Apparatus for exercising the hamstring or quadricep muscle groups

Apparatus for exercising primarily either the hamstring or quadricep muscle groups of a user, comprising:

• a frame;
• means for locating at least one knee of a user relative to said frame, said locating means being mounted to said frame for rotation from a first substantially horizontal condition for supporting the posterior portion of the associated thigh of the user in a sitting position to a second substantially vertical condition for bracing the anterior portion of the thigh in a standing position;
• and
• means for engaging the lower leg of the user below the knee and resisting pivotal movement of the lower leg thereabout in a direction outwardly and upwardly relative to said frame, said engaging and resisting means including:
• at least one arm engageable with the lower leg of the user;
• and
• means for suspending said arm for pivotal movement about a first horizontal axis substantially parallel to the joint axis of the knee, said suspending means including means for adjusting the height of said first axis relative to said frame;
• whereby said first axis of said arm can be adjusted to substantially the height of the joint axis of the user's knee when the user is in either said sitting or said standing position.

Apparatus for connection to a pulley station of a weight resistance exercise machine to exercise primarily either the hamstring or quadricep muscle groups of a user, comprising:

• a frame mountable to a weight resistance exercise machine;
• means for locating at least one knee of a user relative to said frame, said locating means being mounted to said frame for rotation from a first condition for supporting the posterior portion of the associated thigh of the user in a sitting position to a second condition for bracing the anterior portion of the thigh in a standing position;
• and
• means for engaging the lower leg of the user below the knee during movement of the lower leg thereabout in a direction outwardly and upwardly relative to said frame, said engaging means including:
• at least one arm engageable with the lower leg of the user;
• and
• means for suspending said arm for pivotal movement about a first axis substantially parallel to the joint axis of the knee, said suspending means including means for adjusting the height of said first axis relative to said frame;
• said arm being operatively connectable to a pulley station of the exercise machine to resist said movement of the lower leg;
• whereby said movement of the lower leg can be resisted by said arm, and said first axis of said arm can be adjusted to substantially the height of the joint axis of the user's knee when the user is in either said sitting or said standing position.