Systems and methods for providing sensory feedback during exercise

Abstract

Devices and methods for providing sensory feedback during an exercise are disclosed. An exertion target is set, for a user performing the exercise, based on a self-calibration that estimates the user's ability using signal amplitudes of surface electromyography (sEMG) data, wherein the exertion target includes a target signal amplitude of muscle contractions to be reached during the exercise. sEMG data are received from a measurement device attached to the user as the user performs the exercise. Upon processing the sEMG data, sensory feedback is generated at a computing device operated by the user, wherein the sensory feedback has an intensity proportional to the user's exertion level as the user performs the exercise, and wherein the sensory feedback changes over a course of the exercise in dependence on a duration that the user maintains a muscle contraction at or above the target signal amplitude, and the change in sensory feedback is configured to encourage the user to prolong the duration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing sensory feedback during an exercise, the method comprising:
 setting an exertion target, for a user performing the exercise, based on a self-calibration that estimates the user's ability using signal amplitudes of surface electromyography (sEMG) data, wherein the exertion target includes a target signal amplitude of muscle contractions to be reached during the exercise;   receiving sEMG data from a measurement device attached to the user as the user performs the exercise; and   upon processing the sEMG data, generating sensory feedback at a computing device operated by the user, wherein the sensory feedback has an intensity proportional to the user's exertion level as the user performs the exercise, and wherein the sensory feedback changes over a course of the exercise in dependence on a duration that the user maintains a muscle contraction at or above the target signal amplitude, and the change in sensory feedback is configured to encourage the user to prolong the duration.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensory feedback is responsive to the duration that a muscle contraction is maintained at or above a pre-defined quantum higher than the target signal amplitude. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensory feedback includes audible feedback. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensory feedback includes visual feedback. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 generating a graphical user interface for presentation of the visual feedback.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensory feedback provides an indication of the muscle contraction to the user. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the indication includes an indication of a duration of the muscle contraction. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensory feedback is presented in a form of a game playable by the user. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 controlling functions of the game based on said processing the sEMG data.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 computing an average and a range of the signal amplitudes received for the self-calibration.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the self-calibration estimates the patient's ability for a particular day to set at least one of the exertion targets for the exercises of the particular day. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the self-calibration estimates the patient's ability for a particular exercise session to set at least one of the exertion targets for the exercises of the particular exercise session. 
     
     
         13 . A computer-implemented device for providing sensory feedback during an exercise, the device including:
 a communication interface;   at least one processor;   memory in communication with the at least one processor, and   software code stored in the memory, which when executed by the at least one processor causes the device to:
 set an exertion target, for a user performing the exercise, based on a self-calibration that estimates the user's ability using signal amplitudes of surface electromyography (sEMG) data, wherein the exertion target includes a target signal amplitude of muscle contractions to be reached during the exercise; 
 receive, via the communication interface, sEMG data from a measurement device attached to the user as the user performs the exercise; and 
 upon processing the sEMG data, generate sensory feedback that has an intensity proportional to the user's exertion level as the user performs the exercise, and wherein the sensory feedback changes over a course of the exercise in dependence on a duration that the user maintains a muscle contraction at or above the target signal amplitude, and the change in sensory feedback is configured to encourage the user to prolong the duration. 
   
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented device of  claim 13 , wherein the communication interface is configured for wireless communication with the measurement device. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented device of  claim 13 , wherein the wireless communication includes Bluetooth communication. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented device of  claim 13 , wherein the sensory feedback is responsive to the duration that a muscle contraction is maintained at or above a pre-defined quantum higher than the target signal amplitude. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented device of  claim 13 , wherein the sensory feedback includes audible feedback. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented device of  claim 13 , wherein the sensory feedback includes visual feedback. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented device of  claim 13 , wherein the device is a portable computing device. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon machine interpretable instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a computer implemented method for providing sensory feedback during an exercise, the method including:
 setting an exertion target, for a user performing the exercise, based on a self-calibration that estimates the user's ability using signal amplitudes of surface electromyography (sEMG) data, wherein the exertion target includes a target signal amplitude of muscle contractions to be reached during the exercise;   receiving sEMG data from a measurement device attached to the user as the user performs the exercise; and   upon processing the sEMG data, generating sensory feedback that has an intensity proportional to the user's exertion level as the user performs the exercise, and wherein the sensory feedback changes over a course of the exercise in dependence on a duration that the user maintains a muscle contraction at or above the target signal amplitude, and the change in sensory feedback is configured to encourage the user to prolong the duration.