WO2021250441A1

WO2021250441A1 - Body movement analysis and enhancement system

Info

Publication number: WO2021250441A1
Application number: PCT/IB2020/055398
Authority: WO
Inventors: Benson POH; Julia MORICHELLI
Original assignee: Poh Benson; Morichelli Julia
Priority date: 2020-06-09
Filing date: 2020-06-09
Publication date: 2021-12-16

Abstract

The present invention describes a mat (100) which is planar and of a square periphery. A front face (101) of the mat (100) is marked with polar coordinate axes (120) and coloured annular rings (122) radiating from an origin of the polar coordinate axes. Ranges of movements of a body or body part in 3-dimensions are determined by changes in linear movements on the mat (100), angular flexibility is determined by changes in angular movements of the body or body part, whilst height of movement is determined with a vertical pole assembly (200) and a horizontal bar (226) pivoted out from a height gauge assembly (220) or with a pole (205) or poles (205). Movement markers (300) and position markers (301) are used to provide spatial directions of linear movements; polar coordinate axes (310, 310a) on the markers are provided to determine a change in angular direction.

Description

Body Movement Analysis and Enhancement System

Field of Invention

[001] The present invention relates to a system to analyze and enhance natural 3- dimensions movements of a human body and/or body parts. In particular, this invention relates to a mat, movement markers, position markers, an assembly of a vertical pole and a height gauge assembly used by a therapist or coach to determine ranges of movements of the body or body parts that are executed naturally, so as to analyze movement symmetry, range of motion, coordination, mobility and stability; With analysis, practice of 3D natural body movements helps to enhance body movements, to reduce movement dysfunction, to improve muscle-skeletal functions, to enhance mobility performance or even to reduce bodily pain.

Background

[002] Range of movement of a human body, limbs and body parts are often evaluated by a rehabilitation professional, including, a physical therapist, physiotherapist, osteopath, podiatrist, athletic trainer, and so on, to analyze body movements; in this way, physical body functional ability of an individual can be assessed, or progress of one’s physical rehabilitation or training can be evaluated. Often, these rehabilitation professionals, health professionals or coaches employ individual joint-motion measurement tools (such as, goniometers) or employ expensive gadgets (such as, electronic sensors and markers) attached onto the human body to capture body motions; such electronic motion capturing systems may employ cameras, electronic detectors and computers; these are, thus, complex, expensive and are available in established laboratories or health care institutions. For example, patent publication no. US20170035330 by Frank Bunn, discloses a mobility assessment tool that uses 3D stereoscopic cameras to capture movements of a user.

[003] In another disclosure, US Patent No. 7,108,635, issued to Hardman, describes a yoga exercise mat with body contact placement guide. The placement guide has a pattern of intersecting transverse and longitudinal axes to aid a yoga user align one’s body during yoga practice.

[004] Other exercise mats are also known. For example, w ww athl ¾ti com discloses a

1080MAT for training and testing; as shown in FIG. 1A, the 1080MAT is printed with polar coordinates on a single-coloured mat, with four axes bisecting at 45-degree angles and circles radiating from the origin. A user may place a foot at the origin, and stretches out one’s body or hand to determine a reach. In another example, a blue MAT is shown in https://www.inst¾gram.eom/p/BfZIWTtng8t_'', now shown in FIG. IB, where a person sits at the origin and stretches out only one’s hand for movement measurement on the straight and circular lines on the MAT; in FIG. 1C, a person is shown propping on one’s side on the MAT and supported only with an arm and a foot on the MAT; by executing movements of the other arm or the other leg about the origin, movements of various body parts can be measured and recorded. In another example, a functional training grid mat is shown in https://www pi merest com/plrs/232709505718948912/ by Total Gym, now shown in FIG. ID; this functional training mat is similar to the above 1080MAT except that the area of the polar coordinates on the mat is now divided into 12 sectors and the sectors come in 5 different colours; the mat can be used as shown in https://wyrw.insmg mxom/p/BuUNz8bnlyk/. In yet another example, a training mat called Platform9, as shown in FIG. IE, is disclosed by procedos.com; Platform9 mat is also printed with polar coordinates, with a circle marking located at the origin and on each polar axis, so that the circle markings are aligned in three rows and three columns on a single coloured background; the circle markings serve as targets for the user/trainee to step on.

