Fatigue Indices and Uses Thereof

Abstract

Example embodiments may relate to a system, method, apparatus, and computer readable media configured for monitoring a user performing an athletic movement and/or exercise and generating a fatigue value. Fatigue values may be determined for different groups. In one embodiment, a first value is determined for a muscle fatigue value and a second value is determined for a respiratory value. In another embodiment, a first value may pertain to a first muscle group and a second value may pertain to a second muscle group. A fatigue index may be created from values obtained during an athletic movement and/or a workout session. In further embodiments, a cumulative fatigue index may be determined. A cumulative fatigue index may consider values obtained during several workout sessions. Further, data obtained outside of workout sessions may be considered in determinations relating to fatigue values and/or indices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 providing first instructions to a user to perform an athletic movement comprising predefined criteria at a first location during a first time period;   detecting, with at least a first sensor, an item of apparel of the user performing the athletic movement corresponding to a position of a body part of the user at the first location;   constructing a form profile, wherein the form profile comprises a plurality of data points generated by the sensor during the athletic movement, wherein a selected data point, from the plurality of data points, comprises the location of the body part of the user in combination with a time stamp;   comparing the form profile against a first profile template for the athletic movement;   determining, based on the comparing, that the user's performance comprises an improper form that may result in injury; and   adjusting, in response to the determining, the predefined criteria to decrease a difficulty of the athletic movement.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining that the user's performance comprises an improper form is based on a detection of the body part of the user outside of a compliance zone. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the adjusting the predefined criteria is based on the body part of the user being outside of the compliance zone for a threshold amount of time. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of data points are associated with intermittent times stamps over the first time period. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein two data points, selected from the plurality of data points, are separated by at least 1 hour. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein two data points, selected from the plurality of data points, are separated by at least 12 hours. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is worn by the user. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is remote from the user. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor comprises an image capture device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting the position of the body part of the user comprises detecting an item of apparel of the user performing the athletic movement. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 estimating with a processor, based on the user's performance, a muscle fatigue value.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein based upon a determination that the muscle fatigue value exceeded a threshold, determining second instructions to provide the user to promote muscle regeneration. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining of the of the user's performance of the predefined criteria further comprises:
 upon detecting a first variance from a form profile threshold, transmitting first instructions to the user providing motivation to complete the criteria; and   further detecting the user's performance of the predefined criteria.   
     
     
         14 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 providing first instructions to a user to perform an athletic movement comprising predefined criteria at a first location during a first time period;   detecting, with at least a first sensor, a position of a body part of the user at the first location;   constructing a first form profile, wherein the form profile comprises a plurality of data points generated by the sensor during the athletic movement, wherein a selected data point, from the plurality of data points, comprises a location of the body part of the user in combination with a time stamp;   comparing the first form profile against a form profile template for the athletic movement;   determining, based on the comparing, that the user's performance comprises an improper form that may result in injury; and   adjusting, in response to the determining, the predefined criteria to decrease a difficulty of the athletic movement.   further detecting the user's performance of the predefined criteria during a second time period comprising:
 constructing a second form profile of the user as a function of time during user's performance of the athletic movement; 
 comparing the second form profile against a form profile template for the athletic movement, and 
 estimating with a processor a muscle fatigue value based upon, at least in part, the user's performance at the first location during the first time period and the second time period. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the determining that the user's performance comprises an improper form is based on a detection of the body part of the user outside of a compliance zone. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the adjusting the predefined criteria is based on the body part of the user being outside of the compliance zone for a threshold amount of time. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of data points are associated with intermittent times stamps over the first time period. 
     
     
         18 . A device configured to be worn on an appendage of a user comprising:
 a processor;   a sensor; and   a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that when executed by the processor perform at least:
 detecting with at least the sensor, a position of a limb of the user; 
 constructing a form profile, wherein the form profile comprises a data point generated during the athletic movement, and wherein the data point comprises a location of a body part of the user in combination with a time stamp; 
 comparing the form profile against a form profile template for the athletic movement; 
 determining, based on the comparing, that the user's performance comprises an improper form that may result in injury; and 
 adjusting, in response to the determining, a difficulty of the athletic movement. 
   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the determining that the user's performance comprises an improper form is based on a detection of the body part of the user outside of a compliance zone. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the adjusting the difficulty is based on the body part of the user being outside of the compliance zone for a threshold amount of time.