Systems and methods for providing posture alignment feedback

Abstract

Provided are embodiments of an abdominal activator for providing posture alignment feedback. One embodiment of the abdominal activator includes an exterior portion constructed of a flexible material, where the exterior portion is shaped to overlay a predetermined section of an abdomen of a subject, and where the exterior portion is divided into a plurality of compartments. Some embodiments include a weighted material with fluid properties that is placed inside the exterior portion in at least one of the plurality of compartments. When the abdominal activator is placed on the abdomen of the subject, the weighted material provides haptic feedback when an improper movement is made by the subject during an exercise.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An abdominal activator for providing posture alignment feedback comprising:
 an exterior portion constructed of a flexible material, wherein the exterior portion is shaped to overlay a predetermined section of an abdomen of a subject, wherein the exterior portion is divided into a plurality of compartments; and   a weighted material with fluid properties that is placed inside the exterior portion in at least one of the plurality of compartments, wherein when the abdominal activator is placed on the abdomen of the subject, the weighted material provides haptic feedback when an improper movement is made by the subject during an exercise.   
     
     
         2 . The abdominal activator of  claim 1 , wherein the weighted material is enclosed in a weighted sack. 
     
     
         3 . The abdominal activator of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior portion includes at least one securable opening for removably receiving the weighted material. 
     
     
         4 . The abdominal activator of  claim 1 , further comprising a device sensor for detecting movement of the abdominal activator. 
     
     
         5 . The abdominal activator of  claim 4 , wherein the device sensor includes at least one of the following: a light, a speaker, a wireless communication device, a memory, a processor, a motion sensor, a camera, a gyroscope, a level sensor, or an accelerometer. 
     
     
         6 . The abdominal activator of  claim 1 , wherein the weighted material includes at least one of the following: a liquid, a fluid, copper beads, lead beads, or steel beads. 
     
     
         7 . The abdominal activator of  claim 1 , wherein the abdominal activator includes a lower portion and an upper portion that may be removably secured together. 
     
     
         8 . A method for providing posture alignment feedback comprising:
 determining, via a computing device, an improper movement for a predetermined exercise;   detecting, via an abdominal activator that has been placed on an abdomen of a subject, that the predetermined exercise has begun, wherein the abdominal activator includes an exterior portion constructed of a flexible material, wherein the exterior portion is shaped to overlay a predetermined section of the abdomen of the subject, wherein the exterior portion is divided into a plurality of compartments, and wherein the abdominal activator further includes a weighted material with fluid properties that is placed inside the exterior portion in at least one of the plurality of compartments;   detecting, via the abdominal activator, that the subject has performed the improper movement; and   in response to detecting that the subject has performed the improper movement, providing feedback, via the abdominal activator, regarding the improper movement.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the weighted material is enclosed in a weighted sack. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the exterior portion includes at least one securable opening for removably receiving the weighted material. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the abdominal activator further includes a device sensor for detecting movement of the abdominal activator, wherein the device sensor includes at least one of the following: a light, a speaker, a wireless communication device, a memory, a processor, a motion sensor, a camera, a level sensor, a gyroscope, or an accelerometer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the weighted material includes at least one of the following: a liquid, a fluid, copper beads, lead beads, or steel beads. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the abdominal activator includes a lower portion and an upper portion that may be removably secured together. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the feedback includes at least one of the following:
 haptic feedback, auditory feedback, or visual feedback.   
     
     
         15 . A system for providing posture alignment feedback comprising:
 an abdominal activator that includes
 an exterior portion constructed of a flexible material, wherein the exterior portion is shaped to overlay a predetermined section of an abdomen of a subject, wherein the exterior portion is divided into a plurality of compartments; 
   a weighted material with fluid properties that is placed inside the exterior portion in at least one of the plurality of compartments, wherein when the abdominal activator is placed on the abdomen of the subject; and   a device sensor that detects an improper movement of the subject and provides feedback when the improper movement is made by the subject during an exercise; and   a computing device that communicates with the device sensor, wherein the computing device determines the improper movement and communicates data regarding the improper movement to the device sensor and wherein the computing device provides further feedback regarding the improper movement that is made by the subject during the exercise.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the computing device includes at least one of the following: a mobile device of the subject, a mobile device of an instructor, a laptop, a server, or a personal computer. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the weighted material is enclosed in a weighted sack and wherein the exterior portion includes at least one securable opening for removably receiving the weighted material. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the device sensor includes at least one of the following: a light, a speaker, a wireless communication device, a memory, a processor, a motion sensor, a camera, a level sensor, a gyroscope, or an accelerometer. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the weighted material includes at least one of the following: a liquid, a fluid, copper beads, lead beads, or steel beads. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the further feedback includes at least one of the following: haptic feedback, auditory feedback, or visual feedback.