A method of assessing the movement of a human

Abstract

Method of assessing a human’s movement, comprising: identifying in each image of a sequence of images 300A-E of a human performing a movement two or more primary biological key point features (200,Fig.3); in each image assigning salient primary data points to primary biological features 210A-D, (210A-D, Fig.3); calculating for each image a spatial measurement formed between the primary key points; calculating a primary variance factor that is dependent on a change in the primary spatial measurement between at least two images; and outputting a primary movement score dependent on the variance factor. Images may come from a plurality of sensors. The primary spatial measurement may be a volume between salient primary key points. The variance factor may be determined from a change in the primary spatial measurements between adjacent images, non-adjacent images or across a sequence of images. The primary variance factor may be compared with a threshold value to determine the primary movement score. The method may be repeated concurrently to analyse two or more aspect of the human’s movement by combining plural primary movement scores.

Claims

1. A method of assessing the movement quality of a human, the method comprising: obtaining a sequence of images of a human performing a deliberate movement; identifying in each image two or more primary biological features; assigning to each image primary data points indicative of the position of the two or more primary biological features within the image; calculating for each image a primary spatial measurement formed between the primary data points; calculating a primary variance factor that is dependent on a change in the primary spatial measurement between at least two of the images; and outputting a primary movement score that is indicative of the quality of the human’s movement, the primary movement score being dependent on the variance factor.

2. The method according to Claim 1, wherein the primary spatial measurement is a volume formed between the primary data points.

3. The method according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the sequence of images is a sequence of frames within a video.

4. The method according to any of Claims 1 -3, wherein the primary variance factor is compared with at least one threshold value to determine the primary movement score.

5. The method according to any of Claims 1 -4, further comprising: calculating a further primary variance factor that is dependent on a change in the primary spatial measurement between at least two of the images; and outputting a further primary movement score that is dependent on the further primary variance factor.

6. The method according to Claim 5, wherein the further primary variance factor is compared with at least one threshold value to determine the further primary movement score.

7. The method according to Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein the primary movement score is indicative of a first aspect of the human’s quality of movement and the further primary movement score is indicative of a second different aspect of the human’s quality of movement.

8. The method according to any of Claims 1 -7, wherein the primary variance factor or the further primary variance factor is dependent on a change in the primary spatial measurement between two adjacent images.

9. The method according to any of Claims 1 -7, wherein the primary variance factor or the further primary variance factor is dependent on a change in the primary spatial measurement across the full sequence of images.10.The method according to any of Claims 1-7, wherein the primary variance factor or the further primary variance factor is dependent on a net cumulative change in the primary spatial measurement across the full sequence of images.11 .The method according to any of Claims 1 -7, wherein the primary variance factor or the further primary variance factor is dependent on a rate of change in the primary spatial measurement between at least two of the images.

12. The method according to any of Claims 1-7, wherein the primary variance factor or the further primary variance factor is dependent on a rate of change in the primary spatial measurement between two adjacent images.13.The method according to any of Claims 1-7, wherein the primary variance factor or the further primary variance factor is dependent on a rate of change in the primary spatial measurement across the full sequence of images.14.The method according to any of Claims 5-13, further comprising: outputting an overall primary movement score indicative of the quality of the human’s movement, the overall primary movement score being dependent on the primary movement score and the further primary movement score.15.The method according to any of Claims 1-14, further comprising: identifying in each image two or more secondary biological features; assigning to each image secondary data points indicative of the position of the two or more secondary biological features within the image; calculating for each image a secondary spatial measurement formed between the secondary data points; calculating a secondary variance factor that is dependent on a change in the secondary spatial measurement between at least two of the images; and outputting a secondary movement score that is dependent on the secondary variance factor.

16. The method according to Claim 15, wherein the secondary spatial measurement is a volume formed between the secondary data points.

17. The method according to Claim 15 or Claim 16, wherein the secondary variance factor is compared with at least one threshold value to determine the secondary movement score.

18. The method according to any of Claims 15-17, wherein the primary biological features are associated with a first portion of the human body and the secondary biological features are associated with a second portion of the human body.19.The method according to Claim 18, wherein the first portion of the human body is a left side of the human body and the second portion of the human body is a right side of the human body.20.The method according to any of Claims 15-19, further comprising: outputting an overall movement score that is indicative of the quality of thehuman’s movement, the overall primary movement score being dependent on the primary movement score and the secondary movement score.21 .A sensing apparatus configured to assess the movement of a human according to the method of any of Claims 1 -20.

22. A sensing apparatus according to Claim 21, the sensing apparatus comprising at least one processor configured to perform the method of any of Claims 1-20.10153023. A data carrier or data storage medium comprising machine readable instructions for the control of one or more processor to perform a method of assessing the movement quality of a human, the method comprising: obtaining a sequence of images of a human performing a deliberate movement;identifying in each image two or more primary biological features; assigning to each image primary data points indicative of the position of the two or more primary biological features within the image;calculating for each image a primary spatial measurement formed between the primary data points;calculating a primary variance factor that is dependent on a change in the primary spatial measurement between at least two of the images; and outputting a primary movement score that is indicative of the quality of the human’s movement, the primary movement score being dependent on the variance factor.

24. A sensing apparatus for assessing the movement quality of a human, the sensing apparatus comprising:at least one sensor configured to capture a sequence of images of a human performing a deliberate movement; andat least one controller configured to:identify in each image two or more primary biological features;assign to each image primary data points indicative of the position of thetwo or more primary biological features within the image;calculate for each image a primary spatial measurement formed between the primary data points;calculate a primary variance factor that is dependent on a change in the5 primary spatial measurement between at least two of the images; andoutput a primary movement score that is indicative of the quality of the human’s movement, the primary movement score being dependent on the variance factor.10 25. The sensing apparatus of Claim 24, wherein the at least one sensorcomprises a plurality of sensors.CM

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