Exercise Therapy Control for Interval Training Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exercise therapy devices, such as ergometers and treadmills, are inadequate for controlling interval training that includes both anaerobic and aerobic exercises, as they primarily focus on heart rate responses, leading to inaccurate execution of anaerobic exercises and uncertainty in achieving expected exercise effects.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus and method for exercise therapy devices that allow input and display of specific exercise loads and time periods for high-intensity and low-intensity exercises, enabling precise control and display of exercise intensity changes during interval training, ensuring the exerciser follows the intended load and timing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If exercise therapy devices use heart rate response as the basis for controlling exercise load, then the training can be monitored and guided, but the device cannot accurately support anaerobic exercise intervals because heart rate response time constants are too slow (20-100 seconds)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the exercise control into two independent parts: (1) exercise load control based on predetermined time periods and loads, and (2) heart rate monitoring as a separate feedback function. This allows anaerobic interval training to be controlled by time-based segments rather than slow heart rate response, while still providing monitoring capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-defines exercise load and time period parameters before training begins. The control unit executes these predetermined parameters to automatically switch between high-intensity and low-intensity intervals, eliminating the need to wait for heart rate response during load transitions.
2Ease of operation
If the exercise time period is set to match the heart rate response time constant (20-100 seconds), then heart rate monitoring becomes feasible, but the interval training loses anaerobic exercise effectiveness because the intervals are too long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the control of exercise duration from heart rate monitoring. Exercise intervals are segmented into precise time periods (e.g., 30 seconds high intensity, 90 seconds low intensity) independent of heart rate response time, while heart rate monitoring operates as a separate parallel function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the controlling parameter from heart rate-based time constants to predetermined time period parameters. This allows flexible adjustment of interval durations to match anaerobic exercise requirements while maintaining heart rate monitoring as a supplementary function.
3Device complexity
If the device displays only averaged or sampled values at regular time intervals, then the display is simple and stable, but the peak values and fluctuations in exercise load intensity cannot be seen
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and stores peak values and fluctuation data during the exercise program execution. This allows the display to show precise load intensity variations without requiring complex real-time processing, maintaining simple display architecture while improving measurement precision.
4Ease of manufacture
If the exercise program is created based on presumed heart rate response, then the program can be designed in advance, but the actual execution cannot guarantee anaerobic exercise intensity because real heart rate response varies between individuals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates program creation from intensity guarantee. The control program is segmented into fixed time intervals with predetermined load parameters, ensuring consistent execution. Heart rate response varies between individuals but does not affect the structured interval timing and load application.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes from heart rate-based program design to time-based program execution. Exercise load and duration parameters are set independently of individual heart rate characteristics, allowing standardized anaerobic interval protocols to be reliably executed across different users.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a control apparatus for an exercise therapy device to be used to carry out interval training where a high-intensity exercise and a low-intensity exercise, which have different exercise loads, are alternately carried out, including: an exercise load setting part for inputting an exercise load and exercise time period for the high-intensity exercise and low-intensity exercise from an input device of the exercise therapy device and setting the input exercise load and exercise time period in a storage part of the exercise therapy device as an exercise program; and a display control part for displaying a timing at which an exercise intensity of the exercise program is to change next during the interval training on a display device of the exercise therapy device.