BALANCE TESTING AND TRAINING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20170197115A1
• Filed: 01/09/2017
• Published: 07/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nymbl Science
• Original Assignee: Balance4Good, Ltd.
• Inventors: COOK, James Bingham, FARCY, Jean Pierre Claude
• Granted Patent: US 10,376,739 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/22 Stride length
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• 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 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 26/003 for improving balance or equilibrium balance beams A63B4/00; apparatus for rope dancing A63B7/08; balancing drums, balancing boards or the like A63B22/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/003 Repetitive work cycles; Sequence of movements
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

A human balance testing and training system may comprise: a mobile communication device comprising: (1) sensors; (2) a display unit; (3) an input unit; (4) an evaluation subsystem for evaluating balance capabilities of a human subject utilizing data collected when the human subject is performing one or more balance evaluation exercises, the data including data received from the sensors; (5) an expert subsystem for prescribing an exercise plan; and (6) a training subsystem for maintaining an exercise plan including one or more balance training exercises for the human subject; wherein the exercise plan is determined by at least one of a balance evaluation by the evaluation subsystem, performance data provided by the training subsystem, and input from a health professional; and wherein the sensors are configured to measure movement of the human subject during performance of one or more of an evaluation exercise and a training exercise.

Claims

1. A human balance testing and training system comprising:

a mobile communication device comprising;

sensors;

a display unit;

an input unit;

an evaluation subsystem for evaluating balance capabilities of a human subject utilizing data collected when said human subject is performing one or more balance evaluation exercises, said data including data received from said sensors;

an expert subsystem for prescribing an exercise plan; and

a training subsystem for maintaining an exercise plan including one or more balance training exercises for said human subject;

wherein said exercise plan is determined by at least one of a balance evaluation by said evaluation subsystem, performance data provided by said training subsystem, and input from a health professional; and

wherein said sensors are configured to measure movement of said human subject during performance of one or more of an evaluation exercise and a training exercise.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said mobile device is hand held by said human subject during performance of one or more of an evaluation exercise and a training exercise.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said mobile device is securely attached to said human subject during performance of one or more of an evaluation exercise and a training exercise.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said mobile device is configured to provide at least one of an auditory stimulus, a visual stimulus and a tactile stimulus to said human subject for providing a cognitive load or cognitive challenge during performance of one or more of said balance evaluation exercises and said balance training exercises.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a remote subsystem on a remote server coupled to said mobile device by a wide area network, said remote subsystem being configured to receive data from said mobile device and send software updates to said mobile device for at least one of said evaluation subsystem, said expert subsystem and said training subsystem.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said software updates are sent daily and wherein said software updates include updates to said exercise plan.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said sensors and at least one of said evaluation subsystem, said training subsystem and said remote subsystem are configured to measure the gait of said human subject.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a remote interface coupled to said mobile device by a wide area network, said remote interface being configured to permit one or more of monitoring the performance of said human subject and controlling the evaluation and training of said human subject.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said mobile device further comprises an incentive subsystem for providing motivational messages to said human subject on said display unit of said mobile device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensors and at least one of said evaluation subsystem and said training subsystem are configured to measure the gait of said human subject.

11. A human balance testing and training system comprising:

sensors configured to be attached to a human subject for measurement of movement of said human subject; and

a mobile communication device coupled to said sensors and configured to receive data from said sensors, said mobile device comprising;

a display unit;

an input unit;

an evaluation subsystem for evaluating balance capabilities of a human subject utilizing data collected when said human subject is performing one or more balance evaluation exercises, said data including data received from said sensors;

an expert subsystem for prescribing an exercise plan; and

a training subsystem for maintaining an exercise plan including one or more balance training exercises for said human subject;

wherein said exercise plan is determined by at least one of a balance evaluation by said evaluation subsystem, performance data provided by said training subsystem, and input from a health professional;

wherein said sensors are configured to measure movement of said human subject during performance of one or more of an evaluation exercise and a training exercise; and

wherein said evaluation subsystem is configured to calculate gait parameters of said human subject from data collected from said sensors.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said mobile communication device is coupled to said sensors by a wireless personal area network.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said sensors are configured to be attached to said human subject at one or more of the ankles and upper body.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said gait parameters include any selection of stride length, stride width, foot height, step cadence, walking speed, and measures of variabilities or asymmetries of stride length, stride width, foot height, step cadence and walking speed, wherein said variabilities or asymmetries are a measure of one or more of stride to stride variabilities or asymmetries and left leg to right leg variabilities or asymmetries.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said mobile device is configured to provide at least one of an auditory stimulus, a visual stimulus and a tactile stimulus to said human subject for providing a cognitive load or cognitive challenge during performance of one or more of said balance evaluation exercises and said balance training exercises.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising a remote subsystem on a remote server coupled to said mobile device by a wide area network, said remote subsystem being configured to receive data from said mobile device and send software updates to said mobile device for at least one of said evaluation subsystem, said expert subsystem and said training subsystem.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said software updates are sent daily and wherein said software updates include updates to said exercise plan.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said remote subsystem is further configured to calculate gait parameters of said human subject from data collected from said sensors.

