Systems and methods for measuring, analyzing, and providing feedback for movement in multidimensional space

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods that measure and analyze a user's movement during a specific activity, then provide immediate, focused feedback as to how the user can modify the movement.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for training a subject to avoid joint injuries, comprising:
 gathering raw data from at least one sensor attached to a subject, to an interface, or in the subject's environment where the at least one sensor allows quantifying at least one parameter associated with a movement known to correspond to a risk of joint injury;   transmitting the raw data to at least one processor;   evaluating the risk of injury by comparing the raw data or processed raw data to a stored model;   providing feedback to the subject based on the evaluated risk of injury so the subject can alter the movement and reduce the risk of joint injury; and   storing at least one of the raw data, the processed raw data, the evaluated risk data and the feedback data.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least five sensors or more are used. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein at least ten sensors or more are used. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a magnetometer, an electrode, a pressure sensor, a force sensor, a torque sensor, a force platform, a speed sensor, a goniometer, a camera, or a thermometer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the movement is performed during walking, jogging, running, jumping, throwing, swinging, kicking, swimming, rowing, squatting, lifting, pushing, climbing, cutting, blocking, skiing, snowboarding, punching, sitting, typing, cycling, or dancing. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter is selected from joint kinematics, joint kinetics, body segment posture, body segment kinematics, body segment kinetics. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one parameter is selected from ankle flexion, eversion, rotation angle, angular velocity, angular acceleration, force, moment, or power;
 knee flexion, abduction, rotation angle, angular velocity, angular acceleration, force, moment, or power; hip flexion, abduction, rotation angle, angular velocity, angular acceleration, force, moment, or power; spine flexion, lateral bending, rotation angle, angular velocity, angular acceleration, force, moment, or power; shoulder flexion, abduction, rotation angle, angular velocity, angular acceleration, force, moment, or power; elbow flexion, abduction, rotation angle, angular velocity, angular acceleration, force, moment, or power; wrist flexion, abduction, rotation angle, angular velocity, angular acceleration, force, moment, or power;   neck flexion, lateral bending, rotation angle, angular velocity, angular acceleration, force, moment, or power; foot position, velocity, acceleration, jerk, orientation, angular velocity, angular acceleration, or angular jerk; shank position, velocity, acceleration, jerk, orientation, angular velocity, angular acceleration, or angular jerk; thigh position, velocity, acceleration, jerk, orientation, angular velocity, angular acceleration, or angular jerk; pelvis position, velocity, acceleration, jerk, orientation, angular velocity, angular acceleration, or angular jerk; trunk position, velocity, acceleration, jerk, orientation, angular velocity, angular acceleration, or angular jerk; upper arm position, velocity, acceleration, jerk, orientation, angular velocity, angular acceleration, or angular jerk; forearm position, velocity, acceleration, jerk, orientation, angular velocity, angular acceleration, or angular jerk; hand position, velocity, acceleration, jerk, orientation, angular velocity, angular acceleration, or angular jerk; or head position, velocity, acceleration, jerk, orientation, angular velocity, angular acceleration, or angular jerk.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one parameter is selected from force, pressure, or moment between the subject and an interface or the environment. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one parameter is selected from muscle activity. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the feedback provided is visual. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the feedback provided is a graph. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the feedback provided is an avatar. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the feedback provided is three dimensional. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the feedback provided is auditory. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the feedback provided is tactile or haptic. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the joint injury is selected from a joint injury to a knee, elbow, wrist, ankle, hip, shoulder, or spine. 
     
     
         17 . A body movement training system comprising:
 at least one sensor configured to measure at least one parameter associated with a movement known to correspond to risk of joint injury;   transmitters associated with the at least one sensor to transmit raw data related to the at least one parameter to at least one processor;   at least one processor configured to receive the raw data from the transmitters, process the raw data, compare the raw data or processed raw data to a stored model, evaluate the risk of joint injury based on the comparison of the raw data or processed raw data to the stored model, and generate feedback data;   a display or interface device to provide immediate feedback to the subject based on the feedback data so the subject can alter the movement and reduce the risk of joint injury; and   a storage medium to record the raw data, the processed raw data, the evaluated risk data and the feedback data.   
     
