Characterizing Fitness and Providing Fitness Feedback

• US 20070232450A1
• Filed: 04/20/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MYTRAK Health System, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MYTRAK Health System, Inc.
• Inventors: Hanoun, Reed
• Application Number:
  US11/737,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20070232450A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0658 for cycling with a group of people, e.g. spinning classes
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0009 Computerised real time comparison with previous movements or motion sequences of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0065 Evaluating the fitness, e.g. fitness level or fitness index
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0078 Exercise efforts programmed as a function of time
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00069 Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/008 using hydraulic or pneumatic force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0083 of the piston-cylinder type using pneumatic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0087
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/012 using frictional force-resisters electromagnetically-controlled brakes A63B21/0056
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/015 including rotating or oscillating elements rubbing against fixed elements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/06 User-manipulated weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4034 for operation by feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0056 the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis A63B22/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 : performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 : performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 : Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 : Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 : Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 : Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 : Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 : Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 : Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 : Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 : Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 : Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 : Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/10 : Multi-station exercising machines
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/105 : each station having its own resisting device, e.g. for training multiple users simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 : with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 : with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 : Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/04 : heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 : heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/065 : within a certain range
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 : calorie expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 : Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 : Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 : Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0084 : Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 : Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 : Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

The energy exerted by a person while exercising on an exercise machine that impacts one or more muscles and/or muscle groups of the musculoskeletal system of the person is determined. Characterizations of the fitness of the one or more muscles and/or muscle groups is determined based, at least in part, from the energy exerted.

Claims

1. A method of characterizing fitness, the method comprising:

determining energy exerted by a person while exercising on a first exercise machine, where the first exercise machine impacts one or more muscles and/or muscle groups of the musculoskeletal system of the person; and

determining characterizations of the fitness of the one or more muscles and/or muscle groups based, at least in part, from the energy exerted.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the characterizations of the fitness of the one or more muscles and/or muscle groups is based, at least in part, on a characterization of maximum energy that would be required to operate the first exercise machine at full capacity for a given period of time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the energy exerted by the person while exercising on the first exercise machine is proportional to a machine constant that takes into account inefficiencies or mechanical advantages inherent to the first exercise machine.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining energy exerted by the person while exercising on a second exercise machine, where the second exercise machine impacts one or more muscles and/or muscle groups of the musculoskeletal system of the person; and

updating the characterizations of the fitness of those one or more muscles and/or muscle groups impacted by the second exercise machine and by the first exercise machine based, at least in part, from the energy exerted by the person while exercising on the second exercise machine.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second exercise machine is of a different class than the first exercise machine.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a characterization of the fitness of the person as a whole based, at least in part, on the characterizations of the fitness of the one or more muscles and/or muscle groups.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the characterization of the fitness of the person as a whole is based, at least in part, on a characterization of a target fitness level.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the target fitness level is related to a rehabilitation goal.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the target fitness level is related to suitability to perform a particular task or job.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the characterization of the fitness of the person as a whole is based, at least in part, on information related to a nutritional intake of the person.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the characterization of the fitness of the person as a whole is based, at least in part, on heart rate information of the person.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing one or more of the characterizations of the fitness of the one or more muscles and/or muscle groups to one or more corresponding fitness targets for the one or more muscles and/or muscle groups.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

providing feedback to the person of how well the person is achieving one or more of the fitness targets.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

providing feedback to the person while the person is exercising on the first exercise machine of how well the person is achieving the fitness targets.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

adjusting one or more of the corresponding fitness targets based on the comparisons.

16. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

comparing one or more of the characterizations of the fitness of the one or more muscles and/or muscle groups to one or more corresponding fitness targets for the one or more muscles and/or muscle groups,

wherein the target fitness level is determined from the fitness targets for the various muscles and muscle groups.

17. The method of claim 1, where the characterizations of the fitness of the one or more muscles and/or muscle groups are values on a numerical scale.