19. The system of claim 11, further comprising a remote interface coupled to said mobile device by a wide area network, said remote interface being configured to permit one or more of monitoring the performance of said human subject and controlling the evaluation and training of said human subject.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein said mobile device comprises device sensors configured to measure movement of said human subject during performance of one or more of an evaluation exercise and a training exercise.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said mobile device is hand held by said human subject during performance of one or more of an evaluation exercise and a training exercise.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein said mobile device is securely attached to said human subject during performance of one or more of an evaluation exercise and a training exercise.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein said sensors include one or more of said device sensors.

24. The system of claim 11, wherein said mobile device further comprises an incentive subsystem for providing motivational messages to said human subject on said display unit of said mobile device.

25. A method of evaluating and training human balance, comprising:

providing a mobile communication device comprising;

sensors;

a display unit;

an input unit;

an evaluation subsystem for evaluating balance capabilities of a human subject utilizing data collected when said human subject is performing one or more balance evaluation exercises, said data including data received from said sensors;

an expert subsystem for prescribing an exercise plan; and

a training subsystem for maintaining an exercise plan including one or more balance training exercises for said human subject, wherein said exercise plan is determined by at least one of a balance evaluation by said evaluation subsystem, performance data provided by said training subsystem, and input from a health professional;

measuring movement of said human subject by said sensors during performance of one or more of an evaluation exercise and a training exercise;

determining balance capabilities of said human subject from said measured movement by said sensors by one or more of said evaluation subsystem, said training subsystem and a remote subsystem on a remote server coupled to said mobile device by a wide area network; and

determining one of an initial training program or a modified training program by one or more of said expert subsystem and said remote subsystem from said balance capabilities of said human subject.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said mobile device is hand held by said human subject during performance of one or more of an evaluation exercise and a training exercise.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein said mobile device is securely attached to said human subject during performance of one or more of an evaluation exercise and a training exercise.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising providing by said mobile device at least one of an auditory stimulus, a visual stimulus and a tactile stimulus to said human subject for providing a cognitive load or cognitive challenge during performance of one or more of said evaluation exercises and said training exercises.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising receiving software updates by said mobile device for at least one of said evaluation subsystem, said expert subsystem and said training subsystem, said software updates being sent by said remote subsystem.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said software updates are sent daily and wherein said software updates include updates to said exercise plan.

31. The method of claim 25, further comprising coupling a remote interface to one or more of said mobile device and said remote server by a wide area network, said remote interface being configured to permit one or more of monitoring the performance of said human subject and controlling the evaluation and training of said human subject.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising sending from one or more of said mobile device and said remote server to said remote interface a message identifying a risk of falling of said human subject.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said risk of falling is determined by one or more of said evaluation subsystem, said training subsystem and said remote subsystem from said balance capabilities of said human subject.

34. The method of claim 25, further comprising providing motivational messages to said human subject on said display unit of said mobile device wherein said mobile device further comprises an incentive subsystem for generating said motivational messages.

35. The method of claim 25, further comprising, before evaluating balance capabilities, collecting information from said human subject regarding self-reported age, physical activity level and level of confidence regarding ability to maintain balance during physical activity, assessing using said information by said evaluation subsystem of a risk of falling of said human subject during balance evaluation exercises, and when said risk is above a threshold providing a warning by said mobile device to said human subject to have a human companion available to provide for the safety of said human subject.

36. The method of claim 25, further comprising communicating from said mobile device to said human subject a message identifying that said human subject is at risk of falling.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said risk of falling is determined by one or more of said evaluation subsystem, said training subsystem and said remote subsystem from said balance capabilities of said human subject.

38. The method of claim 25, further comprising calculating gait parameters of said human subject from data collected from said sensors during performance of said one or more balance evaluation exercises and balance training exercises by said human subject, said calculating being by one or more of said evaluation subsystem, said training subsystem and a remote subsystem on a remote server coupled to said mobile device by a wide area network.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising providing feedback to said human subject regarding the gait of said human subject during performance of said one or more balance evaluation exercises and balance training exercises, wherein said feedback is provided during said performance of said one or more balance evaluation exercises and balance training exercises.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein said gait parameters include any selection of stride length, stride width, foot height, step cadence, walking speed, and measures of variabilities or asymmetries of stride length, stride width, foot height, step cadence and walking speed, wherein said variabilities or asymmetries are a measure of one or more of stride to stride variabilities or asymmetries and left leg to right leg variabilities or asymmetries.

