US20220314077A1

US20220314077A1 - Multidimensional exercise control system

Info

Publication number: US20220314077A1
Application number: US17/519,777
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael Bissonnette; Luis Berga; Steven Mason
Original assignee: Rehab2Fit Technologies Inc
Current assignee: Rehab2Fit Technologies Inc
Priority date: 2021-03-30
Filing date: 2021-11-05
Publication date: 2022-10-06
Also published as: US20220314074A1; WO2022212530A1; US20220314072A1

Abstract

A multidimensional exercise control system is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a control system of an exercise machine comprises a memory device storing instructions, a user interface for presenting a video game with an avatar, and a processing device operatively coupled to the memory device and the user interface. The processing device is configured to execute the instructions to receive sensor data from a sensor operatively coupled to an exercise machine, wherein the sensor data comprises one or more measurements; responsive to the one or more measurements, cause the avatar to change a position in the video game; compare the one or more measurements to a target threshold; determine whether the one or more measurement exceed the target threshold; and responsive to determining that the one or more measurements exceed the target threshold, cause the user interface to present a modification to the video game.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/168,175, filed Mar. 30, 2021 and titled “System and Method for an Artificial Intelligence Engine that Uses Multi-Disciplinary Data Source to Determine Comorbidity Information Pertaining to Users and to Generate Exercise Plans for Desired User Goals”. All applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to exercise machines. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a multidimensional exercise control system for users of exercise machines.

BACKGROUND

Exercise and rehabilitation devices, such as an cycling machine and balance equipment, are used to facilitate exercise, strength training, osteogenesis, and/or rehabilitation of a user. A user may perform an exercise (e.g., cycling, balancing, bench press, pull down, arm curl, etc.) using the osteogenic isometric exercise, rehabilitation, and/or strength training equipment to improve osteogenesis, bone growth, bone density, muscular hypertrophy, flexibility, balance, coordination, reduce pain, decrease rehabilitation time, increase strength, or some combination thereof. The isometric exercise, rehabilitation, and/or strength training equipment may include moveable portions onto which the user adds a load or balances. For example, to perform a cycling exercise, the user may sit in a seat, place each of the user's feet on a respective pedal of an cycling machine, and push on the pedals with the user's feet while each of the pedals rotate in a circular motion. To perform a balancing exercise, the user may stand on a balance board and balance on top of the balance board as it shifts in one or more directions. The isometric exercise, rehabilitation, and/or strength training equipment may include non-movable portions onto which the user adds load. For example, to perform a leg-press-style exercise, the user may sit in a seat, place each of the user's feet on a respective foot plate, and push on the feet plates with the user's feet while the foot plates remain in the same position.

SUMMARY

Representative embodiments set forth herein disclose various techniques for a multidimensional exercise control system for users of exercise machines. As used herein, the terms “exercise machine,” “rehabilitation device,” “cycling machine” “balance board,” and “isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly” may be used interchangeably. The terms “exercise machine,” “rehabilitation device,” “cycling machine” “balance board,” and “isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly” may also refer to an osteogenic, strength training, isometric exercise, and/or rehabilitation assembly.
In one embodiment, a control system of an exercise machine is disclosed. The control system comprising a memory device storing instructions, a user interface for presenting a video game with an avatar, and a processing device operatively coupled to the memory device and the user interface. The processing device is configured to execute the instructions to receive sensor data from a sensor operatively coupled to the exercise machine, wherein the sensor data comprises one or more measurements; responsive to the one or more measurements, cause the avatar to change a position in the video game; compare the one or more measurements to a target threshold; determine whether the one or more measurement exceed the target threshold; and responsive to determining that the one or more measurements exceed the target threshold, cause the user interface to present a modification to the video game.
In one embodiment, a method for a control system of an exercise machine is disclosed. The method comprises receiving sensor data from a sensor operatively coupled to the exercise machine, wherein the sensor data comprises one or more measurements; responsive to the one or more measurements, causing an avatar to change a position in a video game; comparing the one or more measurements to a target threshold; determining whether the one or more measurement exceed the target threshold; and responsive to determining that the one or more measurements exceed the target threshold, causing a user interface to present a modification to the video game.
In one embodiment, a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium is disclosed. The computer-readable medium stores instructions that, when executed, cause a processing device to receive sensor data from a sensor operatively coupled to an exercise machine, wherein the sensor data comprises one or more measurements; responsive to the one or more measurements, cause an avatar to change a position in a video game; compare the one or more measurements to a target threshold; determine whether the one or more measurement exceed the target threshold; and responsive to determining that the one or more measurements exceed the target threshold, cause the user interface to present a modification to the video game.
Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a detailed description of example embodiments, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a high-level component diagram of an illustrative system architecture according to certain embodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates an elevated perspective view of one embodiment of an isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly;

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly with a user performing a leg-press-style exercise;

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly with a user performing a chest-press-style exercise;

FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly with a user performing a core-pull-style exercise;

FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of the isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly with a user performing a suitcase-lift-style exercise;

FIG. 9 illustrates four examples of load cells that can be used in the isometric exercise assembly;

FIG. 10 illustrates a side view of a second embodiment of the isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly with the user performing a chest-press-style exercise and a user interface presenting information to the user;

FIG. 11 illustrates a side view of the second embodiment of the isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly with a user performing a suitcase-lift-style exercise and a user interface presenting information to the user;

FIG. 12 illustrates a side view of the second embodiment of the isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly with a user performing an arm-curl-style exercise and a user interface presenting information to the user;

FIG. 13 illustrates a side view of the second embodiment of the isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly with a user performing a leg-press-style exercise and a user interface presenting information to the user;

FIG. 14 illustrates a side view of a third embodiment of the isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly with the user performing a chest-press-style exercise and a user interface presenting information to the user;

FIG. 15 illustrates a side view of the third embodiment of the isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly with the user performing a pull-down-style exercise and a user interface presenting information to the user;

FIG. 16 illustrates a side view of the third embodiment of the isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly with a user performing an arm-curl-style exercise and a user interface presenting information to the user;

FIG. 17 illustrates a side view of the third embodiment of the isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly with a user performing a leg-press-style exercise and a user interface presenting information to the user;

FIG. 18 illustrates a side view of the third embodiment of the isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly with a user performing a suitcase-lift-style exercise and a user interface presenting information to the user;

FIG. 19 illustrates a perspective view of an exercise machine;

FIGS. 20A-B illustrate side views of the exercise machine;

FIG. 21 illustrates a perspective view of another exercise machine;

FIG. 22 illustrates an example user interface presenting a video game;

FIG. 23 illustrates an example user interface presenting requesting user input for a pain level;

FIG. 24 illustrates example operations of a method for presenting a video game to improve compliance with an exercise plan;

FIG. 25 illustrates an example user interface presenting an indication that an exercise is complete and congratulates the user; and

FIG. 26 illustrates an example computer system.

