Evaluating the work capacity of injured people
First Claim
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1. A method for evaluating lifting work capacity of a person, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) determining a maximum acceptable weight that said person can lift in a test comprising the steps of;
(1) selecting a starting weight a maximum allowable heart rate and a starting heart rate for said person;
(2) constantly monitoring a heart rate of said person during said test;
(3) requiring said person to lift a weight from a series of weights beginning with said starting weight;
(4) monitoring said heart rate of said person during lifting of said weight and if said heart rate exceeds said maximum allowable heart rate while said person is lifting said weight, stopping said test;
(5) monitoring said heart rate of said person after lifting said weight and if said heart rate does not return to said starting heart rate within a predetermined period of time in the range of 30 to 120 seconds after said person has lifted said weight, stopping said test; and
(6) if said test is not stopped repeating steps (3)-(5) until said test is stopped in steps (4) or (5) and, in step (3), requiring said person to lift a next weight in said series of weights where said next weight in said series of weights is heavier than the previous weight in said series of weights that was previously lifted by said person in step (3),whereby said maximum acceptable weight is the heaviest weight of said series of weights that said person can lift before said heart rate of said person during lifting exceeds said maximum allowable heart rate or said heart rate of said person after lifting does not return to said predetermined starting heart rate within said predetermined period of time; and
(b) obtaining a normative performance ranking by locating said maximum acceptable weight on a table of normative data and locating a corresponding normative performance ranking,whereby said lifting work capacity of said person is obtained.
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Abstract
Methods are provided for evaluating the physical work capacity of a person by determining maximum acceptable lifting weight. The methods may also provide a normative performance ranking, may monitor starting heart rate as an indicia of maximum acceptable weight, and may use a progressive or recursive set of subtests. The invention further includes methods for evaluating constant work capacity, and also includes devices and kits for practicing the claimed methods.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for evaluating lifting work capacity of a person, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining a maximum acceptable weight that said person can lift in a test comprising the steps of; (1) selecting a starting weight a maximum allowable heart rate and a starting heart rate for said person; (2) constantly monitoring a heart rate of said person during said test; (3) requiring said person to lift a weight from a series of weights beginning with said starting weight; (4) monitoring said heart rate of said person during lifting of said weight and if said heart rate exceeds said maximum allowable heart rate while said person is lifting said weight, stopping said test; (5) monitoring said heart rate of said person after lifting said weight and if said heart rate does not return to said starting heart rate within a predetermined period of time in the range of 30 to 120 seconds after said person has lifted said weight, stopping said test; and (6) if said test is not stopped repeating steps (3)-(5) until said test is stopped in steps (4) or (5) and, in step (3), requiring said person to lift a next weight in said series of weights where said next weight in said series of weights is heavier than the previous weight in said series of weights that was previously lifted by said person in step (3), whereby said maximum acceptable weight is the heaviest weight of said series of weights that said person can lift before said heart rate of said person during lifting exceeds said maximum allowable heart rate or said heart rate of said person after lifting does not return to said predetermined starting heart rate within said predetermined period of time; and (b) obtaining a normative performance ranking by locating said maximum acceptable weight on a table of normative data and locating a corresponding normative performance ranking, whereby said lifting work capacity of said person is obtained. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for evaluating a vertical range lift capacity of a person, said method comprising:
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(a) a first subtest in which a first maximum acceptable weight that said person can lift through a predetermined first vertical range is determined, comprising the steps of; (1) selecting a starting weight, a maximum allowable heart rate and a starting heart rate for said person; (2) constantly monitoring a heart rate of said person during said subtest; (3) requiring said person to lift a weight from a series of weights beginning with said starting weight through a predetermined vertical range; (4) monitoring said heart rate of said person during lifting of said weight and if said heart rate exceeds said maximum allowable heart rate while said person is lifting said weight, stopping said test; (5) monitoring said heart rate of said person after lifting said weight and if said heart rate does not return to said starting heart rate within a predetermined period of time in the range of 30 to 120 seconds after said person has lifted said weight, stopping said test; and (6) if said test is not stopped, repeating steps (3)-(5) until said test is stopped in steps (4) or (5) and, in step (3), requiring said person to lift a next weight is said series of weights where said next weight in said series of weights is heavier than the previous weight in said series of weights that was previously lifted by said person in step (3), whereby said first maximum acceptable weight is the heaviest weight that said person can lift before said heart rate of said person during lifting exceeds said maximum allowable heart rate or said heart rate of said person after lifting does not return to said starting heart rate within said predetermined period of time; (b) performing at least one subsequent progressive subtest; and (c) for each subsequent subtest, determining a corresponding subsequent maximum acceptable weight that said person can lift through a predetermined subsequent vertical range wherein said subsequent vertical range is different for each subtest and said subsequent maximum acceptable weight for each subtest is the heaviest weight that said person can lift before said heart rate of said person during lifting exceeds said maximum allowable heart rate or said heart rate of said person after lifting does not return to said starting heart rate within said predetermined period of time; whereby said vertical range lift capacity of said person is evaluated by comparing said subsequent maximum acceptable weights with said first maximum acceptable weight. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for evaluating the constant work capacity of a person, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining a maximal frequency for said person in a test comprising the steps of; (1) selecting a weight and a maximum allowable heart rate, (2) constantly monitoring a heart rate of said person during said test, (3) requiring said person to repeatedly lift said weight through a predetermined vertical range at a maximal frequency for said person; and (4) monitoring said heart rate of said person during lifting and if said heart rate exceeds said maximum allowable heart rate while said person is lifting said weight, stopping said test, whereby said maximal frequency is the number of lifting cycles said person completes before said heart rate of said person exceeds said maximum allowable heart rate; and (b) obtaining a performance ranking by locating said maximal frequency on a table of normative data and locating a corresponding performance ranking, whereby said constant work capacity of said person is obtained. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification