Method for controlling a user's breathing during a workout with an exercise machine and exercise machine thereof

Abstract

A method for controlling breathing of a user during workout with an exercise machine is provided. The method includes acquiring, by a data processing unit of the exercise machine, at least one parameter representative of a physical exercise being performed by the user with the exercise machine, determining, by the data processing unit of the exercise machine, an indication of the breathing to be followed by the user while performing the physical exercise based on the acquired at least one parameter representative of the physical exercise, and providing the user, by the data processing unit of the exercise machine, with the determined indication of breathing. An exercise machine implementing the method for controlling breathing of the user during workout is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling breathing of a user during a workout with an exercise machine, comprising steps of:
 acquiring, by a data processing unit of the exercise machine, at least one parameter representative of a physical exercise being performed by the user with the exercise machine;   determining, by the data processing unit of the exercise machine, an indication of the breathing to be followed by the user while performing the physical exercise based on the acquired at least one parameter representative of the physical exercise; and   providing the user, by the data processing unit of the exercise machine, with the determined indication of the breathing.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determined indication of the breathing comprises an audio message usable by the user through an audio speaker of the exercise machine, the step of providing comprising a step of broadcasting, by the data processing unit of the exercise machine, the determined indication of the breathing in the form of audio message through the audio speaker of the exercise machine. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determined indication of the breathing comprises a graphic representation usable by the user through a display module of the exercise machine, the step of providing comprising a step of displaying, by the data processing unit of the exercise machine, the determined indication of the breathing in the form of graphic representation through the display module of the exercise machine. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of acquiring is performed directly by the data processing unit of the exercise machine. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of acquiring comprises a step of detecting, by a sensor unit operatively connected to the data processing unit of the exercise machine, the at least one parameter representative of the physical exercise being performed by the user with the exercise machine. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of acquiring, if the exercise machine is a treadmill, comprises a step of detecting, by the data processing unit, a speed of the treadmill and/or a running/walking cadence of the user on the treadmill and/or an inclination of a running/walking surface of the treadmill, the step of determining comprising a step of determining, by the data processing unit, the indication of the breathing to be followed by the user while performing the physical exercise as a function of the detected speed of the treadmill and/or the detected running/walking cadence of the user on the treadmill and/or the detected inclination of the running/walking surface of the treadmill. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the acquiring step, if the exercise machine is a bike or an exercise bike, comprises a step of detecting, by the data processing unit, a resistance of the bike or the exercise bike in opposition to the pedaling of the user and/or a pedaling frequency of the user, the determining step comprising a step of determining, by the data processing unit, the indication of the breathing to be followed by the user while performing the physical exercise as a function of the detected resistance of the bike or the exercise bike in opposition to the detected pedaling of the user and/or the detected pedaling frequency of the user. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the acquiring step, if the exercise machine is a rowing machine, comprises a step of detecting, by the data processing unit, a resistance of the rowing machine in opposition to the rowing of the user and/or a rowing frequency of the user on the rowing machine, the step of determining comprising a step of determining, by the data processing unit, the indication of the breathing to be followed by the user while performing the physical exercise as a function of the detected resistance of the rowing machine in opposition to the rowing of the user and/or the detected rowing frequency of the user on the rowing machine. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the acquiring step, if the exercise machine is a strength exercise machine, comprises a step of detecting, by the data processing unit an eccentric phase and/or a concentric phase of a movement of the user and/or a load of the strength exercise machine, the step of determining comprising a step of determining, by the data processing unit, the indication of the breathing to be followed by the user while performing the physical exercise as a function of the detected eccentric phase and/or concentric phase of the movement of the user and/or the detected load of the strength exercise machine. 
     
     
         10 . An exercise machine comprising:
 a user interface configured to allow a user to interact with the exercise machine;   a data processing unit, the user interface being operatively connected to the data processing unit; and   a memory unit operatively connected to the data processing unit;   the data processing unit of the exercise machine being configured to:   acquire at least one parameter representative of a physical exercise being performed by the user with the exercise machine;   determine an indication of the breathing to be followed by the user while performing the physical exercise based on the acquired at least one parameter representative of the physical exercise; and   providing the user with a determined indication of the breathing.   
     
     
         11 . The exercise machine of  claim 10 , further comprising an audio speaker operatively connected to the data processing unit, the determined indication of the breathing comprising an audio message usable by the user through the audio speaker of the exercise machine, the data processing unit being configured to broadcast the determined indication of the breathing in the form of audio message through the audio speaker of the exercise machine. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise machine of  claim 11 , wherein the audio speaker comprises a speaker or a hardware component configured to be operatively connected to a headset with which the user is provided. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise machine of  claim 10 , further comprising a display module operatively connected to the data processing unit, the determined indication of the breathing comprising a graphic representation viewable through the display module of the exercise machine, the data processing unit being configured to display the determined indication of the breathing in the form of graphic representation through the display module of the exercise machine. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise machine of  claim 10 , wherein the data processing unit is configured to directly acquire the at least one parameter representative of the physical exercise. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise machine of  claim 10 , further comprising a sensor unit operatively connected to the data processing unit, the data processing unit being configured to acquire the at least one parameter representative of the physical exercise from the sensor unit configured to detect said at least one parameter representative of the physical exercise. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise machine of  claim 10 , wherein, if the exercise machine is a treadmill, the data processing unit is configured to:
 detect a speed of the treadmill and/or a running/walking cadence of the user on the treadmill and/or an inclination of a running/walking surface of the treadmill; and   determine the indication of the breathing to be followed by the user while performing the physical exercise as a function of the detected speed of the treadmill and/or the detected running/walking cadence of the user on the treadmill and/or the detected inclination of the running/walking surface of the treadmill.   
     
     
         17 . The exercise machine of  claim 10 , wherein, if the exercise machine is a bike or an exercise bike, the data processing unit is configured to:
 detect a resistance of the bike or the exercise bike in opposition to the pedaling of the user and/or a pedaling frequency of the user; and   determine the indication of the breathing to be followed by the user while performing the physical exercise as a function of the detected resistance of the bike or the exercise bike in opposition to the pedaling of the user and/or the detected pedaling frequency of the user.   
     
     
         18 . The exercise machine of  claim 10 , wherein, if the exercise machine is a rowing machine, the data processing unit is configured to:
 detect a resistance of the rowing machine in opposition to the rowing of the user and/or a rowing frequency of the user on the rowing machine; and   determine the indication of the breathing to be followed by the user while performing the physical exercise as a function of the detected resistance of the rowing machine in opposition to the rowing of the user and/or the detected rowing frequency of the user on the rowing machine.   
     
     
         19 . The exercise machine of  claim 10 , wherein, if the exercise machine is a strength exercise machine, the data processing unit is configured to:
 detect an eccentric phase and/or a concentric phase of a movement of the user and/or a load of the strength exercise machine; and   determine the indication of the breathing to be followed by the user while performing the physical exercise as a function of the detected eccentric phase and/or the detected concentric phase of the movement of the user and/or the detected load of the strength exercise machine.