The disclosure relates in general to a biomechanics analyzing system and a biomechanics analyzing method for athletic strength development, and more particularly to a system and a method for analyzing biomechanics through the use of calculating the relative weakest muscle in a group for prescription of a training regimen.
In the fields of personal and athletic training compound movements are at the core of most athletic programs; like the popular powerlifting movements used for general strength training, back squat, bench press, and deadlift. These compound movements, like all compound exercise movements, are made from three types of muscles involved in the movement; the agonist or prime mover, the synergist or assisting muscles of the prime movers, and the stabilizing muscles of both the prime and assisting muscles. Each group both plays a unique role in all compound exercise, and can be targeted through isolation exercise. The difference between isolation and compound exercise here being the contraction of the muscles during strength exercise, where the latter have disproportionately few muscles show electrochemical activation as measured by mean amplitude in electromyography (EMG). Subjectively from the athletes experience the exercises are the ones which stress the muscle or muscles during exercise.
Muscular balance within these movements is essential to continued strength training with strength improvement, injury prevention, and injury rehabilitation. A common problem with strength training is continuing to improve without over training the relatively stronger muscles within the movement. Often, these exercises are limited by the weakest muscle or muscle group. As the muscles approach failure during exercise, over development of the relatively stronger muscles over time leads to an imbalance in biomechanics both during the movement and during general activity. Eventually this imbalance will progress to a risk factor for injury overtime leading to injuries during athletic training as the imbalance creates an irregular range of motion, and the greater relative load on the weaker muscles expresses in greater electrical activation at a quadratic relationship in measured EMG activation at a higher force level adding instability to the movement when the stronger muscles approach peak contraction. These imbalances express in a torn or strained muscle through over activation, a dropped weight as the stronger muscles fail without the proper support from muscles not trained to the same level in previous exercises, as well as during athletic performance from improper muscular development. An example is found in hamstring imbalance common in football players from reduced relative strength leading to injury as disclosed by Croisier, J. L., Ganteaume, S., Binet, J., Genty, M., & Ferret, J. M. (2008). Strength imbalances and prevention of hamstring injury in professional soccer players: a prospective study. The American journal of sports medicine, 36(8), 1469-1475. Further in the case of injury due to the lack of use muscular strength deteriorates, causing both a biomechanical imbalance and unpredictable biomechanics for targeting recovery exercise.
Currently the most popular method used for achieving muscular balance through strength development or rehabilitation are programs based on progressive overload training. Progressive overload is based on athletes exercising to a maximal weight for assessment, then exercising at a percentage of the maximal weight for reps of 3-5 with increasing increments each time they exercise. Another popular method used is structural balance assessments (SBA) as disclosed by Charles Poliquin in Poliquin, C. (1997). Poliquin principles: successful methods for strength and mass development, and Christian Thibedau in Nation, C. T., T. (2015, February 26). Know Your Ratios, Destroy Weaknesses. T NATION. https://www.t-nation.com/training/know-your-ratios-destroy-weaknesses/. SBA is a method of assessment of muscular balance by comparison of compound movements to reference lifts established through powerlifting records or experienced personal trainers from clients, to match recorded ratios of reference charts and clients in pursuit of the biomechanical ideal of reference athletes for clients.
The present invention is directed to a method which furthers previous methods of strength training and rehabilitation through a more comprehensive of assessment of muscular balance for use in prescription of exercises for development of strength. This is achieved through direct modeling of joint dynamics of any muscle group in general, sport or movement specific training, and injury rehabilitation with an assessment taking both target athlete specific segmental analysis into account as well as use of one rep max calculators.
