Sensor based exercise control system

Abstract

A system and method for exercising core muscles, particularly the lumbar intrinsic musculature, including the multifidi. A system is disclosed that includes: a first sensor for detecting upper body exertions of a user engaged in an exercise; a second sensor for detecting lower torso exertions for the user engaged in the exercise; a third sensor for detecting lower extremity exertions for the user engaged in the exercise; a control system for processing sensor data from the first, second and third sensor, said control system including: a user interface system for communicating information with the user; a data collection system for collecting sensor data; an analysis system for analyzing the sensor data and determining if the user is performing the exercise in a technically correct manner; and a feedback system for alerting the user when the exercise is not being performed in the technically correct manner.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]The present invention relates to a system and method for facilitating proper exercise techniques and more particularly to a sensor based feedback system and method for facilitating pelvic and spine exercise techniques to strengthen core muscles, namely the lumbar intrinsic musculature and abdominal muscles.[0002]Lower back pain is a chronic medical problem in today's society, and the yearly cost can reach as high as $600 billion per year. The economic impact of lower back pain can be subdivided into direct and indirect costs; indirect costs primarily relate to employment and household productivity, while the direct costs involve physician services, medical devices, medications, hospital services, and diagnostic testing. An estimated 8 out of 10 Americans suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain lasting longer than two weeks occurs in 16% of the population between the ages of 24 and 75, as reported by The National Health and Nutrition Examination ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]According to a third embodiment of the present invention, program product stored on a tangible computer readable medium, which when executed by a computer system, facilitates exercising of core muscles, comprising: program code for providing a user interface system for communicating information with a user engaged in an exercise; program code for collecting data from a first sensor adapted to detect an upper body exertion of the user engaged in the exercise; program code for collecting data from a second sensor adapted to detect a lower torso exertion of the user engaged in the exercise; program code for analyzing the data from the first and second sensor to determine whether the user is performing the exercise in a technically correct manner; and program code for providing feedback to the user regarding the exercise not being performed in the technically correct manner.

Problems solved by technology

Lower back pain is a chronic medical problem in today's society, and the yearly cost can reach as high as $600 billion per year.

The net effect of these lost workdays translates to a loss of approximately $28 billion per year in the United States, and £1.6 billion in the United Kingdom.

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