Patent Application
20220008788
This invention relates generally to the areas of training of human performance, improvement of human health, enhancing the effectiveness of training practice sessions, assisting coaches and trainers in evaluating clients, and reducing or eliminating the damage caused by repeatedly practicing mistakes.
The Pilates exercise system was developed by the German athlete Joseph Pilates in the early part of the 20th century. Using various forms of specialized exercises and equipment, and focusing on developing certain aspects of human musculature, Mr. Pilates created a new and highly successful method to improve the performance of athletes. Over the subsequent time following its introduction, and as the method became more widely practiced and accepted, it became apparent that these same techniques could be adopted by almost any individual, with highly beneficial results. Ultimately, a large body of science has become associated with the design of the required equipment, and a large number of professional practitioners have adopted his methods.
Focused on the core of the human body, the Pilates system seeks to develop, remedy, improve and intensify the stability and endurance of the entire human structure from within. Seeking a fundamental principle, Mr. Pilates addressed the core as the spinal column, pelvis, ribcage, scapulae and head with all muscular and connective tissue attachments. He arrived at the conclusion that human movement, be it walking, running, jumping, bending, stretching, crouching, etc., was ultimately anchored at the pelvis. Pelvic stability depends critically on the symmetry and strength of the entire core. Where such connection is missing or is unbalanced, the joints and adjacent muscles become overloaded, causing damage and overuse, while opposing or adjacent muscles become underloaded, creating asymmetry resulting in lack of strength and stability.
The origins of the Pilates method include eastern meditative forms of exercise along with western principles of strength training designed to guide the body and mind in a conscious and mindful method of moving. The Pilates System is comprised of 34 floor exercises (Matwork) that require a specific practiced sequence and 5 pieces of highly specialized equipment. The Universal Reformer, the Trapeze Table (Cadillac) and the Stability Chair (Wunda Chair) all include spring tension as a means of support and resistance. The Spine Corrector (Step Barrel) and Ladder Barrel are stationary curved surfaces to support and create articulation in the spine as well as strengthening the core. All pieces of equipment accommodate all planes of movement on all surfaces of the body. The system emphasizes slow, conscious management of the core musculature and adjacent limbs, isolating specific muscle groups and motions to develop strength, conscious control, symmetry and balance.
Features and advantages of the disclosure will readily be appreciated by persons skilled in the art from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the drawing wherein:
In the following detailed description and in the several figures of the drawing, like elements are identified with like reference numerals. The figures are not to scale, and relative feature sizes may be exaggerated for illustrative purposes.
Pilates trainers advance through numerous certification levels to achieve clarity and skill in the application of the Pilates method and science. It is mandatory that the principles of the system be followed rigidly to achieve the desired results. A trainer works through several means to guide the client/exerciser in achieving the desired result of balance and symmetry. Because of the design of the equipment and its complexity, results come through repeated training sessions, and accrue as the client learns how the equipment works, undoes prior damage and asymmetries, and builds the necessary strength in the appropriate muscle groups. These training sessions are most effective under the watchful eyes of a professional, and with constant feedback to reinforce success, presented verbally.
However, regardless of the skill of the trainer, certain aspects of the new musculature development may remain hidden, resulting in a less than optimum outcome, or in a plateau of progress that blocks further achievement. Although verbal feedback generally occurs in real time, it is based on the trainer's constant oversight of the exercise performance, a continuous coaching of what the client should be feeling or experiencing, and a verbal dialog based on the client's verbal description of their personal experience. Although critically dependent on the quality of the communication between trainer and client, each client experiences differently, due to the infinite variations in human physiology. The process could be likened to a blind person throwing darts. No matter how much dialogue occurs, the coach cannot provide the fine adjustments to consistently hit the bullseye of the target, because there is no fixed real-time frame of reference and instant feedback of success or error. Another example would be a person practicing piano, but no sound is produced when keys are struck. The student and the teacher are both observing the keys being depressed, but without the instant feedback of the sound. Real progress cannot be measured by the teacher or the student, although the movement seems right. If mistakes are being made, correcting may be extremely difficult or impossible. Consequently, the process of discovering, communicating, understanding and implementing the necessary changes can take too long to be of immediate use to the client/exerciser, who may be an elite athlete, who is in constant need of functional feedback to stay healthy and injury free so progress can be made.
