Product development of a resistive athletic suit

A preliminary prototype of a new athletic apparel product uses resistive straps, integrated within a suit, to provide muscular resistance. This developing fitness product allows users to exercise both their upper and lower bodies through either a regimented workout or just with daily movements. An athletic workout suit that can provide a full body workout by using elastic straps that resist bodily movements was developed, redesigned, and tested. This project had three components: A resistive band was selected after various material tests, the interaction between strap placements and muscle movement was clarified, and finally a solution to anchoring the bands to the suit in a user-friendly method while allowing the resistance to be adjusted was designed. This product now has the potential to increase the efficiency at which people exercise, provide alternatives to existing workouts, and encourage healthy lifestyle.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2008

Author dc:creator

• Desrochers, Christopher

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Kim Blair.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/43008

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/43008