MUSCLE TRAINING APPRATUS AND METHOD

• US 20090018795A1
• Filed: 09/25/2008
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William B. Priester
• Original Assignee: William B. Priester
• Inventors: May, Richard E., Ward, David A., Dawson, C. Bryan, Priester, William B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,398,501 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/151
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0608 Eccentric weights put into orbital motion by nutating movement of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2214/00 Training methods
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3608 Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3614 using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3623 for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3632 Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00

Abstract

The invention is directed to a muscle trainer and methods for exercising a weaker of two sets of opposing muscles of a person moving an implement, such as a golf club, wherein, if the two sets of opposing muscles were of appropriate strength, the two sets of opposing muscles would desirably apply forces in opposite directions to the implement to assist in maintaining an ideal movement of the implement. In various embodiments, the invention provides methods for training the opposing sets of muscles to consistently move the implement in an ideal way to accomplish a useful or recreational function. The methods include: (a) moving the muscle trainer through an actual motion; (b) determining a difference between the actual motion and an ideal motion, where the difference indicates a dominating force direction in which the muscle trainer is being urged by the stronger or dominating set of muscles; (c) applying an external force to the muscle trainer to urge the muscle trainer in the dominating force direction; and (d) using the weaker or non-dominating set of muscles to urge the muscle trainer against the external force to thereby exercise the non-dominating set of muscles.

Claims

1. A method of exercising at least a non-dominating implement shaft plane muscle of two opposing implement shaft plane muscles typically used by a person when attempting to move an implement in an ideal implement shaft plane during performance of a useful or recreational function, where the non-dominating implement shaft plane muscle applies a non-dominating implement shaft plane force to the implement in a non-dominating implement shaft plane force direction, and a dominating implement shaft plane muscle of the two opposing implement shaft plane muscles applies a dominating implement shaft plane force to the implement in a dominating implement shaft plane force direction, where the dominating implement shaft plane force direction is substantially opposite the non-dominating implement shaft plane force direction, and the dominating implement shaft plane force exceeds the non-dominating implement shaft plane force, wherein if the two opposing implement shaft plane muscles were of appropriate strength, the two opposing implement shaft plane muscles would desirably apply opposing forces to the implement at appropriate levels to maintain the implement in the ideal implement shaft plane as the implement is moved by the person, the method for training the opposing implement shaft plane muscles to consistently maintain the implement in or near the ideal implement shaft plane during the movement, the method comprising:

(a) moving a muscle trainer in an implement shaft plane by application of implement shaft plane forces exerted by the two opposing implement shaft plane muscles;

(b) determining a difference between the implement shaft plane and the ideal implement shaft plane, where the difference indicates the dominating implement shaft plane force direction;

(c) applying an external force to the muscle trainer during a movement of the muscle trainer to urge the muscle trainer in the dominating implement shaft plane force direction; and

(d) using the non-dominating implement shaft plane muscle during the movement to urge the muscle trainer against the external force to thereby exercise the non-dominating implement shaft plane muscle.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the external force applied in step (c) has a magnitude which is proportional to the difference determined in step (b).

3. The method of claim 1 wherein steps (b) and (c) are performed substantially simultaneously.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the implement is a golf club, the person is a golfer, and the muscle trainer has a shape and a weight distribution configured to simulate the shape and weight distribution of a golf club.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the muscle trainer has a shape and a weight distribution configured to simulate the shape and weight distribution of an implement selected from the group consisting of golf clubs, baseball bats, softball bats, tennis rackets, racket ball rackets, mauls, axes and hammers.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) includes determining a plurality of positions of the muscle trainer during the movement of the muscle trainer.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the plurality of positions of the muscle trainer during the movement are determined based on signals generated by one or more sensors mounted on the muscle trainer.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the external force of step (c) is generated by one or more force generators attached to the muscle trainer.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1 further for exercising at least a non-dominating rotational muscle of two opposing rotational muscles typically used by the person when attempting to rotate the implement through an ideal rotation while moving the implement in the implement shaft plane during performance of a useful or recreational function, where the non-dominating rotational muscle applies a non-dominating rotational force to the implement in a non-dominating rotational force direction, and a dominating rotational muscle of the two opposing rotational muscles applies a dominating rotational force to the implement in a dominating rotational force direction, where the dominating rotational force direction is substantially opposite the non-dominating rotational force direction, and the dominating rotational force exceeds the non-dominating rotational force, wherein if the two opposing rotational muscles were of appropriate strength, the two opposing rotational muscles would desirably apply appropriate rotational forces to the implement in substantially opposite directions to execute the ideal rotation of the implement as the implement is moved by the person, the method for training the opposing rotational muscles to consistently execute the ideal rotation of the implement during the movement of the implement in the implement shaft plane, the method further comprising:

