Exercise Band Pull Force Measurement via Sensor Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for assigning exercise bands in physical therapy lack precision in measuring the pull force exerted by patients, leading to potential misuse of bands that may be too easy or too difficult, as they rely on intermittent monitoring and patient feedback without objective measurement.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising sensors and a controller that instructs patients to perform directed movements with exercise bands, calculates the pull force based on received exercise data, and determines the adequacy of the band, allowing for objective selection of appropriate resistance levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If intermittent monitoring and patient feedback are used to assign exercise bands, then the system is simple to operate, but the measurement precision of pull force is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces subjective patient feedback and intermittent visual monitoring with an objective electronic sensor system that continuously measures pull force on the exercise band. The sensor converts mechanical force into electrical signals for precise quantification, eliminating the need for therapist intervention and patient self-reporting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary between the sensor and the therapist. The controller processes raw sensor data, calculates pull force metrics, and presents processed information to the therapist, thereby simplifying the interface while enabling precise measurement through automated computation.
2Reliability
If no objective measurement is used, then the system is easy to operate, but the reliability of exercise band selection is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous feedback by having the sensor monitor pull force in real-time during exercise performance. This feedback loop provides objective data about actual force application, enabling reliable assessment of whether the exercise band is appropriately matched to the patient's current capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-measurement by automatically detecting and quantifying the pull force exerted on the exercise band during exercise. This eliminates the need for external measurement devices or manual assessment by the therapist, as the exercise equipment itself provides the measurement data.
3Measurement precision
If continuous measurement is implemented, then the measurement precision improves, but the loss of time for data processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary data processing by having the controller continuously calculate pull force metrics during exercise performance rather than processing raw data afterward. This real-time computation during the exercise itself eliminates post-exercise data analysis time while maintaining measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A patient can undergo physical therapy to rehabilitate a musculoskeletal condition. The success of the rehabilitation relies in part on whether the patient uses an exercise band with the correct resistance for their condition. In order to select the correct resistance, a controller can instruct the patient to perform a directed movement with an exercise band, receive exercise data from at least one sensor (e.g., a camera, like a front-facing camera, that records the patient, a plurality of sensors on or near the patient's skin, etc.) as the subject performs the directed movement, and calculate a pull force exerted by the patient on the exercise band based on at least a portion of the exercise data. The adequacy of an exercise with the exercise band for the patient is determined based on the pull force can be determined based on the calculated pull force.