RUNNING FORM DIAGNOSIS SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SCORING RUNNING FORM

• US 20140148931A1
• Filed: 02/28/2013
• Published: 05/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
• Inventors: Watanabe, Yoshinobu, Ohta, Yasuyuki, Kogawa, Daisuke, Yoshikawa, Naoki, Yoshida, Yohei
• Granted Patent: US 9,452,341 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/92
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1124 Determining motor skills
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1127 using markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/744 Displaying an avatar, e.g. an animated cartoon character
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/00 Measuring physiological parameters of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 5/04 Ropes or similar devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities

Abstract

A running form diagnosis system capable of automatically scoring a running form of a runner is provided. The running form diagnosis system obtains body motion information as to a test subject running on a treadmill, and calculate a running form score of the test subject by applying obtained characteristics to a given operation expression. The operation expression is generated based on correlation between characteristics of a plurality of test runners and comprehensive evaluation given by an expert with respect to the plurality of test runners.

Claims

1. A running form diagnosis system for scoring a running form of a test subject, comprising:

a storage device configured to store an operation expression representing a correlation between body motion information extracted from information related to running of a plurality of test runners and evaluation given by an expert with respect to respective running of the plurality of test runners;

an interface for receiving an input of information related to running of the test subject; and

a processor configured to output a score as to a running form of said test subject based on information inputted to said interface,

said processor being configured to;

extract body motion information of said test subject from the information related to running of said test subject and inputted to said interface; and

calculate the score as to the running form of said test subject by applying said extracted body motion information to said operation expression.

2. The running form diagnosis system according to claim 1, wherein said operation expression includes:

a first regression expression obtained by performing a regression analysis, with evaluation for two or more items given by said expert with respect to running of said test runners as an explanatory variable and with comprehensive evaluation given by said expert with respect to running of said test runners as an objective variable; and

a second regression expression which obtained by performing a regression analysis, with body motion information of said test runner as an explanatory variable and with respective evaluation for said two or more items given by said expert with respect to said test runners as an objective variable.

3. The running form diagnosis system according to claim 2, wherein said two or more items used in said first regression expression are specified from a predetermined number of items by statistically processing evaluation for the predetermined number of items given by said expert with respect to running of said test runners and comprehensive evaluation given by said expert with respect to running of said test runners.

4. The running form diagnosis system according to claim 3, wherein the body motion information of said test runners used in said second regression expression is specified from characteristics of a specified number of items by statistically processing a specified number of body motion information and evaluation of said two or more items.

5. The running form diagnosis system according to claim 1, wherein said operation expression includes a multiple regression expression obtained by performing a multiple regression analysis, with a plurality of body information of said test runners as an explanatory variable and with comprehensive evaluation given by said expert with respect to said test runners as an objective variable.

6. The running form diagnosis system according to claim 1, wherein said operation expression includes a plurality of regression expressions obtained by performing a regression analysis, with a plurality of body motion information of said test runners as an explanatory variable and with comprehensive evaluation given by said expert with respect to said test runners as an objective variable, and

said processor calculates a score of the running form of said test subject based on a plurality of comprehensive evaluations obtained from said plurality of regression expressions.

7. The running form diagnosis system according to claim 1, wherein the body motion information of said test subject includes at least any of an elbow joint angle obtained by calculating an angle of a forearm with respect to an upper arm of said test object, respective segment angles of the forearm and the upper arm of said test subject, a knee joint angle obtained by calculating an angle of a lower leg with respect to an upper leg of said test subject, or respective segment angles of the lower leg and the upper leg of said test subject.

8. The running form diagnosis system according to claim 7, further comprising an image-capturing device coupled to said interface to capture a picture of said test subject,

said interface being configured to receive an input of the picture of said test subject, and

said processor being configured so that:

when extracting at least any of the elbow joint of said test subject or respective segment angles of the forearm and the upper arm of said test subject, said processor extracts these angles based on positions of images of markers attached to a shoulder joint, an elbow joint, and a wrist joint of said test subject in the picture; and

when extracting at least any of the knee joint angle of said test subject or the respective segment angles of the lower leg and the upper leg of said test subject, said processor extracts these angles based on positions of images of markers attached to a base joint, a knee joint, and an ankle joint of said test subject in the picture.

9. The running form diagnosis system according to claim 7, further comprising:

an inertial sensor attached to said test subject;

said interface being configured to receive an input of a detection result of said inertial sensor; and

said processor being configured to extract body motion information of said test subject based on the detection result of said inertial sensor.

10. The running form diagnosis system according to claim 1, wherein said storage device is configured to store advice information as to running in association with scores grouped in advance, and

said processor is configured to output said advice information associated with the scores calculated for said test subject.

11. The running form diagnosis system according to claim 1, wherein said operation expression further represents a correlation between body motion information extracted from information related to running of the plurality of test runners as well as body characteristics of said plurality of test runners and comprehensive evaluation given by the expert with respect to respective running of said plurality of test runners, and

said interface is configured to receive an input of body characteristics of said test subject, and

said processor is configured to calculate a score as to the running form of said test subject by applying the body motion information and body characteristics of said test subject.

12. A method for scoring a running form of a test subject, the method being executed by a computer,

said computer including:

a storage device configured to store an operation expression representing correlation between body motion information extracted from information related to running of a plurality of test runners and evaluation given by an expert with respect to respective running of the plurality of test runners; and

an interface for receiving an input of information related to running of a test subject,

the method comprising;

allowing said computer to extract body motion information of said test subject from information related to running of the test subject and inputted to said interface; and

allowing said computer to calculate a score as to the running form of said test subject by applying said extracted body motion information to said operation expression.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said operation expression includes:

a first regression expression obtained by performing a regression analysis, with evaluation for two or more items given by said expert with respect to running of said test runners as an explanatory variable and with a score given by said expert with respect to running of said test runners as an objective variable; and

a second regression expression obtained by performing a regression analysis, with body motion information of said test runners as an explanatory variable and with respective evaluation for said two or more items given by said expert with respect to said test runners as an objective variable.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein said operation expression includes a multiple regression expression obtained by performing a multiple regression analysis, with a plurality of body motion information of said test runners as an explanatory variable and with comprehensive evaluation given by said expert with respect to said test runners as an objective variable.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein said operation expression includes a plurality of regression expressions obtained by performing a regression analysis, with a plurality of respective body motion information of said test runners as an explanatory variable and with comprehensive evaluation given by said expert with respect to said test runners as an objective variable, and

allowing said computer to calculate a score as to the running form said test subject includes calculating a score as to the running form of said test object based on a plurality of comprehensive evaluation obtained from the plurality of regression expressions.