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

[0005]The present invention provides a system, method and program product for facilitating exercise techniques to strengthen core muscles, namely intrinsic muscles of the spine including the lumbar multifidi. A sensor based exercise system and method is disclosed to, among other things: (a) provide sufferers of low back pain with a simple, enjoyable, video game-like interface that provides them with real-time in-home guidance on the proper techniques for exercises that strengthen core muscles and ultimately reduce low back pain; and (b) provide a system to workers in occupations involving prolonged sitting that prompts and guides them when to take short breaks from working and perform core muscle strengthening exercises and do them properly. The system will reduce employee low back pain, employer liability and lost work time.

[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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