Method for monitoring accumulated body fatigue for determining recovery during exercise or activity

• US 20060032315A1
• Filed: 08/18/2003
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Firstbeat Analytics OY (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Firstbeat Technologies Oy
• Inventors: Kettunen, Joni, Pulkkinen, Aki, Rusko, Heikki, Saalastic, Sami
• Granted Patent: US 7,192,401 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/808
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/04 heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/207 P-O2, i.e. partial O2 value

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for determining accumulated body fatigue index (BFI), wherein one or more parameters from the measurement of one or more signals are obtained sequentially as input and these parameters are information on the intensity of physical activity. BFI has a predetermined initial value, and next BFI value is always a sum of BFI-value and a difference. The difference is combination of upslope and optional downslope components of BFI determined with the said parameters and the upslope component and the optional downslope component are each determined with a function, which is scaled by a preset physiological character.

Claims

1. Method for providing an index (BFI) depicting accumulated body fatigue (BFI) wherein one or more parameters from the measurement of one or more signals are obtained sequentially as input and these parameters being information on the intensity of physical activity, characterized in that

the index (BFI) has a predetermined initial value, and

next value of the index (BFI) value is always a sum of the value of the index (BFI) and a difference, and

the difference is combination of upslope and optional downslope components of the index (BFI) determined with the said parameters,

the upslope component and the optional downslope component are each determined with a function, which is scaled by a preset physiological character.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the function is independent from the duration of the physical activity.

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the preset physiological character relates to an accumulated value, which is a function of quantity of body requirements for recovery after exercise and physical activity.

4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the preset physiological character relates to an accumulated value, which is a function of a training effect.

5. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the downslope component of the index (BFI) estimates recovery and decrease in the index (BFI) with decreasing physical activity.

6. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it is determined a prediction of the time interval after which the user engaged in physical activity is expected to attain a preset limit due to accumulation of body fatigue that is induced by continuing physical activity in the chosen intensity.

7. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it is determined by the prediction of the time interval requirements for recovery after the physical activity.

8. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that information on the increased heart beat level during recovery is determined.

9. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the wherein information on the level and recovery of oxygen consumption is used to enhance the accuracy of oxygen consumption or energy consumption estimation during recovery from the physical activity.

10. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that information on the level of the index (BFI) is used in the estimation of oxygen consumption or energy consumption level in addition to other method.

11. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the predicted downslope component of heart rate or heart rate variability is used as a reference value to determine information on the process of recovering from physical activity.

12. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method is used in a wearable computer.

13. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method is used in a fitness exercise equipment.

14. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method is used in a PC-software.

15. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method is used in ECG/pulse-monitoring equipment.

16. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the BFI is indexed as a function of exercise time and exercise intensity.

17. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that an intermediate measure reflecting accumulative physical activity is used in the calculation instead of the index (BFI), which measure is then transferred to value of the index (BFI).