Category:
Exercise and Fitness

Esophageal exercises to treat GERD

Several articles in medical journals have proposed the idea of using esophageal exercises to treat GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). But how exactly does one exercise the esophagus?

Here's one way, as described in the article "A Simple Exercise to Strengthen the Lower Esophageal Sphincter and Eliminate Gastroesophageal Reflux: An Autobiographical Case Report" by Eric Karrfalt:

Eventually, I devised the following regimen with the intent of providing the LES [lower esophageal sphincter] with some resistance training. The resistance was provided by positioning my head below my stomach in a kneeling posture. This required food being swallowed to be pushed up an incline. I began eating part of each breakfast (oatmeal) and sometimes lunch (a sandwich) in the exercise position. I would kneel on a platform (which happened to be 6 ½” high), take a normal mouthful, chew it as needed, and prepare to swallow. I would then lay my forearms and the backs of my hands on the floor, rest my head on my hands, and complete the swallowing process. With a little practice, I was soon able to initiate and complete the swallowing process with my head resting on my hands on the floor. I did not attempt to determine what the optimal height of the platform might be or if, indeed, any was necessary.

Similarly, the authors of "Bridge Swallowing Exercise for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Symptoms: A Pilot Study" report that "bridge swallowing" can improve GERD symptoms. They helpfully provide a picture of the bridge swallowing position.



I have no idea if these techniques would work. Thankfully I don't suffer from GERD so I can continue eating upright.

via hacker news

Posted By: Alex - Sat Jan 11, 2025 - Comments (0)
Category: Exercise and Fitness, Health, Stomach

Neck-Exercising Device

Patent No. 4,832,333



Posted By: Alex - Mon Sep 23, 2024 - Comments (0)
Category: Exercise and Fitness, Patents, 1980s

Electric Dumb Bell

Couldn't you achieve the same thing by just sticking your finger in a wall socket while exercising?

Full patent here.



Posted By: Paul - Sun Aug 18, 2024 - Comments (1)
Category: Exercise and Fitness, Patents, 1920s, Bodybuilding, Pain, Self-inflicted and Otherwise

Inflatable Dumbbells

Frewoini Kassa of Sausalito, California was recently granted a patent (No. 12,005,293) for inflatable dumbbells. In the patent description, Kassa makes the claim that, "Users can inflate the dumbbell devices to a desired weight for customized workouts."

In fact, Kassa makes this claim repeatedly. But how would that work?

A pound of dry air occupies about 13 cubic feet at sea level. So to add 5 pounds to a dumbbell you would need to compress 65 cubic feet of air into it.

By comparison, the air in a tire, compressed to 30 psi, doesn't even add up to a pound.

I'd like to see a working example of one of Kassa's inflatable dumbbells!







via Jeff Steck

Posted By: Alex - Wed Jun 19, 2024 - Comments (3)
Category: Exercise and Fitness, Patents

Flo Motion

Flo Motion was a brief-lived exercise fad in the early 1990s. The idea was to get in shape by swinging a bag of water around.

Seems like a bit of a gimmick, which I suppose is why the fad didn't last long.

Spokane Chronicle - Sep 25, 1991



Melbourne Age - Jun 16, 1991



Escondido Times-Advocate - Mar 8, 1991

Posted By: Alex - Tue Apr 09, 2024 - Comments (2)
Category: Exercise and Fitness, 1990s

Disco Body Shaper

Posted By: Paul - Tue Sep 05, 2023 - Comments (3)
Category: Exercise and Fitness, Advertising, 1970s

Body Exerciser

This looks like an excellent way to wreck your vertebrae.

Full patent here.

Posted By: Paul - Fri May 12, 2023 - Comments (0)
Category: Exercise and Fitness, Inventions, Patents, 1920s

How To Keep Your Husband Happy



Alas, you will listen in vain for anything risque.



Posted By: Paul - Sat Apr 22, 2023 - Comments (1)
Category: Exercise and Fitness, Innuendo, Double Entendres, Symbolism, Nudge-Nudge-Wink-Wink and Subliminal Messages, Television, Husbands, 1960s

Electro-Stimulation Bicycle

Inventors Young Sam Chun and Hyoung Tae Kim of Korea were recently granted Patent No. 11,458,310 for an "electro-stimulation type indoor bicycle." If I'm reading the patent correctly, it gives you an electric shock if you pedal too slow:

the electrical stimulation indoor bike can be characterized in that the control unit controls the electrical stimulation unit so as to generate stronger electrical stimulation than electrical stimulation corresponding to the speed profile, when a rotation speed of the pedal is slower than that of being defined in the speed profile.

Posted By: Alex - Fri Apr 07, 2023 - Comments (5)
Category: Exercise and Fitness, Patents

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Alex Boese
Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes.

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Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1.

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