NOTATION AND NOMENCLATURE

Various terms are used to refer to particular system components. Different entities may refer to a component by different names — this document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to . . . .” Also, the term “couple” or “couples” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct connection. Thus, if a first device couples to a second device, that connection may be through a direct connection or through an indirect connection via other devices and connections.
Various terms are used to refer to particular system components. Different entities may refer to a component by different names—this document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to . . . .” Also, the term “couple” or “couples” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct connection. Thus, if a first device couples to a second device, that connection may be through a direct connection or through an indirect connection via other devices and connections.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
The terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections; however, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms, when used herein, do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments. The phrase “at least one of,” when used with a list of items, means that different combinations of one or more of the listed items may be used, and only one item in the list may be needed. For example, “at least one of: A, B, and C” includes any of the following combinations: A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, and A and B and C. In another example, the phrase “one or more” when used with a list of items means there may be one item or any suitable number of items exceeding one.
Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” “top,” “bottom,” and the like, may be used herein. These spatially relative terms can be used for ease of description to describe one element's or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms may also be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use, or operation, in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptions used herein interpreted accordingly.
Moreover, various functions described below can be implemented or supported by one or more computer programs, each of which is formed from computer readable program code and embodied in a computer readable medium. The terms “application” and “program” refer to one or more computer programs, software components, sets of instructions, procedures, functions, objects, classes, instances, related data, or a portion thereof adapted for implementation in a suitable computer readable program code. The phrase “computer readable program code” includes any type of computer code, including source code, object code, and executable code. The phrase “computer readable medium” includes any type of medium capable of being accessed by a computer, such as read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disc (DVD), solid state drives (SSDs), flash memory, or any other type of memory. A “non-transitory” computer readable medium excludes wired, wireless, optical, or other communication links that transport transitory electrical or other signals. A non-transitory computer readable medium includes media where data can be permanently stored and media where data can be stored and later overwritten, such as a rewritable optical disc or an erasable memory device.
The term “bone geometry” may refer to bone diameter, bone density, bone shape, bone cross-section, bone length, bone weight, or any suitable bone dimension(s) and/or measurement(s).
The term “empirical data” may refer to data obtained and/or derived based on observation, experience, measurement, and/or research.
The term “strain,” when used in context with a bone of a user, may refer to an amount, proportion, or degree of deformation of the bone material.
The terms “exercise machine” and “isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly” may be used interchangeably herein.
Definitions for other certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document. Those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As typically healthy people grow from infants to children to adults, they experience bone growth. Such, growth, however, typically stops at approximately age 30. After that point, without interventions as described herein, bone loss (called osteoporosis), can start to occur. This does not mean that the body stops creating new bone. Rather, it means that the rate at which it creates new bone tends to slow, while the rate at which bone loss occurs tends to increase.
In addition, as people age and/or become less active than they once were, they may experience muscle loss. For example, muscles that are not used often may reduce in muscle mass. As a result, the muscles become weaker. In some instances, people may be affected by a disease, such as muscular dystrophy, that causes the muscles to become progressively weaker and to have reduced muscle mass. To increase the muscle mass and/or reduce the rate of muscle loss, people may exercise a muscle to cause muscular hypertrophy, thereby strengthening the muscle as the muscle grows. Muscular hypertrophy may refer to an increase in a size of skeletal muscle through a growth in size of its component cells. There are two factors that contribute to muscular hypertrophy, (i) sarcoplasmic hypertrophy (increase in muscle glycogen storage), and (ii) myofibrillar hypertrophy (increase in myofibril size). The growth in the cells may be caused by an adaptive response that serves to increase an ability to generate force or resist fatigue.
The rate at which such bone or muscle loss occurs generally accelerates as people age. A net growth in bone can ultimately become a net loss in bone, longitudinally across time. By the time, in general, women are over 50 and men are over 70, net bone loss can reach a point where brittleness of the bones is so great that the risk of life-altering fractures can occur. Examples of such fractures include fractures of the hip and femur. Of course, fractures can also occur due to participation in athletics or due to accidents. In such cases, it is just as relevant to have a need for bone growth which heals or speeds the healing of the fracture.
To understand why such fractures occur, it is useful to recognize that bone is itself porous, with a somewhat-honeycomb like structure. This structure may be dense and therefore stronger or it may be variegated, spread out and/or sparse, such latter structure being incapable of continuously or continually supporting the weight (load) stresses experienced in everyday living. When such loads exceed the support capability of the structure at a stressor point or points, a fracture occurs. This is true whether the individual had a fragile bone structure or a strong one: it is a matter of physics, of the literal “breaking point.”
It is therefore preferable to have a means of mitigating or ameliorating bone loss and of healing fractures. Further, it is preferable to encourage new bone growth, thus increasing the density of the structure described hereinabove. The increased bone density may increase the load-bearing capacities of the bone, thus making first or subsequent fractures less likely to occur. Reduced fractures may improve a quality of life of the individual. The process of bone growth itself is referred to as osteogenesis, literally the creation of bone.
It is also preferable to have a means for mitigating or ameliorating muscle mass loss and weakening of the muscles. Further, it is preferable to encourage muscle growth by increasing the muscle mass through exercise. The increased muscle mass may enable a person to exert more force with the muscle and/or to resist fatigue in the muscle for a longer period of time.
In order to create new bone, at least three factors are necessary. First, the individual must have a sufficient intake of calcium, but second, in order to absorb that calcium, the individual must have a sufficient intake and absorption of Vitamin D, a matter problematic for those who have cystic fibrosis, who have undergone gastric bypass surgery or have other absorption disorders or conditions which limit absorption. Separately, supplemental estrogen for women and supplemental testosterone for men can further ameliorate bone loss. On the other hand, abuse of alcohol and smoking can harm one's bone structure. Medical conditions such as, without limitation, rheumatoid arthritis, renal disease, overactive parathyroid glands, diabetes or organ transplants can also exacerbate osteoporosis. Ethical pharmaceuticals such as, without limitation, hormone blockers, seizure medications and glucocorticoids are also capable of inducing such exacerbations. But even in the absence of medical conditions as described hereinabove, Vitamin D and calcium taken together do not create osteogenesis to a desirable degree or ameliorate bone loss to a desirable degree.
To achieve osteogenesis, therefore, one must add in the third factor: exercise. Specifically, one must subject one's bones to a force at least equal to certain multiple of body weight, such multiples varying depending on the individual and the specific bone in question. As used herein, “MOB” means Multiples of Body Weight. It has been determined through research that subjecting a given bone to a certain threshold MOB (this may also be known as a “weight-bearing exercise”), even for an extremely short period of time, one simply sufficient to exceed the threshold MOB, encourages and fosters osteogenesis in that bone.
Further, a person can achieve muscular hypertrophy by exercising the muscles for which increased muscle mass is desired. Strength training and/or resistance exercise may cause muscle tissue to increase. For example, pushing against or pulling on a stationary object with a certain amount of force may trigger the cells in the associated muscle to change and cause the muscle mass to increase.
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a control system for an exercise machine, not only capable of enabling an individual, preferably an older, less mobile individual or preferably an individual recovering from a fracture, to engage easily in osteogenic exercises and/or muscle strengthening exercises, but capable of using predetermined thresholds or dynamically calculating them, such that the person using the machine can be immediately informed through real-time visual and/or other sensorial feedback, that the osteogenic threshold has been exceeded, thus triggering osteogenesis for the subject bone (or bones), and/or that the muscular strength threshold has been exceeded, thereby triggering muscular hypertrophy for the subject muscle (or muscles). The control system may be used to improve compliance with an exercise plan including one or more exercises.
The control system may receive one or more load measurements associated with forces exerted by both the left and right sides on left and right portions (e.g., handles, foot plate or platform) of the exercise machine to enhance osteogenesis, bone growth, bone density improvement, and/or muscle mass. The one or more load measurements may be a left load measurement of a load added to a left load cell on a left portion of the exercise machine and a right load measurement of a load added to a right load cell on a right portion of the exercise machine. A user interface may be provided by the control system that presents visual representations of the separately measured left load and right load where the respective left load and right load are added to the respective left load cell and right load cell at the subject portions of the exercise machine.
In some embodiments, initially, the control system may receive load measurements via a data channel associated with each exercise of the machine. For example, there may be a data channel for a leg-press-style exercise, a pull-down-style exercise, a suitcase-lift-style exercise, an arm-curl-style exercise, and so forth. Each data channel may include one or more load cells (e.g., a left load cell and a right load cell) that measure added load or applied force and transmit the load measurement to the control system via its respective data channel. The control system may receive the load measurements from each of the data channels at a first rate (e.g., 1 Hertz). If the control system detects a load from a data channel (e.g., hands resting on the handles including the respective load cells, or feet resting on the feet plate including the respective load cells), the control system may set that data channel as active and start reading load measurements from that data channel at a second rate (e.g., 10 Hertz) that is higher than the first rate. Further, the control system may set the other exercises associated with the other data channels as inactive and stop reading load measurements from the other data channels until the active exercise is complete. The active exercise may be complete when the one or more load measurements received via the data channel exceed one or more target thresholds. In some embodiments, the control system may determine an average load measurement by accumulating raw load measurements over a certain period of time (e.g., 5 seconds) and averaging the raw load measurements to smooth the data (e.g., eliminates jumps or spikes in data) in an average load measurement.
The control system may compare the one or more load measurements (e.g., raw load measurements, or averaged load measurements) to one or more target thresholds. In some embodiments, a single load measurement may be compared to a single specific target threshold (e.g., a one-to-one relationship). In some embodiments, a single load measurement may be compared to more than one specific target threshold (e.g., a one-to-many relationship). In some embodiments, more than one load measurement may be compared to a single specific target threshold (e.g., a many-to-one relationship). In some embodiments, more than one load measurement may be compared to more than one specific target threshold (e.g., a many-to-many relationship).
The target thresholds may be an osteogenesis target threshold, a muscular strength target threshold, and/or a rehabilitation threshold. The osteogenesis target threshold may be determined based on a disease protocol pertaining to the user, an age of the user, a gender of the user, a sex of the user, a height of the user, a weight of the user, a bone density of the user, etc. A disease protocol may refer to any illness, disease, fracture, or ailment experienced by the user and any treatment instructions provided by a caretaker for recovery and/or healing. The disease protocol may also include a condition of health where the goal is avoid a problem. The muscular strength target threshold may be determined based on a historical performance of the user using the exercise machine (e.g., amount of pounds lifted for a particular exercise, amount of force applied associated with each body part, etc.) and/or other exercise machines, a fitness level (e.g., how active the user is) of the user, a diet of the user, a protocol for determining a muscular strength target, etc. The rehabilitation target threshold may be determined based on historical performance of the user using the exercise machine (e.g., amount of force applied associated with each body part, speed of cycling, level of stability, etc.) and/or other exercise machines, a fitness level (e.g., how active the user is, the flexibility of the user,) of the user, a diet of the user, an exercise plan for determining a rehabilitation target, the condition of the user (e.g., type of surgery the user underwent, the type of injury the user sustained), physical characteristics of the user (e.g., an age of the user, a gender of the user, a sex of the user, a height of the user, a weight of the user, a bone density of the user), condition of the user's body part(s) (e.g., the pain level of a user), an exertion level of a user (e.g., how easy/hard the exercise session is for the user), any other suitable characteristic, or combination thereof.
The control system may determine whether the one or more load measurements exceed the one or more target thresholds. Responsive to determining that the one or more load measurements exceed the one or more target thresholds, the control system may cause a user interface to present an indication that the one or more target thresholds have been exceeded and an exercise is complete. Additionally, when the one or more target thresholds are exceeded, the control system may cause the user interface to present an indication that instructs the user to apply additional force (less than a safety limit) to attempt to set a personal maximum record of weight lifted, pressed, pulled, or otherwise exert force thereupon for that exercise.
Further, the user interface may present an indication when a load measurement is approaching a target threshold for the user. In another example, when the load measurement exceeds the target threshold, the user interface may present an indication that the target threshold has been exceeded, that the exercise is complete, and if there are any remaining incomplete exercises in the exercise plan, that there is another exercise to be completed by the user. If there are no remaining exercises in the exercise plan to complete, then the user interface may present an indication that all exercises in the exercise plan are complete and the user can rest. In addition, when the exercise plan is complete, the control system may generate a performance report that presents various information (e.g., charts and graphs of the right and left load measurements received during each of the exercises, left and right maximum loads for the user received during each of the exercises, historical right and left load measurements received in the past, comparison of the current right and left load measurements with the historical right and left load measurement, an amount of pounds lifted or pressed that is determined based on the load measurements for each of the exercises, percent gained in load measurements over time, etc.).
Further, the one or more load measurements may each be compared to a safety limit. For example, a left load measurement and a right load measurement may each be compared to the safety limit for the user. The safety limit may be determined for the user based on the user's disease protocol. There may be different safety limits for different portions of the user's body on the left and the right side, one extremity versus another extremity, a top portion of the user's body and a body portion of the user's body, etc., and for different exercises. For example, if someone underwent left knee surgery, the safety limit for a user for a left load measurement for a leg-press-style exercise may be different from the safety limit for a right load measurement for that exercise and user. If the safety limit is exceeded, an indication may be presented on the user interface to instruct to reduce the amount of force the user is applying and/or to instruct the user to stop applying force because the safety limit is exceeded.
For those with any or all of the osteoporosis-exacerbating medical conditions described herein, such a control system and exercise machine can slow the rate of net bone loss by enabling osteogenesis to occur without exertions which would not be possible for someone whose health is fragile, not robust. Another benefit of the present disclosure, therefore, is its ability to speed the healing of fractures in athletically robust individuals. Further, another benefit is the increase in muscle mass by using the exercise machine to trigger muscular hypertrophy. The control system may provide an automated interface that improves compliance with an exercise plan by using a real-time feedback loop to measure loads added during each of the exercises, compare the load measurements to target thresholds and/or safety limits that are uniquely determined for the user using the exercise machine, and provide various indications based on the comparison. For example, the indications pertain to when the user should add more load, when the target thresholds are exceeded, when the safety limit is exceeded, when the exercise is complete, when the user should begin another exercise, and so forth.
Bone Exercises and Their Benefits
The following exercises achieve bone strengthening results by exposing relevant parts of a user to isometric forces which are selected multiples of body weight (MOB) of the user, a threshold level above which bone mineral density increases. A MOB may be any fraction or rational number excluding zero. The specific MOB-multiple threshold necessary to effect such increases will naturally vary from individual to individual and may be more or less for any given individual. “Bone-strengthening,” as used herein, specifically includes, without limitation, a process of osteogenesis, whether due to the creation of new bone as a result of an increase in the bone mineral density; or proximately to the introduction or causation of microfractures in the underlying bone. The exercises referred to are as follows.
Leg Press
A leg-press-style exercise to improve isometric muscular strength in the following key muscle groups: gluteals, hamstrings, quadriceps, spinal extensors and grip muscles as well as to increase resistance to skeletal fractures in leg bones such as the femur. In one example, the leg-press-style exercise can be performed approximately 4.2 MOB or more of the user.
Chest Press
A chest-press-style exercise to improve isometric muscular strength in the following key muscle groups: pectorals, deltoids, and tricep and grip muscles as well as in increasing resistance to skeletal fractures in the humerus, clavicle, radial, ulnar and rib pectoral regions. In one example, the chest-press-style exercise can be performed at approximately 2.5 MOB or more of the user.
Suitcase Lift
A suitcase-lift-style exercise to improve isometric muscular strength in the following key muscle groups: gluteals, hamstrings, quadriceps, spinal extensors, abdominals, and upper back and grip muscles as well as to increase resistance to skeletal fractures in the femur and spine. In one example, the suitcase-lift-style exercise can be performed at approximately 2.5 MOB or more of the user.
Arm Curl
An arm-curl-style exercise to improve isometric muscular strength in the following key muscle groups: biceps, brachialis, brachioradialis, grip muscles and trunk as well as in increasing resistance to skeletal fractures in the humerus, ribs and spine. In one example, the arm-curl-style exercise can be performed at approximately 1.5 MOB or more of the user.
Core Pull
A core-pull-style exercise to improve isometric muscular strength in the following key muscle groups: elbow flexors, grip muscles, latissimus dorsi, hip flexors and trunk as well as in increasing resistance to skeletal fractures in the ribs and spine. In one example, the core-pull-style exercise can be performed at approximately 1.5 MOB or more of the user.
Grip Strength
A grip-strengthening-style exercise which may preferably be situated around a station in an exercise machine, in order to improve strength in the muscles of the hand and forearm. Grip strength is medically salient because it has been positively correlated with better states of health.
The following discussion is directed to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Although these embodiments are given as examples, the embodiments disclosed should not be interpreted, or otherwise used, as limiting the scope of the disclosure, including the claims. In addition, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the following description has broad application, and the discussion of any embodiment is meant only to be exemplary of that embodiment, and not intended to intimate that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to that embodiment.
FIG. 1 illustrates a high-level component diagram of an illustrative system architecture 10 according to certain embodiments of this disclosure. In some embodiments, the system architecture 10 may include a computing device 12 communicatively coupled to an exercise machine 100. The computing device 12 may also be communicatively coupled with a computing device 15 and a cloud-based computing system 16. As used herein, a cloud-based computing system refers, without limitation, to any remote or distal computing system accessed over a network link. Each of the computing device 12, computing device 15, and/or the exercise machine 100 may include one or more processing devices, memory devices, and network interface devices. In some embodiments, the computing device 12 may be included as part of the structure of the exercise machine 100. In some embodiments, the computing device 12 may be separate from the exercise machine 100. For example, the computing device 12 may be a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or the like.
The network interface devices may enable communication via a wireless protocol for transmitting data over short distances, such as Bluetooth, ZigBee, near field communication (NFC), etc. In some embodiments, the computing device 12 is communicatively coupled to the exercise machine 100 via Bluetooth. Additionally, the network interface devices may enable communicating data over long distances, and in one example, the computing device 12 may communicate with a network 20. Network 20 may be a public network (e.g., connected to the Internet via wired (Ethernet) or wireless (WiFi)), a private network (e.g., a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), virtual private network (VPN)), or a combination thereof.
The computing device 12 may be any suitable computing device, such as a laptop, tablet, smartphone, or computer. The computing device 12 may include a display that is capable of presenting a user interface 18 of an application 17. The application 17 may be implemented in computer instructions stored on the one or more memory devices of the computing device 12 and executable by the one or more processing devices of the computing device 12. The application 17 may be a stand-alone application that is installed on the computing device 12 or may be an application (e.g., website) that executes via a web browser. The user interface 18 may present various screens to a user that enable the user to login, enter personal information (e.g., health information; a disease protocol prescribed by a physician, trainer, or caretaker; age; gender; activity level; bone density; weight; height; patient measurements; etc.), view an exercise plan, initiate an exercise in the exercise plan, view visual representations of left load measurements and right load measurements that are received from left load cells and right load cells during the exercise, view a weight in pounds that are pushed, lifted, or pulled during the exercise, view an indication when the user has almost reached a target threshold, view an indication when the user has exceeded the target thresholds, view an indication when the user has set a new personal maximum for a load measurement and/or pounds pushed, lifted, or pulled, view an indication when a load measurement exceeds a safety limit, view an indication to instruct the user to begin another exercise, view an indication that congratulates the user for completing all exercises in the exercise plan, and so forth, as described in more detail below. The computing device 12 may also include instructions stored on the one or more memory devices that, when executed by the one or more processing devices of the computing device 12, perform operations to control the exercise machine 100.
