Patent ID: 7416518

Claim:
An exercise apparatus for muscular stimulation of a user, which apparatus comprises: a pressure sensor, a control unit to which pressure values sensed by the pressure sensor are fed, and a vibrational stimulator for applying vibrational stimulation to a user, wherein the vibrational stimulator is adapted to be activated by the control unit in response to the pressure sensor sensing an applied pressure which exceeds a threshold pressure value, and the vibrational stimulator includes a unit having an exercise portion which is adapted to both (i) apply vibrational stimulation to the user when the vibrational stimulator is activated by the control unit, and (ii) in addition to said vibrational stimulation, cause reciprocal movement of the exercise portion in a predetermined manner relative to the user in response to the pressure sensor sensing an applied pressure exceeding the threshold pressure to induce physical exertion in the user.