Typically athletes pursue a training regimen of progressive overload, or exercising to a maximal weight for assessment, then exercising at a percentage of the maximal weight for reps of 3-5 with increasing increments each time they exercise. This method does not account for other athletic activity or imbalances in biomechanics directly for injury prevention, or allow greater strength development through targeting the relatively weakest muscles through biomechanical ideals. Due to this athletes have injury risks during training or during athletic competition from improper development. Comprehensive assessments are possible through the costly isokinetic dynamometer, however both its cost and application to only torque of upper and lower limbs is limited in assessment. A previous strength training system which models muscular balance in a way accessible to a large number of athletes, SBA, for strength development and injury prevention has been limited to indirectly modeling joint dynamics from a small set of reference lifts to determine the biomechanical balance of the muscles involved in a movement. In the case of injury rehabilitation it is limited to prescribing weight at a very low percentage of weight used before injury for rehabilitation for an inability to model the strength of the weakest muscles. In general these assessments have been limited to prescription of exercises with the use of ratios between compound reference lifts and in some cases require inconvenient tempo based lifting to provide a full body routine, which does not apply to most athlete's regimens given the inability to target a specific muscular group's development and its incompatibility with the general strength development methods used in most athletic programs (back squat, bench press, and deadlift). Due to the limited number of reference lifts, they can not account for principles of kinesiology determined through segment analysis. Additionally they do not incorporate the use of one-rep max (1rm) calculators, which use a lower than maximal weight at repetition to failure to estimate one rep max, in determining a target athlete's strength level for a reference lift. At least one well known one rep max formula is the Epley formula where 1rm=weight lifted multiple by (1+ repetitions/30), this formula is disclosed with several other well known formulas by Richens, B., & Cleather, D. (2014). The relationship between the number of repetitions performed at given intensities is different in endurance and strength trained athletes Biology of Sport, 31(2), 157-161. Finally a SBA does not prescribe exercises to aid in rehabilitation of a specific muscle group as it is limited to broad assessments between compound exercises.
The limitations of SBA come across in the two most comprehensive forms of structural balance assessments used currently by athletic trainers in the list of compound movements from the disclosures above by Poliquin and Thibaudeau respectively. Neither list has the same number of exercises available or more than a few isolation exercises given their indirect modeling method, which does not allow flexibility based on athlete regimens outside of the provided list for general training, nor sport specific regimens, or injury rehabilitation prescriptions. Neither do they account for segment analysis which then means a general method of analysis is applied with less accuracy in reflecting a target athlete's biomechanics in a given assessment as the difference in athletes at a weight of 110 lbs and 310 lbs (e.g. arm limb weight differs on average in the bench press by 45 lbs from body weight 110 lbs to 310 lbs) has a very different ratio of biomechanical ideals based on the added limb weight to the given exercises.
The disclosure relates in general to a biomechanics analyzing system and a biomechanics analyzing method for strength training through individual exercises to model joint dynamics and muscular strength of a target individual compared to a biomechanical ideal. This allows a profile of the individual assessed to be created and compared to the ideal, allowing the prescription of an exercise regimen for the target individual. This assessment is created through the following formula for Predicted one rep max (P1rm): P1rm of a specific muscle is P1rm=(C/S)*(w), where (C) is the 1rm for a reference athlete or reference athletes for the complex exercise or where (C) is the 1rm or calculated 1rm for a reference athlete or reference athletes for the highest muscle assessed in isolation, (S) is the 1rm for a reference athlete or reference athletes for an isolation exercise associated with the compound exercise, therefore (C/S) is the biomechanical ideal defined by the ratio, and (w) is the calculated or measured 1rm of the isolation exercise. With this formula the muscles associated with a given compound exercise are exercised in isolation before being compared to establish a rank based on the P1rm associated with each individual exercise. The rank of the individual P1rm of exercises associated with the compound movement can be used for prescribing exercise, in order of priority from lowest to highest, to target the relatively weakest muscles in the exercise thereby preventing overdevelopment of the relatively stronger muscles. This assessment can be used for guidance for prescribing exercise over a set interval as recommended, or desired by the athlete (e.g. reassess every 6 weeks), given that the assessment is itself working the muscles to be developed during strength training.
According to the present disclosure the method provided allows use of individual exercises and compound exercises to determine muscular strength ideals in muscle groups through reference datasets of ideal biomechanical profiles, thus allowing for a biomechanics analysis in comparison. This comparison then is to be based on biomechanical ideal established through reference lifts. The reference lifts can be any complex multi muscle exercise which then allows for prescription of a regimen for development generally, as well as the way personal training programs or athletic programs for athletes in all sports train. The reference lifts determine the biomechanics profile through the P1rm formula.
Reference athletes or elite athletes are those which have reached peak or static strength in the related muscles of a compound movement as is typical with five years of development. In establishing a reference set for a compound movement through the P1rm formula there are two types of movements the method applies to, compound movements with a total weight lifted (including bodyweight) and compound movements with a force output that is without a max weight lifted (e.g. throwing a pitch). The ratio, (C/S) in the P1rm formula, represents the biomechanical ideal of the contributing muscles in isolation to the overall movement, thus an ideal biomechanical profile. Further in establishing a reference lift, physiology specific to reference athletes and target athletes may be used at increasing precision. As various factors affect the nature of force output in a given compound movement, for example limb weight differs in the bench press by 45 lbs from body weight 110 lbs to 310 lbs in men. A general list of considerations which may be controlled for are; sex, bodyweight, height, muscle mass, fat mass, visceral fat, fat free mass index, age, bone mass, skeletal muscle mass, maximum rate of oxygen consumption measured during incremental exercise or VO2 max, epigenetic clock, basal metabolic rate, glycemic index, and specific segment weight (limb, torso, etc. . . . ).
