Method and system for creating customized exercise routines

Abstract

A method for creating a customized visual presentation of a physical therapy routine includes an initial step of evaluating the capability of the individual for performing the routine. Once the evaluation is complete, the individual is categorized according to the evaluated performance capability. Based on the category of the individual, the physical therapist identifies a sequence of physical exercises for the individual which defines the individualized physical therapy routine. The therapist then accesses an archives which includes a plurality of digital excerpts that each demonstrate the performance of a particular physical exercise. The physical therapist selectively retrieves digital excerpts from the archives which visually demonstrate the physical exercises that will make up the routine. These digital excerpts are edited appropriately and are provided to the individual over the Internet, in a printout, on a CD or on a videotape.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for creating a customized visual presentation of a work routine for an individual which comprises the steps of: 
 evaluating the performance capabilities of the individual;    establishing a category and an activity level for the individual, the category and activity level being commensurate with the performance capabilities of the individual;    identifying task requirements for the work routine, the task requirements being commensurate with the category and the activity level;    selecting prepared digital excerpts of the task requirements for incorporation into the work routine;    automatically compiling a specified sequence of the selected digital excerpts for creation of the customized visual presentation; and    delivering the customized visual presentation to the individual as deliverables, and wherein said deliverables are selected from a group including streaming over the Internet, printing a handout, ordering a videotape and ordering a CD.    
     
     
         2 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said selecting step is accomplished over the Internet.  
     
     
         3 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the category of the individual is chosen from the group of categories consisting of geriatric, orthopedic, pediatric and protocols.  
     
     
         4 . A method as recited in  claim 3  wherein said selecting step is accomplished by using an archives of prepared excerpts, said archives being categorized according to said group of categories.  
     
     
         5 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the identifying step is accomplished by using the activity level of the individual to determine a number of sets and a number of repetitions for each said set for performing each respective task.  
     
     
         6 . A method as recited in  claim 5  wherein the identifying step is further accomplished by using the activity level of the individual to determine a hold time and a weight value for performing each respective task.  
     
     
         7 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein each digital excerpt includes a visual demonstration of anatomical movements and activities involved in performing a particular task.  
     
     
         8 . A method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising the step of previewing a digital excerpt prior to the selecting step.  
     
     
         9 . A method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising the step of removing a digital excerpt after the selecting step.  
     
     
         10 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said work routine is a physical therapy routine.  
     
     
         11 . A method as recited in  claim 10  wherein each task requirement is a physical exercise.  
     
     
         12 . A system for creating a customized visual presentation of a work routine for an individual based on an assessed category and activity level for the individual which comprises: 
 an archives including a plurality of prepared digital excerpts, each said digital excerpt visually demonstrating a respective task requirement;    a means for automatically selecting said task requirements over an Internet system for incorporation into said work routine, said work routine being commensurate with said category and said activity level of the individual;    a compiler means for automatically sequencing said task requirements of said work routine from said selecting means and for automatically selectively retrieving said digital excerpts from said archives to visually demonstrate said work routine and to create said visual presentation; and    a means for delivering the visual presentation to the individual wherein said delivering means is selected from a group consisting of Internet streaming, printout, CD and videotape.    
     
     
         13 . A system as recited in  claim 12  further comprising a means for evaluating a performance capability of the individual for accomplishing said work routine, said evaluating means being used to assign said category and said activity level to the individual according to said performance capability.  
     
     
         14 . A system as recited in  claim 12  wherein said work routine is a physical therapy routine.  
     
     
         15 . A system as recited in  claim 12  wherein said task requirement is a physical exercise.  
     
     
         16 . A system as recited in  claim 15  wherein each said physical exercise has a hold time and a weight value, said hold time and said weight value being assigned by a physical therapist.  
     
     
         17 . A system as recited in  claim 12  wherein said category of the individual is chosen from the group consisting of geriatric, orthopedic, pediatric and protocols and wherein said archives are categorized according to said group.  
     
     
         18 . A system as recited in  claim 12  wherein said compiler is a computer.