WO2001074454A1

WO2001074454A1 - Method and assembly for motor training of an individual

Info

Publication number: WO2001074454A1
Application number: PCT/NL2001/000267
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kenneth Berkleef
Original assignee: Equihold B.V.
Priority date: 2000-03-30
Filing date: 2001-03-30
Publication date: 2001-10-11
Also published as: AU4694401A; NL1014796C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for motor training of an individual, comprising: selecting a motor action for training, determining motor elements of the individual which are active during the action, having the action performed by the individual with a desired power, herein measuring values of motor parameters relevant for the motor elements, selecting a training apparatus with which the motor elements can be activated under adjustable load, adjusting the training apparatus and instructing the individual such that the latter activates the relevant motor elements for a determined period of time with substantially the measured values of the relevant parameters.

Description

METHOD AND ASSEMBLY FOR MOTOR TRAINING OF AN INDIVIDUAL

In the motor training of an individual a motor action for training is first selected. This motor action can comprise any movement, such as a walking movement, in particular a running movement, a striking movement, a throwing movement and the like.

The object of the selected motor action for training is to ensure that the individual can perform this action faster, with more force, a greater power or for a longer period, and the like. In the usual training the selected motor action is for instance performed repeatedly under varying load. In order to train for instance a striking movement the motor elements of the individual active during the action, such as arm and leg muscles, can be trained in one way by causing these muscles to contract and relax a determined number of times under the load of extra weights. The strength of the muscles in question will thus be increased.

In addition, the relevant motor elements can be trained for speed and endurance by performing the striking movement in question frequently and rapidly. Such training will indeed generally result in an improvement of the motor action in question, i.e. in an ability to perform this motor action at a higher speed, for a longer period and/or with greater strength and power .

The invention has for its object to improve a method of the type specified in the preamble such that the effort to be made by the individual during training of the chosen motor elements leads in efficient manner to the desired result. That is to say, it is the object to utilize the training exertion as well as possible.

This object is achieved in the method according to the invention as is characterized in claim 1. The training exertion to be made with the training apparatus is hereby adapted precisely to the conditions as these prevail during performing of the motor action for training. The training exertion is thus made in the conditions of exertion of the motor elements as these are active during performing of the motor action. An optimal training result is thus achieved.

The training apparatus is preferably adjusted and the individual instructed such that the relevant motor elements are activated with a higher power than the desired power. The motor elements involved will develop in accordance with this demanded greater power so that, when the motor action is performed, this action could also be performed with a greater power.

If the training comprises successive loading and relaxing of the motor elements, the measure of claim 3 is preferably applied. The intended rhythm can for instance be the same as the rhythm during performing of the motor action, but may also be faster such that the motor action can eventually also be performed with a faster rhythm. According to a further development the measure of claim 4 is applied. In this manner a number of properties of the relevant motor elements can be trained, such as strength, speed and power. The different aspects are emphasized in accordance with the adjustment of the variations . The measure of claim 5 is preferably applied herein. A precise adjustment of the training exertion to the results can thus be obtained during performing of the action, so that an optimal result of the training exertion can be achieved. The invention also relates to and provides an assembly for motor training of an individual . This assembly according to the invention is characterized in claim 6. The control device processes the data of the sensors collected by the measuring device such that the training apparatus can thereby be adjusted. In training for the sprint for instance, the strength and speed with which the individual pushes off from the ground with his legs will thus be determined. The training apparatus will then be adjusted such that the movements to be performed by the individual on this apparatus are well related to those which he performs during the sprint . The frequency of movement of the leg muscles corresponding to that which occurs in the sprint can for instance be adjusted in this manner. The force exerted herein can be adjusted in accordance with that which also occurs in this sprint. In a suitable embodiment of the invention as characterized in claim 8 the measuring device comprises a running track, in an upper surface of which the sensors are received. As noted above, these sensors can detect the contact force and speed of an individual moving over the running track.