[005] Despite advances in electronic motion capture systems, and disclosures of yoga exercise mats and functional training mats, there is still a need to provide an inexpensive and innovative apparatus to assist a person perform physical rehabilitation or physical training with the purpose of analyzing, assessing or enhancing one’s body or body parts movements naturally and in 3-dimensions; such motion analysis or enhancement may also be conducted in other therapeutic programs, including osteopathic, chiropractic, podiatric, occupational therapy, sports training, balance therapy, and so on. Summary

[006] The following presents a simplified summary to provide a basic understanding of the present invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the present invention, and is not intended to identify key features of the invention. Rather, it is to present some of the inventive concepts of the present invention in a generalized form as a prelude to the detailed description that is to follow.

[007] The present invention seeks to provide a system of components for analyzing and enhancing natural movements in 3-dimensions of a body or body part. Movements may be motion symmetry, a range of linear motion, a range of angular motion, movement coordination, movement mobility and stability, reach at a height, and so on, so as to analyze movement dysfunction, to improve muscle-skeletal functions or to enhance physical performance; by analyzing body motions, it is also possible to reduce bodily pain. This analysis is achieved by having the patient or client execute natural movements with cues or instructions from a therapist or coach with the aid of these components to analyze and enhance various body movements.

[008] In one embodiment, the present invention provides a body movement analysis and enhancement system comprising: a mat, with a planar, front face being marked with polar coordinate axes and regularly spaced concentric circles radiating from an origin of the polar coordinate axes to form distinctively coloured annular rings; and a vertical pole assembly with a height gauge assembly; such that changes in positions of a body or body part on the mat or in heights from the mat provide measurements of linear and angular ranges of movements, and such measurements, in a horizontal direction, a vertical direction or 3-D directions, allow movement efficiency, movement symmetry, coordination, mobility and stability of the body or body part to be assessed or evaluated, so as to reduce movement dysfunction, to improve muscle-skeletal functions, to enhance mobility performance or to reduce bodily pain.

[009] Preferably, the mat has a square periphery, and the polar coordinate axes are arranged with major axes spaced at 45 degrees with the start at 0 degree from a vertical. These major axes are marked in bold, labelled symmetrically to the left and right, and are graduated in cm. Minor axes spaced at 15 degrees from the major axes are also provided. The annular rings are distinctively coloured and each annular ring has a width of substantially 10 cm. Preferably, the mat has a plurality of grab holes formed along a top edge, so that the mat can be mounted or hung on a wall.

[0010] Preferably, the vertical pole assembly comprises a pole that is removeably connected to a base plate, with the pole being marked at regular intervals to form bands along the pole, and each band is coloured for easy visual recognition. Preferably, the pole is configured with two poles being joined to each other at the ends; these poles can be used separately as linear and angular measuring tools. The height gauge assembly comprises a stack of ten horizontal bar members being pivoted in a height of 10 cm, such that a selected horizontal bar member can be pivoted out to indicate a height of a multiple of 1 cm according to a height order in the stack of the horizontal bar members. The height gauge assembly is removeably connected to the pole and is positioned at any one of the coloured bands.

[0011] Preferably, the system further comprises a plurality of movement markers and position markers, wherein the position marker is used to indicate a start or stationary point of motion of the body or body part and the movement marker is used to indicate a reach of the motion. The movement markers are provided in distinctive colours and are marked with identification, whilst the position markers are in black colour; both types of markers are marked with polar coordinates.

[0012] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method for analyzing, enhancing or training natural movements of a body or body part, the method comprising: determining a range of motion of the body or body part by visually identifying changes in positions as the body or body part moves on the mat, and as visually aided by the distinctively coloured annular rings and the polar coordinate axes on the mat, wherein the body movements are executed naturally.