(e) while performing step (a), rotating the muscle trainer through a rotation angle by application of rotational forces exerted by the two opposing rotational muscles;

(f) determining a difference between the rotation angle and an ideal rotation angle, where the difference indicates the dominating rotational force direction;

(g) applying an external force to the muscle trainer during a movement of the muscle trainer to urge the muscle trainer in the dominating rotational force direction; and

(h) using the non-dominating rotational muscle during the movement to urge the muscle trainer against the external force to thereby exercise the non-dominating rotational muscle.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the external force applied in step (g) has a magnitude which is proportional to the difference determined in step (f).

11. The method of claim 9 wherein steps (b), (c), (f) and (g) are performed substantially simultaneously.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein steps (b) and (f) include determining a plurality of positions of the muscle trainer during the movement of the muscle trainer.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the plurality of positions of the muscle trainer during the movement are determined based on signals generated by one or more sensors mounted on the muscle trainer.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the external forces of steps (c) and (g) are generated by one or more force generators attached to the muscle trainer.

15. The method set forth as in claim 1 further for exercising at least a non-dominating hinge muscle of two opposing hinge muscles typically used by the person when attempting to perform an ideal hinging movement of the implement in a hinge plane while moving the implement in the implement shaft plane during performance of a useful or recreational function, where the non-dominating hinge muscle applies a non-dominating hinge force to the implement in a non-dominating hinge force direction, and a dominating hinge muscle of the two opposing hinge muscles applies a dominating hinge force to the implement in a dominating hinge force direction, where the dominating hinge force direction is substantially opposite the non-dominating hinge force direction, and the dominating hinge force exceeds the non-dominating hinge force, wherein if the two opposing hinge muscles were of appropriate strength, the two opposing hinge muscles would desirably apply appropriate forces to the implement in substantially opposite directions to execute an ideal hinging movement of the implement as the implement is moved by the person, the method for training the opposing hinge muscles to consistently perform the ideal hinging movement of the implement during the movement of the implement in the implement shaft plane, the method further comprising:

(e) while performing step (a), performing a hinging movement of the muscle trainer through a hinge angle in the hinge plane by application of hinge forces exerted by the two opposing hinge muscles;

(f) determining a difference between the hinge angle and an ideal hinge angle, where the difference indicates the dominating hinge force direction;

(g) applying an external force to the muscle trainer during a movement of the muscle trainer to urge the muscle trainer in the dominating hinge force direction; and

(h) using the non-dominating hinge muscle during the movement to urge the muscle trainer against the external force to thereby exercise the non-dominating hinge muscle.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the external force applied in step (g) has a magnitude which is proportional to the difference determined in step (f).

17. The method of claim 15 wherein steps (b), (c), (f) and (g) are performed substantially simultaneously.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein steps (b) and (f) include determining a plurality of positions of the muscle trainer during the movement of the muscle trainer.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the plurality of positions of the muscle trainer during the movement are determined based on signals generated by one or more sensors mounted on the muscle trainer.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the external forces of steps (c) and (g) are generated by one or more force generators attached to the muscle trainer.

21. A method of exercising at least a non-dominating rotational muscle of two opposing rotational muscles typically used by a person when attempting to rotate an implement through an ideal rotation while moving the implement during performance of a useful or recreational function, where the non-dominating rotational muscle applies a non-dominating rotational force to the implement in a non-dominating force direction, and a dominating rotational muscle of the two opposing rotational muscles applies a dominating rotational force to the implement in a dominating rotational force direction, where the dominating rotational force direction is substantially opposite the non-dominating rotational force direction, and the dominating rotational force exceeds the non-dominating rotational force, wherein if the two opposing rotational muscles were of appropriate strength, the two opposing rotational muscles would desirably apply appropriate rotational forces to the implement in substantially opposite directions to execute ideal rotation of the implement as the implement is moved by the person, the method for training the opposing rotational muscles to consistently execute ideal rotation of the implement during the movement, the method comprising:

(a) moving a muscle trainer while rotating the muscle trainer through a rotation angle by application of rotational forces exerted by the two opposing rotational muscles;

(b) determining a difference between the rotation angle and an ideal rotation angle, where the difference indicates the dominating rotational force direction;

(c) applying an external force to the muscle trainer during a movement to further urge the muscle trainer in the dominating rotational force direction; and

(d) using the non-dominating rotational muscle during the movement to urge the muscle trainer against the external force to thereby exercise the non-dominating rotational muscle.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the external force applied in step (c) has a magnitude which is proportional to the difference determined in step (b).

