Adaptive exercise profile apparatus and method of use thereof

Abstract

The invention comprises a method and/or an apparatus using computer configured exercise equipment and an electric motor. A computer-controlled robotic resistance system is used for training, diagnosis and/or therapy. The resistance system comprises: a subject interface, software control, a controller, an electric servo assist/resist motor, an actuator, and/or a subject sensor. The system overcomes the limitations of the existing robotic rehabilitation, weight training, and cardiovascular training systems by providing a training and/or rehabilitation system that adapts a resistance or force applied to a user interactive element in response to the user's interaction with the training system, a physiological strength curve, and/or sensor feedback. For example, the system optionally provides for an automatic reconfiguration and/or adaptive load adjustment based upon real time measurement of a user's interaction with the system or sensor based observation by the exercise system as it is operated by the subject.

1 . An apparatus for operation by a user, comprising:
 an exercise system, comprising:
 a user interface element comprising a movable element configured for movement by the user while exercising; 
 an electric motor configured to supply a movement force to movement of said user interface element, said movement force configured to provide at least one of:
 a resistive force against movement of said interface element by the user; and 
 an assistive force aiding movement of said interface element by the user; and 
 
 a controller electrically connected to said motor, said controller configured to control operation of said electric motor, said controller configured with at least one force profile. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said force profile, during a single direction of movement of a workout repetition, sequentially comprises:
 an initial force;
 an increasing force; 
 a peak force; 
   a decreasing force; and
 a final force. 
   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein during movement within a portion of a workout repetition said force profile comprises:
 a step function force profile.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein during a portion of a workout repetition the force profile comprises at least one of:
 at least five progressively increased resistance levels; and   at least five progressively decreased resistance levels.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein during a single rotational periodic movement of a workout repetition the force profile comprises at least one of:
 at least two local maxima resistance levels; and   at least two local minima resistance levels.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the force profile approximates a human strength curve profile. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sensor configured to provide a feedback sensor reading, said controller configured to use the feedback sensor reading in adjustment of the movement force applied by the electric motor.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the feedback sensor reading relates to at least one of:
 relative position of said user interface element;   velocity of a movable component of said exercise system; and   acceleration of a translatable component of said exercise system.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , said sensor configured to generate said feedback sensor reading in response to interaction by the user. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , said controller configured to automatically adapt the movement force based upon an observation by said sensor of a mechanical element of said exercise system, said mechanical element not directly touched by the user. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , said sensor comprising:
 an encoder configured to measure rotation of an element associated with said electric motor.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said controller programmed to modify the movement force within a single repetition of movement of said user interface element. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said electric motor configured to provide an isometric resistance to said user interface element, via a cable linked to said user interface element, for a period of at least three seconds during an exercise repetition. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said electric motor provides the resistive force to rotation of a cable spool, said cable spool linked to said electric motor. 
     
     
         15 . A method of using an exercise system by a user, comprising the steps of:
 a user moving an interface element of said exercise system;   supplying a movement force to movement of said interface element with an electric motor, said movement force configured to provide at least one of:
 a resistive force against movement of said interface element by the user; and 
 an assistive force aiding movement of said interface element by the user; and 
   controlling operation of said electric motor with a controller electrically connected to said motor, said controller configured with at least one force profile.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein during a portion of a workout repetition the force profile comprises at least one of:
 an increasing force to a peak force followed by a decreasing force;   a step function force profile;   at least five progressively increasing resistance levels;   at least five progressively decreasing resistance levels; and   a force profile approximating a human strength curve profile.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:
 using a sensor to provide a feedback sensor reading; and   said controller using the feedback sensor reading in adjustment of the movement force applied by said electric motor.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:
 generating a feedback signal with a sensor; and   using the feedback signal in control of the resistive force applied to movement of at least one of:
 said interface element along an about linear path; and 
 said interface element, where said interface element comprises a rotatable element. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising steps of:
 a wireless receiver receiving information about the user, said wireless receiver linked to said controller; and   said controller using the information in control of the electric motor.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of:
 said controller using the movement force to control at least two separate user interface stations.