Method for automated delivery of personalized physical therapy sessions to treat pain

• US 8,715,176 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John P. Lemme, Therapy Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: John P. Lemme
• Inventors: Lemme, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, Bill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Archer, Marie
• Application Number:
  US11/669,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20070179816A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,652 Days
• Field of Search: 702/85, 702/94, 702/108, 702/122, 702/127, 702/150, 702/166, 702/167, 702/183, 702/188, 345/418, 345/619, 345620-629, 345/634, 345/501, 434/328, 434/307.R, 434/247, 434/118
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/62 posture
• 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 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• 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 69/00 Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/00 Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00 starting appliances A63K3/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/40 of characters, e.g. humans, animals or virtual beings
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A user directed interactive method and system for implementing customized therapy routines. The method and system obtains relevant information from a user via an interactive questionnaire and via digital therapeutic techniques to evaluate the user'"'"'s pain and provide a customized treatment regimen. The user then implements the custom treatment regimen in order to return their body to proper alignment thereby bringing about a state of muscular and internal balance to the individual naturally. In this manner, the method and system of the present invention replicates the process of in-clinic and video therapy programs while delivering customized therapy sessions and long-term therapy programs based on the user'"'"'s individual needs via an electronic medium that is completely automated without the need for professional intervention, evaluation, or correspondence of any kind.

Claims

1. A self-administered, automated method for providing a user with a customized physical therapy routine to treat pain:

providing a host computer system accessible through an electronic network, said host computer system being configured with software effective for receiving personal information from a user and automatically generating a customized physical therapy routine based on said personal information;

establishing a user account on said host computer system through a computer interface connected to said electronic network;

building a user profile associated with said user account through an automated interactive questioning process controlled by said software on said host system, said software automatically prompting said user through said computer interface to input personal information including personal data, physical condition, activity level, anatomical posture and pain symptoms, said step of building said user profile being completed by said user without an intermediary or professional therapist, and without the need of any measured performance based data,

said input of anatomical posture comprising the steps of presenting to said user a plurality of images depicting various postural dysfunctions, and prompting said user to select at least one image that best represents the user'"'"'s posture,

said input of pain symptoms comprising the steps of presenting to said user an image of a human body, and prompting said user to select an area of said human body where pain symptoms exist, and further prompting said user to input a pain level;

storing said personal information in said user account;

automatically generating an initial evaluation based on said personal information;

automatically generating an initial customized physical therapy routine based on said personal information and said initial evaluation;

providing said initial customized physical therapy routine to said user immediately through said computer interface;

monitoring the user'"'"'s progress by automatically prompting said user to enter updated personal information;

automatically generating a follow-up evaluation based on said updated personal information;

automatically generating an updated customized physical therapy routine based on said updated personal information and said follow-up evaluation;

providing said updated customized physical therapy routine to said user immediately through said computer interface;

tracking a user'"'"'s progress wherein said software automatically compares results from said follow-up evaluation with said initial evaluation; and

graphically presenting said progress to said user through said computer interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of inputting personal information including personal data, physical condition, activity level, anatomical posture and pain symptoms comprises:

generating a first set of user-created images of said user'"'"'s body;

uploading said first set of user-created images of said user'"'"'s body via said computer interface;

displaying said user-created images to said user through said computer interface;

prompting said user through said computer interface to superimpose alignment guides over said first set of user-created images, whereby said user can visually self-evaluate their body posture by comparing said first set of user-created images with said alignment guides.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of tracking a user'"'"'s progress includes generating a second set of user-created images of said user'"'"'s body, uploading said second set of images of said user'"'"'s body after completing said updated customized physical therapy routine, prompting the user through said computer interface to superimpose alignment guides over said second set of user-created images, and comparing the second set of user-created images to said first set of user-created images to identify improvements in posture.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said alignment guides can be repositioned relative to said first set of user-created images.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said user-created images are prepared by said user based on instructions obtained from said host computer system.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of displaying said user-created images further comprises displaying said user-created images in conjunction with preprepared images depicting correct posture, wherein said user can observe and self-evaluate their body posture as compared to correct body posture.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein said user-created images are photographs.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein said user-created images are video segments.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said steps of providing said initial customized physical therapy routine and said updated customized physical therapy routine to said user each comprise:

providing video clips depicting exercises to be completed by said user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said user is provided with an updated customized physical therapy routine once per week.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of input of anatomical posture includes prompting the user to select a second image which, when combined with the first image best represents the user'"'"'s posture.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of input of pain symptoms includes prompting the user to select a second area of said human body where pain symptoms exist, and further prompting said user to input a pain level.