23. The method of claim 21 wherein steps (b) and (c) are performed substantially simultaneously.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the implement is a golf club, the person is a golfer, and the muscle trainer has a shape and a weight distribution configured to simulate the shape and weight distribution of a golf club.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein the muscle trainer has a shape and a weight distribution configured to simulate the shape and weight distribution of an implement selected from the group consisting of golf clubs, baseball bats, softball bats, tennis rackets, racket ball rackets, mauls, axes and hammers.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein step (b) includes determining a plurality of positions of the muscle trainer during the movement of the muscle trainer.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the plurality of positions of the muscle trainer during the movement are determined based on signals generated by one or more sensors mounted on the muscle trainer.

28. The method of claim 21 wherein the external force of step (c) is generated by one or more force generators attached to the muscle trainer.

29. The method set forth as in claim 21 further for exercising at least a non-dominating hinge muscle of two opposing hinge muscles typically used by the person when attempting to perform an ideal hinging movement of the implement in a hinge plane while rotating the implement through a rotation angle during performance of a useful or recreational function, where the non-dominating hinge muscle applies a non-dominating hinge force to the implement in a non-dominating hinge force direction, and a dominating hinge muscle of the two opposing hinge muscles applies a dominating hinge force to the implement in a dominating hinge force direction, where the dominating hinge force direction is substantially opposite the non-dominating hinge force direction, and the dominating hinge force exceeds the non-dominating hinge force, wherein if the two opposing hinge muscles were of appropriate strength, the two opposing hinge muscles would desirably apply appropriate forces to the implement in substantially opposite directions to execute an ideal hinging movement of the implement as the implement is rotated by the person, the method for training the opposing hinge muscles to consistently execute the ideal hinging movement of the implement during the rotational movement, the method further comprising:

(e) while performing step (a), performing a hinging movement of the muscle trainer through a hinge angle in the hinge plane by application of hinge forces exerted by the two opposing hinge muscles;

(f) determining a difference between the hinge angle and an ideal hinge angle, where the difference indicates the dominating hinge force direction;

(g) applying an external force to the muscle trainer during a hinging movement to urge the muscle trainer in the dominating hinge force direction; and

(h) using the non-dominating hinge muscle during the hinging movement to urge the muscle trainer against the external force to thereby exercise the non-dominating hinge muscle.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the external force applied in step (g) has a magnitude which is proportional to the difference determined in step (f).

31. The method of claim 29 wherein steps (b), (c), (f) and (g) are performed substantially simultaneously.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein steps (b) and (f) include determining a plurality of positions of the muscle trainer during the movement of the muscle trainer.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the plurality of positions of the muscle trainer during the movement are determined based on signals generated by one or more sensors mounted on the muscle trainer.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein the external forces of steps (c) and (g) are generated by one or more force generators attached to the muscle trainer.

35. A method for exercising at least a non-dominating hinge muscle of two opposing hinge muscles typically used by a person when attempting to perform an ideal hinging movement of an implement in a hinge plane while moving the implement during performance of a useful or recreational function, where the non-dominating hinge muscle applies a non-dominating hinge force to the implement in a non-dominating hinge force direction, and a dominating hinge muscle of the two opposing hinge muscles applies a dominating hinge force to the implement, where the dominating hinge force direction is substantially opposite the non-dominating hinge force direction, and the dominating hinge force exceeds the non-dominating hinge force, wherein if the two opposing hinge muscles were of appropriate strength, the two opposing hinge muscles would desirably apply appropriate forces to the implement in substantially opposite directions to execute the ideal hinging movement of the implement as the implement is moved by the person, the method for training the opposing hinge muscles to consistently execute the ideal hinging movement of the implement during the movement, the method comprising:

(a) moving a muscle trainer while performing a hinging movement of the muscle trainer through a hinge angle in the hinge plane by application of the hinge forces exerted by the two opposing hinge muscles;

(b) determining a difference between the hinge angle and an ideal hinge angle, the difference indicating the dominating hinge force direction;

(c) applying an external force to the muscle trainer during a movement to urge the muscle trainer in the dominating hinge force direction; and

(d) using the non-dominating hinge muscle during the movement to urge the muscle trainer against the external force to thereby exercise the non-dominating hinge muscle.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the external force applied in step (c) has a magnitude which is proportional to the difference determined in step (b).

37. The method of claim 35 wherein steps (b) and (c) are performed substantially simultaneously.

38. The method of claim 35 wherein the implement is a golf club, the person is a golfer, and the muscle trainer has a shape and a weight distribution configured to simulate the shape and weight distribution of a golf club.

