Method of generating a personalized exercise program for a user

Abstract

This invention relates to a method of generating a personalized exercise program for a user. Fitness related data indicating an initial physical fitness shape of the user are acquired from the user and used for constructing a fitness proposal for the user. The constructing includes comparing the acquired fitness related data with reference fitness data for corresponding fitness categories, where the reference fitness data are selected in accordance to the acquired fitness related data and indicate a reference fitness shape for the user. A deviation indicator is determined for each of the categories indicating the deviation between the acquired fitness related data and the reference data within the same fitness category. The deviation indicators are subsequently presented to the user so as to indicate the initial physical fitness shape of the user compared to the reference fitness shape for each of the categories. First input data are then received from the user indicating the user's target level for each of the categories, and finally an exercise plan is composed based on the received user input, the composing being performed in accordance to a set of rules.

1 . A method of generating a personalized exercise program template for a user, comprising:
 acquiring fitness related data from the user ( 101 ) indicating an initial physical fitness shape of the user, the acquired fitness related data being based on physical fitness results from a number of fitness tests undergone by the user in one or more fitness categories,   constructing a fitness proposal plan ( 103 ) for the user based on said collected fitness related data, the constructing including:
 comparing the acquired fitness related data with reference fitness data for corresponding fitness tests results in one or more corresponding fitness categories the reference fitness data being selected in accordance to said acquired fitness related data and indicate a reference fitness shape for the user, 
 determining a deviation indicator for each of said categories indicating the deviation between the acquired fitness related data and said reference data within the same fitness category, 
   presenting the deviation indicators to the user ( 105 ) so as to indicate the initial physical fitness shape of the user compared to said reference fitness shape for each of said categories,   receiving first input data from the user ( 107 ) indicting the user's target effort for each of said categories, and   composing an exercise program template for the user ( 109 ) based on the received user input, the composing being performed in accordance to a set of rules indicating:
 distribution of said effort for each of said categories over exercise sessions, and 
 exercise prescriptions for corresponding said categories and said sessions. 
   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said set of rules further indicate:
 exercise suggestions for the corresponding said categories and said sessions, the method further comprising,   receiving second input data from the user ( 111 ) indicating the user's preferred exercises based on the exercise suggestions, and   using the received second input data in composing a personalized exercise program.   
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising receiving third input data ( 113 ) from the user, the third input data being selected from:
 the moments the user wants to exercise,   the durations the user wants to exercise at the exercise sessions,   a duration of the exercise program,   a combination of one or more of the above,   
       where the received third input data are used in composing a personalized exercise program. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the acquired fitness related data further include:
 the age of the user, or   the gender of the user, or   medical related data indicating the medical condition of the user, or   psychological status of the user, or   a combination of one or more of the above   
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said number of categories is selected from:
 endurance,   strength,   balance,   flexibility,   body composition,   a combination of one or more of the above,   
       wherein each of said categories is scaled into two or more performance levels. 
     
     
         6 . A computer program product for instructing a processing unit to execute the method step of  claim 1  when the product is run on a computer. 
     
     
         7 . A physical fitness system ( 500 ) for generating a personalized exercise program template for a user, comprising:
 a first input unit ( 501 ) for acquiring fitness related data from the user indicating an initial physical fitness shape of the user, the acquired fitness related data being based on physical fitness results from a number of fitness tests undergone by the user in one or more fitness categories,   a processor ( 502 ) for constructing a fitness proposal plan for the user based on said collected fitness related data, the constructing including:
 comparing the acquired fitness related data with reference fitness data for corresponding fitness tests results in one or more corresponding fitness categories, the reference fitness data being selected in accordance to said acquired fitness related data and indicate a reference fitness shape for the user, 
 determining a deviation indicator ( 200   a - e ) for each of said categories indicating the deviation between the acquired fitness related data and said reference data within the same fitness category, 
   a display ( 503 ) for presenting the deviation indicators to the user so as to indicate the initial physical fitness shape of the user compared to said reference fitness shape for each of said categories,   a second input unit ( 504 ) for receiving first input data ( 201   a - e ) from the user indicting the user's target effort for each of said categories, and   a processor ( 503 ) for composing an exercise program template for the user based on the received user input, the composing being performed in accordance to a set of rules indicating:
 distribution of said effort for each of said categories over exercise sessions, and 
 exercise prescriptions for the corresponding said categories and said sessions. 
   
     
     
         8 . A physical fitness system according to  claim 7 , said set of rules further indicate exercise suggestions for the corresponding said categories and said sessions, the system further comprising a third input unit for receiving second input data from the user ( 111 ) indicating the user's preferred exercises for each of the said exercise sessions in said exercise template, where the processor ( 502 ) uses the received second input data in composing a personalized exercise program. 
     
     
         9 . A physical fitness system according to  claim 7 , further comprising a fourth input unit for receiving third input data ( 113 ) from the user, the third input data being selected from the moments the user wants to exercise, the durations the user wants to exercise at the exercise sessions, a duration of the exercise program, a combination of one or more of the above, where the received third input data are used in composing a personalized exercise program.