With the forgoing examples in mind, it is an aspect of this invention to provide an innovative electronic visual display system and method to provide such a frame of reference via a real-time visual feedback to the client/exerciser and the trainer simultaneously. Activated during the performance of the training, a clear visual display of the results of each movement is provided. Where the execution of the exercise is displayed in real time, the trainer can articulate accurate analysis of all, or part, of a movement, make mid movement suggestions, or direct repetition of a small portion of a movement. With the immediate visual reinforcement of the progress of such movement, or lack thereof, the client can quickly achieve correct execution of the exercise. As the practice of mistakes over and over again is the most common error in performance training, the more quickly mistakes are corrected the more rapidly progress and satisfaction will be achieved.
The exemplary disclosed applications for this system and method are directed to the science of Pilates. The practice of Pilates includes several mechanical devices for the performance of exercises directed at the improvement of the human core. Among these are the Reformer, the Spine Corrector, and the Ladder Barrel. Each of these devices includes a surface against which the client rests, alternatively pressing and releasing in accordance with the particular exercise specifications. The Reformer has a horizontally moveable surface which supports the entire torso of the exerciser and allows exercises in the generally supine position. The Spine Corrector has a barrel shaped surface with an angled flat affixed thereto. The curved barrel shaped surface generally supports the lower back to the shoulder blades. The Ladder Barrel has a barrel shaped surface elevated from the floor, adjacent to which stands a series of ladder like rungs. The curved barrel shaped surface can support either the back or abdomen, with support being provided by the adjacent rungs. In addition, the portion of the anatomy which rests on, and presses against, said surfaces, can include the lower back, the mid back, the upper back, the sides, either left or right, and the abdomen.
To provide the direct visual feedback, in accordance with an aspect of the invention, the surfaces against which the client presses are provided with an array of electronic pressure sensors which are scanned by a multiplexer scanner, resolved into a graphic image, and displayed on a video screen configured to graphically represent the area of the equipment against which such pressure is applied. This display of pressure will take on specific patterns of pressure gradients, pressure intensity, and progress of movement, depending on the particular exercise being performed. Concurrent with the display of the pressure, the trainer observes the patterns, points out details to the client, and suggests/directs corrections or provides positive feedback. Using the guidance of the trainer, or in some cases by her or his self, the client can then begin to interpret the visual display of patterns, and in real-time rapidly progress in correct execution of the exercise.
The desired readout of pressures applied by the body of an exercising client requires a way of collecting applied pressure over a large area and resolving the applied pressure into discrete values. For instance, the distance between one measured pressure value and the next might be as small as, but not limited to, 5 mm and distant as, but not limited to, 20 mm. One exemplary system to accomplish this pressure collecting function includes a sensor such as a pressure sensitive membrane or film. Because of the varying areas of the human form which is measured, the dimensions of the pressure sensitive film can be as small as, but not limited to several square centimeters such as five square centimeters, or as large as, but not limited to, one square meter. For example, a TekScan BPMS 5315 utilizing a thin flexible pressure sensitive film, 48.77 cm×42.55 cm, with 2011 discrete points arranged as a rectangular matrix, and sensitive to pressure applied, paired with TekScan Evolution USB Handle and appropriate management and display software, is an appropriate option. The Handle is a multiplexer/scanner hardware that interfaces the pressure sensitive film, i.e. the sensor, to a computer such as a laptop, tablet or personal computer. The Handle in this example is bundled with software on a disk that is installed on the computer.
The flexible pressure sensitive membrane is mounted in a stress-free way to the hard surface of the Reformer carriage upper surface, beneath any cushion, and/or the curved surfaces of the Spine Corrector and/or the Ladder Barrel. In the interests of durability and safety, the surface of the pressure sensitive membrane might be covered with a thin, durable padding. Depending on the desire of the trainer or client/exerciser, any one or a plurality of Pilates training equipment might be so instrumented.
In use, the aggregated pressures measured by the thin flexible membrane are collected by the multiplexer and relayed to a computer/processor configured to interpret the scanned data, resolve the data into discrete pressure values, assign a visual value such as a color value to each increment of pressure, for example, black for lowest, red for highest, and arrange the data to conform to the position of each discrete pressure point on the surface of the equipment. This graphic display is then transmitted to a viewable display screen, arranged close to the client and in full view. This process is ideally updated at least 100 times per second, but may be less or more. In other embodiments, the visual value may be a gray-scale value, by way of example only.
The multiplex scanner 404, USB cable 405, computer 406, HDMI cable 407, and monitor 408 are identical to similar items shown in
The pressure data gathering and display electronic system may be marketed as sold as a component of the exercise equipment when new, or as a system which can be installed on an existing exercise equipment installation. While an intended use of the system is for Pilates equipment, the system may also be used with other exercise equipment.
Although the foregoing has been a description and illustration of specific embodiments of the subject matter, various modifications and changes thereto can be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63050057 | Jul 2020 | US |