39. The method of claim 35 wherein the muscle trainer has a shape and a weight distribution configured to simulate the shape and weight distribution of an implement selected from the group consisting of golf clubs, baseball bats, softball bats, tennis rackets, racket ball rackets, mauls, axes and hammers.

40. The method of claim 35 wherein step (b) includes determining a plurality of positions of the muscle trainer during the movement of the muscle trainer.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the plurality of positions of the muscle trainer during the movement are determined based on signals generated by one or more sensors mounted on the muscle trainer.

42. The method of claim 35 wherein the external force of step (c) is generated by one or more force generators attached to the muscle trainer.

43. A method of exercising at least a non-dominating muscle of two opposing muscles typically used by a person when attempting to perform an ideal movement of an implement during performance of a useful or recreational function, where the non-dominating muscle applies a non-dominating force to the implement in a non-dominating force direction, and a dominating muscle of the two opposing muscles applies a dominating force to the implement in a dominating force direction, where the dominating force direction is substantially opposite the non-dominating force direction, and the dominating force exceeds the non-dominating force, wherein if the two opposing muscles were of appropriate strength, the two opposing muscles would desirably apply opposing forces to the implement at appropriate levels to perform the ideal movement, the method thereby training the opposing muscles to consistently perform the ideal movement, the method comprising:

(a) determining the ideal movement of the implement for the person;

(b) performing a movement of the implement by application of forces exerted by the two opposing muscles of the person;

(c) at a plurality of points during the movement of step (b), determining a difference between the movement of step (b) and the ideal movement determined in step (a), where the difference at each point indicates the dominating force direction at that point;

(d) performing a movement of the implement by application of forces exerted by the two opposing muscles of the person while applying one or more external forces to the implement to urge the implement in the dominating force direction; and

(e) using the non-dominating muscle during the movement of step (d) to urge the implement against the one or more external forces to thereby exercise the non-dominating muscle.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the movement of step (b) and the movement of step (d) are the same movement.

45. The method of claim 43 wherein the one or more external forces applied in step (d) have a magnitude which is proportional to the difference determined in step (c).

46. The method of claim 43 wherein steps (c) and (d) are performed substantially simultaneously.

47. A muscle trainer for exercising at least a non-dominating muscle of two opposing muscles typically used by a person when attempting to move an implement in an ideal movement path during performance of a useful or recreational function, where the non-dominating muscle applies a non-dominating force to the implement in a non-dominating force direction, and a dominating muscle of the two opposing muscles applies a dominating force to the implement in a dominating force direction, where the dominating force direction is substantially opposite the non-dominating force direction, and the dominating force exceeds the non-dominating force, wherein if the two opposing muscles were of appropriate strength, the two opposing muscles would desirably apply opposing forces to the implement at appropriate levels to maintain the implement in the ideal movement path as the implement is moved by the person, the muscle trainer for training the opposing muscles to consistently maintain the implement in or near the ideal movement path during the movement, the muscle trainer comprising:

a muscle trainer body that may be gripped and moved by the person through a movement path;

one or more sensors mounted on the muscle trainer body for generating signals indicative of a plurality of positions of the muscle trainer during a movement;

a processor for calculating, based on the signals generated by the one or more sensors, a difference between the movement path and the ideal movement path, where the difference indicates the dominating force direction, the processor further for generating error signals indicative of the difference between the movement path and the ideal movement path;

a controller for receiving the error signals generated by the processor and for controlling at least one force generator based on the error signals; and

the at least one force generator for applying at least one external force to the muscle trainer under control of the controller, the at least one external force for further urging the muscle trainer in the dominating force direction,

whereby the person can urge the muscle trainer against the at least one external force to exercise the non-dominating muscle.

48. The muscle trainer of claim 47 wherein at any given one of the plurality of positions, the magnitude of the at least one external force is proportional to the magnitude of the difference between the movement path and the ideal movement path.

49. The muscle trainer of claim 47 wherein the at least one force generator is attached to the muscle trainer body.

50. A muscle trainer for exercising at least a non-dominating implement shaft plane muscle of two opposing implement shaft plane muscles typically used by a person when attempting to move an implement in an ideal implement shaft plane during performance of a useful or recreational function, where the non-dominating implement shaft plane muscle applies a non-dominating implement shaft plane force to the implement in a non-dominating implement shaft plane force direction, and a dominating implement shaft plane muscle of the two opposing implement shaft plane muscles applies a dominating implement shaft plane force to the implement in a dominating implement shaft plane force direction, where the dominating implement shaft plane force direction is substantially opposite the non-dominating implement shaft plane force direction, and the dominating implement shaft plane force exceeds the non-dominating implement shaft plane force, wherein if the two opposing implement shaft plane muscles were of appropriate strength, the two opposing implement shaft plane muscles would desirably apply opposing forces to the implement at appropriate levels to maintain the implement in the ideal implement shaft plane as the implement is moved by the person, the muscle trainer for training the opposing implement shaft plane muscles to consistently maintain the implement in or near the ideal implement shaft plane during the movement, the muscle trainer comprising:

