Strength training apparatus with flywheel and related methods

A strength training apparatus comprising:

• a base member;
• a tower structure coupled with the base member;
• a pair of arms pivotally coupled with the tower structure;
• a flywheel configured to rotate about a defined axis;
• a cable and pulley system including a first pulley coupled with a first arm of the pair of arms with a first cable extending through the first pulley and a second pulley coupled with the second arm with a second cable extending through the second pulley, wherein displacement of at least one cable of first cable and the second cable effects rotation of the flywheel;
• a magnetic braking mechanism associated with the flywheel and configured to apply a selected resistance to the rotation of the flywheel;
• a torque sensor associated with the flywheel;
• a console in communication with the braking mechanism and the torques sensor, the console including at least one input for selecting the amount of resistance applied to the flywheel by the braking mechanism and at least one output device providing an indication of the amount of work expended by a user upon rotation of the flywheel, the amount of work being displayed in units of watts;
• and
• a drive mechanism associated with the flywheel including a clutch mechanism coupled with the flywheel by way of a drive belt.

A method of conducting strength training, the method comprising:

• providing a strength training apparatus, wherein the strength training apparatus includes a base member, a tower structure coupled with the base member, a pair of arms pivotally coupled with the tower structure, a flywheel, and a cable and pulley system including a first pulley coupled with a first arm of the pair of arms with a first cable extending through the first pulley and a second pulley coupled with the second arm with a second cable extending through the second pulley, wherein displacement of at least one cable of the cable and pulley system effects rotation of the flywheel;
• applying a force to the cable and displacing the cable in a first direction;
• effecting rotation of the flywheel upon displacement of the cable;
• applying a resistance to the flywheel;
• measuring the torque applied to the flywheel;
• and
• calculating the work performed, in watts, based at least in part on the measured torque.