shell302. Container shell302may have a container shell thickness321as measured between container shell exterior surface312and container shell interior surface314. In one example, container shell thickness321approximately may be 0.1 inches thick.

Container shell interior surface314may form a spherical surface having container shell interior center322and a container shell interior diameter324passing through container shell interior center322. Proprioception may be increased by positioning the resistance provided by the movement of ball400outside of hand grab radius40. In one example, container shell interior diameter324may be greater than hand grab radius40. In another example, container shell interior diameter324may be one of 8-inch, 6-inch, and 4-inch diameter.

Container shell void316may be an empty space surrounded by container shell interior surface314. Preferably, container shell void316may be large enough to permit ball400to both rotate and move within container shell void316. Container shell void316may be defined by container shell interior diameter324.

Container shell upper part318and container shell lower part320may be two halves of container shell302that may come together to enclose container shell interior surface314. Container shell upper part318and container shell lower part320each may have a hemisphere shape as half of a sphere.

Hinge304may be a jointed or flexible device that may allow container shell upper part318to pivot relative to container shell lower part320. Hinge304may attach container shell upper part318to container shell lower part320. In one example, hinge304may be two jointed plates moveably fixed to each other by a pin, where each plate may be attached to container shell exterior surface312.

Lock306may be a device that may restrain container shell upper part318against container shell lower part320to seal container shell void316and prevent ball400from leaving container shell void316. Lock306may be attached to container shell exterior surface312. Lock306may have a first part attached to container shell upper part318and a second part attached to container shell lower part320that may be configured to mate with the first part attached to container shell upper part318. In one example, lock306may include a clasp strap and a catchplate configured to be mechanically joined with the clasp strap.

Stand308may be a base upon which container300may rest upright. Stand308may have a flat surface326having a diameter large enough to keep container300from moving when container300is placed upon a flat surface. In one example, stand308may be attached to container shell exterior surface312at a position that substantially may be equidistance between hinge304and lock306. Stand308may be molded to container shell exterior surface312as a platform on which to rest container300.

As noted above, exercise device100may include a buckle body and latch system to attach container300to splint200. Buckle latch310may be part of the buckle body and latch system along with buckle body208. Buckle latch310may include a buckle latch boss328and buckle latch tongue330attached to buckle latch boss328.

Buckle latch boss328may be a projection fixed to container shell upper part318on container shell exterior surface312at a position that substantially may be equidistance between hinge304and lock306. In one example, screws may removeably fix buckle latch boss328to container shell302. In another example, rivets may fix buckle latch boss328to container shell302to prevent removal of buckle latch310from container shell302. In a further example, buckle latch boss328and container shell upper part318may be a single piece such as manufactured from an injection molded plastic process.

FIG. 7is a cross section view of container300generally taken off line7-7ofFIG. 1. Buckle latch tongue330may be a resilient, curved clip having a tongue ridge332. Buckle latch tongue330may be configured to compress on being inserted into buckle body housing interior224and return towards an original shape once tongue ridge332is aligned with buckle body housing lock opening228. Tongue ridge332may be a projection extending from buckle latch tongue330that may be configured to fit within buckle body housing lock opening228to aid in retaining buckle latch310within buckle body208.

Ball400(FIG. 6) may be a round object with a spherical shape. Ball400may be sold and have a ball center402and a ball diameter404. Preferably, ball400may be sized so that ball400may rotate within container shell void316and ball center402may move within container shell void316. In one example, a ratio of container shell interior diameter324to ball diameter404approximately may be 10:1. Preferably, ball400has a weight of one of 12, 9, 6, and 3 ounces.

Ball400may be a round object whose center may move in relation to the circumference of container shell interior surface314. For example, when exercise device100is moved by arm10, both container300and ball400may rotate together clockwise or counterclockwise with ball center402moving around a ball center circumference334(FIG. 2) that follows a circumference of container shell interior surface314. Ball center circumference334may have a ball center circumference335as measured between container shell interior center322and ball center402.

FIG. 8is an exercise device kit800. Exercise device kit800may include balls802and containers804, and a splint806. Balls802may include four balls in four different weights including 12, 9, 6, and 3 ounces. Containers804may include three containers in three different container shell interior diameters of 8-inches, 6-inches, and 4-inches. Twelve degrees of resistance may be possible with four balls802and three containers804.

When splint200is attached to arm10and container300is attached to splint200, container shell interior center322may be offset from the center of palm24. In other words, a line336(FIG. 2) passing from container shell interior center322through buckle body boss220approximately may pass through wrist18. Proprioception may be increased by aligning line336offset from palm center42.

FIG. 9is a method900to strengthen and rehabilitate arm10and in particular the shoulder of that arm10. At step902, method900may present exercise device100. At step904, splint200may be attached to arm10. At step906, ball400may be placed within container300. At step908, container300may be attached to splint200. At step910, ball400may be moved within container300.

