Method for monitoring an individual's motor load and insole for the implementation thereof

Abstract

A method for measurements of parameters characterizing human motor activity provides registration of signals generated by load sensors mounted in shoe insoles, with each insole having at least two load sensors, one mounted near the heel, and the other near the toe of the foot. The specific type of motor activity is determined based on temporal correlation of load sensor signals from both insoles and values thereof. Person's weight, including additionally carried weight, is determined by summing up signal values from said load sensors, with the specific type of motor activity considered; thereafter, person's motor stress is determined based on specified type of motor activity and person's weight, including additionally carried weight. The method enables a real-time monitoring of motor stress of a person at different types of motor activity, e.g. running, walking at different pace, standing, with person's weight, including additionally carried weight, taken into consideration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of monitoring motor stress and weight of a person, the method comprising:
 registering signals from load sensors disposed in shoe insoles of the person, wherein each insole has a first load sensor disposed in a heel region of an insole and a second load sensor disposed in a toe region of the insole;   determining a “walking”, “running” and “standing” type of the motor stress of the person based on time relationship between signals from the load sensors in each insole; and   determining the weight of the person and additional weight carried by the person based on the type of the motor stress.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the type of the motor stress is determined as “walking” if (i) the signals from the load sensors in the insoles exhibit periodic variations of values and (ii) the signals from the load sensors from different insoles partially overlap in time. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the type of the motor stress is determined as “running” if (i) the signals from the load sensors in the insoles exhibit periodic variations of values and (ii) the signals from the load sensors from different insoles do not overlap in time. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the type of the motor stress is determined as “standing” if (i) the signals from the load sensors in the insoles exceed a predetermined value and (ii) the signals from different insoles overlap in time. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the weight of the person and the additional weight at standing are determined as:
     P=K   S   ·F,      
       wherein:
 K S  is a calibration factor determined for a person of a known weight at standing; 
 F is a mean value of a foot pressure force at standing, wherein:
     F =( F   1max   +F   2max )/2; 
 
 
       wherein:
 F 1max  is a maximum value of summarized foot pressure forces registered by the first and second load sensors of one insole; and 
 F 2max  is the maximum value of summarized foot pressure forces registered by the first and second load sensors of the other insole. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing in the shoe insoles additional load sensors disposed between the first load sensor and the second load sensor; and   using signals from the additional load sensors together with the signals from the first and second load.   
     
     
         7 . A system for monitoring motor stress of a person, comprising:
 two insoles each having a first load sensor disposed in a heel region of an insole and a second load sensor disposed in a toe region of the insole;   a transmitter adapted to transmit in a digital form signals from the load sensors to an external processing unit; and   the external processing unit adapted for determining weight of the person, a value of additional weight carried by the person, or a value of the motor stress of the person based on:
 time relationship between the signals from the load sensors in each insole; and 
 a “walking”, “running” and “standing” type of the motor stress of the person. 
   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein each of the insoles comprises at least one load sensor disposed between the first and second load sensors.