Method to provide feedback to a physical therapy patient or athlete

• US 9,892,655 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2013
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Judy Sibille Snow, Robert James Snow
• Original Assignee: Judy Sibille Snow, Robert James Snow
• Inventors: Snow, Judy Sibille, Snow, Robert James
• Primary Examiner(s): Saint-Vil, Eddy
• Application Number:
  US13/777,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20140147820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,813 Days
• Field of Search: 434247
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/23 Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A process is disclosed to visually capture a person doing a set of steps for an exercise, and then to compare that person during exercise to those steps, measuring the results. Each exercise is tailored to the individual patient, rather than to an “ideal” or “generic” standard. This flexibility allows a physical therapist to optimize treatment for patients progressively, and/or to accommodate multiple physical problems in one patient. This invention can be used as a medical software product under the guidance of a physical therapist for rehabilitation exercises. It may alternatively be used as a fitness or sports training device under the guidance of a trainer or coach. By providing visual data and tracking results, it enhances communication between the physical therapist and the patient (or trainer and athlete), and optionally, the physician.

Claims

1. A method for a person and a trainer to create an exercise that is uniquely tailored for the person;

and for the person to perform the exercise at a later time; and

to provide the person with immediate feedback concerning the performance of the exercise;

said method comprising the steps of;

(a) creating the exercise by;

(i) the trainer choosing an exercise that is uniquely tailored for the person, wherein the exercise comprises a set of several target positions for the person'"'"'s body;

(ii) for one of the target positions of the set, placing the person'"'"'s body into the target position under the supervision of the trainer;

(iii) using a camera with a depth sensor to capture a three-dimensional digital representation of the person'"'"'s body or a portion of the person'"'"'s body while the person'"'"'s body is placed at the target position;

wherein substep (iii) occurs simultaneously with substep (ii); and

(iv) repeating substeps (ii) and (iii) for each target position in the set of target positions;

whereby a three-dimensional digital representation is captured for all target positions comprising the uniquely tailored exercise;

(b) converting the three-dimensional digital representation of the target positions into target data that numerically represent the position of pertinent aspects of the person'"'"'s bones and joints at each of the set of target positions, and recording the target data;

(c) performing the exercise, at a time later than step (b), wherein the person moves the person'"'"'s body through a set of actual positions in which the person attempts to duplicate each of the target positions;

(d) capturing a three-dimensional digital representation of the person'"'"'s body or a portion of the person'"'"'s body as the person moves through the set of actual positions while performing the exercise;

wherein steps (c) and (d) occur simultaneously;

(e) converting the three-dimensional digital representation of the actual positions into actual data that numerically represent the position of pertinent aspects of the person'"'"'s bones and joints at each of the set of actual positions;

(f) determining whether the actual data match the target data within pre-determined tolerances; and

(g) providing the person with automated, real-time feedback whether the actual data match the target data within the pre-determined tolerances;

wherein the person is provided encouragement if the exercise is being performed properly within the pre-determined tolerances;

or wherein the person is provided suitable information to permit the person to make immediate adjustments to the person'"'"'s exercise performance to better match the target positions if the exercise is not being performed properly within the pre-determined tolerances;

or both.

2. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising a step wherein the trainer sets one or more goals for the person in performing the exercise, and wherein the feedback provided to the person includes information regarding the person'"'"'s progress towards the one or more goals.

3. The method of claim 2, additionally comprising the step of performing an automated analysis comparing the actual data to the goals, and wherein the results of the automated analysis are stored as result data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the result data comprise one or more of the following:

timestamps;

elapsed time;

accuracy;

number of repetitions; and

video or still images of one or more instances of the person'"'"'s performing the exercise improperly, outside the pre-determined tolerances.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the real-time feedback comprises providing to the person one or more visual or audio cues.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the real-time feedback comprises displaying to the person one or more visual cues in an augmented reality display.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said feedback-providing step comprises displaying to the person a video showing a virtual mirror image of the person moving through each of the target positions.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said feedback-providing step comprises displaying to the person images of the person properly positioned in each of the target positions, and indicating whether the person'"'"'s actual position properly matches the target positions, within the pre-determined tolerances.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said feedback-providing step comprises real-time audio and visual communication between the trainer and the person, wherein the trainer and the person are located at physically separate locations when the person performs the exercise.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein said feedback-providing step comprises providing the person with visual or audio progress measurements that compare the actual data to the goals.

11. The method of claim 3, additionally comprising the step of transmitting the result data to remote storage, and storing the result data on remote storage.

12. The method of claim 11, additionally comprising the step of retrieving and displaying the remotely-stored result data in a format that is convenient to be reviewed and analyzed by a human.

13. The method of claim 12, additionally comprising a step wherein the trainer reviews and analyzes the result data;

and wherein, following the analysis, the trainer modifies the goals, or the trainer modifies the feedback, or the trainer modifies the exercise, or the trainer creates one or more new exercises for the person.

14. The method of claim 12, additionally comprising a step wherein the trainer reviews and analyzes the result data, wherein the trainer is a medical professional, and wherein the trainer uses the result data to track the person'"'"'s compliance with a prescribed treatment plan.

15. The method of claim 12, additionally comprising a step wherein result data for a plurality of persons are aggregated and analyzed either automatically or by one or more medical professionals, and wherein the results of the analysis are thereafter used to optimize treatment protocols, care management, or both.

16. The method of claim 12, additionally comprising the step of integrating the result data with one or more social networking tools to provide support to the person.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the person has multiple injuries or multiple physical problems, and wherein the exercise is created by the trainer to account for the multiple injuries or multiple physical problems.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein steps (c) and (g) are performed at a location that is physically remote from the location where step (a) is performed.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the trainer is a physical therapist, and wherein the person is a physical therapy patient.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the trainer is an athletic coach or personal trainer, and wherein the person is an athlete.