Patent ID: 7985167

Claim:
Use of an exercise apparatus to effect simultaneous upper and lower body strengthening in a user, the apparatus comprising, a seat having a seat back support for supporting said user's spine in an exercising position juxtaposed thereon, the back support being inclined from vertical at an angle selected at between about 10° and 60°, a lower frame assembly actuable by said user to effect leg muscle exercises, the lower frame assembly including a foot support which is reciprocally movable relative to the seat from a first rest position to a second position moved therefrom, a first resistance mechanism coupled to the lower frame assembly and operable to selectively vary resistance to foot support movement, an arm exercising assembly actuable to exercise arm muscles of said user when in the exercising position, the arm exercising assembly comprising a chest press exercising apparatus including at least one reciprocally movable member which is selectively movable by said user's hands or arms from an initial rest position and a displaced position moved therefrom, a second resistance mechanism coupled to said arm exercising assembly and operable to vary resistance to movement of said arm exercising assembly independently from said first resistance mechanism, wherein with said user in said exercising position, simultaneously actuating said lower frame assembly and said arm exercise assembly to effect simultaneous upper and lower body exercise, whereby, the exercising position comprises positioning the seat with said back support inclined from vertical such that the user can reach the lower frame assembly with said user's feet engaging said foot support with said user's hands engaging said arm exercising assembly, in actuation of said lower frame assembly, said user engages said foot support with his or her feet to alternately symmetrically extend and retract said user's legs together in unison in leg press-type exercises to move said foot support between the first and second positions, and as said user's legs are extended, the user simultaneously urges said reciprocally movable member with said user's arms from said initial rest position towards said displaced position.