a muscle trainer body that may be gripped and moved by the person through an implement shaft plane;

one or more sensors mounted on the muscle trainer body for generating signals indicative of a plurality of positions of the muscle trainer during a movement;

a processor for calculating, based on the signals generated by the one or more sensors, a difference between the implement shaft plane and the ideal implement shaft plane, where the difference indicates the dominating implement shaft plane force direction, the processor further for generating error signals indicative of the difference between the implement shaft plane and the ideal implement shaft plane;

a controller for receiving the error signals generated by the processor and for controlling at least one force generator based on the error signals; and

the at least one force generator for applying at least one external force to the muscle trainer under control of the controller, the at least one external force for further urging the muscle trainer in the dominating implement shaft plane force direction,

whereby the person can urge the muscle trainer against the at least one external force to exercise the non-dominating implement shaft plane muscle.

51. The muscle trainer of claim 50 wherein at any given one of the plurality of positions, the magnitude of the at least one external force is proportional to the magnitude of the difference between the implement shaft plane and the ideal implement shaft plane.

52. The muscle trainer of claim 50 wherein the at least one force generator is attached to the muscle trainer body.

53. A muscle trainer for exercising at least a non-dominating rotational muscle of two opposing rotational muscles typically used by the person when attempting to rotate an implement through an ideal rotation while moving the implement during performance of a useful or recreational function, where the non-dominating rotational muscle applies a non-dominating rotational force to the implement in a non-dominating rotational force direction, and a dominating rotational muscle of the two opposing rotational muscles applies a dominating rotational force to the implement in a dominating rotational force direction, where the dominating rotational force direction is substantially opposite the non-dominating rotational force direction, and the dominating rotational force exceeds the non-dominating rotational force, wherein if the two opposing rotational muscles were of appropriate strength, the two opposing rotational muscles would desirably apply appropriate rotational forces to the implement in substantially opposite directions to execute the ideal rotation of the implement as the implement is moved by the person, the muscle trainer for training the opposing rotational muscles to consistently execute the ideal rotation of the implement during the movement, the muscle trainer comprising:

a muscle trainer body that may be gripped and moved by the person while executing a rotation of the muscle trainer body through a rotation angle;

one or more sensors mounted on the muscle trainer body for generating signals indicative of a plurality of positions of the muscle trainer during a movement;

a processor for calculating, based on the signals generated by the one or more sensors, a difference between the rotation angle and the ideal rotation angle, where the difference indicates the dominating rotational force direction, the processor further for generating error signals indicative of the difference between the rotation angle and the ideal rotation angle;

a controller for receiving the error signals generated by the processor and for controlling at least one force generator based on the error signals; and

the at least one force generator for applying at least one external force to the muscle trainer under control of the controller, the at least one external force for further urging rotation of the muscle trainer in the dominating rotational force direction,

whereby the person can urge the muscle trainer against the at least one external force to exercise the non-dominating rotational muscle.

54. The muscle trainer of claim 53 wherein at any given one of the plurality of positions, the magnitude of the at least one external force is proportional to the magnitude of the difference between the rotation angle and the ideal rotation angle.

55. The muscle trainer of claim 53 wherein the at least one force generator is attached to the muscle trainer body.

56. A muscle trainer for exercising at least a non-dominating hinge muscle of two opposing hinge muscles typically used by a person when attempting to perform a hinging movement of an implement in a hinge plane while moving the implement during performance of a useful or recreational function, where the non-dominating hinge muscle applies a non-dominating hinge force to the implement in a non-dominating hinge force direction, and a dominating hinge muscle of the two opposing hinge muscles applies a dominating hinge force to the implement in a dominating hinge force direction, where the dominating hinge force direction is substantially opposite the non-dominating hinge force direction, and the dominating hinge force exceeds the non-dominating hinge force, wherein if the two opposing hinge muscles were of appropriate strength, the two opposing hinge muscles would desirably apply appropriate forces to the implement in substantially opposite directions to execute an ideal hinging movement of the implement as the implement is moved by the person, the muscle trainer for training the opposing hinge muscles to consistently execute the ideal hinging movement of the implement during the movement, the muscle trainer comprising:

a muscle trainer body that may be gripped and moved by the person while executing an hinging movement of the muscle trainer through a hinge angle;