The computing device 15 may execute an application 21. The application 21 may be implemented in computer instructions stored on the one or more memory devices of the computing device 15 and executable by the one or more processing devices of the computing device 15. The application 21 may present a user interface 22 including various screens to a physician, trainer, or caregiver that enable the person to create an exercise plan for a user based on a treatment (e.g., surgery, medical procedure, etc.) the user underwent and/or injury (e.g., sprain, tear, fracture, etc.) the user suffered, view progress of the user throughout the exercise plan, and/or view measured properties (e.g., force exerted on portions of the exercise machine 100) of the user during exercises of the exercise plan. The exercise plan specific to a patient may be transmitted via the network 20 to the cloud-based computing system 16 for storage and/or to the computing device 12 so the patient may begin the exercise plan. The exercise plan may specifying one or more exercises that are available at the exercise machine 100.
The exercise machine 100 may be an osteogenic, muscular strengthening, isometric exercise and/or rehabilitation assembly. Solid state, static, or isometric exercise and rehabilitation equipment (e.g., exercise machine 100) can be used to facilitate osteogenic exercises that are isometric in nature and/or to facilitate muscular strengthening exercises. Such exercise and rehabilitation equipment can include equipment in which there are no moving parts while the user is exercising. While there may be some flexing under load, incidental movement resulting from the tolerances of interlocking parts, and parts that can move while performing adjustments on the exercise and rehabilitation equipment, these flexions and movements can comprise, without limitation, exercise and rehabilitation equipment from the field of isometric exercise and rehabilitation equipment.
The exercise machine 100 may include various load cells 110 disposed at various portions of the exercise machine 100. For example, one or more left load cells 110 may be located at one or more left feet plates or platforms, and one or more right load cells may be located at one or more right feet plates or platforms. Also, one or more left load cells may be located at one or more left handles, and one or more right load cells may be located at one or more right handles. Each exercise in the exercise system may be associated with both a left and a right portion (e.g., handle or foot plate) of the exercise machine 100. For example, a leg-press-style exercise is associated with a left foot plate and a right foot plate. The left load cell at the left foot plate and the right load cell at the right foot plate may independently measure a load added onto the left foot plate and the right foot plate, respectively, and transmit the left load measurement and the right load measurement to the computing device 12. The load added onto the load cells 110 may represent an amount of weight added onto the load cells. In some embodiments, the load added onto the load cells 110 may represent an amount of force exerted by the user on the load cells. Accordingly, the left load measurement and the right load measurement may be used to present a left force (e.g., in Newtons) and a right force (e.g., in Newtons). The left force and right force may be totaled and converted into a total weight in pounds for the exercise. Each of the left force, the right force, and/or the total weight in pounds may be presented on the user interface 18.
In some embodiments, the cloud-based computing system 16 may include one or more servers 28 that form a distributed, grid, and/or peer-to-peer (P2P) computing architecture. Each of the servers 28 may include one or more processing devices, memory devices, data storage, and/or network interface devices. The servers 28 may be in communication with one another via any suitable communication protocol. The servers 28 may store profiles for each of the users that use the exercise machine 100. The profiles may include information about the users such as one or more disease protocols, one or more exercise plans, a historical performance (e.g., loads applied to the left load cell and right load cell, total weight in pounds, etc.) for each type of exercise that can be performed using the exercise machine 100, health, age, race, credentials for logging into the application 17, and so forth.
FIGS. 2-8 illustrates one or more embodiments of an osteogenic, isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly. An aspect of the disclosure includes an isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly 100. The assembly 100 can include a frame 102. The assembly can further include one or more pairs of load handles 104, 106, 108 (e.g., three shown) supported by the frame 102. Each load handle in one of the pairs of load handles 104, 106, 108 can be symmetrically spaced from each other relative to a vertical plane of the assembly 100. For example, the vertical plane can bisect the assembly 100 in a longitudinal direction.
During exercise, a user can grip and apply force to one of the pairs of load handles 104, 106, 108. The term “apply force” can include a single force, more than one force, a range of forces, etc. and may be used interchangeably with “addition of load”. Each load handle in the pairs of load handles 104, 106, 108 can include at least one load cell 110 for separately and independently measuring a force applied to, or a load added onto, respective load handles. Further, each foot plate 118 (e.g., a left foot plate and a right foot plate) can include at least one load cell 110 for separately and independently measuring a force applied to, or a load added onto, respective foot plates.
The placement of a load cell 110 in each pair of load handles 104, 106, 108 and/or feet plates 118 can provide the ability to read variations in force applied between the left and right sides of the user. This allows a user or trainer to understand relative strength. This is also useful in understanding strength when recovering from an injury.
In some embodiments, the assembly further can include the computing device 12. One or more of the load cells 110 can be individually in electrical communication with the computing device 12 either via a wired or wireless connection. In some embodiments, the user interface 18 presented via a display of the computing device 12 may indicate how to perform an exercise, how much force is being applied, a target force to be applied, historical information for the user about how much force they applied at prior sessions, comparisons to averages, etc., as well as additional information, recommendations, notifications, and/or indications described herein.
In some embodiments, the assembly further includes a seat 112 supported by the frame 102 in which a user sits while applying force to the load handles and/or feet plates. In some embodiments, the seat 112 can include a support such as a backboard 114. In some embodiments, the position of the seat 112 is adjustable in a horizontal and/or vertical dimension. In some embodiments, the angle of the seat 112 is adjustable. In some embodiments, the angle of the backboard 114 is adjustable. Examples of how adjustments to the seat 112 and backboard 112 can be implemented include, but are not limited to, using telescoping tubes and pins, hydraulic pistons, electric motors, etc. In some embodiments, the seat 112 can further include a fastening system 116 (FIG. 7), such as a seat belt, for securing the user to the seat 112.
In one example, the seat 112 can include a base 113 that is slidably mounted to a horizontal rail 111 of the frame 102. The seat 112 can be selectively repositionable and secured as indicated by the double-headed arrow. In another example, the seat 112 can include one or more supports 117 (e.g., two shown) that are slidably mounted to a substantially vertical rail 115 of the frame 102. The seat 112 can be selectively repositionable and secured as indicated by the double-headed arrow.
In some embodiments, a pair of feet plate 118 can be located angled toward and in front of the seat 112. The user can apply force to the feet plate 118 (FIG. 5) while sitting in the seat 112 during a leg-press-style exercise. The leg-press-style exercise can provide or enable osteogenesis, bone growth or bone density improvement for a portion of the skeletal system of the user. Further, the leg-press-style exercise can provide or enable muscular hypertrophy for one or more muscles of the user. In a leg-press-style exercise, the user can sit in the seat 112, place their feet on respective feet plates 118, and push on the pair of feet plate 118 using their legs.
In some embodiments, adjustments can be made to the position of the pair of feet plate 118. For example, these adjustments can include the height of the pair of feet plate 118, the distance between the pair of feet plate 118 and the seat 112, the distance between each handle of the pair of feet plate 118, the angle of the pair of feet plate 118 relative to the user, etc. In some embodiments, to account for natural differences in limb length or injuries, each foot plate of the pair of feet plate 118 can be adjusted separately.
In some embodiments, a first pair of load handles 104 can be located above and in front of the seat 112. The user can apply force to the load handles 104 (FIG. 7) while being constrained in the seat 112 by the fastening system 116 in a core-pull-style exercise. The core-pull-style exercise can provide or enable osteogenesis, bone growth or bone density improvement for a portion of the skeletal system of the user. Further, the core-pull-style exercise can provide or enable muscular hypertrophy for one or more muscles of the user. In a core-pull-style exercise, while the lower body of the user is restrained from upward movement by the fastening system 116, the user can sit in the seat 112, apply the fastening system 116, hold the first pair of load handles 104, and pull on the first pair of load handles 104 using their arms.
In some embodiments, adjustments can be made to the position of the first pair of load handles 104. For example, these adjustments can include the height of the first pair of load handles 104, the distance between the first pair of load handles 104 and the seat 112, the distance between each handle of the first pair of load handles 104, the angle of the first load handles 104 relative to the user, etc. In some embodiments, to account for natural differences in limb length or injuries, each handle of the first pair of load handles 104 can be adjusted separately.
In one example, the first pair of load handles 104 can include a sub-frame 103 that is slidably mounted to a vertical rail 105 of the frame 102. The first pair of load handles 104 can be selectively repositionable and secured as indicated by the double-headed arrow.
In some embodiments, a second pair of load handles 106 can be spaced apart from and in the front of the seat 112. While seated (FIG. 6), the user can apply force to the second pair of load handles 106 in a chest-press-style exercise. The chest-press-style exercise can provide or enable osteogenesis, bone growth or bone density improvement for another portion of the skeletal system of the user. Further, the chest-press-style exercise can provide or enable muscular hypertrophy for one or more muscles of the user. In a chest-press-style exercise, the user can sit in the seat 112, hold the second pair of load handles 106, and push against the second pair of load handles 106 with their arms.
In some embodiments, adjustments can be made to the position of the second pair of load handles 106. These adjustments can include the height of the second pair of load handles 106, the distance between the second pair of load handles 106 and the seat 112, the distance between each handle of the second pair of load handles 106, the angle of the second load handles 106 relative to the user, etc. In some embodiments, to account for natural differences in limb length or injuries, each handle of the second pair of load handles 106 can be adjusted separately.
In one example, the second pair of load handles 106 can include the sub-frame 103 that is slidably mounted to the vertical rail 105 of the frame 102. The sub-frame 103 can be the same sub-frame 103 provided for the first pair of load handles 104, or a different, independent sub-frame. The second pair of load handles 106 can be selectively repositionable and secured as indicated by the double-headed arrow.
In some embodiments (FIG. 8), a third pair of load handles 108 can be located immediately adjacent the seat 112, such that the user can stand and apply force in a suitcase-lift-style exercise. The suitcase-lift-style exercise can provide or enable osteogenesis, bone growth or bone density improvement for still another portion of the skeletal system of the user. Further, the suitcase-lift-style exercise can provide or enable muscular hypertrophy for one or more muscles of the user. Examples of the third pair of load handles 108 can extend horizontally along a pair of respective axes that are parallel to the vertical plane. The third pair of load handles 108 can be horizontally co-planar, such that a user can apply force to them in a suitcase-lift-style exercise. In the suitcase-lift-style exercise, the user can stand on the floor or a horizontal portion of the frame 102, bend their knees, grip the third pair of load handles 108, and extend their legs to apply an upward force to the third pair of load handles 108.
In some embodiments, adjustments can be made to the position of the third pair of load handles 108. These adjustments can include the height of the third pair of load handles 108, the distance between the third pair of load handles 108 and the seat 112, the distance between each handle of the third pair of load handles 108, the angle of the third load handles 108 relative to the user, etc. In some embodiments, to account for natural differences in limb length or injuries, each handle of the third pair of load handles 108 can be adjusted separately.
In one example, each load handle 108 of the third pair of load handles 108 can include a sub-frame 109 that is slidably mounted in or to a vertical tube 107 of the frame 102. Each load handle 108 of the third pair of load handles 108 can be selectively repositionable and secured as indicated by the double-headed arrows.
In other embodiments (not shown), the third pair of load handles 108 can be reconfigured to be coaxial and located horizontally in front of the user along an axis that is perpendicular to the vertical plane. The user can apply force to the third pair of load handles 108 in a deadlift-style exercise. Like the suitcase-lift-style exercise, the deadlift-style exercise can provide or enable osteogenesis, bone growth or bone density improvement for a portion of the skeletal system of the user. Further, the deadlift-style exercise can provide or enable muscular hypertrophy for one or more muscles of the user. In the deadlift-style exercise, the user can stand on the floor or a horizontal portion of the frame 102, bend their knees, hold the third pair of load handles 108 in front of them, and extend their legs to apply an upward force to the third pair of load handles 108. In some embodiments, the third pair of load handles 108 can be adjusted (e.g., rotated) from the described coaxial position used for the deadlift-style exercise, to the parallel position (FIGS. 7, 8) used for the suitcase lift-style exercise. The third pair of load handles 108, or others, can be used in a grip strengthening-style exercise to improve strength in the muscles of the hand and forearm.
FIG. 9 depicts several options for the load cells 110. In some embodiments, the load cells 110 can be piezoelectric load cells, such as PACEline CLP Piezoelectric Subminiature Load Washers. In other embodiments, the load cells 110 can be hydraulic load cells, such as NOSHOK hydraulic load cells. In some versions, the load cells 110 can include strain gauges. Embodiments of the strain gauges can be bending-type strain gauges, such as Omega SGN-4/20-PN 4 mm grid, 20 ohm nickel foil resistors. Other examples of the strain gauges can be double-bending-type strain gauges 1202, such as Rudera Sensor RSL 642 strain gauges. Still other embodiments of the strain gauges can be half-bridge-type strain gauges 1204, such as Onyehn 4pcs 50kg Human Scale Load Cell Resistance Half-bridge/Amplifier Strain Weight Sensors with 1pcs HX711 AD Weight Modules for Arduino DIY Electronic Scale strain gauges. In some embodiments, the strain gauges can be S-type strain gauges 1206, such as SENSORTRONICS S-TYPE LOAD CELL 60001 strain gauges. Additionally, the strain gauges can be button-type strain gauges 1208, such as Omega LCGB-250 250 lb Capacity Load Cells. Naturally, the load cells 110 can comprise combinations of these various examples. The embodiments described herein are not limited to these examples.
FIG. 10-13 illustrate views of a second embodiment of the isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly 100. FIG. 10 illustrates a side view of the second embodiment of the isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly 100 with the user performing a chest-press-style exercise and a user interface 18 presenting information to the user. As depicted, the user is the gripping second pair of load handles 106. A left load cell 110 and a right load cell 110 may be located at a left load handle 106 and a right load handle 106, respectively, in the second pair of load handles 106. The user may push on the second pair of load handles 106 to add load to the left load cell 110 and the right load cell 110. The left load cell 110 may transmit a left load measurement to the computing device 102, and the right load cell 110 may transmit a right load measurement to the computing device 102. The computing device 102 may use the load measurements to provide various real-time feedback on the user interface 18 as the user performs the chest-press-style exercise.
In general, the user interface 18 may present real-time visual feedback of the current load measurements or the current forces corresponding to the load measurements, a weight in pounds associated with the load measurements, incentive messages that encourage the user to exceed target thresholds (e.g., to trigger osteogenesis and/or muscular hypertrophy) and/or set personal records for maximum loads, historical performance of the user performing the exercise, and/or scripted prompts that display images of one or more body portions indicating proper technique for performing the exercise. The control system may provide various visual, audio, and/or haptic feedback to encourage the user to exceed their target thresholds.
Initially, when the user has not added load onto any portion of the exercise machine 100 including one or more load cells 110, the computing system 12 may be operating in an idle mode. During the idle mode, the computing system 12 may be receiving load measurements at a first frequency from each data channel associated with an exercise. For example, there may be four data channels, one for each of a chest-press-style exercise, a leg-press-style exercise, a suitcase-lift-style exercise, and a pulldown-style exercise. Although four data channels are described for explanatory purposes, it should be understood that there may be any suitable number of data channels, where “any” refers to one or more. Each data channel may provide load measurements to the computing device 12 from a respective left load cell and a respective right load cell that are located at the portion of the exercise machine 100 where the user pushes or pulls for the respective exercises. The user interface 18 may present the load measurement from each left and right load cells (e.g., 8 load measurements for the 4 data channels associated with the 4 exercises). Further, any target thresholds and/or safety limits for the user performing the exercises may be presented on the user interface 18 during the idle mode. For example, a left target threshold, a right target load threshold, a safety limit, and/or a total weight target threshold for each of the exercises may be presented on the user interface 18 during the idle mode.
If the computing device 12 detects a minimum threshold amount of load (e.g., at least 10 pound-force (lbf)) added onto any of the load cells, the computing device switches from an idle mode to an exercise mode. The data channel including the load cell that sent the detected load measurement may be set to active by the computing device 12. Further, the computing device 12 may set the other data channels to inactive and may stop receiving load measurements from the load cells corresponding to the inactive data channels. The computing device 12 may begin reading data from the load cells at the active data channel at a second frequency higher (e.g., high frequency data collection) than the first frequency when the computing device 12 was operating in the idle mode. Further, the user interface 18 may switch to presenting information pertaining to the exercise associated with the active data channel and stop presenting information pertaining to the exercises associated with the inactive data channels.
For example, the user may grip the second pair of handles 106 and apply force. The computing device 102 may detect the load from the load cells 110 located at the second pair of handles 106 and may set the data channel associated with the chest-press-style exercise to active to begin high frequency data collection from the load cells 110 via the active data channel.
As depicted, the user interface 18 presents a left load measurement 1000 as a left force and a right load measurement 1002 as a right force in real-time or near real-time as the user is pressing on the second pair of handles 106. The values of the forces for the left load measurement 1000 and the right load measurement 1002 are presented. There are separate visual representations for the left load measurement 1000 and the right load measurement 1002. In some embodiments, these load measurements 1000 and 1002 may be represented in a bar char, line chart, graph, or any suitable visual representation. In some embodiments, a left target threshold and a right target threshold for the user may be presented on the user interface 18. In some embodiments, there may be more than one left target threshold and more than one right target threshold. For example, the left target thresholds may relate to an osteogenesis target threshold determined using a user's disease protocol and/or a muscular strength target threshold determined using a historical performance of the user for a particular exercise. The right target thresholds may relate to an osteogenesis target threshold determined using a user's disease protocol and/or a muscular strength target threshold determined using a historical performance of the user for a particular exercise. For example, if the user fractured their left arm and is rehabilitating the left arm, but the user's right arm is healthy, the left osteogenesis target threshold may be different from the right osteogenesis target threshold.
If the left load measurement 1000 exceeds any of the left target thresholds, an indication (e.g., starburst) may be presented on the user interface 18 indicating that the particular left target threshold has been exceeded and/or osteogenesis and/or muscular hypertrophy has been triggered in one or more portions of the body. If the right load measurement 1002 exceeds any of the right target thresholds, an indication (e.g., starburst) may be presented on the user interface 18 indicating that the particular right target threshold has been exceeded and/or osteogenesis and/or muscular hypertrophy has been triggered in another portion of the body. Further, if either or both of the left and right target thresholds are exceeded, the indication may indicate that the exercise is complete and a congratulatory message may be presented on the user interface 18. In some embodiments, another message may be presented on the user interface 18 that encourages the user to continue adding load to set a new personal maximum left load measurement and/or right load measurement for the exercise.
In some embodiments, there may be a single target threshold to which both the left load measurement and the right load measurement are compared. If either of the left or right load measurement exceed the single target threshold, the above-described indication may be presented on the user interface 18.
In some embodiments, there may be a single safety limit to which the left and right load measurements are compared. The single safety limit may be determined based on the user's disease protocol (e.g., what type of disease the user has, a severity of the disease, an age of the user, the height of the user, the weight of the user, what type of injury the user sustained, what type of surgery the user underwent, the portion of the body affected by the disease, the exercise plan to rehabilitate the user's body, instructions from a caregiver, etc.). If either or both of the left and right load measurements exceed the single safety limit, an indication may be presented on the user interface 18. The indication may warn the user that the safety limit has been exceeded and recommend to reduce the amount of load added to the load cells 110 associated with the exercise being performed by the user.
In some embodiments, more than one safety limit may be used. For example, if the user is rehabilitating a left leg, but a right leg is healthy, there may be a left safety limit that is determined for the left leg based on the user's disease protocol and there may be a right safety limit for the left leg determined based on the user's disease protocol. The left load measurement may be compared to the left safety limit, and the right load measurement may be compared to the right safety limit. If either or both the left load measurement and/or the right load measurement exceed the left safety limit and/or the right safety limit, respectively, an indication may be presented on the user interface 18. The indication may warn the user that the respective safety limit has been exceeded and recommend to reduce the amount of load added to the load cells 110 associated with the exercise being performed by the user.
