Fitness triage system and exercise gets personal

• US 6,635,013 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2000
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerobics and Fitness Association of America
• Original Assignee: Aerobics and Fitness Association of America
• Inventors: Pfeffer, Linda
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US09/734,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20020072655A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1-9, 482/900, 482/902, 600/300, 600/301, 128/920-925
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/00 Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements force-resisting aspects A63B21/00; for particular parts of the body, e.g. to strengthen particular limbs or muscles A63B23/00; electric or electronic controls therefor A63B24/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

Exercise Gets Personal® is a system and method for delivering personalized exercise and injury prevention information based on identification and analysis of user-specific health and fitness indicators. By providing instruction for safe and effective cardiovascular, muscle conditioning and flexibility exercises, this invention assists healthy users in improving their physical fitness through exercise. The users'"'"' exercise programs are designed for safe progressions through four-week program guidelines in different levels. The Exercise Gets Personal® system is accessed by the user directly through the Internet or licensed Intranet, or through the guidance of an intake coordinator, personal trainer, or other qualified health/fitness professional.

Claims

1. A data processing apparatus for delivering user-specific exercise and injury prevention information comprising:

a central controller comprising a CPU and a memory operatively connected to said CPU;

at least one terminal for transmitting, to said central controller, user-specific information comprising said user'"'"'s health conditions, physical exercise activities and preferences;

said memory and said central controller comprising a program, for execution by said CPU, for separately and collectively evaluating the risks associated with said user-specific information to determine whether said user may begin an exercise program and, where said user may begin such a program, what cardiovascular exercises, muscle conditioning exercises, or both, are appropriate for said user;

wherein said central controller receives said user-specific information from said terminal and outputs a statement as to whether said user may begin an exercise program, whether said user should obtain medical clearance before beginning such a program, and what cardiovascular exercises, muscle conditioning exercises, or both, are appropriate for said user, where medical clearance is not necessary.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said memory and said central controller and said program also enable a user who may begin a exercise program to access exercise information suitable for said user based on user'"'"'s current habits and preferences.

3. A method of determining whether a user can begin an exercise program, and, where said user may begin such a program, for determining an appropriate exercise program for said user, using a central controller comprising a CPU, a memory operatively connected to said CPU, and a program for execution by said CPU for determining whether said user may begin such a program, and, where said user may begin, for determining an appropriate exercise program for said user, the method comprising the steps of:

inputting user-specific information about said user'"'"'s cardiovascular and muscle conditioning exercises and preferences;

evaluating said user'"'"'s exercises and preferences to determine said user'"'"'s risks associated with said exercises and preferences; and

outputting a user-appropriate exercise program comprising cardiovascular exercises, muscle conditioning exercises, or both.

4. A data processing apparatus for determining whether a user may proceed with an exercise program, and, where said user may proceed with such a program, for determining an appropriate exercise program for said user comprising:

a CPU and a memory operatively connected to said CPU, said memory comprising a program for execution by said CPU, said CPU and memory cooperating to receive user-specific inputs concerning said user'"'"'s health conditions and physical exercise activities and preferences, and to determine, from said user-specific inputs, whether said user may proceed with obtaining an exercise program, and, where said user may proceed, the cardiovascular exercises, muscle conditioning exercises, or both, appropriate for said user, or whether said user should seek medical advice before beginning an exercise program.

5. A method of determining whether a user may begin an exercise program, or whether said user should first obey medical advice before beginning such a program, using a central controller comprising a CPU and a memory operatively connected to said CPU and also comprising a program for execution by said CPU for said determining steps, the method comprising the steps of:

inputting user-specific information about said user'"'"'s health conditions and physical exercise activities and preferences;

individually evaluating the risk associated with said inputs;

collectively evaluating the resulting individual risks;

determining whether said user may begin an exercise program, or whether said user should obtain medical clearance before beginning an exercise program; and

devising an exercise program appropriate for said user by having the CPU execute said program and output said appropriate exercise program, said exercise program including cardiovascular exercises, muscle conditioning exercises, or both, appropriate for said user.