one or more sensors mounted on the muscle trainer body for generating signals indicative of a plurality of positions of the muscle trainer during a movement;

a processor for calculating, based on the signals generated by the one or more sensors, a difference between the hinge angle and an ideal hinge angle, where the difference indicates the dominating hinge force direction, the processor further for generating error signals indicative of the difference between the hinge angle and the ideal hinge angle;

a controller for receiving the error signals generated by the processor and for controlling at least one force generator based on the error signals; and

the at least one force generator for applying at least one external force to the muscle trainer under control of the controller, the at least one external force for further urging movement of the muscle trainer in the dominating hinge force direction,

whereby the person can move the muscle trainer against the at least one external force to exercise the non-dominating hinge muscle.

57. The muscle trainer of claim 56 wherein at any given one of the plurality of positions, the magnitude of the at least one external force is proportional to the magnitude of the difference between the hinge angle and the ideal hinge angle.

58. The muscle trainer of claim 56 wherein the at least one force generator is attached to the muscle trainer body.

59. A muscle training apparatus for determining characteristics of a swing of an implement by a person, the muscle training apparatus comprising:

a shaft having a proximal end near which the person grips the shaft during a swing of the shaft, and a distal end opposite the proximal end;

a first sensor disposed adjacent the proximal end of the shaft for generating a first sensor signal indicative of a plurality of positions and directions of travel of the proximal end of the shaft during the swing;

a second sensor disposed adjacent the distal end of the shaft for generating a second sensor signal indicative of a plurality of positions and directions of travel of the distal end of the shaft during the swing,

where locations and directions of travel of the first sensor and the second sensor at any particular point in the swing define an individual average shaft velocity vector substantially coinciding with the direction of travel of the shaft, and an individual shaft displacement vector disposed along a line intersecting the first and second sensors at the particular point; and

a processor for calculating a plurality of individual average shaft velocity vectors, a plurality of individual shaft displacement vectors, a plurality of individual normal vectors, and a plurality of corresponding individual shaft planes based on the first and second sensor signals, wherein at any particular point in the swing an individual shaft plane substantially coincides with a corresponding individual average shaft velocity vector and an individual shaft displacement vector at the particular point and is perpendicular to an individual normal vector at the particular point.

60. The muscle training apparatus of claim 59 further comprising:

a club head attached to the distal end of the shaft, the club head having a heel end disposed adjacent the distal end of the shaft and a toe end opposite the heel end, where the toe end is spaced apart from the distal end of the shaft;

a third sensor disposed adjacent a lowest extent of the toe end of the club head for generating a third sensor signal indicative of a plurality of positions of the toe end of the club head during the swing,

where locations of the first sensor, second sensor and third sensor at any particular point in the swing define a club face plane at the particular point; and

the processor for calculating the club face plane based on the first, second and third sensor signals.

61. The muscle training apparatus of claim 60 further comprising the processor for calculating a rotation angle between the club face plane and the corresponding club shaft plane at one or more positions during the swing.

62. The muscle training apparatus of claim 59 further comprising:

a fourth sensor operable to be attached adjacent an elbow end of a forearm of the person swinging the shaft, the fourth sensor for generating a fourth sensor signal indicative of a plurality of positions and directions of travel of the elbow end of the forearm during the swing;

a fifth sensor operable to be attached adjacent a wrist end of the forearm of the person swinging the shaft, the fifth sensor for generating a fifth sensor signal indicative of a plurality of positions and directions of travel of the wrist end of the forearm during the swing;

where locations and directions of travel of the fourth sensor and fifth sensor at any particular point in the swing define an individual average forearm velocity vector substantially coinciding with the direction of travel of the forearm of the person, and an individual forearm displacement vector substantially disposed along a line intersecting the fourth and fifth sensors at the particular point; and

the processor for calculating a plurality of individual average forearm velocity vectors, a plurality of individual forearm displacement vectors, a plurality of individual normal vectors, and a plurality of corresponding individual forearm planes based on the fourth and fifth sensor signals, wherein at any particular point in the swing an individual forearm plane substantially coincides with a corresponding individual average forearm velocity vector and an individual forearm displacement vector at the particular point and is perpendicular to an individual normal vector at the particular point.

63. The muscle training apparatus of claim 62 further comprising the processor for calculating a hinge angle between the individual forearm displacement vector and the corresponding individual shaft displacement vector at one or more positions during the swing.

64. The muscle training apparatus of claim 59 wherein the processor is further for calculating a composite shaft plane based on the plurality of individual shaft planes.

