Joint Rotational Exercise and Stretching Tool

A method of strengthening muscles and connective tissues around a joint of the human body, comprising:

• (a) providing a tool comprising a torque-generating mechanism and an ergonomic lever arm operably connected to the mechanism, the lever arm including at least one physical alignment feature configured to position a portion of the user's limb in alignment with the tool's axis of rotation;
• (b) positioning a user's limb such that the selected joint is substantially aligned with the axis of rotation, wherein the tool is further configured to restrict or minimize compensatory motion in adjacent joints or body segments, the selected joint comprising one of:
• (i) a wrist joint with a rotation axis generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the forearm;
• (ii) a radioulnar joint defining a pronation-supination axis;
• (iii) a glenohumeral joint with a rotation axis substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the humerus;
• or
• (iv) a glenohumeral joint with a rotation axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the humerus;
• and
• (c) applying muscular force to the lever arm relative to the rotational torque-generating mechanism to perform one or more of:
• (i) concentric movement under resistive torque;
• (ii) eccentric movement under resistive torque;
• or
• (iii) isometric contraction while maintaining the lever arm in a fixed position.