18. The method of claim 2, where the characterizations of the fitness of the one or more muscles and/or muscle groups are values on a numerical scale and the characterization of the maximum energy is a value on the numerical scale.

19. The method of claim 6, where the characterizations of the fitness of the one or more muscles and/or muscle groups are values on a numerical scale and the characterization of the fitness of the person as a whole is a value on the numerical scale.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein determining the characterization of the fitness of the person as a whole is based, at least in part, on a characterization of a target fitness level that is a value on the numerical scale.

21. A method for providing fitness feedback for a person who has exercised on one or more exercise machines, the method comprising:

providing the feedback on a per-muscle group basis.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein providing the feedback on a per-muscle group basis comprises:

displaying muscle group indicators on an image of a human body, where the muscle group indicators indicate relative levels of fitness of the various muscle groups in the person'"'"'s body.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the indicator of a particular muscle group indicates a fitness level of the particular muscle group of the person relative to a target fitness level for the particular muscle group.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the indicator of a particular muscle group indicates a fitness level of the particular muscle group of the person relative to an opposing muscle group.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the indicator of a particular muscle group indicates a fitness level of the particular muscle group of the person relative to other muscle groups.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the muscle group indicators collectively indicate where deficiencies and muscle imbalances are occurring in the person'"'"'s body.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

consolidating information related to a muscle group of the person'"'"'s body from information related to different ones of the exercise machines that affect the muscle group.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein providing feedback on a per-muscle group basis comprises:

displaying separate visual indications for the different muscle groups, each visual indication indicating the proportion corresponding to that muscle group of the energy expended by the person while exercising on the one or more exercise machines on a certain date.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the visual indications are portions of a pie chart.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein providing feedback on a per-muscle group basis comprises:

displaying for a muscle group a visual indication of energy expended by the muscle group while the person exercised on the one or more exercise machines on a certain date.

31. A method for providing fitness feedback for a person who has exercised on two or more exercise machines in a single workout, the method comprising:

determining a workout result number on a scale from measured performance of the person during the workout on each of the exercise machines;

determining a target number on the scale from target performance for the person for the workout for each of the exercise machines;

displaying visual indications of the workout result number and the target number to enable a comparison thereof; and

displaying on a per-exercise machine basis visual indications of the measured performance and the target performance to enable a comparison thereof.

32. A computerized exercise system, the system comprising:

a first exercise machine module arranged to determine energy exerted by a person while exercising on a first exercise machine, where the first exercise machine impacts one or more muscles and/or muscle groups of the musculoskeletal system of the person; and

a computer arranged to determine characterizations of the fitness of the one or more muscles and/or muscle groups based, at least in part, from the energy exerted.

33. The system of claim 32, further comprising:

a second exercise machine module arranged to determine energy exerted by the person while exercising on a second exercise machine, where the second exercise machine impacts one or more muscles and/or muscle groups of the musculoskeletal system of the person,

wherein the computer is further arranged to update the characterizations of the fitness of those one or more muscles and/or muscle groups impacted by the second exercise machine and by the first exercise machine based, at least in part, from the energy exerted by the person while exercising on the second exercise machine.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the computer is further arranged to determine a characterization of the fitness of the person as a whole based, at least in part, on the characterizations of the fitness of the one or more muscles and/or muscle groups.

35. The system of claim 32, further comprising:

a measured user performance module arranged to perform comparisons of one or more of the characterizations of the fitness of the one or more muscles and/or muscle groups to one or more corresponding fitness targets for the one or more muscles and/or muscle groups.

36. The system of claim 35, further comprising:

a reports module arranged to provide feedback to the person of how well the person is achieving one or more of the fitness targets.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein the first exercise machine module comprises a feedback module arranged to provide feedback to the person while the person is exercising on the first exercise machine of how well the person is achieving the fitness targets.

38. The system of claim 35, further comprising:

an automatic goal update module coupled to the measured user performance module and arranged to adjust one or more of the corresponding fitness targets based on the comparisons.