65. The muscle training apparatus of claim 59 further comprising the processor for determining whether a difference between the individual shaft plane and an ideal individual shaft plane exceeds a shaft plane tolerance at one or more positions during the swing, and for generating an error signal when the difference exceeds the shaft plane tolerance.

66. The muscle training apparatus of claim 61 further comprising the processor for determining whether a difference between the rotation angle and an ideal rotation angle exceeds a rotation angle tolerance at one or more positions during the swing, and for generating an error signal when the difference exceeds the rotation angle tolerance.

67. The muscle training apparatus of claim 63 further comprising the processor for determining whether a difference between the hinge angle and an ideal hinge angle exceeds a hinge angle tolerance at one or more positions during the swing, and for generating an error signal when the difference exceeds the hinge angle tolerance.

68. The muscle training apparatus of claim 65 further comprising one or more force generators attached to the shaft for generating a training force based on the error signal to urge the shaft in a direction which would increase the difference if the training force is not opposed by muscle force exerted by the person.

69. The muscle training apparatus of claim 66 further comprising one or more force generators attached to the shaft for generating a training force based on the error signal to urge the shaft in a direction which would increase the difference if the training force is not opposed by muscle force exerted by the person.

70. The muscle training apparatus of claim 67 further comprising one or more force generators attached to the shaft for generating a training force based on the error signal to urge the shaft in a direction which would increase the difference if the training force is not opposed by muscle force exerted by the person.

71. A muscle training apparatus for determining characteristics of a swing of an implement by a person and for training muscles of the person to improve execution of the swing, the muscle training apparatus comprising:

a shaft having a proximal end near which the person grips the muscle trainer during a swing of the shaft, and a distal end opposite the proximal end;

a club head attached to the distal end of the shaft, the club head having a heel end disposed adjacent the distal end of the shaft and a toe end opposite the heel end, where the toe end is spaced apart from the distal end of the shaft;

a first sensor disposed adjacent the proximal end of the shaft for generating a first sensor signal indicative of a plurality of positions and directions of travel of the proximal end of the shaft during the swing;

a second sensor disposed adjacent the distal end of the shaft for generating a second position signal indicative of a plurality of positions and directions of travel of the distal end of the shaft during the swing,

a third sensor disposed adjacent a lowest extent of the toe end of the club head for generating a third sensor signal indicative of a plurality of positions of the toe end of the club head during the swing,

a fourth sensor operable to be attached adjacent an elbow end of a forearm of the person swinging the shaft, the fourth sensor for generating a fourth sensor signal indicative of a plurality of positions of the elbow end of the forearm during the swing;

a fifth sensor operable to be attached adjacent a wrist end of the forearm of the person swinging the shaft, the fifth sensor for generating a fifth sensor signal indicative of a plurality of positions of the wrist end of the forearm during the swing;

where locations and directions of travel of the first sensor and the second sensor at any particular point in the swing define an individual average shaft velocity vector substantially coinciding with the direction of travel of the club shaft, an individual shaft displacement vector disposed along a line intersecting the first and second sensors at the particular point, and an individual shaft normal vector which is perpendicular to the individual average shaft velocity vector and the individual shaft displacement vector,

where the individual average shaft velocity vector and the individual shaft displacement vector at any particular point in the swing define an individual shaft plane at the particular point,

where locations of the first sensor, second sensor and third sensor at any particular point in the swing define a face plane at the particular point;

where locations and directions of travel of the fourth sensor and fifth sensor at any particular point in the swing define an individual average forearm velocity vector substantially coinciding with a direction of travel of the forearm of the person, an individual forearm displacement vector substantially disposed along a line intersecting the fourth and fifth sensors at the particular point, and an individual forearm normal vector which is perpendicular to the individual average forearm velocity vector and the individual forearm displacement vector;

where the individual forearm velocity vector and the individual forearm displacement vector at any particular point in the swing define an individual forearm plane at the particular point;

a processor for calculating each average shaft velocity vector, each shaft displacement vector, and each shaft normal vector based on the first and second sensor signals, for calculating each shaft plane based on the first and second sensor signals, for calculating each face plane based on the first, second and third sensor signals, for calculating a rotation angle between each face plane and each corresponding shaft plane, for calculating each average forearm velocity vector, each forearm displacement vector, and each forearm normal vector based on the fourth and fifth sensor signals, for calculating each forearm plane based on the fourth and fifth sensor signals, for calculating a hinge angle between each forearm displacement vector and each corresponding shaft displacement vector, for determining whether a shaft plane difference between each shaft plane and a corresponding individual ideal shaft plane exceeds a shaft plane tolerance, for generating a first error signal when the shaft plane difference exceeds the shaft plane tolerance, for determining whether a rotation angle difference between each rotation angle and a corresponding ideal rotation angle exceeds a rotation angle tolerance, for generating a second error signal when the rotation angle difference exceeds the rotation angle tolerance, for determining whether a hinge angle difference between each hinge angle and a corresponding ideal hinge angle exceeds a hinge angle tolerance, and for generating a third error signal when the hinge angle difference exceeds the hinge angle tolerance; and

