Sensor based exercise control system

Abstract

A system and method for exercising core muscles, particularly the lumbar intrinsic musculature, including the multifidi. A system is disclosed that includes: a first sensor for detecting upper body exertions of a user engaged in an exercise; a second sensor for detecting lower torso exertions for the user engaged in the exercise; a third sensor for detecting lower extremity exertions for the user engaged in the exercise; a control system for processing sensor data from the first, second and third sensor, said control system including: a user interface system for communicating information with the user; a data collection system for collecting sensor data; an analysis system for analyzing the sensor data and determining if the user is performing the exercise in a technically correct manner; and a feedback system for alerting the user when the exercise is not being performed in the technically correct manner.

1 . A system for exercising core muscles, comprising:
 a first sensor for detecting an upper body exertion of a user engaged in an exercise;   a second sensor for detecting a lower torso exertion of the user engaged in the exercise; and   a control system for processing sensor data from the first and second sensor, said control system including:
 a user interface system for communicating information with the user; 
 a data collection system for collecting sensor data; 
 an analysis system for analyzing the sensor data and determining if the user is performing the exercise in a technically correct manner; and 
 a feedback system for alerting the user in response to the exercise not being performed in the technically correct manner. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a third sensor for detecting a lower extremity exertion of the user engaged in the exercise, wherein the control system processes sensor data from the third sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the lower extremity exertion includes at least one of a movement and an exerted pressure from at least one of a foot, a leg, and a thigh. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper body exertion includes at least one of a movement and an exerted pressure from at least one of a torso and a shoulder. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lower torso exertion includes at least one of a pelvic movement and an exerted pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sensors are integrated into a seat or a cushion adapted to be placed on a seat. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second sensor comprises a sensor board and a passive cushion adapted for placement onto the sensor board. 
     
     
         8 . A method for exercising core muscles, comprising:
 providing a user interface system for communicating information with a user engaged in an exercise;   collecting data from a first sensor adapted to detect an upper body exertion of the user engaged in the exercise;   collecting data from a second sensor adapted to detect a lower torso exertion of the user engaged in the exercise;   analyzing the data from the first and second sensor to determine whether the user is performing the exercise in a technically correct manner; and   alerting the user in response to the exercise not being performed in the technically correct manner.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 collecting data from a third sensor adapted to detect a lower extremity exertion of the user engaged in the exercise;   analyzing the data from the third sensor to determine whether the user is performing the exercise in the technically correct manner.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the lower extremity exertion includes at least one of a movement and an exerted pressure from at least one of a foot, a leg and a thigh. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the upper body exertion includes at least one of a movement and an exerted pressure from at least one of a torso and a shoulder. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the lower torso exertion includes at least one of a movement and an exerted pressure. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the user interface includes at least one of an audio, video and tactile interface. 
     
     
         14 . A program product stored on a tangible computer readable medium, which when executed by a computer system, facilitates exercising of core muscles, comprising:
 program code for providing a user interface system for communicating information with a user engaged in an exercise;   program code for collecting data from a first sensor adapted to detect an upper body exertion of the user engaged in the exercise;   program code for collecting data from a second sensor adapted to detect a lower torso exertion of the user engaged in the exercise;   program code for analyzing the data from the first and second sensor to determine whether the user is performing the exercise in a technically correct manner; and   program code for providing feedback to the user regarding the exercise not being performed in the technically correct manner.   
     
     
         15 . The program product of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 program code for collecting data from a third sensor adapted to detect a lower extremity exertion of the user engaged in the exercise; and   program code for analyzing the data from the third sensor.   
     
     
         16 . The program product of  claim 15 , wherein the lower extremity exertion includes at least one of a movement and an exerted pressure from at least one of a foot, a leg and a thigh. 
     
     
         17 . The program product of  claim 14 , wherein the upper body exertion includes at least one of a movement and an exerted pressure from at least one of a torso and a shoulder. 
     
     
         18 . The program product of  claim 14 , wherein the lower torso exertion includes at least one of a movement and an exerted pressure. 
     
     
         19 . The program product of  claim 14 , wherein the user interface includes at least one of an audio, video and tactile interface. 
     
     
         20 . A sensor system, comprising:
 a sensor board adapted to detect exertions at different areas on a surface of the sensor board and communicate the exertions to an analysis system; and   a passive cushion adapted to be removably placed on the sensor board to provide a seat for a user;   wherein lower torso movements by the user seated on the passive cushion result in detected exertions by the sensor board that are indicative of the user performing an exercise in a prescribed manner.