COMPUTER CONTROLLED EXERCISE EQUIPMENT APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF
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 exercise apparatus configured for use by a subject, comprising:
an electric motor;
a subject interface element;
a resistance cable comprising:
a first cable end attached directly or indirectly to said electric motor;
a second cable end attached to said subject interface; and
a controller, said controller configured to control movement of said electric motor, movement of said electric motor configured to provide a force transferred by said cable to said subject interface.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , said subject interface element configured for interaction by the subject.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a winding spool, said cable configured to wind on said spool during use.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sensor, said sensor configured to provide biomechanical feedback to said controller, said controller configured to adjust the force applied by said electric motor based upon said biomechanical feedback.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a computer configured to transform information, said computer programmed with a physiological strength curve, said computer electrically connected to said controller, said controller configured to adjust the force transferred to said cable based on said physiological strength curve.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , said electric motor configured to apply assistance to movement of said resistance cable.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , said controller programmed to modify the force within a single repetition of movement of said subject interface.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , said electric motor configured to provide an isometric resistance to said subject interface element via said cable for a period of at least three seconds during an exercise repetition.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said electric motor provides a resistive force to rotation of a cable spool.
10 . A method for exercising a subject, comprising the steps of:
providing an exercise apparatus comprising:
an electric motor;
a subject interface element; and
a resistance cable comprising:
a first cable end attached directly or indirectly to said electric motor;
a second cable end attached directly or indirectly to said subject interface element; and
controlling movement of said electric motor with a controller, movement of said electric motor configured to provide a force transferred by said cable to said subject interface.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of:
the subject exercising through applying a user force against the resistive force supplied by said electric motor.
12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of:
said exercise apparatus recognizing the subject using a wireless element.
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising the step of:
said controller adjusting a programmed resistance profile applied by said electric motor to said subject interface based on data received via said wireless element.
14 . The method of claim 13 , said step of adjusting comprising use of any of:
a workout history of the subject;
a physiology of the subject; and
a preference of the subject.
15 . An exercise apparatus, comprising:
a user interface element;
an electric motor configured to supply a resistive force to said user interface element, wherein the resistive force varies according to a force profile within a single direction of movement of a repetition of movement of said interface element.
16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the force profile comprises any of:
an increasing force profile as a function of time;
a decreasing force profile as a function of time;
a step function force profile as a function of time;
a varying force profile wherein a start point of said single direction of movement of said repetition comprises a first force both differing by at least ten percent and within thirty percent of a second force at an endpoint of said single direction of movement of said repetition.
17 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein a series of the repetition of movement comprises an exercise set.
18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein a first profile during a first repetition of said exercise set comprises an average resistance differing by at least ten percent from a second profile during a second repetition of said exercise set.
19 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said resistive force is transferred using any of:
a flexible metallic cable;
a fibrous cord; and
a sheathed Kevlar cord.
20 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said resistive force is applied along an about linear axis not more than fifteen degrees off of an axis aligned with gravity.