Further, a total weight 1004 in pounds that is determined based on the left and right load measurements is presented on the user interface 18. The total weight 1004 may dynamically change as the user adds load onto the load cells 110. A target weight 1006 for the exercise for the current day is also presented. This target weight 1006 may be determined based on the user's historical performance for the exercise. If the total weight 1004 exceeds the target weight 1006, an indication (e.g., starburst) may be presented on the user interface 18 indicating that osteogenesis and/or muscular hypertrophy has been triggered. Further, the indication may indicate that the exercise is complete and a congratulatory message may be presented on the user interface 18. In some embodiments, another message may be presented on the user interface 18 that encourages the user to continue adding load to set a new personal maximum record for the exercise.
Additionally, the user interface 18 may present a left grip strength 1008 and a right grip strength 1010. In some embodiments, the left grip strength and the right grip strength may be determined based on the left load measurement and the right load measurement, respectively. Numerical values representing the left grip strength 1008 and the right grip strength 1010 are displayed. Any suitable visual representation may be used to present the grip strengths (e.g., bar chart, line chart, etc.). The grip strengths may only be presented when the user is performing an exercise using handles.
The user interface 18 may also present a prompt 1012 that indicates the body position the user should be in to perform the exercise, as well as indicate which body portions will be targeted by performing the exercise. The user interface 18 may present other current and historical information related to the user performing the particular exercise. For example, the user interface 18 may present a visual representation 1014 of the user's maximum weight lifted, pressed, pulled, or otherwise exerted force for the day or a current exercise session. The user interface 18 may present a visual representation 1016 of the user's previous maximum weight lifted, pressed, pulled, or otherwise exerted force. The user interface 18 may present a visual representation 1018 of the user's maximum weight lifted, pressed, pulled, or otherwise exerted force the first time the user performed the exercise. The user interface 18 may present one or more visual representations 1020 for a weekly goal including how many sessions should be performed in the week and progress of the sessions as they are being performed. The user interface 18 may present a monthly goal including how many sessions should be performed in the month and progress of the sessions as they are being performed. Additional information and/or indications (e.g., incentivizing messages, recommendations, warnings, congratulatory messages, etc.) may be presented on the user interface 18, as discussed further below.
FIG. 11 illustrates a side view of the second embodiment of the isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly 100 with a user performing a suitcase-lift-style exercise and the user interface 18 presenting information to the user. The user interface 18 may present similar types of information as discussed above with regards to FIG. 10, but the information in the user interface 18 in FIG. 11 may be tailored for the suit-case-lift-style exercise. That is, the data channel for the suitcase-lift-style exercise may be set to active when the computing device 12 detects load measurements from load cells corresponding to the suitcase-lift-style exercise, and the computing device 12 may present the various visual representations described with regards to FIG. 10 on the user interface 18 in FIG. 11 based on at least the load measurements for the suitcase-lift-style exercise.
FIG. 12 illustrates a side view of the second embodiment of the isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly 100 with a user performing an arm-curl-style exercise and a user interface presenting information to the user. The user interface 18 may present similar types information as discussed above with regards to FIG. 10, but the information in the user interface 18 in FIG. 12 may be tailored for the arm-curl-style exercise. That is, the data channel for the arm-curl-style exercise may be set to active when the computing device 12 detects load measurements from load cells corresponding to the arm-curl-style exercise, and the computing device 12 may present the various visual representations described with regards to FIG. 10 on the user interface 18 in FIG. 12 based on at least the load measurements for the arm-curl-style exercise.
FIG. 13 illustrates a side view of the second embodiment of the isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly 100 with a user performing a leg-press-style exercise and a user interface presenting information to the user. The user interface 18 may present similar types information as discussed above with regards to FIG. 10, but the information in the user interface 18 in FIG. 13 may be tailored for the leg-press-style exercise. That is, the data channel for the leg-press-style exercise may be set to active when the computing device 12 detects load measurements from load cells corresponding to the leg-press-style exercise, and the computing device 12 may present the various visual representations described with regards to FIG. 10 on the user interface 18 in FIG. 13 based on at least the load measurements for the leg-press-style exercise.
FIGS. 14-18 illustrate views of a third embodiment of the isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly 100. FIG. 14 illustrates a side view of the third embodiment of the isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly 100 with the user performing a chest-press-style exercise and a user interface 18 presenting information to the user. The user interface 18 in FIG. 14 may present similar types of information as discussed above with regards to FIG. 10.
FIG. 15 illustrates a side view of the third embodiment of the isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly 100 with the user performing a pull-down-style exercise and a user interface 18 presenting information to the user. The user interface 18 may present similar types of information as discussed above with regards to FIG. 10, but the information in the user interface 18 in FIG. 15 may be tailored for the pull-down-style exercise. That is, the data channel for the pull-down-style exercise may be set to active when the computing device 12 detects load measurements from load cells corresponding to the pull-down-style exercise, and the computing device 12 may present the various visual representations described with regards to FIG. 10 on the user interface 18 in FIG. 15 based on at least the load measurements for the pull-down-style exercise.
FIG. 16 illustrates a side view of the third embodiment of the isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly with a user performing an arm-curl-style exercise and a user interface 18 presenting information to the user. The user interface 18 may present similar types of information as discussed above with regards to FIG. 12.
FIG. 17 illustrates a side view of the third embodiment of the isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly 100 with a user performing a leg-press-style exercise and a user interface 18 presenting information to the user. The user interface 18 may present similar types of information as discussed above with regards to FIG. 13.
FIG. 18 illustrates a side view of the third embodiment of the isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly 100 with a user performing a suitcase-lift-style exercise and a user interface 18 presenting information to the user. The user interface 18 may present similar types of information as discussed above with regards to FIG. 11.
After a person has an injury (e.g., sprain or fractured bone), a surgery (e.g., knee replacement), or a disease (e.g., muscular dystrophy), the person's body is typically in a weakened state (e.g., physically disabled). Thus, clinicians, such as doctors and physical therapists, can prescribe exercise plans for rehabilitating their patients. The exercises in these exercise plans help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, improve strength, improve flexibility, and, among other benefits, prevent or limit permanent physical disability in the patients. Patients who follow their exercise plans typically show signs of physical improvement and reduced pain at a faster the rate (i.e., a faster rate of recovery or rehabilitation).
In addition, after an injury or surgery, patients typically become less active than they once were, and they may experience muscle loss. As explained above, muscles that are not used often may reduce in muscle mass and become weaker. To increase the muscle mass and/or reduce the rate of muscle loss, people may conduct exercises according to an exercise plan.
Balancing and/or resistance exercise may cause muscle tissue to increase. For example, balancing on a balance board or pushing and pulling on a stationary object (e.g., pedals of an exercise cycle) with a certain amount of force may trigger the cells in the associated muscle to change and cause the muscle mass to increase.
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a control system for an exercise machine, not only capable of enabling an individual, preferably an individual recovering from a fracture, an injury, or a surgery, to engage easily exercises according to an exercise plan, but capable of using predetermined thresholds or dynamically calculating them, such that the person using the exercise machine can be immediately informed through real-time visual and/or other sensorial feedback, that goals of the exercise plan has been met or exceeded, thus triggering osteogenesis for the subject bone (or bones), and/or that the muscular strength threshold has been exceeded, thereby triggering muscular hypertrophy for the subject muscle (or muscles). The control system may be used to improve compliance with an exercise plan, whereby the exercise plan includes one or more exercises.
The control system may receive one or more measurements, such as load measurements, associated with forces exerted by both the left and right sides on left and right portions (e.g., pedals, base, or platform) of the exercise machine to enhance osteogenesis, bone growth, bone density improvement, stability, flexibility, range of motion, and/or muscle mass. The one or more measurements (e.g., a load measurement) may be a left measurement of a load or an increased resistance added to a left load cell on a left portion of the exercise machine (e.g., a left pedal or a left portion of the platform) and a right measurement of a load or an increased resistance added to a right load cell on a right portion of the exercise machine (e.g., a right pedal or a right portion of the platform). A user interface may be provided by the control system that presents visual representations of the separately measured left and right loads or resistances where the respective left and right load or resistances are added to the respective left and right load cells or sensors at the subject portions of the exercise machine. For example, the user interface may provide a video game that has an avatar representing the user (e.g, the patient in rehabilitation). The avatar may move in the video game and those moves may correlate with the moves of the patient. As the one or more measurements increase, the movement of the avatar may increase (e.g., if the video game is a car racing video game, as the patient increases the force exerted on the pedals, the speed of the avatar, in its car, will increase). Similarly, the control system may receive one or more measurements associated with speed, repetitions, balance, any other suitable measurement, or combination thereof. Such measurements can be used to move the avatar. The measurements can be received from sensors coupled to the exercise machine. For example, sensors can be coupled to the pedals of the exercise machine or to a base of the exercise machine.
In some embodiments, initially, the control system may determine measurements in accordance with an exercise plan associated with each exercise of the video game. For example, there may be a first level of the video game that applies a first resistance to the pedals of the exercise machine (e.g., the cycle machine) and a second level of the video game that applies a second resistance to the pedals. Further, the control system may receive measurements associated with each exercise as a patient is using the exercise machine. The control system may generate a target threshold in accordance with an exercise plan associated with each exercise of the video game. For example, there may be a first threshold associated with the first level and a second threshold associated with the second level. The exercise may be complete when the one or more measurements are received and the one or more measurements exceed one or more target thresholds. For example, if the patient is playing the first level of the video game and one or more measurements exceed a first target threshold, the first level may end and the control system will select the level two for the patient to play. In some embodiments, the control system may determine an average measurement by accumulating raw measurements over a certain period of time (e.g., 5 seconds) and averaging the raw measurements to smooth the data (e.g., eliminates jumps or spikes in data) in an average measurement.
The control system may compare the one or more measurements (e.g., raw measurements, or averaged measurements) to one or more target thresholds. In some embodiments, a single measurement may be compared to a single specific target threshold (e.g., a one-to-one relationship). In some embodiments, a single measurement may be compared to more than one specific target threshold (e.g., a one-to-many relationship). In some embodiments, more than one measurement may be compared to a single specific target threshold (e.g., a many-to-one relationship). In some embodiments, more than one measurement may be compared to more than one specific target threshold (e.g., a many-to-many relationship).
The target thresholds may be an osteogenesis target threshold, a muscular strength target threshold, a balance threshold, a speed threshold, a range of motion threshold, a repetition threshold, any other suitable threshold, or combination thereof. In addition to the threshold explanations described above, the balance target threshold, the speed threshold, and/or the range of motion threshold may be determined based on a rehabilitation protocol pertaining to the user, an age of the user, a gender of the user, a sex of the user, a height of the user, a weight of the user, a bone density of the user, an injury of the user, a type of surgery of the user, a type of bone fracture of the user, etc. A rehabilitation protocol may refer to any illness, disease, fracture, surgery, or ailment experienced by the user and any treatment instructions provided by a caretaker for recovery and/or healing. The rehabilitation protocol may also include a condition of health where the goal is avoid a problem. Any of the target thresholds may be determined based on a historical performance of the user using the exercise machine (e.g., amount of pounds lifted for a particular exercise, amount of force applied associated with each body part, the range of motion for pedaling, the level of exertion, the level of pain, etc.) and/or other exercise machines, a fitness level (e.g., how active the user is) of the user, a diet of the user, a protocol for determining a muscular strength target, a range of motion target, etc.
The control system may determine whether the one or more measurements exceed the one or more target thresholds. Responsive to determining that the one or more measurements exceed the one or more target thresholds, the control system may cause a user interface to present an indication that the one or more target thresholds have been met or exceeded and an exercise is complete. For example, the user has completed a level of the video game. Additionally, when the one or more target thresholds are met or exceeded, the control system may cause the user interface to present an indication that instructs the user to apply additional force (less than a safety limit) to attempt to set a personal maximum record or achievement (e.g., of a rate of speed, of a level of stability, a number of repetitions, of an amount of weight lifted, pressed, pulled, or otherwise exerted force) for that exercise. The control system may also determine that one or more target thresholds (e.g., a level of pain or an exersion level) are met or exceeded and end the exercise game being played. The control system may present the same game at an easier exercise game level or present a different game for the user to engage in different exercises to reduce the level of pain. In this way, the user can continue exercising rather than stopping the rehabilitation session due to pain. The video game may have one or more games, each of which have one or more exercises that target one or more muscles groups at one or more different levels of intensity.
Further, the user interface may present an indication when a measurement is approaching a target threshold for the user. In another example, when the measurement meets or exceeds the target threshold, the user interface may present an indication that the target threshold has been met or exceeded, respectively, and that the exercise is complete. The control system may provide visual and/or audio encouragement and/or coaching to the user during a video game. For example, as the user is nearing the target threshold, the control system may provide an audio of a human voice encouraging the user to maintain or increase speed on the cycling machine to earn an achievement or reach the end of the exercise game level. The control system may indicate if there are any remaining incomplete exercise game levels the video game as part of the exercise plan, that there is another game or another level (e.g., with a difference exercise and/or goal) to be completed by the user. If there are no remaining games or levels (i.e., exercises in the exercise plan) to complete, then the user interface may present an indication that all exercises in the exercise plan are complete and the user can rest. In addition, when the exercise plan is complete, the control system may generate a performance report that presents various information (e.g., charts and graphs of the right and left measurements received during each of the exercises, left and right maximum loads for the user received during each of the exercises, historical right and left measurements received in the past, comparison of the current right and left measurements with the historical right and left measurement, an amount of pounds lifted or pressed that is determined based on the measurements for each of the exercises, percent gained in measurements over time, achievements earned, goals reached, exercise game levels completed, rankings as compared to a video game history of playing, etc.).
Further, the one or more measurements may each be compared to a safety limit. For example, a left measurement and a right measurement may each be compared to the safety limit for the user. The safety limit may be determined for the user based on the user's disease protocol. There may be different safety limits for different portions of the user's body on the left and the right side, one extremity versus another extremity, a top portion of the user's body and a body portion of the user's body, etc., and for different exercises. For example, if someone underwent left knee surgery, the safety limit for a user for a left measurement for a cycling using a left leg may be different from the safety limit for a right measurement for that exercise and user. If the safety limit is exceeded, an indication may be presented on the user interface to instruct to reduce the amount of force or speed that the user is applying and/or to instruct the user to stop applying force because the safety limit has been exceeded.
Another benefit of the present disclosure is its ability to speed the healing of fractures in athletically robust individuals. Further, another benefit is the increase in muscle mass by using the exercise machine to trigger muscular hypertrophy. The control system may provide an automated interface that improves compliance with an exercise plan by using a real-time feedback loop to measure loads added during each of the exercises, (e.g. resistance applied to the pedals) compare the measurements to target thresholds and/or safety limits that are uniquely determined for the user using the exercise machine, and provide various indications based on the comparison. For example, the indications pertain to when the user should add more load, when the target thresholds are met or exceeded, when the safety limit is met or exceeded, when the exercise is complete, when the user should begin another game, when the user should begin another level of the exercise game, and so forth.
Rehabilitation Exercises and their Benefits
The following exercises achieve rehabilitation results by exposing relevant parts of a user to exercises that build strength, increase flexibility, increase range of motion, increase balance, increase coordination, decrease pain, decrease the amount of time required for recovery, or any combination thereof. In addition to the exercises machines or devices described above in this disclosure, exercise machines or devices used to facilitate the rehabilitation exercises referred to are as follows.
Cycling Machine
A cycling machine refers to a stationary bicycle used as exercise equipment and/or rehabilitation equipment. The cycling machine includes pedals configured to rotate. The cycling machine may include attached handlebars or may be used in combination with detached handlebars. The cycling machine may include an attached seat or may be used in combination with a detached seat. The cycling machine can be used to for exercise targeted to improve the following key muscle groups: gluteals, hamstrings, quadriceps, thighs, adductors, abs, and grip muscles as well as to increase flexibility, range of motion, and strength.
Balance Equipment
Balance equipment refers to an exercise machine or device, such as a balance board or a rocker device, for a user to stand on and maintain balance and control as the balance board moves in various directions. The balance board can be used to for exercise targeted to can improve mobility, flexibility, proprioception, and strength in the following key muscle groups: peroneals, gluteals, hamstrings, quadriceps, thighs, adductors, abs, and grip muscles as well as to increase flexibility, range of motion, and core strength.
The following discussion is directed to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Although these embodiments are given as examples, the embodiments disclosed should not be interpreted, or otherwise used, as limiting the scope of the disclosure, including the claims. In addition, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the following description has broad application, and the discussion of any embodiment is meant only to be exemplary of that embodiment, and not intended to intimate that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to that embodiment.
Exercise machines can include moving parts to provide dynamic exercises to facilitate rehabilitation. A dynamic exercise can be, but is not limited to an exercise where a user participates in an activity where the user moves and some resistance or load may be provided against the movement of the user. The FIGS. 19 and 20A-B illustrate embodiments of an exercise machine 1900, generally shown, for use by a user for exercise. The exercise machine 1900 can be a stationary exercise machine (e.g., cycling machine) that can be used for exercise and/or rehabilitation. The exercise machine 1900 comprises a base 1902, generally indicated, that has front and rear sides 1904, 1906 and right and left sides 1908, 1910. In the present embodiment of the base 1902, and as illustrated in the drawings, the rear side 1906 of the base 1902 wider than the front side 1904. However, the base 1902 could be of any shape. For example, the base 1902 could be rectangular, circular, rounded, trapezoidal, or square. In addition, in the present embodiment of the base 1902, the front side 1904 and the rear side 1906 can taper. For an individual who has limited mobility, the taper of the front side 1904 and the rear side 1906 allows for ease of ingress and egress onto and off of, respectively, the base 1902. However, the base 1902 could have raised rectangular edges, and the base 1902 may include a step for ingress and egress onto and off of the base 1902. Slip pads 1912 can be coupled to the base 1902 adjacent each side to prevent slipping during use of the exercise machine 1900.
Embodiments of a first housing 1914, generally indicated, can be coupled to the base 1902. The first housing 1914 can be disposed adjacent to the rear side 1906. A handlebar including one or more handles 1916 can be coupled to the first housing 1914. The handles 1916 can include grip pads to prevent slipping during use of the exercise machine 1900.
The exercise machine 1900 comprises a multidimensional exercise control system. The control system comprises a user interface 1918. The user interface can be coupled to the first housing 1914. The user interface 1918 may be or function as the user interface 18 in FIG. 1. The computing device 12 may comprise the user interface 1918 and be communicatively coupled to an exercise machine 100. The user interface 1918 may also be communicatively coupled with the computing device 15 and the cloud-based computing system 16. As used herein, a cloud-based computing system refers, without limitation, to any remote or distal computing system accessed over a network link. Each of the user interface 1918, computing device 15, and/or the exercise machine 1900 may include one or more processing devices, memory devices, and network interface devices. In some embodiments, the user interface 1918 may be included as part of the structure of the exercise machine 1900. In some embodiments, the user interface 1918 may be separate from the exercise machine 1900. For example, the user interface 1918 may be a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or the like. The computing device 12, the computing device 15, and/or the cloud-based computing system 16 can include memory to store the application 17, such as one or more video games. The video game comprises one or more exercise games. Each exercise game may include one or more exercises that target one or more parts or regions of a user's body. The parts or regions of each exercise game may be the same, different, or overlap with other exercise games. Each exercise game may include one or more levels. The levels may include different levels of intensity of exercise for one or more body parts or regions of a user. The video game can be used for engaging users to comply with an exercise plan, such as for rehabilitation purposes.