An assembly according to the invention can be embodied in many different ways, for all motor activities to be trained. A suitable assembly of measuring device and training apparatus can be chosen subject to the performances expected of the individual .

The invention will be further elucidated in the following description with reference to the annexed figures .

The apparatus shown in the figure is a preferred embodiment of an assembly according to the invention for motor training of an individual . This assembly is utilized particularly for training of the leg muscles of an individual .

The assembly comprises a running track 1, on the upper surface 2 of which a person 3 can perform a sprint .

Running track 1 is provided with a number of sensors with which relevant motor parameters, such as speed, distance, push-off force and the like^{^} can be measured.

Placed at regular distances along running track 1 are velocimeters 4 which in each case can determine momentary speeds . The running track is further provided in upper surface 2 with sensors 6 which co-act with a transponder

5 which can be carried by the person 3. Using this transponder and sensors 6 co-acting therewith, an accurate determination of the location of the person on the running track can be obtained. The accuracy is preferably in the order of magnitude of a centimetre.

In a manner which is not shown but which is per se obvious, sensors for detecting exerted force are further arranged in the upper surface 2 of running track 1. The data from the sensors for determining the exerted force and the location-determining sensors and the velocimeters supply their measurement signals to a central computer 8, with which the measurement data can be analysed.

The apparatus is further provided with a starting signal 7, which can for instance be a lamp. If for instance the reaction speed and the acceleration power have to be measured, the starting signal at which the person 3 starts a sprint can be generated using the computer .

Running track 1 preferably has a length of some tens of metres, for instance 30 metres. This length is sufficient to determine sufficient data concerning the sprinting capacity of person 3 as for instance required in football .

Instead of determining maximum performance with a view to sporting purposes, the running track can also be used to measure the motor action during rehabilitation. The rehabilitation process can be optimized in combination with the training with the training apparatus 15 to be described below.

According to the invention the measurement data collected in computer 8 are used in this embodiment to adjust the training apparatus 15. This training apparatus is here a so-called leg-press, which apparatus is intended for training leg muscles in particular. Leg- press 15 comprises a carriage 16 which can be displaced reciprocally on a frame 14 and on which a seat 17 is mounted. A footrest 19 is mounted on an upright part of frame 14.

During use of apparatus 15 the person 3 sits on seat 17 and rests his feet against footrest 19. The leg-press shown here is a per se known training apparatus and does not therefore require a detailed description. It only has to be further noted that, via a cable 24 which runs over a number of cable pulleys, a number of weights 25 in the vertical part of frame 14 are coupled to carriage 16. When carriage 16 is pushed away from footrest 19 by stretching the legs, the weights 25 are lifted, so that this movement takes place under load of these weights 25. The load is adjustable by varying the number of weight elements.

Apparatus 15 is further provided with handgrips 18 which are mounted on shoulder supports and which the person 3 grasps during training.

Integrated into the footrest 19 are sensors which can determine the exerted force. In this embodiment the force exerted by the left leg and the right leg can be measured separately. Via a measuring line 20 the measurement signals are fed to computer 8 for processing. A displacement sensor which measures the displacement of carriage 16 on frame 14 is further connected to computer 8.

The assembly according to the invention is further provided with a control unit 23 which comprises in this case a monitor 21 and loudspeakers 22. The person 3 is activated on this monitor 21 and via these loudspeakers 22.

As noted above, the push-off force of the person 3 and his speed of movement are for instance determined during the measurement on running track 1. Using computer 8 it is then calculated which weight 25 must be used in the subsequent training, and via monitor 21 and loudspeakers 22 signals are subsequently given which determine the rhythm in which the test subject must reciprocally push the carriage 16. The force exerted on footrest 19 is simultaneously measured, so that a good comparison of the training exertion and the measured value can be achieved. The values determined on running track 1 and the values determined during training can of course be stored in computer 8, so that an analysis of progress is possible after a determined period. A good insight in this progress can be obtained by regularly repeating the measurements on running track 1. Computer 8 can be so programmed that during training on training apparatus 15 the person 3 receives instructions on how to perform uniform movements or a movement corresponding with a sprint, wherein the left and right leg are alternately loaded. The signals will further continue for a determined time, for instance in order to train endurance.

