Movement assessment apparatus and a method for providing biofeedback using the same

摘要

A movement assessment apparatus configured to provide biofeedback to a user regarding one or more movements executed by the user is disclosed herein. The movement assessment apparatus generally includes a sensing device comprising one or more sensors, a data processing device operatively coupled to the sensing device, and a sensory output device operatively coupled to the data processing device. The data processing device is configured to determine executed motion data of a body portion of the user and/or executed motion data of an object manipulated by the user using one or more signals from the one or more sensors, to compare the executed motion data or a modified form of the executed motion data to baseline motion data of a reference motion, and to determine how closely the executed motion data or the modified form of the executed motion data conforms to the baseline motion data of the reference motion.

主权项

1. A movement assessment apparatus configured to provide biofeedback to a user regarding one or more movements executed by the user, the movement assessment apparatus comprising:
at least one sensing device, the at least one sensing device comprising one or more sensors for detecting the motion of a body portion of a user and/or the motion of an object manipulated by the user and outputting one or more signals that are generated based upon the motion of the body portion of the user and/or the motion of the object, the at least one sensing device further comprising attachment means for attaching the at least one sensing device to the body portion of the user or to the object manipulated by the user; a data processing device operatively coupled to the at least one sensing device, the data processing device configured to receive the one or more signals that are output by the one or more sensors of the at least one sensing device, and to determine executed motion data of the body portion of the user and/or executed motion data of the object manipulated by the user using the one or more signals, the data processing device further configured to: (i) execute an agreement operation by converting the executed motion data to a feedback-agreeing form that agrees with at least one of the dimensions, reference frames, and units of baseline motion data of a reference motion, (ii) execute a comparison operation by comparing the feedback-agreeing form of the executed motion data to the baseline motion data of the reference motion, and (iii) determine how closely the feedback-agreeing form of the executed motion data conforms to the baseline motion data of the reference motion, the data processing device additionally configured to generate an abstract feedback signal based upon the execution of the comparison operation; and a sensory output device operatively coupled to the data processing device, the sensory output device configured to generate a formed feedback signal for delivery to the user that is based upon the abstract feedback signal, the formed feedback signal comprising at least one of a visual indicator, an audible indicator, and a tactile indicator, and the sensory output device further configured to output the at least one of the visual indicator, the audible indicator, and the tactile indicator to the user in order to provide biofeedback as to conformity of the executed motion data to the baseline motion data of the reference motion.