     
         18 . The body movement training system of  claim 17 , wherein at least five or more sensors are used. 
     
     
         19 . The body movement training system of  claim 18 , wherein at least ten or more sensors are used. 
     
     
         20 . The body movement training system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one sensor is a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a magnetometer, an electrode, a pressure sensor, a force sensor, a torque sensor, a force platform, a speed sensor, a goniometer, a camera, or a thermometer. 
     
     
         21 . The body movement training system of  claim 17 , wherein the movement measured is performed during walking, jogging, running, jumping, throwing, swinging, kicking, swimming, rowing, squatting, lifting, pushing, climbing, cutting, blocking, skiing, snowboarding, punching, sitting, typing, cycling, or dancing. 
     
     
         22 . The body movement training system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one parameter is selected from joint kinetics, joint kinematics, body segment posture, body segment kinematics, body segment kinetics. 
     
     
         23 . The body movement training system of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one parameter is selected from ankle flexion, eversion, rotation angle, angular velocity, angular acceleration, force, moment, or power; knee flexion, abduction, rotation angle, angular velocity, angular acceleration, force, moment, or power; hip flexion, abduction, rotation angle, angular velocity, angular acceleration, force, moment, or power; spine flexion, lateral bending, rotation angle, angular velocity, angular acceleration, force, moment, or power; shoulder flexion, abduction, rotation angle, angular velocity, angular acceleration, force, moment, or power; elbow flexion, abduction, rotation angle, angular velocity, angular acceleration, force, moment, or power; wrist flexion, abduction, rotation angle, angular velocity, angular acceleration, force, moment, or power; neck flexion, lateral bending, rotation angle, angular velocity, angular acceleration, force, moment, or power; foot position, velocity, acceleration, jerk, orientation, angular velocity, angular acceleration, or angular jerk; shank position, velocity, acceleration, jerk, orientation, angular velocity, angular acceleration, or angular jerk; thigh position, velocity, acceleration, jerk, orientation, angular velocity, angular acceleration, or angular jerk; pelvis position, velocity, acceleration, jerk, orientation, angular velocity, angular acceleration, or angular jerk; trunk position, velocity, acceleration, jerk, orientation, angular velocity, angular acceleration, or angular jerk; upper arm position, velocity, acceleration, jerk, orientation, angular velocity, angular acceleration, or angular jerk; forearm position, velocity, acceleration, jerk, orientation, angular velocity, angular acceleration, or angular jerk; hand position, velocity, acceleration, jerk, orientation, angular velocity, angular acceleration, or angular jerk; or head position, velocity, acceleration, jerk, orientation, angular velocity, angular acceleration, or angular jerk. 
     
     
         24 . The body movement training system of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one parameter is selected from force, pressure, or moment between the subject and an interface or the environment. 
     
     
         25 . The body movement training system of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one parameter is selected from muscle activity. 
     
     
         26 . The body movement training system of  claim 17 , wherein the feedback provided is visual. 
     
     
         27 . The body movement training system of  claim 26 , wherein the feedback provided is a graph. 
     
     
         28 . The body movement training system of  claim 26 , wherein the feedback provided is an avatar. 
     
     
         29 . The body movement training system of  claim 26 , wherein the feedback provided is three dimensional. 
     
     
         30 . The body movement training system of  claim 17 , wherein the feedback provided is auditory. 
     
     
         31 . The body movement training system of  claim 17 , wherein the feedback provided is tactile or haptic. 
     
     
         32 . The body movement training system of  claim 17 , wherein the joint injury is selected from a joint injury to a knee, elbow, wrist, ankle, hip, shoulder, or spine.