Embodiments of a second housing 1920, generally indicated, can be coupled to the base 1902. The second housing 1920 can be disposed between the front and rear sides 1904, 1906. The second housing 1920 can be disposed adjacent to and/or coupled to the first housing 1914. In the present embodiment of the second housing 1920, and as illustrated in the drawings, the second housing 1920 is cylindrical shaped. However, the base 1902 could be of any shape.
A wheel 1928 can be operatively coupled to the exercise machine 1900. In certain embodiments, the exercise machine 1900 can have the wheel 1926 coupled to the base 1902. The wheel 1926 can be a single wheel 1926, and the wheel 1926 may be a flywheel. In certain embodiments, the exercise machine 1900 can have a pair of wheels, and the wheels may be flywheels. The wheel 1926 can be disposed in the second housing 1920, and the wheel 1926 can be independently rotatable about an axis. The wheel 1926 can be disposed in in a cavity of the second housing 1920. The wheel 1926 can be partially disposed in an openings of the second housing 1920. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the wheel 1926 may be coupled to the base 1902 by various means known in the art. As one example, a support beam can extend from the base 1902 to a first axial, where an axial extends along the axis. In this embodiment, the wheel 1926 can be coupled to and independently rotatable about the axial.
In some embodiments, pair of pedals (e.g., a right pedal 1922 and a left pedal 1924) can be coupled to and extend from the wheel 1926. The pedals 1922, 1924 can be configured to be engaged by the user, and the pedals 1922, 1924 can facilitate rotation of the respective wheel 1926. The pedals 1922, 1924 can be movably coupled to the wheel 1926. More specifically, the pedals 1922, 1924 can be adjusted radially by the user to various positions to accommodate the needs of the user. During use of the exercise machine 1900, the user can sit in a seat 1930 and engage the pedals 1922, 1924. The seat 1930 may be detached from the exercise machine 1900. In some embodiments, the seat 1930 may be attached to the exercise machine 1900. It should be readily appreciated that the user may adjust the seat 1930 and/or the pedals 1922, 1924 to a desired position to accommodate the needs of the user for exercise or rehabilitation. When the user engages the pedals 1922, 1924, the user may apply a force to respective pedals 1922, 1924 to engage and cause rotation of a respective wheel 1926. By engaging respective pedals 1922, 1924 and applying a force to the same, the user, to support osteogenesis and/or increase a range of motion of a user's legs, engages various muscles to push the respective pedals 1922, 1924. The pedals 1922, 1924 may have straps or engagements for a user to engage with and pull the pedals 1922, 1924. Pulling the pedals 1922, 1924 may aid in the strength and rehabilitation of additional muscles. A sensor 1934 can be coupled to the right pedal 1922. An additional sensory 1936 can be coupled to the left pedal 1924. As described above, the sensors 1934, 1936 can be configured to collect sensor data correlating to the respective pedals 1922, 1924. The sensors 1934, 1936 can be a Bluetooth sensor, a load sensor, accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, any other suitable sensor, or combination thereof.
To further support osteogenesis during use of the exercise machine 1900 by a user, the exercise machine 1900 can include a first resistance mechanism (not shown). The resistance mechanism can be coupled to the base 1902, and the resistance mechanism can be disposed in the second housing 1920 adjacent to the wheel 1926. When the pedal 1922, 1924 are engaged by the user, the resistance mechanism can be configured to resist rotation of the wheel 1926. The resistance mechanisms may resist rotation of the wheel 1926 by any means known in the art.
It is to be appreciated that the exercise machine 1900 could comprise a motor coupled to each of the wheel 1926 and each motor is configured to affect or regulate the independent rotation of a respective wheel 1926. Moreover, the motor 1928 affects or regulates the independent rotation of the wheel 1926 by engaging the wheel 1926 and selectively causing or resisting rotation of the wheel 1926. The motor 1928 can engage the wheel 1926 by any means known in the art. In one example, the motor 1928 could engage gears to cause rotation of the wheel 1926. It is to be appreciated that the motor 1928 can operate congruently with or independently of the resistance mechanisms to affect or regulate the rotation of the wheel 1926. In certain embodiments, the motor 1928 can cause rotation of the wheel 1926, and the motor 1928 can resist rotation of the wheel 1926. In other embodiments with the motor 1928 and the resistance mechanism, the motor 1928 can rotate the wheel 1926 and the resistance mechanism can resist or stop rotation of the wheel 1926 when the motor 1928 stops rotating the wheel 1926. For regulating or affecting the rotation of the wheel 1926, the present disclosure allows for many variations and combinations of the motor 1928 and the resistance mechanism.
During use of the exercise machine 1900 by a user, when the user applies a force to the pedals 1922, 1924, the control system can maintain a constant rotational velocity between each of the wheel 1926. Alternatively, the wheel 1926 can be mechanically interconnected. For example, the wheel 1926 could be mechanically interconnected by a chain, belt, gear system, or any other means to maintain a constant rotational velocity between the wheel 1926.
In a further embodiment of the exercise machine 1900, a control system can be coupled to an actuator, and the control system can be configured to control the actuator. Moreover, the control system can be configured to independently vary the resistance to each of the wheel 1926 to maintain a select rotational velocity thereof, and to independently stop rotation of the wheel 1926. More specifically, the control system 94 can control the actuator to activate the resistance mechanism to independently vary the resistance of the wheel 1926. In certain embodiments, the control system can be coupled to the motor 1928, and the control system can be configured to control the motor 1928. Additionally, the control system can be configured to independently maintain select rotational velocities of the wheel 1926, and to independently stop rotation of the wheel 1926. More specifically, the control system can control the motor 1928 to independently maintain select rotational velocities of the wheel 1926 by rotating, resisting, or stopping rotation of the wheel 1926. It is to be appreciated that the control system may control the actuator and/or the motor 1928 simultaneously or independently to maintain the select rotational velocities of the wheel 1926. For communicating the rotational velocities or accelerations of the wheel 1926 to the control system, the control system may also include sensors located on the user or coupled to the wheel 1926. With the rotational velocities or accelerations received from the sensors, the control system can determine, with a processor of the control system, a select rotational velocity of the wheel 1926. The control system can then control the motor 1928 and/or the actuator to maintain the select rotational velocities of the wheel 1926.
In some embodiment of the exercise machine 1900, a switch, not illustrated, can be disposed on the first housing 1914 for activating the control system. In another embodiment, a button, not illustrated, may be disposed on the first housing 1914 for activating the control system. In yet another embodiment, a display 1932 of a user interface 1918, such as a computer screen, iPad, or like device, can be coupled to the exercise machine 1900 to activate the control system. The switch, display 1932, and/or button may be coupled to the exercise machine 1900 by alternative or other means. For example, the switch, display 1932, and/or button could be coupled to the handle 1916. It is further to be appreciated that alternative means could be used to activate the control system and the use of the switch, display 1932, or the button, is not meant to be limiting.
In another embodiment, one or more biometric sensors, not shown, may be coupled to the exercise machine 1900 for activating the control system. The biometric sensor could be for, inter alia, detection, recognition, validation and/or analysis of data relating to: facial characteristics; a fingerprint, hand, eye (iris), or voice signature; DNA; and/or handwriting. In yet another embodiment, the biometric sensor can comprise position sensors located on the user. In addition, it is contemplated that advancements of such biometric sensors may result in alternative sensors that could be incorporated in the exercise machine 1900, i.e., biometric type sensors not currently on the market may be utilized. Further, the one or more biometric sensors may comprise a biometric system, which may be standalone or integrated.
Exercise machines can include moving parts to provide balance exercises to facilitate rehabilitation. A balance exercise can be, but is not limited to an exercise where a user participates in an activity where the user shifts from side to side while standing to balance. FIG. 21 illustrates an embodiment of an exercise machine 2100, generally shown, for use by a user for a balance exercise. The exercise machine 2100 can be a stationary exercise machine (e.g., a balance board, a rocker board, or another suitable balance device) that can be used for exercise and/or rehabilitation. The exercise machine 2100 comprises a base 2102, generally indicated, that has front and rear sides 2104, 2106 and right and left sides 2108, 2110. In the present embodiment of the base 2102, and as illustrated in the drawings, the rear side 2106 of the base 2102 wider than the front side 2104. However, the base 2102 could be of any shape. For example, the base 2102 could be rectangular, circular, rounded, trapezoidal, or square. Slip pads 2112 can be coupled to a top side 2114 of the base 2102 adjacent each side to prevent slipping during use of the exercise machine 2100. A bottom side 2116 of the base can be curved for movement of the base 2102 while a user is engaging the exercise machine 2100. In some embodiments, the bottom side 2116 may be coupled to a ball or curved device to facilitate movement of the base 2102. In yet another embodiment, a display 1932 of a user interface 1918, such as a computer screen, iPad, or like device, can be operatively coupled to the exercise machine 2100 to activate the control system. A sensor 2118 may be coupled to the base 2102. For example, the sensor 2118 The sensor 2118 may be operatively coupled to the exercise machine 2102. The sensor 2118 may be operatively coupled to a user interface 1918. The sensor 2118 may be configured to measure movement of the exercise machine 2100. The sensor 2118 can be a Bluetooth sensor, a load sensor, accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, any other suitable sensor, or combination thereof.
In one embodiment, a multidimensional exercise control system is disclosed. The control system (e.g., computing device 12 of FIG. 1) may be used in connection with an exercise machine (e.g., exercise machines 100, 1900, 2100). As described in FIG. 1, the control system can comprise a memory device storing instructions. The user interface 1918 can be configured to present a video game with an avatar. The video game can be a sports game (e.g., cycling game, racing game, surfing, etc.), action game, or any other suitable game. A processing device operatively coupled to the memory device and the user interface 1932. The processing device can be configured to execute the instructions to receive sensor data from a sensor (e.g., the sensor 1934, 1936, 2118) operatively coupled to the exercise machine. The sensor can be operatively coupled to at least one of a pedal of an exercise cycle, a balance board, and at least one of a handle, a foot plate, and a platform of an isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly.
The sensor data can comprise one or more measurements. The one or more measurements can comprise at least one of a load measurement, a speed measurement, a repetition measurement, and a stability measurement. Responsive to the one or more measurements, the processing device can cause the avatar to change a position in the video game. For example, if the processing device receives sensor data that indicates that the user is engaging the pedal 1924, the processing device can cause the avatar to move its right leg. The processing device can compare the one or more measurements to a target threshold. For example, the measurement may be a speed measurement and the target measurement may be for a user to reach 15 mph in the video game. The target measurement may be to reach or exceed the target value and/or to reach or exceed the target value for a period of time (e.g., 15 mph for at least 5 minutes). The processing device can be configured to determine whether the one or more measurement exceed the target threshold for speed. Similarly, the measurement may be a repetition measurement correlating to the number of times a particular exercise and/or movement is performed by a user. The processing deice can be configured to determine whether the one or more repetition measurements exceed the target threshold for repetition.
If the processing device determines that the one or more measurements exceed the target threshold, the processing device can cause the user interface 1918 to present a modification to the video game. Similarly, if the processing device determines that at least the one or more additional measurements exceed the additional target threshold, the processing device can cause the user interface to present the modification to the video game. The modification to the video game can comprise at least one of a modified exercise game level, a modified exercise game, and a termination of the video game. For example, if the user is playing level one of an exercise game, the target threshold may be for a user to meet, maintain, and/or exceed a speed for a certain amount of time. Once the user reaches this target threshold, the user may pass level one. The processing device can inform the user that level one was passed and provide level two for the user to play. If the user is playing level two of the exercise game and the user's pain is beyond a target threshold, the processing unit may terminate the exercise game, change the level of the exercise game (e.g., replay level one), or choose a different game (e.g., one with different exercises that target different muscle groups).
The processing device can cause the avatar to change a position in the video game that correlate to the user's movements during the exercise game. Responsive to a first value of the one or more measurements from the sensor data, the processing device may change the position of the avatar at a first speed. Responsive to a second value of the one or more measurements from the sensor data, the processing device may change the position of the avatar at a second speed. For example, if the second value comprises a greater value than the first value, then the second speed of the avatar is greater than the first speed of the avatar. In this example, as the user moves faster and/or exerts more force, the avatar moves faster and/or exerts more force. Similarly, responsive to receiving the one or more additional measurements, the processing device can cause the avatar to change a position in the video game. The additional measurements may correlate to movement of different body parts of the user. The movements of the avatar can correlate with the movements of the user.
The sensor 1934 can be coupled to a first pedal 1922 of the exercise machine 1900. The target threshold is a first pedal threshold. The additional sensor 1936 can be coupled to a second pedal 1924 of the exercise machine 1900. The additional target threshold is a second pedal threshold. The processing device is further configured to execute the instructions to receive the additional sensor data from an additional sensor 1936 operatively coupled to the exercise machine. The additional sensor data can comprise one or more additional measurements. The processing device can determine whether the one or more additional measurement exceed an additional target threshold. For example, The user may have had surgery on the user's right knee. The processing device may have a target threshold for the right knee with measurements obtained from the sensor 1934. The user's left leg may not be recovering from a surgery of from an injury and may be able to exert more force than the right leg. Thus, the user's left leg may have a higher or greater target threshold than the right leg. In having two target thresholds and separate measurements obtained from the sensor 1934 and the additional sensor 1936, the user will need to meet or exceed the appropriate target thresholds before moving to the next stage of an exercise plan.
The first and second pedals 1922, 1924 can be adjusted based on the user's range of motion. The radius on each of the pedals 1922, 1924 can be adjusted to allow a user to use the exercise machine 1900 throughout the rehabilitation process. The first and second pedals 1922, 1924 can be adjusted separately. Separate adjustment is preferred for users who have injured or had surgery on only one leg. The user can adjust the pedal for the disabled leg for a limited range of motion for that leg. In other words, a user may have a full range of motion for one leg and a limited range of motion for another leg. The exercise machine 1900 can be adjusted to accommodate such users and allow the users to engage the exercise machine 1900 in accordance with the exercise plan.
The exercise plan may include a plan of one or more exercises for a patient for rehabilitating a body part. The exercise plan may include exercises for one or more muscle groups. The exercise plan may be prescribed by a doctor, a physical therapist, or any other qualified clinician. The video game may have one or more levels and/or exercise games that include exercises required by the exercise plan. The video game may be used to encourage user compliance with the exercise plan. The computing system may track the user's use of the video game, the user's rehabilitation progress, the user's pain levels, the user's vital signs, any other suitable information, or any combination thereof. The computing device 15 may receive information and display the information via the user interface 22 to the clinician. The clinician may make modifications to the exercise plan. The processing device can select the exercise game and/or level based on the exercise plan.
The video game comprises an exercise plan can comprise one or more exercises for rehabilitating a body part of a user. For example, the video game may requirement movements of certain body part(s) of the user for the avatar to move. The video game may further comprise at least one of an exercise game level and an exercise game. The at least one of the exercise game level and the exercise game can comprise one or more exercises. For example, one game may target range of motion exercises of a user's leg. Another game may target balancing and core strength. A first or lower levels may include exercises with lower intensity to help users exercise during the earlier stages of their rehabilitation. Middle levels of the exercise game may help users during the middle stages of their rehabilitation. Higher levels of the exercise game may help users during the end stages of their rehabilitation and/or to maintain their fitness levels.
The video game can include options on what is provided on the user interface. For example, the video game may be a flying game and the user, engaging the exercise machine. The video game may display an avatar flying over the countryside, or a city, such as Milan or London. The information received from the sensor(s) enable the avatar in the video game.
The processing device may be configured to execute the instructions to receive user input data. As illustrated in FIG. 23, the user interface 1918 may display a screen 2300 requesting a user to provide a pain level. The user can select the level of pain (e.g., no pain, mild, moderate, severe, very severe) before the video game begins, during the video game, and/or after the video game. The user interface 1918 may provide visual and/or audio prompts for the user. The user may provide the user interface 1918 with the user input by touching the user interface 1918, speaking to the user interface 1918, or any other suitable input. The user interface 1918 may request that a user enter other user input, such as an exertion level (e.g., the level of exertion the user provided during a video game). The processing device may be configured to provide coachin and instructoin to a user on how to use the video game, the exercise machines 100, 1900, 2100, an exercise, or any other suitable information. The instructions and/or coaching may be a prerecorded virtual coach (e.g., a trainer or a physical therapist) and provide commands, instructions, and/or tips via audio and/or video. For example, the virtual coach may provide tips on posture and form while performing an exercise or using the exercise machine. The virtual coach may provide motivational content, such as words of encouragement to the user. The precorded virtual coach may be provided randomly during the video game and/or it may be based on input and/or data from the user and/or sensors. The virtual coach may be data-driven. The processing device can receive user input data, sensor data, tracker data, historical data, and/or any other suitable information to obtain information, such as the exertion level of the user or the user's body part (e.g., a rehabilitating leg) and provide audio and/or visual coaching to the user.
The processing device may present a modification to the video game based on the user input. For example, if the user is not exerting enough effort (e.g., below a target threshold for exertion), the processing device may change the level of the exercise game to a more difficult level. A more difficult level may include a faster-paced game, more difficult challenges, or any other suitable feature. If the pain level of the user is too high (e.g., exceeding a target threshold for pain), the processing device may change the level of the exercise game to a less difficult level, change to the exercise game to an exercise game with exercises that do not target the same muscle groups for the remainder of the exercise session for that day, and/or terminate the video game.
The user may also terminate the video game. The user interface 1918 may include a power button to turn off the video game. The user interface 1918 may be configured to receive audio instructions from a user to terminate the video game and/or make any modifications to the video game (e.g., change exercise game to a game that targets or does not target particular muscle groups or body parts, speed of the video game, difficulty of the video game, etc.). The control system can include a feedback loop from the user to make modifications to the video game based on user preferences, user input (e.g., pain level), sensor data, progress of the rehabilitated body part, modifications to the exercise plan, or any other suitable information. The control system can make adjustments automatically.
The exercise plan may include a target threshold for an exertion level. The processing device may determine a target threshold for the exertion level based on the exercise plan or any other data or information (e.g., user input, sensor data, measurements). The target threshold for the exertion level can be modified by the processing device or by the user The processing device can be configured to determine a user's exertion level. The user can input an exersion level while playing the video game. The user may input the exertion level at the end of the video game. The user may also input an target threshold for the exertion level.
The processing device can be configured to execute the instructions to select at least one of the exercise game level and the exercise game. The processing device can select the exercise game level and/or the exercise game at the beginning of the exercise session and/or during the exercise session. The processing device may base the selection on at least one of the one or more measurements, the user input, and a vital sign.
The processing device can be configured to execute the instructions to receive tracker data from a fitness wearable. The fitness wearable can be operatively coupled to the control system. The fitness wearable can be operatively coupled to the user interface 1918. The user may be wearing the fitness wearable prior to and/or during the exercise session. The fitness wearable, such as a fitness tracker, can be used to measure vital signs of the user, such as heart rate, pulse, or any other suitable vital sign. The fitness wearable can also provide user data, such as the calories burned during an exercise, a target zone, such as a target heart rates, training information, any other suitable user information, or combination thereof. The fitness wearable can provide the tracker data comprising the vital sign value to the user interface 1918. The processing device can present a modification to the video game based on the tracker data. The modification can comprise at least one of a modified exercise game level (e.g., easier/harder level), a modified exercise game (e.g., containing different exercises), and a termination of the video game (e.g., ending the exercise session).