one or more force generators for generating a first training force based at least in part on the first error signal to urge the shaft in a first direction which would tend to increase the shaft plane difference if the first training force is not opposed by muscle force exerted by the person,

the one or more force generators for generating a second training force based at least in part on the second error signal to urge the shaft in a second direction which would tend to increase the rotation angle difference if the second training force is not opposed by muscle force exerted by the person, and

the one or more force generators for generating a third training force based at least in part on the third error signal to urge the shaft in a third direction which would tend to increase the hinge angle difference if the third training force is not opposed by muscle force exerted by the person.

72. The muscle trainer of claim 71 wherein the one or more force generators are attached to the shaft.

73. A method for determining an angular relationship between an implement shaft plane and an implement face plane of an implement swung by a person during performance of a useful or recreational function, the implement including a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and an implement surface configured to impact an object during the performance of the useful or recreational function, the method comprising:

(a) sensing motion of the proximal end of the shaft, wherein the motion of the proximal end of the shaft is represented by a first shaft velocity vector;

(b) sensing motion of the distal end of the shaft, wherein the motion of the distal end of the shaft is represented by a second shaft velocity vector;

(c) determining an average shaft velocity vector based at least in part on the first shaft velocity vector and the second shaft velocity vector;

(d) determining a shaft vector aligned with the proximal end of the shaft and the distal end of the shaft;

(e) determining a first normal vector based on a cross product of the shaft vector and the average shaft velocity vector according to

N_CS¹=r_CS^r×

v_avg,CS^r

 

where N_CS^ω

is the normal vector, is the shaft vector and is the average shaft velocity vector;

(f) determining an implement face vector aligned with the distal end of the shaft and the implement surface;

(g) determining a second normal vector based on a cross product of the shaft vector and the implement face vector according to

${\stackrel{\mathrm{\omega <br><br>}}{N}}_{\mathrm{CF}}={\stackrel{\mathrm{\varpi <br><br>}}{r}}_{\mathrm{CS}}\times <br><br>{\stackrel{\mathrm{\varpi <br><br>}}{r}}_{\mathrm{CF}}$

 

where N_CF^ω

is the second normal vector, is the shaft vector and is the implement face vector;

(h) determining an angle θ

between the first normal vector and the second normal vector according to

$\mathrm{\theta <br><br>}={\cos }^{-1}\left(\frac{{\stackrel{\mathrm{\varpi <br><br>}}{N}}_{\mathrm{CF}}·<br><br>{\stackrel{\mathrm{\varpi <br><br>}}{N}}_{\mathrm{CS}}}{<br><br>{\stackrel{\mathrm{\varpi <br><br>}}{N}}_{\mathrm{CF}}<br><br><br><br><br><br>{\stackrel{\mathrm{\varpi <br><br>}}{N}}_{\mathrm{CS}}<br><br>}\right);<br><br>$

 

and

(i) displaying a representation of the angle θ

on a display device.

74. The method of claim 73 further comprising displaying a representation of relationship of an implement shaft plane and an implement face plane, wherein the relationship is based at least in part on the angle θ

.

75. A method for determining an angular relationship between a shaft of an implement and a forearm of a person moving the implement during performance of a useful or recreational function, where the implement shaft has a proximal end and a distal end, and the forearm has an elbow end and a wrist end, the method comprising:

(a) determining a shaft vector aligned with the proximal end of the shaft and the distal end of the shaft;

(b) determining a forearm vector aligned with the elbow end of the forearm and the wrist end of the forearm;

(c) determining an angle φ

between the shaft vector and the forearm vector according to

$\mathrm{\varphi <br><br>}={\cos }^{-1}\left(\frac{{\stackrel{\mathrm{\varpi <br><br>}}{r}}_{\mathrm{LF}}·<br><br>{\stackrel{\mathrm{\varpi <br><br>}}{r}}_{\mathrm{CS}}}{<br><br>{\stackrel{\mathrm{\varpi <br><br>}}{r}}_{\mathrm{LF}}<br><br><br><br><br><br>{\stackrel{\mathrm{\varpi <br><br>}}{r}}_{\mathrm{CS}}<br><br>}\right)$

 

where is the shaft vector and is the forearm vector; and

(d) displaying a representation of the angle φ

on a display device.