Another aspect of this disclosure is the use of a 1rm calculator which allows an athlete to use an individual or compound exercise with a lower weight for repetitions in assessing a reference lift, as is not an option in many implementations of SBA. This adds both to the safety through a full assessment of the strength of a muscle with a lesser weight allowing the athlete to maintain control of the weight, and allows an athlete to engage with the method of assessment with little prior experience.
In this embodiment one of three approaches to establishing reference lifts may be used (1.5, 1.6, 1.7—
The first approach to establishing a reference set for a compound movement through the P1rm formula is an EMG assessment of electrical activation, as determined by mean amplitude of the selected compound exercise. This determines the activated muscles during the movement. Then a, reference athlete or athletes, are assessed through working the involved muscles to failure through associated compound exercises in the first type of movement, and through isolated exercises for both types of movements. These exercises are recorded through the 1rm directly, or calculated through a formula (e.g epley). This establishes the strength for each muscle involved in the movement. From here a ratio, (C/S) in the P1rm formula, represents the biomechanical balance of the contributing muscles in isolation to the overall movement, thus a biomechanical ideal. By assessing a small set of reference athletes in the case of EMG assessment to establish an activation reference profile, followed by a larger number of reference athletes through 1rm and calculated 1rm based on the prior activation reference profile a database with high precision can be established for a biomechanics reference profile of a given movement.
A second approach, reported lift data, is only the use of reference athletes with a 1rm or calculated 1rm, for which a comparison of a reference athlete's respective total weight lifted and isolated exercises is made. This is limiting in the cases of movements that are not well established in known kinesiology of the muscles comprising the complex movement, unlike the well known core powerlifting movements (e.g. the deadlift's posterior chain muscles are well studied).
A third approach is through EMG activation. A reference athlete's respective compound and associated isolated movements are compared with any weight lifted for an associated isolation exercise. By recording the mean electrical amplitude of muscular contraction through electromyography with any weight, and then recording mean amplitude of peak contraction of the associated muscles of the compound exercise in isolation, a comparison of the two amplitudes and the weight in a ratio will predict the total weight that could be lifted by the muscle in isolation. This predicted weight can then be used to establish a reference data set through the P1rm formula.
In this embodiment the P1rm is calculated for each of the prime and assisting muscles involved in the selected compound exercise, while noting that this is a complete assessment as if these two muscle types are controlled for the stabilizing muscles will be as well with typical training methods. The lowest P1rm for the target athlete is determined from the weakest muscle in this group. Due to this, the lowest P1rm will be lower than an actual 1rm, as during any exercise other muscles are able to compensate for a weaker muscle in the exact way which causes development imbalances overtime as these stronger muscles over develop relatively. However, as the lowest P1rm is based on the weakest muscle, this allows the target athlete to complete a 1rm at a weight limit that is safe for all muscles involved both during the exercise, and over development as the weakest muscles are within a range of activation below their failure point during the compound exercise.
The first step in analysis is to have a target athlete's physiological assessment, with increasing precision as desired by and available by both, target athlete and the given reference set. After entering the chosen physiological statistics (1.1—
The second step (1.3—
The third step is to take the previous isolated exercises recorded as the P1rm for the compound movement selected, which is done by comparing each individual muscle exercised in isolation to the reference lift dataset, giving an analysis by rank order (1.4—
Finally, in the fourth step, an analysis is made (1.5—
While the first embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that implementation with other methods of health assessment or athletic training would not alter the spirit or scope of the invention. For example implementation into a larger health application or exercise program that uses muscular assessment as part of a larger program for either exercise or health tracking or prescription. Additionally one of ordinary skill will recognize that the step by step process of this embodiment is a calculation that can be readily implemented by a computer.
