TACTILE INPUT FOR IMPROVING PHYSICAL MOVEMENT

摘要

A system for providing tactile input for prompting a person to coordinate appropriate muscle contractions during some form of physical movement such as exercising. The system may comprise a belt bearing inwardly facing projections adapted to contact contracting muscles. The user may then be prompted by direct tactile feedback or by audible, visible, or vibratory outputs to facilitate proper contractions, timing, and sequencing of activities, as may be appropriate given the type of physical activity. The projections are blunt, being hemispherical, for example. The belt may include the projections, or alternatively, the projections may be attachable to a pre-existing belt. The projections may include transducers for providing signals to generate the audible, visible, or vibratory outputs. Outputs may be reproduced on a mobile communications device.

主权项

1. A method of providing one or more sensible tactile inputs to specific targeted muscles which improves sensory awareness of the muscles and enables a person to improve coordination and strength of the muscular contractions produced during a physical activity, including exercising, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a body wrapping having elastic properties and having a body side and an exterior side, at least one inwardly facing projection adjutstably attachable along said body side of said body wrapping; positioning the body wrapping around body musculature with the at least one inwardly facing projection facing the body musculature; adjusting the at least one inwardly facing projection to a desired location on the body wrapping to provide the one or more sensible tactile inputs to the targeted muscles prior to the person performing the physical activity; and, contracting said targeted muscles by the person during the physical activity into one or more of the tactile inputs provided by the inwardly facing projections.