Method for Muscle and Body Alignment and Strength Training

Abstract

A system and method for evaluating an individual's posture relative to an objective measurement surface to determine the location of any misalignments of the body, the method including an alignment process to allow muscles that are misaligned to release, for proper positioning of the body and muscles, and a system for aiding the individual to achieve proper alignment. The method further includes a training process to reinforce proper alignment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for muscle and body alignment for an individual, the method comprising the steps of:
 A. positioning the body in a standing position against a substantially flat surface such that the individual's head, shoulders, upper and middle back, glutes and heels are simultaneously positioned against the flat surface and top portions of the individual's shoulders are maintained substantially parallel to the floor;   B. positioning the individual's arms slightly outward from the hips and against the substantially flat measurement device with backs of the individual's hands maintained against the substantially flat surface and extending the body to a maximum height and simultaneously reaching downward with the arms to a maximum length while maintaining the position described in step A;   C. positioning the individual's arms held outward from the hips at an angle ranging from 30-60 degrees measured from an underside of the arms to the body, the individual's arms and backs of the hands being maintained against the substantially flat surface while extending the body to a maximum height and simultaneously reaching outward and downward with the arms to a maximum length while maintaining the position described in step A; and   D. positioning the individual's arms held outward from the body at an angle of approximately 90 degrees relative to the body, the individual's arms and backs of the hands being maintained against the substantially flat surface while extending the body to a maximum height and simultaneously reaching outward with the arms to a maximum length while maintaining the position described in step A.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of lifting one leg upward such that a top of the individual's thigh is maintained substantially parallel to the floor while simultaneously maintaining the position described in step A. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the individual simultaneously maintains the position described in step B. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the individual simultaneously maintains the position described in step C. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the individual simultaneously maintains the position described in step D. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of:
 E. raising one arm over the individual's head with the individual's arm and back of the hand maintained against the substantially flat surface and simultaneously maintaining the position described in step A with the individual's other arm in the position described in step B. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising the step of:
 F. alternately rotating the individual's arms such that the raised arm is rotated downward and the lowered arm is rotated upward such that the individual achieves the position described in step C. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising the step of:
 G. alternately rotating the individual's arms such that the raised arm from step E continues to rotate downward and the lowered arm from step E continues to rotate upward until the arms reach a position that mirrors step E while simultaneously maintaining the position described in step A. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of performing a strength training exercise where the exercise is selected from the group consisting of: a lat pull down; a back row; a shoulder seated dumbbell press; side lateral raises; bent posterior deltoid raises; band Y; band T; band A; bench press; dumbbell press; pectoral flies; abdominal crunch; flat leg raise; band rotation; planks; mini band walks to the side; diagonal band walks; side planks; squats; leg press; step-ups; Romanian dead lift; and inner thigh crunches. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of performing a functional training exercise where the exercise is selected from the group consisting of: squat/press; squat/row; frontal lunge/curl; frontal lunge/press; saggital side/lunge; transverse lunges; and Romanian/curl/press; squat thrust; squat jumps; and step-up exchange; side shuffles; and sprint/back pedals. 
     
     
         12 . A system for measuring the position of the individual's body relative to the substantially flat surface according to  claim 1  comprising:
 an array of sensors forming a measurement surface, said array of sensors becoming activated by contact; 
 a controller having a storage, said controller coupled to said array of sensors, said array of sensors transmitting data to said controller relating to which sensors are activated; 
 a measurement module executing on said controller for determining which of the array of sensors are activated; and 
 a notification providing an indication as to which of the array of sensors are activated. 
 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12  wherein the notification comprises either an audio or a visual notification or both. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 12  further comprising, a reporting module generating a report of the individual's session. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14  wherein the report includes information on multiple sessions and includes information relating to the individual's progress over a period of time and/or progress toward one or more goals. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 14  wherein the report includes a graph. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 12  wherein the array of sensors is positioned in a device that is attached to the substantially flat surface. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 12  wherein the array of sensors comprises wearable technology. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 12  wherein steps are performed by the system including:
 an initial measurement of activated sensors is taken during step A and stored in the storage; 
 a subsequent measurement is taken during any of steps B-D and stored in the storage; and 
 a comparison is performed by measurement module to determine if the subsequent measurement deviates from the initial measurement by at least a threshold value. 
 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 19  wherein an alert is generated by the system when the subsequent measurement deviates from the initial measurement by the threshold value.