Method, apparatus, and system for teaching a person neuromusculoskeletal motor patterns

Abstract

Methods for teaching a person a neuromusculoskeletal motor pattern include attaching an optical beam-emitting device, such as a laser, to the body, defining a path on a specified surface, and causing the person to repeat a predetermined neuromusculoskeletal motor pattern while tracking the optical beam relative to the path. Such methods may be used to teach a person proper technique for shooting a basketball towards a basketball hoop. Apparatuses for teaching a person proper technique for shooting a basketball include a strap or sleeve configured to be secured to an upper arm of a person, and a battery-operated laser device attached to the strap or sleeve. Such apparatuses may be free from external cables or wires extending between the laser and any other device, and may include a sleeve having a portion configured to be positioned over a hand of the person.

1 . A method of teaching a person a neuromusculoskeletal motor pattern comprising: 
 attaching an optical beam-emitting device to the body of a person;    defining a path on a specified surface; and    causing the person to repeat a predetermined neuromusculoskeletal motor pattern while tracking a beam emitted by the optical beam-emitting device relative to the path.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein attaching an optical beam-emitting device to the body of a person includes attaching a laser device to the body of a person and wherein tracking a beam emitted by the optical beam-emitting device includes tracking a laser beam.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein causing the person to repeat a predetermined neuromusculoskeletal motor pattern comprises causing the person to repeat a neuromusculoskeletal motor pattern associated with shooting a basketball towards a hoop.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein attaching a laser device to the body of a person comprises attaching a laser device to the upper arm of the body of the person.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein attaching a laser device to the upper arm of the body of the person comprises positioning the laser device adjacent a posterior side of the upper arm of the person.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein attaching a laser device to the upper arm of the body of the person further comprises: 
 securing the device to an elongated strap; and    wrapping the strap around the upper arm of the body of the person.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein attaching a laser device to the upper arm of the body of the person further comprises: 
 securing the device to a sleeve of stretchable material configured to slide over the upper arm of the body of the person; and    sliding the sleeve over a hand and onto the upper arm of the body of the person.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein defining a path on a specified surface further comprises visually defining or physically marking a path on a specified surface.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein visually defining or physically marking a path on a specified surface further comprises visually defining or physically marking a path on at least one of a floor, a wall, a ceiling, a basketball backboard, and a basketball hoop.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein visually defining or physically marking a path on a specified surface comprises physically marking a path on a specified surface using at least one of tape, paint, and chalk.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein visually defining or physically marking a path on a specified surface comprises visually defining a path on a specified surface using at least one additional laser beam emitted by at least one additional laser device.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein visually defining a path on a specified surface using at least one additional laser beam emitted by at least one additional laser device comprises: 
 attaching an additional laser device to a shoe disposed on a foot of the body of the person; and    visually defining the path on at least one of a floor, a wall, a ceiling, a basketball backboard, and a basketball hoop using an additional laser beam emitted by the additional laser device attached to the shoe.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 recording the position of the laser beam emitted by the laser device relative to the path while causing the person to repeat a predetermined neuromusculoskeletal motor pattern using a camera device; and    reviewing a recording produced by the camera device.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein defining a path on specified surface further comprises defining a path disposed in a two-dimensional plane passing through a basketball hoop and oriented substantially perpendicular to a plane in which the basketball hoop is disposed.  
   
   
       15 . A system for teaching a person proper technique for shooting a basketball towards a hoop, the system comprising: 
 a strap or sleeve configured to be secured to an upper arm of a person;    an optical beam-emitting device attached to the strap or sleeve;    a basketball hoop; and    a surface having a visually defined or physically marked path thereon, the path being visually defined or physically marked relative to a center of a basketball hoop and an intended position of a person relative to the basketball hoop.    
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the optical beam emitting device includes a laser device configured to emit a laser beam.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the strap or sleeve comprises a sleeve having a portion thereof configured to be positioned over the hand of the person, the portion including at least five apertures, each aperture configured to allow a finger or thumb of the body of the person to extend therethrough.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the laser device is moveably coupled to the strap or sleeve.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the laser device is configured to pivot in at least two dimensions relative to the strap or sleeve.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the laser device is configured to pivot in three dimensions relative to the strap or sleeve.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising a ball joint coupled to the laser device and configured to facilitate the pivoting of the laser device relative to the strap or sleeve.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a sensor located proximate the basketball hoop and configured to provide at least one of an audible signal and a visible signal when the laser beam emitted by the laser device impinges on the sensor.  
   
   
       23 . An apparatus for teaching a person proper technique for shooting a basketball towards a hoop, the apparatus comprising: 
 a strap or sleeve sized and configured to be secured to an upper arm of a body of a person; and    a laser device rotatably attached to the strap or sleeve and configured to emit a laser beam;    wherein the apparatus is free from external cables or wires extending between the laser device and any other device external of the strap or sleeve.    
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the strap or sleeve comprises a sleeve having a first portion sized and configured to be positioned over the upper arm of a body of a person and second portion sized and configured to be positioned over the forearm of a body of a person.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the strap or sleeve comprises a sleeve having a portion thereof sized and configured to be positioned over a hand of the person, the portion including at least five apertures, each aperture configured to allow a finger or thumb of the body of the person to extend therethrough.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the laser device is moveably attached to the strap or sleeve.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the laser device is configured to pivot in at least two dimensions relative to the strap or sleeve.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the laser device is configured to pivot in three dimensions relative to the strap or sleeve.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , further comprising a ball joint coupled to the laser device and facilitating the pivoting of the laser device relative to the strap or sleeve.