In one embodiment illustrated in FIG. 22, the video game 2200 can comprise at least one of visual content and audio content. This video game includes an avatar (not shown) cycling through the countryside. The user interface 1918 provides images of a path in the countryside and continues along the path as the user engages the exercise machine 1900. The user interface 1918 provides sounds of the cycling and sounds of the countryside. The visual content and/or the audio content can comprise an exercise goal presented to a user. For example, the exercise goal may include a flexibility range, a speed for a period of time, a level of exertion, a number of repetitions of an exercise, or any other suitable goal. As the user is approaching its goal, the video game 2200 may provide coaching and/or motivational encouragement to the user to achieve the goal. Once the goal is achieved, the user interface 1918 may output the achievements. The video game 2200 may present all of the user's achievements and/or progress before, during, and/or after the exercise session.
FIG. 24 illustrates example operations of a method 2400 of a control system for an exercise machine. The operations can be used to improve compliance with an exercise plan. The method 2400 may be performed by processing logic that may include hardware (circuitry, dedicated logic, etc.), firmware, software, or a combination of them. The method 2400 and/or each of their individual functions, subroutines, or operations may be performed by one or more processing devices of a control system (e.g., computing device 12 of FIG. 1) implementing the method 2400. The method 2400 may be implemented as computer instructions that are executable by a processing device of the control system (e.g., a computer-readable medium may be used to store instructions that, when executed, cause a processor perform the following steps or processes of the method 2400). In certain implementations, the method 2400 may be performed by a single processing thread. Alternatively, the method 2400 may be performed by two or more processing threads, each thread implementing one or more individual functions, routines, subroutines, or operations of the methods. Various operations of the method 2400 may be performed by one or more of the cloud-based computing system 16, and/or the computing device 15 of FIG. 1.
The method may begin at step 2402. At step 2402, the processing device may receive an exercise plan. The plan may be received from, for example, a clinician via the computing device 15. The exercise plan may be an exercise plan tailored for rehabilitation of a user. For example, the exercise plan may have one or more exercises, timeline for engagement of the exercises, and progression of the exercises during the rehabilitation process. The clinician may modify the exercise plan throughout the rehabilitation process.
At 2404, the processing device may prompt the user for input (e.g., request the user to provide user input). For example, the user may be prompted to login on the user interface 1918. The user may input the user's credentials (e.g., username and password) via an input device (e.g., mouse, keyboard, touchscreen) of the computing device 12. The processing device may compare the credentials to stored credentials in a local and/or remote database. The database may be locally stored on the computing device 12, remotely stored on the computing device 15, or remotely stored on the cloud-based computing system 16. If the processing device validates the credentials for a user, then the processing device may obtain a user identifier associated with the credentials. The processing device may obtain user data based on the user identifier. The user data may include personal information about the user (e.g., name, height, weight, age, gender, address, contact information, exercise plan, etc.). The user data may include a pain level of the user, an exertion level of the user during an exercise (e.g., how much effort the user applied during the exercise), any other suitable user data, or combination thereof. Although not illustrated in FIG. 24, the processing device may receive user input throughout the method 2400.
At step 2406, the processing device may receive tracker data. As explained above, the processing device may receive tracker data from a fitness wearable. The tracker data may include vital sign information and/or other suitable information. Although not illustrated in FIG. 24, the processing device may receive tracker data throughout the method 2400.
At step 2408, the processing device may select a video game (e.g., the video game 2200). For example, the processing device may select the exercise game and/or the level of the video game. The processing device may select the video game (e.g., the exercise game and/or the exercise game level) based on the exercise plan at step 2402. The processing device may select the video game based on the user input at step 2404. The processing device may select the video game based on the tracker data at step 2406. The processing device may obtain the user's historical performance for the exercises available at the exercise machine(s) 100, 1900, 2100. For example, the processing device may have stored the user's past measurements that were obtained from the sensors (e.g., the sensors 1934, 1936, 2118, or load cells) associated with each exercise as the user performed the exercises in an exercise plan while playing the video game. At 2418, the processing device may calculate muscular strength target thresholds for the user using the user's historical performance. There may be different muscular strength target thresholds calculated for different exercises. Further, there may be different left and right muscular strength target thresholds calculated for each exercise for the user. In some embodiments, the processing device may determine an average amount of load the user added to the load cells over time and may set a muscular strength target to an amount of load that is the same as or higher than the average amount of load by a certain percent to encourage the user to maintain or increase muscle mass. In some embodiments, the processing device may determine a maximum amount of load the user added to the load cells in the past and may set a muscular strength target to an amount of load that is the same as or higher than the maximum amount to maintain or increase muscle mass. The processing device may use additional information, including randomizing the video game selection, or any combination thereof.
The video game comprises at least one of visual content and audio content. The visual content and the audio content presented to the user can include an exercise goal. The exercise goal may include incentives for the user to reach rehabilitation goals of the exercise plan. The processing device may determine whether the one or more received measurements exceed the one or more target thresholds and/or the one or more safety limits. If the one or more target thresholds are not exceeded, then the processing device may present, on the user interface 1918, a prompt or encouraging message that instructs the user to add additional resistance to the pedals, increase speed, increase effort, or any other suitable encouragement to exceed the one or more target thresholds and complete the exercise game and/or exercise game level. If the one or more target thresholds are exceeded, the processing device may cause an indication to be presented on the user interface 1918 that indicates the exercise is complete, congratulates the user for completing the exercise, and/or encourages the user to add additional resistance to the pedals, increase speed, or any other suitable metric to achieve a new maximum record.
At step 2410, the processing device may present the video game and an avatar. The video game and the avatar can be presented on the user interface 1918. The avatar can be an embodiment of a person or an idea. The avatar can refer to a character that represents the user. The user can select the type of avatar to be presented in the video game. The processing device may proceed to step 2412 and/or to step 2414.
At step 2412, the processing device may receive sensor data. The sensor data can be received from the one or more sensors in communication with the exercise machine and the user interface 1918. The sensor can be operatively coupled to at least one of a pedal of an exercise cycle, a balance board, and at least one of a handle, a foot plate, and a platform of an isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly. For example, the sensor 1934 can be operatively coupled to a first pedal 1922 of the exercise machine 1900 or to the base 2102 of the exercise machine 2100. The sensor data may include one or more measurements. The one or more measurements may include at least one of a load measurement, a speed measurement, a repetition measurement, and a stability measurement. When the video game begins, the processing device may begin reading a left sensor 1908 and a right sensor 1910. The processing device may present, on the user interface 1918, one or more received measurements from the left and right sensors in real-time, along with the one or more target thresholds (e.g., one or more speed target thresholds, and/or one or more muscular strength target thresholds) determined for the user for the exercise and/or the one or more safety limits determined for the user for the exercise.
At step 2414, the processing device may receive sensor data. The additional sensor data can be received from the one or more additional sensors in communication with the exercise machine and the user interface 1918. The additional sensor can be operatively coupled to at least one of a pedal of an exercise cycle, a balance board, and at least one of a handle, a foot plate, and a platform of an isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly. For example, the additional sensor 1936 can be operatively coupled to a second pedal 1924 of the exercise machine 1900. The additional sensor data 1936 can comprise one or more additional measurements. The one or more additional measurements may include at least one of a load measurement, a speed measurement, a repetition measurement, and a stability measurement.
At step 2416, the processing device is configured to change the position. Responsive to the one or more measurements and/or the one or more additional measurements, the processing device can cause the avatar to change positions in a video game. For example, responsive to receiving a first value of the one or more measurements from the sensor data, the processing device can change the position of the avatar at a first speed. Responsive to a second value of the one or more measurements from the sensor data, the processing device can change the position of the avatar at a second speed. The second value comprises a greater value than the first value and the second speed of the avatar is greater than the first speed of the avatar.
At step 2418, the processing device determines if the one or more measurements exceeds the threshold. For example, the target threshold is a first pedal threshold. Responsive to determining that the one or more measurements does not exceed the target threshold, the processing device proceeds to step 2410 and continues presenting the video game and the avatar. Responsive to determining that the one or more measurements exceed the target threshold, the processing device proceeds to step 2422. The processing device may calculate one or more target thresholds using the user's exercise plan. There may be different target thresholds calculated for different exercises. Further, there may be different left and right target thresholds calculated for each exercise for the user. The target thresholds may be an amount of load or force, a speed, a range of motion, a stability, an exertion level, or any other suitable measurement, determined for the user, that, when exceeded, trigger rehabilitation in the portion of the body of the user targeted by the respective exercise. The target threshold calculation may consider one or more factors, such as a portion of the body exercised by the exercise, an age of the user, a height of the user, a weight of the user, a gender of the user, a type of injury or surgery that occurred to the user at or near the portion of the body being exercised, a severity of the injury, a type of disease affecting the portion of the body, a severity of the type of disease affecting the portion of the body, a medical procedure performed on the user at or near the portion of the body, and so forth.
At step 2420, the processing device determines if the one or more additional measurements exceeds the threshold. For example, the additional target threshold is a pedal threshold. Responsive to determining that the one or more additional measurements does not exceed the additional target threshold, the processing device proceeds to step 2410 and continues presenting the video game and the avatar. Responsive to determining that the one or more additional measurements exceed the additional target threshold, the processing device proceeds to step 2422.
At step 2422, the processing device determine to modify the video game. The processing device may determine to change a level (e.g., to a modified exercise game level), change an exercise game (e.g., to a modified exercise game), terminate the video game, or make any other suitable modification. For example, the user may have had a recent knee replacement surgery. The video game selected and level in step 2408 comprises exercises to increase the range of motion of the user's knee. Initially at step 2404, the user's pain level was moderate. During the exercise, the pain level increased. The pain level exceeded the target threshold for a pain level. The processing device determined that the video game should be modified.
At step 2424, the processing device determines if the video game should be terminated. Termination of the video game may include ending the exercise game level or ending the exercise game. If the processing device determines that the video game should be terminated, then it terminates the video game. It may provide the user with audio and/or visual information that the exercise session has been completed. The user may be informed that the user passed the exercise game level. The user may be provided with a summary of its exercise session, such as the user's statistics, historical information, exercise goals reached, any suitable information, or combination thereof. For example, if the user exceeded the target threshold for endurance (e.g., cycling at a target speed range for a target amount of time), then the user may have completed the exercises goal for this exercise session. The processing device may terminate the video game by ending the exercise game and providing the user with information correlating to the exercise session. For example, the processing device may generate a performance report that may include data pertinent to the exercise plan just completed and/or to exercise plans that were completed in the past. The performance report may include any suitable graphs, charts, and/or summaries. The performance report may include a percent increase in speed or range of motion over time for each exercise based on the current data and the historical data for each exercise. The performance report may include the maximum resistance added by the user for the left and right measurements for each exercise, and/or the maximum resistance determined based on the measurements for each exercise. The performance report may include the target thresholds and/or safety limits that were exceeded.
If all exercises in the exercise plan are complete, the indication may congratulate the user for completing the exercise plan. The indication may include achievements, unlocked levels, badges, rewards, posts related to the user's achievement on social media, and/or any other suitable indication. Access of the levels may be based on previous challenges being accomplished (e.g., completed). The processing device may present the performance report to the user. The processing device may save the data received while the user was performing the exercises and/or generated for the performance report to a database. During a future exercise session, the processing device may select the same exercise game but a more difficult exercise game level or a different exercise game. If the processing device determines not to terminate the video game, then the process continues at step 2408.
The processing device may determine that the exercise session is not complete (e.g., based on the exercise plan) and that the user can safely continue the exercise session if the video game was modified. For example, the user may have exceeded a target threshold for one exercise game targeting the hamstrings and quadriceps but, per the user's exercise plan, will need to exercise the peroneal muscles. The processing device may select an exercise game that targets the peroneal muscles. If the user exceeds the target threshold for the rehabilitating the peroneal muscle, then the user may have completed the prescribed exercises for the exercise session and the video game will end. The processing device may determine if all exercises are complete. If there are any incomplete exercises in the exercise plan for the user, the user interface 1918 may present a prompt to the user to begin an incomplete exercise in the exercise plan. The processing device may transition back to step 2408 (or step 2404) if the user begins an incomplete exercise. For example, the user interface 1918 may present an indication notifying the user that that one or more exercise games and/or exercise game levels has already been completed and to begin an incomplete exercise. The indication may present a list of the complete exercise games and/or levels and the incomplete exercise games and/or levels to enable the user to track the rehabilitation progress in the exercise plan.
When the processing device proceeds back to step 2408, the processing device selects the video game (e.g., a modified video game). The processing device can base its selection of at least one of the modified exercise game level and the modified exercise game on at least one of the one or more measurements, the one or more additional measurements, the user input, a vital sign, and any other suitable information. Presenting a modification to the video game is further based on updated user input, updated tracker data, other suitable information, or any combination thereof. In other words, the processing device may make modifications to the video based on user input and/or tracker data received during the exercise session. For example, the heart rate of the user may increase while playing the video game. If the user's heart rate is too low, the exercise game level may be too easy (e.g., level 3) for the user and the processing device may determine that the exercise game level should be increased to provide a greater challenge to the user. The processing device will then proceed to step 2410 and cause the user interface to present the modification to the video game on the user interface 1918 (e.g., present level 4). The method 2400 can continue until the processing device determines that the video game should be terminated at step 2424. The methods described in FIG. 24 can include additional and/or fewer components and/or steps in an alternative order and are not limited to those illustrated in this disclosure.
For example although not illustrated in FIG. 24, the processing device may calculate one or more safety limits by using the user's exercise plan. There may be different safety limits calculated (e.g., determined) for different exercises. Further, there may be different left and right safety limits calculated for each exercise. The safety limits may be an upper limit of an amount of load or force that is determined to be acceptable for the user based on the disease protocol. The safety limit calculation may consider one or more factors, such as a portion of the body exercised by the exercise, an age of the user, a height of the user, a weight of the user, a gender of the user, a type of injury that occurred to the user at or near the portion of the body being exercised, a severity of the type of injury, a type of disease affecting the portion of the body, a severity of the type of disease affecting the portion of the body, a surgery performed on the user at or near the portion of the body, and so forth.
FIG. 25 illustrates an example user interface 1918 presenting an indication 2500 that an exercise is complete, resulting in the user's being congratulated. For example, the indication 2500 states: “Good job! You exceeded your target load threshold(s). This exercise is complete.” The user interface 1918 may present visual representations 2502 and/or 2504 for the left and right load measurements, respectively. In some embodiments, the visual representations 2502 and/or 2504 may be numerical values representing other the respective measurements. In some embodiments, the visual representation 2502 and/or 2504 may be bars on a bar chart, lines on a line chart, or any suitable visual representation.
Further, the user interface 1918 may present one or more visual representations 2506 of target load thresholds tailored for the user. For example, the one or more target thresholds may include a left target threshold, a right target threshold, or some combination thereof. Presenting the visual representations 2506 of the target thresholds concurrently with the real-time display of the measurements in the visual representations 2502 and/or 2504 may enable the user to determine how close they are to exceeding the target thresholds and/or when they exceed the target thresholds.
FIG. 26 illustrates an example computer system 2600, which can perform any one or more of the methods described herein. In one example, computer system 2600 may correspond to the computing device 12 (e.g., control system), the computing device 14, one or more servers 28 of the cloud-based computing system 16 of FIG. 1. The computer system 2600 may be capable of the application 17 and presenting the user interface 18 of FIG. 1, the user interface 1918 of FIG. 19, and/or the application 21 and presenting the user interface 22 of FIG. 1. The computer system 2600 may be connected (e.g., networked) to other computer systems in a LAN, an intranet, an extranet, or the Internet. The computer system 2600 may operate in the capacity of a server in a client-server network environment. The computer system 2600 may be a personal computer (PC), a tablet computer, a motor controller, a goniometer, a wearable (e.g., wristband), a set-top box (STB), a personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a camera, a video camera, or any device capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that device. Further, while only a single computer system is illustrated, the term “computer” shall also be taken to include any collection of computers that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein.
The computer system 2600 includes a processing device 2602, a main memory 2604 (e.g., read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, dynamic random access memory (DRAM) such as synchronous DRAM (SDRAM)), a static memory 2606 (e.g., flash memory, static random access memory (SRAM)), and a data storage device 2608, which communicate with each other via a bus 2610.
Processing device 2602 represents one or more general-purpose processing devices such as a microprocessor, central processing unit, or the like. More particularly, the processing device 2602 may be a complex instruction set computing (CISC) microprocessor, reduced instruction set computing (RISC) microprocessor, very long instruction word (VLIW) microprocessor, or a processor implementing other instruction sets or processors implementing a combination of instruction sets. The processing device 2602 may also be one or more special-purpose processing devices such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a digital signal processor (DSP), network processor, or the like. The processing device 2602 is configured to execute instructions for performing any of the operations and steps discussed herein.
The computer system 2600 may further include a network interface device 2612. The computer system 2600 also may include a video display 2614 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)), one or more input devices 2616 (e.g., a keyboard and/or a mouse), and one or more speakers 2618 (e.g., a speaker). In one illustrative example, the video display 2614 and the input device(s) 2616 may be combined into a single component or device (e.g., an LCD touch screen).
The data storage device 2616 may include a computer-readable medium 2620 on which the instructions 2622 (e.g., implementing the application 17 or 21 executed by any device and/or component depicted in the FIGURES and described herein) embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein are stored. The instructions 2622 may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory 2604 and/or within the processing device 2602 during execution thereof by the computer system 2600. As such, the main memory 2604 and the processing device 2602 also constitute computer-readable media. The instructions 2622 may further be transmitted or received over a network via the network interface device 2612.
While the computer-readable storage medium 2620 is shown in the illustrative examples to be a single medium, the term “computer-readable storage medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term “computer-readable storage medium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present disclosure. The term “computer-readable storage medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, optical media, and magnetic media.
The various aspects, embodiments, implementations or features of the described embodiments can be used separately or in any combination. The embodiments disclosed herein are modular in nature and can be used in conjunction with or coupled to other embodiments, including both statically-based and dynamically-based equipment. In addition, the embodiments disclosed herein can employ selected equipment such that they can identify individual users and auto-calibrate threshold multiple-of-body-weight targets, as well as other individualized parameters, for individual users.
Consistent with the above disclosure, the examples of systems and method enumerated in the following clauses are specifically contemplated and are intended as a non-limiting set of examples.
Clause 1. A control system of an exercise machine, comprising:
a memory device storing instructions;
a user interface for presenting a video game with an avatar;
a processing device operatively coupled to the memory device and the user interface, wherein the processing device is configured to execute the instructions to:

- receive sensor data from a sensor operatively coupled to the exercise machine, wherein the sensor data comprises one or more measurements;
- responsive to the one or more measurements, cause the avatar to change a position in the video game;
- compare the one or more measurements to a target threshold;
- determine whether the one or more measurement exceed the target threshold; and
- responsive to determining that the one or more measurements exceed the target threshold, cause the user interface to present a modification to the video game.

Clause 2. The control system of any preceding clause, wherein the sensor is operatively coupled to at least one of a pedal of an exercise cycle, a balance board, and at least one of a handle, a foot plate, and a platform of an isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly.
Clause 3. The control system of any preceding clause, wherein the one or more measurements comprise at least one of a load measurement, a speed measurement, a repetition measurement, and a stability measurement.
Clause 4. The control system of any preceding clause, wherein causing the avatar to change the position in the video game further comprises:
responsive to a first value of the one or more measurements from the sensor data, changing the position of the avatar at a first speed; and
responsive to a second value of the one or more measurements from the sensor data, changing the position of the avatar at a second speed,
wherein the second value comprises a greater value than the first value, and the second speed of the avatar is greater than the first speed of the avatar.
Clause 5. The control system of any preceding clause, wherein the processing device is further configured to execute the instructions to:

- receive additional sensor data from an additional sensor operatively coupled to the exercise machine, wherein the additional sensor data comprises one or more additional measurements;
- responsive to receiving the one or more additional measurements, cause the avatar to change the position in the video game;
- determine whether the one or more additional measurement exceed an additional target threshold; and
- responsive to determining that the one or more additional measurements exceed the additional target threshold, cause the user interface to present the modification to the video game.