The specific manner in which the signals are generated depends on the intended training. Power training can thus be done in addition to fitness training, wherein the efficiency hereof can be very high owing to the feedback with the data obtained on running track 1.

The different training options are put together in training programmes which are performed under the control of the computer in the course of a determined period.

As noted above, the method and apparatus according to the invention can be used for sport-specific training. The invention can however also readily be used for rehabilitation, wherein the progress of a rehabilitating person can be precisely monitored and the training can be adapted repeatedly to the progress as shown by measurement on running track 1.

In addition to measurement of the force. which is exerted by the feet on footrest 19, other measurements can also be applied for further improvement of the quality of the training. It is thus possible for instance to perform knee-angle measurements, so that the individual differences in physique of the persons to be trained and the thereby occurring different relation between the muscular strength and the force measured with footrest 19 can be processed.

It is noted that the apparatus described here, comprising running track 1 and training apparatus 15, is only one possible application of the invention, i.e. for training particularly the leg muscles.

The invention can however be used for training any desired muscle or muscle group, wherein the most efficient possible training takes place by applying the invention. Arm, chest and back muscles necessary for throwing in a ball in football for instance can thus also be trained. In this application the measuring device can for instance take an optical form, in order to measure the speed of the throw-in movement. The muscles in question can then be trained on a per se known training apparatus of the "horizontal pull-over" type. In a manner corresponding with the above description the training apparatus is adjusted such that the training takes place under conditions which correspond with the measured throw- in, so that the relevant muscles can be trained under these conditions of speed and force.

In similar manner the invention can be applied for training muscle groups which are active in the performing of a tennis stroke or a golf swing and the like. The

"duelling force" which is important in football and can be characterized as the rotating of the upper body counter to a resistance, can also be trained in suitable manner with the invention. All these and corresponding applications, wherein a coupling thus takes place of the measurement of a determined motor action for training and the training of that motor action itself, wherein the person in question trains under conditions which correspond to those prevailing during performing of that motor action, fall within the appended claims.

Claims

1. Method for motor training of an individual, comprising of

- selecting a motor action for training,

- determining motor elements of the individual which are active during the action,

- having the action performed by the individual with a desired power,

- herein measuring values of motor parameters relevant for the motor elements, - selecting a training apparatus with which the motor elements can be activated under adjustable load,

- adjusting the training apparatus and instructing the individual such that the latter activates the relevant motor elements for a determined period of time with substantially the measured values of the relevant parameters .

2. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the training apparatus is adjusted and the individual instructed such that the relevant motor elements are activated with a higher power than the desired power.

3. Method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 , wherein the motor elements are activated rhythmically and the individual is instructed by at least indicating the intended rhythm.

4. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the training apparatus is adjusted and the individual instructed such that the relevant motor elements are activated in successive series with different variations in the parameters.

5. Method as claimed in claim 4, comprising of having the individual perform the action regularly with a desired power between the series and therein measuring the values of motor parameters relevant for the motor elements and feeding back the measured values in order to adjust the training apparatus and to instruct the individual .

6. Assembly for motor training of an individual, comprising a measuring device provided with sensors for measuring parameters relevant for motor elements of the individual and a training apparatus and a control device for coupling values determined with the measuring device to the training apparatus .

7. Assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sensors are adapted to detect exerted force and/or displacement in a determined time.

8. Assembly as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the measuring device comprises a running track, in an upper surface of which the sensors are received.

9. Assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the training apparatus is an apparatus for training leg muscles .

10. Assembly as claimed in claim 6 or 7 , wherein the measuring device is integrated into the training apparatus.