The exercise device may be an accessory for individuals who are recovering from shoulder injuries or surgeries. The exercise device may provide an effective way to rehabilitate and strengthen the muscles in the rotator cuff, as it may allow an individual to experience resistance using omni-directional movements with the arm. Such a device may be particularly ideal for use among athletes, personal trainers, and physical therapists.

The exercise device may include a slim plastic wrist splint that may measure approximately eight inches long and two inches wide. The splint may include two nylon hook and loop straps that may allow the splint to be secured to the underside of an individual's forearm and his/her palm. The distal or far end of the splint may curve upward to accommodate the curve of the hand and palm. The splint also may include a trapezoidal fastener that may allow for the attachment of one of three containers that may be included with the exercise device.

Each container of the exercise device may be produced from plastic and may be constructed in two mating hemispheres, each of which may feature clip- or clasp-style closures that may keep the halves secured and locked during use. The top half of the each container may include a handle-like device that may mate with the trapezoidal fastener on the underside of the wrist splint. The mating components on the container and the splint may fit snugly and may ensure the container did not detach from the splint during use. The containers may have one of 8-inch, 6-inch, and 4-inch diameters.

Also included with the exercise device may be a series of steel ball bearings. These bearings have different weights, including 12, 9, 6, and 3 ounces. An individual may select one of the ball bearings for placement within one of the containers. The choice between three containers and the four ball bearings provides the potential for twelve different resistance experiences.

To use the exercise device an individual may simply select the desired container and place the desired ball bearing within the component. Once the halves of the container are joined, the container may be affixed to the underside of the wrist splint and the splint secured to the user's arm via the nylon hook and loop straps. Alternatively, the container may be fixed to the wrist splint permanently rather than be detachable/interchangeable components.

Since the container is secured to the splint, the user need not hold the container within his/her hand and the need to grasp any portion of the exercise device may be eliminated. This frees the arm from having to control the hand muscles and allows the exercise to direct more resistance into the shoulder.

With the exercise device attached to the person's arm, the user may position his/her hand at various heights and positions within three-dimensional space, i.e. in front of his/her body, to his/her side, above his/her head, or in front of the face. The user then may move his/her arm in a circular and multidirectional fashion to spin the ball bearing within the container in a centrifugal manner. This may generate gyroscopic-like resistance. This resistance may help exercise the various muscles groups in the shoulder, specifically small, surrounding stabilizing muscles known as the rotator cuff. An individual may vary the resistance of the device by using different combinations of containers and ball bearings. This may provide an effective way to strengthen and rehabilitate the muscles within the shoulder joint and may thus help expedite the recovery process after injury or surgery.

The exercise device may fulfill the need for a way to safely rehabilitate and strengthen the muscles in the shoulder joint. The appealing features of the exercise device may be its ease of use, safe and effectiveness, versatility, small size and compactness, portability, and ability to help rehabilitate the shoulder after surgery or injury.

The exercise device may provide a safe and easy way to strengthen and rehabilitate the muscles in the shoulder, specifically the stabilizing muscles in the rotator cuff. It also may be used to strengthen, tone, and rehabilitate the deltoid and pectoral muscles to a degree. This device may provide resistance in a gyroscopic manner when an individual rotated his/her arm from the shoulder in an omni-directional manner. Thus, the exercise device may provide a more effective way to rehabilitate and strengthen the muscles in the rotator cuff. Using the device consistently may lead to a quicker recovery from injury or surgery and a reduced risk of re-injuring the shoulder joint.

In addition, the user's movements may generate the gyroscopic resistance offered by the exercise device. Thus, the individual may vary the degree of intensity during a workout or rehabilitation exercise. The user also may employ combinations of containers and ball bearings to achieve as many as twelve degrees of resistance. This may allow an individual to use a minimal amount of resistance when beginning a rehabilitation regimen for the shoulder and then increase resistance gradually as the muscles in the rotator cuff became stronger. This may allow the individual to make steady and consistent progress when recovering from an injury or surgery and may reduce the risk of re-injuring the shoulder during a rehabilitation program.

The exercise device may feature a small, lightweight, and compact design and thus may be transported to any location and used virtually anywhere. It may, be ideal for use in the home, as well as in rehabilitation clinics, sports medicine facilities, and hospitals. The portable nature of the exercise device may make it ideal for use among physical therapists and personal trainers, as it may be easily transported to clients' homes for use during private training and rehabilitation sessions. The exercise device also may be particularly ideal for use among a wide range of athletes, particularly those who place significant amounts of stress on their shoulders. These may include both professional and recreational athletes who play baseball, football, tennis, volleyball, golf, hockey, and basketball. The exercise device may be safe and easy to use, effectively designed, versatile, convenient, practical, and durable for years of virtually maintenance-free use.

The exercise device may work on all the shoulder muscle groups at the same time in a multidirectional manner with the ability to vary the level of intensity during the workout period. The resistance may be varied during use by utilizing containers with different diameters and balls with different weights. In addition to providing variability for training of different shoulder muscle groups, most of the resistance or workout ability may be transferred to the shoulder joint. The shoulder muscle groups may be isolated for dedicated strengthening because the hand need not grip onto this device.