In this embodiment the P1rm is calculated for each of the prime, assisting, and stabilizing muscles involved in the selected complex exercise (2.3—
Here, steps one through three remain the same as the first embodiment (3.1, 3.2, 3.3—
In the fourth embodiment, furthering on the third embodiment, in the second step the P1rm assessed for each exercise includes stabilizing muscles (4.3—
1 is a process flowchart for this embodiment of the invention; showing a method for a biomechanics analysis for strength training, by establishing both a reference muscular balance profile and further a target athlete profile for comparison, of a selected compound exercise without a total weight lifted. In this case as the P1rm calculation is a measure of relative contribution of the muscles of a compound movement, as determined by EMG activation during the movement, any general athletic movement or movement specific to a sport (e.g. pitching a baseball) may be assessed through the P1rm method. This analysis is done through providing both a rank order and ideal balance ratio of each involved muscle from a reference dataset, and an assessed target athlete for comparison, where (C) in the P1rm formula is represented by the highest weight of any associated muscle's weight lifted in isolation. Due to the nature of assessment it is comprehensive in both accounting for individual physiological factors, and the exercises used during can be calculated through a 1rm formula.
In this embodiment one of three approaches to establishing reference lifts may be used (5.5, 5.6, 5.7—
The first approach to establishing a reference set for a compound movement through the P1rm formula is an EMG assessment of electrical activation as determined by mean amplitude of the selected compound exercise. This determines the activated muscles during the movement. Then a reference athlete is assessed through working the involved muscles to failure through associated compound exercises in the first type of movement, and through isolated exercises for both types of movements. The 1rm is recorded directly or calculated through a formula. This establishes the strength for each muscle involved in the movement. From here a ratio, (C/S) in the P1rm formula, represents the biomechanical balance of the contributing muscles in isolation to the overall movement, thus a biomechanical ideal. By assessing a small set of reference athletes in the case of EMG assessment to establish an activation reference profile, followed by a larger number of reference athletes through 1rm and calculated 1rm based on the prior activation reference profile a database can be established for a biomechanics reference profile of a given movement.
A second approach, reported lift data, is only the use of reference athletes with a 1rm or calculated 1rm, for which a comparison of a reference athlete's respective total weight lifted and isolated exercises is made in the first type of movement, and with only isolated exercises in the second type of movement. This is limiting in the cases of movements that are not well established in known kinesiology of the muscles comprising the complex movement, unlike the well known core powerlifting movements (e.g. the deadlift's posterior chain muscles are well known).
A third approach is through EMG activation. A reference athlete's respective compound and associated isolated movements are compared with any weight lifted for an associated isolation exercise. By recording the mean electrical amplitude of muscular contraction through electromyography with any weight, and then recording mean amplitude of peak contraction of the associated muscles of the compound exercise in isolation, a comparison of the two amplitudes and the weight in a ratio will predict the total weight that could be lifted by the muscle in isolation. This predicted weight can then be used to establish a reference data set through the P1rm formula.
The P1rm is then calculated for each of the prime and assisting muscles involved in the selected complex exercise, the lowest P1rm for the target athlete is determined from the weakest muscle in this group. In this case as there is no weight loaded for a strength training movement only the rank order of P1rm from lowest to highest is used. This allows development of the muscles associated with the compound or athletic movement to be developed with the proper biomechanics.
The first step in analysis is to have a target athlete's physiological assessment, with increasing precision as desired by and available by both, target athlete and the given reference set. After entering the chosen physiological statistics (5.1—
The second step (5.3—
The third step is to take the previous isolated exercises recorded as the P1rm for the compound movement selected, which is done by comparing each individual muscle exercised in isolation to the reference lift dataset, giving an analysis by rank order (5.4—
Finally, in the fourth step, an analysis is made (5.8—
Thus this prescription is used by the athlete in order of the overall P1rm, followed by the lowest recorded P1rm of the prime and assisting muscles in their isolated assessment to the desired effort level of the athlete. For example a target athlete, like a pitcher assessed, may give a rank of most needed muscles to exercise in order (e.g. posterior deltoid, latissimus dorsi, forearm).
While the fifth embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that implementation with other methods of health assessment or athletic training would not alter the spirit or scope of the invention. For example implementation into a larger health application or exercise program that uses muscular assessment as part of a larger program for either exercise or health tracking or prescription. Additionally one of ordinary skill will recognize that the step by step process of this embodiment is a calculation that can be readily implemented by a computer.
Furthering on the third embodiment, in the second step the P1rm assessed for each exercise includes stabilizing muscles (6.3—
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2022/024442 | 4/12/2022 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
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63174068 | Apr 2021 | US |