Systems and methods for administering an exercise program

• US 7,806,806 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2009
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Performance Health Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Performance Health Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Jaquish, Paul Edward, Jaquish, John Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US12/534,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20100113226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482/51, 482900-902, 434247-259, 7337901-37903, 601/23
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0023 for isometric exercising, i.e. substantial force variation without substantial muscle motion
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/58 Measurement of force related parameters by electric or magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• 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: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/901 having computer circuitry

Abstract

Systems and methods for facilitating an isometric contraction exercise regimen for many subjects across a network are provided. One or more exercise constraints are developed for a subject as a function of the medical health information of the subject. The subject performs a plurality of isometric contraction exercises using exercise equipment always in the presence of a personal fitness trainer thereby producing an exercise result. The exercise equipment has a strain gauge in order to impose exercise constraints in the one or more exercise constraints. A mandatory recovery period for the subject is then imposed. During this mandatory recovery period, the subject does not perform isometric contraction exercises. These steps are repeated using a new set of one or more exercise constraints that were refined based upon the exercise result of a previous isometric contraction exercise work out session.

Claims

1. A solid state exercise apparatus for facilitating a fully contracted exercise regimen for a subject comprising:

a casing;

a strain gauge housed within said casing;

a central processing unit housed within said casing;

a memory housed within said casing, coupled to the central processing unit, the memory storing a computer program mechanism, the computer program mechanism comprising;

(A) instructions for receiving one or more exercise constraints, wherein the one or more exercise constraints were determined as a function of the medical health information of said subject by a remote computer;

(B) instructions for computing an exercise result from a plurality of fully contracted exercises that were performed by said subject using said exercise apparatus in the presence of a fitness trainer or health professional, wherein each fully contracted exercise in said plurality of fully contracted exercises places stress on a fully contracted muscle group of the subject, and wherein said exercise apparatus uses said strain gauge in order to impose an exercise constraint in said one or more exercise constraints;

(C) instructions for sending said exercise result to said remote computer; and

(D) instructions for repeating (i) said instructions for receiving (A), (ii) said instructions for computing (B), and (iii) said instructions for sending (C) using a new set of one or more exercise constraints, wherein

said set of one or more exercise constraints were refined based upon the exercise result of a previous instance of said instructions for computing (B); and

wherein

said instructions for repeating are performed after a mandatory recovery period for said subject that was determined by the exercise result of a previous instance of said instructions for computing (B).

2. The solid state exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein an exercise constraint in said one or more exercise constraints is an amount of force that can be used in an isometric contraction exercise in said plurality of isometric contraction exercises.

3. The solid state exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein an exercise constraint in said one or more exercise constraints is a maximum amount of repetitions of a fully contracted exercise in said plurality of fully contracted exercises.

4. The solid state exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mandatory recovery time is a function of the exercise result.

5. The solid state exercise apparatus of claim 3, wherein said exercise result is a length of time that said subject was able to exert a force during said fully contracted exercise.

6. The solid state exercise apparatus of claim 3, wherein said exercise result is an amount of force that said subject was able to exert during said fully contracted exercise.

7. The solid state exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein a fully contracted exercise in said plurality of fully contracted exercises stresses a muscle group to a point of failure.

8. The solid state exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein a length of time of the mandatory recovery period is a function of said exercise result and an experience trend measured among other subjects that use said fully contracted exercise regimen, wherein said other subjects have one or more characteristics in common with said subject.

9. The exercise apparatus of claim 8, wherein a characteristic in said one or more characteristics is a health condition, age, or gender.

10. The solid state exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid state exercise apparatus adjusts to accommodate an anatomical structure of the subject.

11. The solid state exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid state exercise apparatus permits the subject to exercise in a fully contracted position.

12. The solid state exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein only nominal movement due to compression of connective tissue within the body of the subject is incurred during a fully contracted exercise in said plurality of fully contracted exercises.