The exercise device may be a portable exercise device for strengthening the shoulder. A splint may be strapped to the wrist while the “palm” side of the splint may be affixed to interchangeable spherical containers of different sizes. Each container may be opened to receive one or more steel ball bearings of different weights. The various sizes of the containers along with the different combinations of the steel ball bearings placed give rise to a large selection of variable resistances available for training. The container may be moved in a circular fashion while attached to the wrist splint. The difficulty or level of resistance of exercise may be determined by varying the speed and, or, the magnitude at which the container may be moved. Additionally, the specific muscle group to be trained can also be determined by varying the position in space of the container while it may be being “gyrated”

The exercise device may include three separate components: (1) a wrist splint, (2) a container, and (3) small steel ball bearings. The wrist splint may obviate a need of the individual having to grip onto the device while doing the workout. The splint stabilizes the wrist joint and one may exercise without the need of having to grip onto the device, thus isolating the shoulder muscles for a dedicated shoulder workout.

The wrist splint may include two hook and loop fastener straps that may circumferentially strap onto the forearm for stability. The distal end of the splint under the palm may be trapezoidal in shape to allow “slip-on” attachment of the container. On top of the container may be an assembled handle-like device that also may be trapezoidal in shape to allow mating with the wrist splint for slipping on and off. The design of the trapezoidal shape allows only a predetermined, fixed distance of slip on. In addition, after it has maximized its travel distance, the fit may be quite secure and tight. This may prevent accidental dropping of the container during the workout.

The container may be opened up to form two hemispheres. These two hemispheres when closed may be locked together securely by a clip on each side of the hemisphere. The steel ball bearings may be placed within the container when the container is open. Alternatively, the container may be a solid sphere having a ball permanently positioned within the container. After a user closes the container and securely affixes the container to the wrist splint, the user may moves his/her arm in a circular fashion to self-create or generate a gyroscopic effect via the centrifugal movement of the steel ball bearing within the container. The individual may vary the intensity of the level of workout by varying the speed at which one moves the container or by varying the magnitude of movement of the arm.

In the process of generating the gyroscopic effect, the shoulder may be stressed in a multidirectional manner. Opposing muscle groups surrounding the shoulder joint must activate and deactivate in a synchronous rapid fashion in response to the resistance provided by the exercise device. This develops the strength and coordination of small stabilizing rotator cuff muscle groups at small magnitudes of movement, while the larger power muscles will be called into action at larger magnitudes of movement. By placing the hand in various positions during the workout, such as changing from the front of the body to the side of the body, the user may target train different muscle groups specifically at different times during the same workout period. This improves proprioception and ability to move the shoulder in a coordinated three-dimensional fashion that may be the basis of all activities of the shoulder during daily use.

The level of difficulty of workout also may be varied by selecting different combinations of the container and steel ball-bearing mix. Combining as a kit three containers of three different diameters: 8 inches, 6 inches, and 4 inches with steel ball bearing of four different weights: 12 ozs, 9 ozs, 6 ozs, and 3 ozs give rise to twelve combinations of levels of difficulty. The larger the container, the heavier the steel ball bearing, the higher the degree of difficulty.

The present invention provides a portable exercise device that may be specifically dedicated for strengthening of the shoulder joint. The exercise device may provide multidirectional exercise capability that strengthens all of the surrounding shoulder muscles at the same time in a functional manner. The exercise device may improve coordination and proprioception of the shoulder stabilizers while strengthens the power muscle groups. The centrifugal and gyroscopic resistance provided by the exercise device may be self-generated by the user and the level of intensity may be varied at any time during its use. Thus, a user may train either the small shoulder stabilizing muscle groups or the power accelerators by varying the magnitude of movement of the container.

The exercise device may present a large selection of varying levels of difficulty of workout using interchangeable container sizes and placement of interchangeable steel ball bearings of different weights within the container. The exercise device may be light in weight, but the centrifugal and gyroscopic principles employed by the exercise device may generate up to 100 pounds of torque energy, such as seen in high velocity throwing or swinging sports. The exercise device may benefit training camps for high-level overhead athletes. The small size of the exercise device makes it easy to transport and may be used while traveling on business or used by a personal trainer when visiting different client households.

In order to spin or gyrate the ball bearing within the container, a user needs to exert a certain amount of force in a well-coordinated fashion with rapid activation and de-activation of the surrounding rotator cuff mechanism. By selecting different combinations of ball-bearing weights and size of the containers, the user may adjust the level of workout that one may be able to accomplish. Thus, the level of workout provided by the biofeedback mechanism of the exercise device may be similar to that experienced in playing tennis.

The information disclosed herein is provided merely to illustrate principles and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the subject matter of the terms of the claims. The written specification and figures are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. Moreover, the principles disclosed may be applied to achieve the advantages described herein and to achieve other advantages or to satisfy other objectives, as well.