41. A method of evaluating and training human balance, comprising:

attaching sensors to a human subject for measurement of movement of said human subject; and

providing a mobile communication device coupled to said sensors and configured to receive data from said sensors, said mobile device having;

a display unit,

an input unit;

an evaluation subsystem for evaluating balance capabilities of a human subject utilizing data collected when said human subject is performing one or more balance evaluation exercises, said data including data received from said sensors;

an expert subsystem for prescribing an exercise plan; and

a training subsystem for maintaining an exercise plan including one or more balance training exercises for said human subject, wherein said exercise plan is determined by at least one of a balance evaluation by said evaluation subsystem, performance data provided by said training subsystem, and input from a health professional;

providing instructions to said human subject by said mobile device for performing one or more balance evaluation exercises and balance training exercises;

measuring movement of said human subject by said sensors during performance of said one or more of an evaluation exercise and a training exercise;

determining balance capabilities of said human subject from said measured movement by said sensors by one or more of said evaluation subsystem, said training subsystem and a remote subsystem on a remote server coupled to said mobile device by a wide area network; and

determining one of an initial training program or a modified training program by one or more of said expert subsystem and said remote subsystem from said balance capabilities of said human subject.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said determining balance capabilities comprises calculating gait parameters of said human subject from data collected from said sensors during performance of said one or more balance evaluation exercises and balance training exercises by said human subject, said calculating being by one or more of said evaluation subsystem, said training subsystem and said remote subsystem.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein said gait parameters include any selection of stride length, stride width, foot height, step cadence, walking speed, and measures of variabilities or asymmetries of stride length, stride width, foot height, step cadence and walking speed, wherein said variabilities or asymmetries are a measure of one or more of stride to stride variabilities or asymmetries and left leg to right leg variabilities or asymmetries.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein said determining one of said initial training program or said modified training program uses as data input at least said gait parameters of said human subject.

45. The method of claim 42, further comprising providing feedback to said human subject regarding the gait of said human subject during performance of said one or more balance evaluation exercises and balance training exercises, wherein said feedback is provided during said performance of said one or more balance evaluation exercises and balance training exercises.

46. The method of claim 41, wherein said mobile communication device is coupled to said sensors by a wireless personal area network.

47. The method of claim 41, wherein said sensors are configured to be attached to said human subject at one or more of ankles and upper body.

48. The method of claim 41, further comprising providing by said mobile device at least one of an auditory stimulus, a visual stimulus and a tactile stimulus to said human subject for providing a cognitive load or cognitive challenge during performance of one or more of said evaluation exercises and said training exercises.

49. The method of claim 41, further comprising receiving software updates by said mobile device for at least one of said evaluation subsystem, said expert subsystem and said training subsystem, said software updates being sent by said remote subsystem.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein said software updates are sent daily and wherein said software updates include updates to said exercise plan.

51. The system of claim 49, wherein said remote subsystem is further configured to calculate gait parameters of said human subject from data collected from said sensors.

52. The method of claim 41, further comprising coupling a remote interface to one or more of said mobile device and said remote server by a wide area network, said remote interface being configured to permit one or more of monitoring the performance of said human subject and controlling the evaluation and training of said human subject.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising sending from one or more of said mobile device and said remote server to said remote interface a message identifying a risk of falling of said human subject.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein said risk of falling is determined by one or more of said evaluation subsystem, said training subsystem and said remote subsystem from said balance capabilities of said human subject.

55. The method of claim 41, further comprising providing motivational messages to said human subject on said display unit of said mobile device wherein said mobile device further comprises an incentive subsystem for generating said motivational messages.

56. The method of claim 41, further comprising measuring movement of said human subject by device sensors during performance of one or more of an evaluation exercise and a training exercise, wherein said mobile device comprises device sensors.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein said mobile device is hand held by said human subject during performance of one or more of an evaluation exercise and a training exercise.

58. The method of claim 56, wherein said mobile device is securely attached to said human subject during performance of one or more of an evaluation exercise and a training exercise.

59. The system of claim 56, wherein said sensors include one or more of said device sensors.

60. The method of claim 41, further comprising, before evaluating balance capabilities, collecting information from said human subject regarding self-reported age, physical activity level and level of confidence regarding ability to maintain balance during physical activity, assessing using said information by said evaluation subsystem of a risk of falling of said human subject during balance evaluation exercises, and when said risk is above a threshold providing a warning by said mobile device to said human subject to have a human companion available to provide for the safety of said human subject.

61. The method of claim 41, further comprising communicating from said mobile device to said human subject a message identifying that said human subject is at risk of falling.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein said risk of falling is determined by one or more of said evaluation subsystem, said training subsystem and said remote subsystem from said balance capabilities of said human subject.