System and method for determining endurance of a muscle group

1 . A method for assessing a rate of fatigue for a muscle group on an exercise apparatus having an engagement assembly movable against a controllable resistance by the muscle group of a user and having a monitoring system that measures a velocity of movement of the engagement assembly, the method comprising:

adjusting the controllable resistance to a resistance level, wherein the controllable resistance is a pneumatic device;

monitoring the velocity of movement of the engagement assembly against the resistance level over a plurality of repetitions, the velocity of movement of the engagement assembly being determined by the user while exercising;

monitoring a pressure within the pneumatic device throughout each repetition of the plurality of repetitions;

selectively changing the pressure within the pneumatic device to maintain the resistance level throughout a Range of Motion (ROM) for each repetition of the plurality of repetitions;

determining a peak speed for each repetition of the plurality of repetitions and/or an average speed for each repetition of the plurality of repetitions;

using the maintained resistance level of the pneumatic device and at least one of the peak speed or the average speed to determine a relationship between the movement of the engagement assembly by the user over the plurality of repetitions; and

using the relationship to determine the rate of fatigue.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the movement of the engagement assembly relates to power.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the resistance level is selected based on percentage body weight.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a peak power and/or an average power for each repetition of the plurality of repetitions.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising displaying the peak power and/or the average power for each repetition of the plurality of repetitions.

6 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising determining a total of the peak power and/or a total of the average power over the plurality repetitions.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising displaying the total of the peak power and/or the total of the average power over the plurality repetitions.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of repetitions are performed at a maximum velocity.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a concentric phase of each repetition of the plurality of repetitions is performed at a maximum velocity.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein each repetition of the plurality of repetitions is a fixed time.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the fixed time is 1 second.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the concentric phase of each repetition of the plurality of repetitions is timed for a given velocity through the Range of Motion (ROM).

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an end point corresponds to a final repetition of the plurality of repetitions.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the end point is based on time.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the end point is based on number of repetitions.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the end point is based on a total of the peak power and/or a total of the average power.

17 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

assessing a rate of fatigue for a second muscle group; and

comparing the rate of fatigue for the muscle group to the rate of fatigue for the second muscle group.

18 . A method for assessing a rate of fatigue for a muscle group on an exercise apparatus having an engagement assembly movable against a controllable resistance by the muscle group of a user and having a monitoring system that measures a velocity of movement of the engagement assembly, the method comprising:

adjusting the controllable resistance to a resistance level, wherein the controllable resistance is a pneumatic device;

monitoring the velocity of movement of the engagement assembly against the resistance level over a plurality of repetitions, the velocity of movement of the engagement assembly being determined by the user while exercising;

monitoring a pressure within the pneumatic device throughout each repetition of the plurality of repetitions;

selectively changing the pressure within the pneumatic device to maintain the resistance level throughout a Range of Motion (ROM) for each repetition of the plurality of repetitions;

determining a relationship between the movement of the engagement assembly by the user over the plurality of repetitions; and

using the relationship to determine the rate of fatigue.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the movement of the engagement assembly relates to power.

20 . An apparatus for assessing a rate of fatigue for a muscle group, the apparatus comprising:

a controllable resistance set to a resistance level, wherein the controllable resistance is a pneumatic device;

an engagement assembly movable against the controllable resistance by using the muscle group of a user;

a monitoring system configured to:

measure a velocity of movement of the engagement assembly over a plurality of repetitions to determine a relationship between the movement of the engagement assembly by the user over the plurality of repetitions, the velocity of movement of the engagement assembly being determined by the user while exercising,

monitor a pressure within the pneumatic device throughout each repetition of the plurality of repetitions,

selectively change the pressure within the pneumatic device to maintain the resistance level throughout a Range of Motion (ROM) for each repetition of the plurality of repetitions, and

determine the rate of fatigue using the relationship.

21 . The apparatus of claim 20 , further comprising a display unit that displays the rate of fatigue.

22 . The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the engagement assembly comprises a left lever and a right lever.

23 . The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the movement of the engagement assembly relates to power.