Clause 6. The control system of any preceding clause, wherein the sensor is coupled to a first pedal of the exercise machine;
wherein the target threshold is a first pedal threshold;
wherein the additional sensor is coupled to a second pedal of the exercise machine; and
wherein the additional target threshold is a second pedal threshold.
Clause 7. The control system of any preceding clause, wherein the video game comprises an exercise plan comprising one or more exercises for rehabilitating a body part of a user;
wherein the video game further comprises at least one of an exercise game level and an exercise game; and
wherein at least one of the exercise game level and the exercise game comprises the one or more exercises.
Clause 8. The control system of any preceding clause, wherein the processing device is further configured to execute the instructions to receive user input data comprising at least one of a pain level, an exertion level, and a vital sign, wherein presenting the modification to the video game is further based on the user input data.
Clause 9. The control system of any preceding clause, wherein the processing device is further configured to execute the instructions to:
based on at least one of the one or more measurements, the user input, and a vital sign, select at least one of an exercise game level and an exercise game.
Clause 10. The control system of any preceding clause, wherein the processing device is further configured to execute the instructions to receive tracker data from a fitness wearable, wherein the tracker data comprises a vital sign value.
Clause 11. The control system of any preceding clause, wherein presenting the modification to the video game is further based on the tracker data; and
wherein the modification comprises at least one of a modified exercise game level, a modified exercise game, and a termination of the video game.
Clause 12. The control system of any preceding clause, wherein presenting the video game comprises at least one of visual content and audio content; and
wherein at least one of the visual content and the audio content comprises an exercise goal presented to a user.
Clause 13. A method for a control system of an exercise machine, comprising:
receiving sensor data from a sensor operatively coupled to the exercise machine, wherein the sensor data comprises one or more measurements;
responsive to the one or more measurements, causing an avatar to change a position in a video game;
comparing the one or more measurements to a target threshold;
determining whether the one or more measurement exceed the target threshold; and
responsive to determining that the one or more measurements exceed the target threshold, causing a user interface to present a modification to the video game.
Clause 14. The method of any preceding clause, wherein the sensor is operatively coupled to at least one of a pedal of an exercise cycle, a balance board, and at least one of a handle, a foot plate, and a platform of an isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly.
Clause 15. The method of any preceding clause, wherein the one or more measurements comprise at least one of a load measurement, a speed measurement, a repetition measurement, and a stability measurement.
Clause 16. The method of any preceding clause, wherein causing the avatar to change the position in the video game further comprises:
responsive to a first value of the one or more measurements from the sensor data, changing the position of the avatar at a first speed; and
responsive to a second value of the one or more measurements from the sensor data, changing the position of the avatar at a second speed,
wherein the second value comprises a greater value than the first value, and the second speed of the avatar is greater than the first speed of the avatar.
Clause 17. The method of any preceding clause, further comprising:
receiving additional sensor data from an additional sensor operatively coupled to the exercise machine, wherein the additional sensor data comprises one or more additional measurements;
responsive to receiving the one or more additional measurements, causing the avatar to change the position in the video game;
determining whether the one or more additional measurement exceed an additional target threshold; and
responsive to determining that the one or more additional measurements exceed the additional target threshold, causing the user interface to present the modification to the video game.
Clause 18. The method of any preceding clause, wherein the sensor is coupled to a first pedal of the exercise machine;
wherein the target threshold is a first pedal threshold;
wherein the additional sensor is coupled to a second pedal of the exercise machine; and
wherein the additional target threshold is a second pedal threshold.
Clause 19. The method of any preceding clause, wherein the video game comprises an exercise plan comprising one or more exercises for rehabilitating a body part of a user;
wherein the video game further comprises at least one of an exercise game level and an exercise game; and
wherein at least one of the exercise game level and the exercise game comprises the one or more exercises.
Clause 20. The method of any preceding clause, further comprising receiving user input data comprising at least one of a pain level and an exertion level, wherein presenting the modification to the video game is further based on the user input.
Clause 21. The method of any preceding clause, further comprising:
based on at least one of the one or more measurements, the user input, and a vital sign, selecting at least one of an exercise game level and an exercise game.
Clause 22. The method of any preceding clause, father comprising receiving tracker data from a fitness wearable, wherein the tracker data comprises a vital sign value.
Clause 23. The method of any preceding clause, wherein presenting the modification to the video game is further based on the tracker data; and
wherein the modification comprises at least one of a modified exercise game level, a modified exercise game, and a termination of the video game.
Clause 24. The method of any preceding clause, wherein presenting the video game comprises at least one of visual content and audio content; and
wherein at least one of the visual content and the audio content comprises an exercise goal presented to a user.
Clause 25. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause a processing device to:
receive sensor data from a sensor operatively coupled to an exercise machine, wherein the sensor data comprises one or more measurements;
responsive to the one or more measurements, cause an avatar to change a position in a video game;
compare the one or more measurements to a target threshold;
determine whether the one or more measurement exceed the target threshold; and
responsive to determining that the one or more measurements exceed the target threshold, cause the user interface to present a modification to the video game.
Clause 26. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of any preceding clause, wherein the sensor is operatively coupled to at least one of a pedal of an exercise cycle, a balance board, and at least one of a handle, a foot plate, and a platform of an isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly.
Clause 27. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of any preceding clause, wherein the one or more measurements comprise at least one of a load measurement, a speed measurement, a repetition measurement, and a stability measurement.
Clause 28. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of any preceding clause, wherein causing the avatar to change the position in the video game further comprises:
responsive to a first value of the one or more measurements from the sensor data, changing the position of the avatar at a first speed; and
responsive to a second value of the one or more measurements from the sensor data, changing the position of the avatar at a second speed,
wherein the second value comprises a greater value than the first value, and the second speed of the avatar is greater than the first speed of the avatar.
Clause 29. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of any preceding clause, wherein the processing device is further configured to execute the instructions to:

Clause 30. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of any preceding clause, wherein the sensor is coupled to a first pedal of the exercise machine;
wherein the target threshold is a first pedal threshold;
wherein the additional sensor is coupled to a second pedal of the exercise machine; and
wherein the additional target threshold is a second pedal threshold.
Clause 31. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of any preceding clause, wherein the video game comprises an exercise plan comprising one or more exercises for rehabilitating a body part of a user;
wherein the video game further comprises at least one of an exercise game level and an exercise game; and
wherein at least one of the exercise game level and the exercise game comprises the one or more exercises.
Clause 32. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of any preceding clause, wherein the processing device is further configured to execute the instructions to:
receive user input data comprising at least one of a pain level and an exertion level, wherein presenting the modification to the video game is further based on the user input.
Clause 33. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of any preceding clause, wherein the processing device is further configured to execute the instructions to:
based on at least one of the one or more measurements, the user input, and a vital sign, select at least one of an exercise game level and an exercise game.
Clause 34. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of any preceding clause, wherein the processing device is further configured to execute the instructions to:
receive tracker data from a fitness wearable, wherein the tracker data comprises a vital sign value.
Clause 35. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of any preceding clause, wherein presenting the modification to the video game is further based on the tracker data; and
wherein the modification comprises at least one of a modified exercise game level, a modified exercise game, and a termination of the video game.
Clause 36. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of any preceding clause, wherein presenting the video game comprises at least one of visual content and audio content; and
wherein at least one of the visual content and the audio content comprises an exercise goal presented to a user.
No part of the description in this application should be read as implying that any particular element, step, or function is an essential element that must be included in the claim scope. The scope of patented subject matter is defined only by the claims. Moreover, none of the claims is intended to invoke 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) unless the exact words “means for” are followed by a participle.
The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. However, it should be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the described embodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the described embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It should be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings.
The above discussion is meant to be illustrative of the principles and various embodiments of the present disclosure. Numerous variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. It is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such variations and modifications.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A control system of an exercise machine, comprising:

a memory device storing instructions;

a user interface for presenting a video game with an avatar;

a processing device operatively coupled to the memory device and the user interface, wherein the processing device is configured to execute the instructions to:

receive sensor data from a sensor operatively coupled to the exercise machine, wherein the sensor data comprises one or more measurements;

responsive to the one or more measurements, cause the avatar to change a position in the video game;

compare the one or more measurements to a target threshold;

determine whether the one or more measurement exceed the target threshold; and

responsive to determining that the one or more measurements exceed the target threshold, cause the user interface to present a modification to the video game.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is operatively coupled to at least one of a pedal of an exercise cycle, a balance board, and at least one of a handle, a foot plate, and a platform of an isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein the one or more measurements comprise at least one of a load measurement, a speed measurement, a repetition measurement, and a stability measurement.

4. The control system of claim 1, wherein causing the avatar to change the position in the video game further comprises:

responsive to a first value of the one or more measurements from the sensor data, changing the position of the avatar at a first speed; and

responsive to a second value of the one or more measurements from the sensor data, changing the position of the avatar at a second speed,

wherein the second value comprises a greater value than the first value, and the second speed of the avatar is greater than the first speed of the avatar.

5. The control system of claim 1, wherein the processing device is further configured to execute the instructions to:

receive additional sensor data from an additional sensor operatively coupled to the exercise machine, wherein the additional sensor data comprises one or more additional measurements;

responsive to receiving the one or more additional measurements, cause the avatar to change the position in the video game;

determine whether the one or more additional measurement exceed an additional target threshold; and

responsive to determining that the one or more additional measurements exceed the additional target threshold, cause the user interface to present the modification to the video game.

6. The control system of claim 5, wherein the sensor is coupled to a first pedal of the exercise machine;

wherein the target threshold is a first pedal threshold;

wherein the additional sensor is coupled to a second pedal of the exercise machine; and

wherein the additional target threshold is a second pedal threshold.

7. The control system of claim 1, wherein the video game comprises an exercise plan comprising one or more exercises for rehabilitating a body part of a user;

wherein the video game further comprises at least one of an exercise game level and an exercise game; and

wherein at least one of the exercise game level and the exercise game comprises the one or more exercises.

8. The control system of claim 1, wherein the processing device is further configured to execute the instructions to receive user input data comprising at least one of a pain level, an exertion level, and a vital sign, wherein presenting the modification to the video game is further based on the user input data.

9. The control system of claim 8, wherein the processing device is further configured to execute the instructions to:

based on at least one of the one or more measurements, the user input, and the vital sign, select at least one of an exercise game level and an exercise game.

10. The control system of claim 1, wherein the processing device is further configured to execute the instructions to receive tracker data from a fitness wearable, wherein the tracker data comprises a vital sign value.

11. The control system of claim 10, wherein presenting the modification to the video game is further based on the tracker data; and

wherein the modification comprises at least one of a modified exercise game level, a modified exercise game, and a termination of the video game.

12. The control system of claim 1, wherein presenting the video game comprises at least one of visual content and audio content; and

wherein at least one of the visual content and the audio content comprises an exercise goal presented to a user.

13. A method for a control system of an exercise machine, comprising:

receiving sensor data from a sensor operatively coupled to the exercise machine, wherein the sensor data comprises one or more measurements;

responsive to the one or more measurements, causing an avatar to change a position in a video game;

comparing the one or more measurements to a target threshold;

determining whether the one or more measurement exceed the target threshold; and

responsive to determining that the one or more measurements exceed the target threshold, causing a user interface to present a modification to the video game.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the sensor is operatively coupled to at least one of a pedal of an exercise cycle, a balance board, and at least one of a handle, a foot plate, and a platform of an isometric exercise and rehabilitation assembly.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more measurements comprise at least one of a load measurement, a speed measurement, a repetition measurement, and a stability measurement.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein causing the avatar to change the position in the video game further comprises:

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving additional sensor data from an additional sensor operatively coupled to the exercise machine, wherein the additional sensor data comprises one or more additional measurements;

responsive to receiving the one or more additional measurements, causing the avatar to change the position in the video game;

determining whether the one or more additional measurement exceed an additional target threshold; and

responsive to determining that the one or more additional measurements exceed the additional target threshold, causing the user interface to present the modification to the video game.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the sensor is coupled to a first pedal of the exercise machine;

wherein the target threshold is a first pedal threshold;

wherein the additional target threshold is a second pedal threshold.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the video game comprises an exercise plan comprising one or more exercises for rehabilitating a body part of a user;

20. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause a processing device to:

receive sensor data from a sensor operatively coupled to an exercise machine, wherein the sensor data comprises one or more measurements;

responsive to the one or more measurements, cause an avatar to change a position in a video game;

compare the one or more measurements to a target threshold;

determine whether the one or more measurement exceed the target threshold; and