Device for safely strengthening core muscles

Abstract

Systems and methods herein provide for safe and efficient strengthening of core muscles of a user. An example device can include various components for securing a user in a safe position, tilting the body of the user, and rotating the user in a manner that engages the desired muscle groups. The device can include electronically controlled actuators and/or electric motors for performing various motions associated with the user. A control unit can gather information regarding the user and the device to provide helpful information to the user or a caretaker. For example, the control unit can track progress over time, suggest the types and intensities of exercises for individual users, and prepare reports suitable for use in medical or insurance contexts.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-transitory, computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by the processor of a computing device, perform stages for optimizing an exercise device, the stages comprising:
 receiving information from a first sensor associated with a first rotating frame rotatably mounted to a support frame;   calculating a rotation angle of the first rotating frame relative to the support frame based on the received information from the first sensor;   receiving information from a second sensor associated with a second rotating frame rotatably mounted to the first frame;   calculating a rotation angle of the second rotating frame relative to the first frame; and   displaying values associated with the calculated rotation angles of the first and second rotating frames.   
     
     
         2 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , the stages further comprising associating the calculated values with a user profile. 
     
     
         3 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 2 , the stages further comprising storing the calculated values and information associating the calculated values with a user profile in a data repository. 
     
     
         4 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , the stages further comprising:
 receiving a user identification;   based on the received user identification, associating the user identification with a user profile; and   retrieving user history from a repository based on the user profile.   
     
     
         5 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 4 , wherein receiving the user identification comprises at least one of receiving information from a barcode scanner indicating the user identification, receiving information from a near-field communication device indicating the user identification, and receiving information manually entered into a user interface indicating the user identification. 
     
     
         6 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 4 , the stages further comprising recommending exercise parameters based on the retrieved user history. 
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 4 , the stages further comprising preparing a report that includes historical information regarding at least two exercise events associated with the same user profile. 
     
     
         8 . A computing device comprising:
 a processor;   a memory store;   a display; and   a non-transitory, computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by the processor of the computing device, perform stages for optimizing an exercise device, the stages comprising:
 receiving information from a first sensor associated with a first rotating frame rotatably mounted to a support frame; 
 calculating a rotation angle of the first rotating frame relative to the support frame based on the received information from the first sensor; 
 receiving information from a second sensor associated with a second rotating frame rotatably mounted to the first frame; 
 calculating a rotation angle of the second rotating frame relative to the first frame; and 
 displaying values associated with the calculated rotation angles of the first and second rotating frames. 
   
     
     
         9 . The computing device of  claim 8 , the stages further comprising associating the calculated values with a user profile. 
     
     
         10 . The computing device of  claim 9 , the stages further comprising storing the calculated values and information associating the calculated values with a user profile in a data repository. 
     
     
         11 . The computing device of  claim 8 , the stages further comprising:
 receiving a user identification;   based on the received user identification, associating the user identification with a user profile; and   retrieving user history from a repository based on the user profile.   
     
     
         12 . The computing device of  claim 11 , wherein receiving the user identification comprises at least one of receiving information from a barcode scanner indicating the user identification, receiving information from a near-field communication device indicating the user identification, and receiving information manually entered into a user interface indicating the user identification. 
     
     
         13 . The computing device of  claim 11 , the stages further comprising recommending exercise parameters based on the retrieved user history. 
     
     
         14 . The computing device of  claim 11 , the stages further comprising preparing a report that includes historical information regarding at least two exercise events associated with the same user profile. 
     
     
         15 . An exercise system that tracks user progress over time, comprising:
 at least one support frame;   a first rotating frame rotatably coupled to the at least one support frame;   a second rotating frame rotatably coupled to the first rotating frame;   a seat coupled to the second rotating frame;   a processor;   a memory store;   a display; and   a non-transitory, computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by the processor of the computing device, perform stages for optimizing an exercise device, the stages comprising:
 receiving information from a first sensor associated with the first rotating frame; 
 calculating a rotation angle of the first rotating frame relative to the support frame based on the received information from the first sensor; 
 receiving information from a second sensor associated with a second rotating frame; 
 calculating a rotation angle of the second rotating frame relative to the first frame; and 
 displaying values associated with the calculated rotation angles of the first and second rotating frames on the display. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , the stages further comprising associating the calculated values with a user profile. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , the stages further comprising storing the calculated values and information associating the calculated values with a user profile in a data repository. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , the stages further comprising:
 receiving a user identification;   based on the received user identification, associating the user identification with a user profile; and   retrieving user history from a repository based on the user profile.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , the stages further comprising recommending exercise parameters based on the retrieved user history. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , the stages further comprising preparing a report that includes historical information regarding at least two exercise events associated with the same user profile.