System for human physical evaluation and accomplish improved physical performance

• US 7,074,168 B1
• Filed: 08/12/2002
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jon Mortensen, Larry D. Farnes, Lee Caton
• Original Assignee: Jon Mortensen, Larry D. Farnes, Lee Caton
• Inventors: Mortensen, Jon, Caton, Lee, Farnes, Larry D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US10/217,935
• Time in Patent Office: 1,429 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482/148, 482900-902, 434/247
• US Class Current: 482/148
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1124 Determining motor skills
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1127 using markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2214/00 Training methods
• 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 69/3623 for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/90 Ergometer with feedback to load or with feedback comparison

Abstract

A system for improving either or both the physical well-being and physical performance of a person, such as in day-to-day activities or sports-related activities. The person'"'"'s skeletal and muscular characteristics are assessed relative to such things as flexibility, movement, and strength, and the person'"'"'s performance characteristics relating to an optimized performance of a task or a sports-related activity (e.g. golf swing) are determined. By matching the differences in the person'"'"'s physical characteristics and performance characteristics, an optimized physical remedial course can be initiated, as well as a remedial course in improving the physical performance related more to learned defects in performance.

Claims

1. A method of improving either or both of physical well-being and physical performance of a person, said method comprising:

a) ascertaining quantifiable information about the person'"'"'s characteristics relating to;

i) the person'"'"'s skeletal characteristics, including flexibility and movement, and muscular characteristics including movement, flexibility, and strength;

ii) the person'"'"'s performance characteristics in performing physical movements in performing a task or tasks;

b) establishing performance standards corresponding to a desired performance level for said task or task, and also establishing skeletal and muscular standards corresponding to desired skeletal and muscular characteristics capable of matching said performance standards;

c) matching the person'"'"'s skeletal and muscular characteristics with the skeletal and muscular standards and determining skeletal and muscular differences therebetween;

d) matching the person'"'"'s performance characteristics with the performance standards and determining performance differences therebetween;

e) accomplishing identification of performance components of the performance differences, and ascertaining any matchups of these with related skeletal and muscular components of the skeletal and muscular differences which would be accountable at least in part for the performance differences, and also identifying any non-matchups for the performance components that do not at least in part relate to corresponding physical components, as a means of ascertaining;

i) performance components of performance differences not related primarily to either or both of skeletal and muscular components of the skeletal and muscular differences, or both;

ii) performance components of the performance differences relating primarily to either or both of skeletal and muscular components of the skeletal and muscular differences;

whereby it becomes possible to identify performance components relating to differences from actual performance and desired performance standards which performance components can be correlated with information relating to skeletal and muscular components of skeletal and muscular differences from a desired standard, and also possible to identify performance components of performance differences that do not primarily relate to skeletal and muscular components of differences, thus better enabling identifying a selected remedial course or courses.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising developing either or both of:

a) a remedial course comprising either or both of;

i) improving either or both of skeletal and muscular characteristics of the person;

ii) improving learned faults and/or aberrations in performance characteristics of the person.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the physical performance which is to be improved is a person'"'"'s golf swing, said method comprising recording for analysis relative positions of the person'"'"'s hips, torso, arms, and at least one hand during the swing, for performing an assessment of the person'"'"'s skeletal and muscular characteristics, ascertaining differences in the person'"'"'s golf swing relative to an idealized golf swing, also ascertaining skeletal and muscular characteristics of the person having skeletal and muscular components relating to the differences in the person'"'"'s golf swing relative to the idealized golf swing, and initiating a course of action to accomplish either or both of:

i) making physical improvements to the person to reduce the skeletal and muscular differences that relate to the differences of the golf swing, or both skeletal and muscular differences; and

ii) modifying the person'"'"'s golf swing to better match the skeletal and muscular characteristics of the person that relate to the golf swing.