[0013] Preferably, these body movements are executed in 3D directions. Determining angular motion of the body or body part is done by visually identifying changes in angular positions on the mat, as aided by the polar coordinate axes. Determining additional linear and angular displacements of the body or body part is done by using the position markers and movement markers to mark the start and reach of a motion. Determination of angular displacement is provided by polar coordinate axes marked on both types of the placement markers, whereas determination of vertical height displacement is provided by the vertical pole assembly and the height gauge assembly. The pole or poles from the vertical pole assembly can also be used as linear or angular measuring tools. It is also possible to use the position markers and the movement markers with the surfaces having the polar coordinates facing down, so that the use of only colours on the markers help to reduce visual cognitive loads or confusion on the user. It is also possible to spatially arrange the position and movement markers on a floor and use the pole as a measuring tool.

[0014] In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a method for analyzing an enhancing natural motion of a body or a body part that is made up of multiple joints, the method comprising: placing a mat recited in claims 1-11 substantially flat on a ground; hanging another mat recited in claims 1-11 substantially vertically on an adjacent wall; and giving a cue to a user to move one’s body or a body part in a natural manner so that a range of linear or angular motion of the body or the body part is measured by changes of locations or angular positions, as aided by the distinctively coloured annular rings and the polar coordinate axes printed on the mats. Determining the linear motion also comprises determining a vertical motion by using the vertical pole assembly, the height gauge assembly or the pole or poles constituting the vertical pole assembly. It is possible to measure an angular change of a first part of a body with the pole from the vertical pole assembly and measure an angular change of a second joint part with another pole.

[0015] In the above methods, directions of body movement may be given by oneself, a trainer or a therapist. It is also possible that the position markers and movement markers are placed on a floor, without the mat placing limits on spatial dimensions. It is also possible that these methods are practiced by an individual user or by users in a group.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] This invention will be described by way of non-limiting embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] FIGs. 1A-1E illustrate known exercise mat; [0018] FIG. 2 illustrates a front face of a mat according to a component of the present invention, whilst FIGs. 3A-3D illustrate a vertical pole assembly according to another component and FIGs. 4A-4E illustrate position markers and movement markers according to yet another component;

[0019] FIGs. 4F-4I illustrate various ways of arranging the position markers and the movement markers to provide directions for body movements; and

[0020] FIGs. 5A-5D illustrate linear graduated markings located along edges of the above mat.

Detailed Description

[0021] One or more specific and alternative embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings. It shall be apparent to one skilled in the art, however, that this invention may be practised without such specific details. Some of the details may not be described at length so as not to obscure the present invention.

[0022] The present invention is a system 10 of components used for analyzing and enhancing natural movements in 3 -dimensions of a body or body part. These components include a mat 100, an assembly of a vertical pole 200 and a set of movement markers 300 and position markers 301; the inventors have named this a MoPo system 10, MoPo mat 100, MoPo pole 200, MoPo movement markers 300 and MoPo position markers 301; these MoPo components 100, 200, 300, 301 are used by a user or a therapist, a trainer, and so on, to analyze ranges of movements naturally and in 3 -dimensions of a body or parts of a body, such as the arms, elbows, legs, knees, hips or shoulders, just to name a few body parts. These MoPo components can also be used to analyze symmetry of movements, such as movements of the left arm compared to those of the right arm; rotational agility, for example of the backbone or hip when the user bends forward and to the left compared to ranges of movements when bending forward and to the right; movement symmetry; movement coordination; movement mobility and stability; hearing-visual-muscle motor coordination; and so on. Analysis of these movements executed in a natural manner can be used to study movement dysfunction, for therapy (for example, after a user has undergone a medical procedure), for training enhancement (for sports or a physical exercise routine), for performance selection (for example, to select candidates for certain physical performance), for reducing bodily pain, and so on. With regular use, this system 10 is used to enhance body movements, especially when body movements are executed naturally and in 3-dimensions. FIG. 2 shows a front face 101 of the MoPo mat 100 according to an embodiment; however, the following description will refer to the above system 10 and components by their simple, descriptive names.

[0023] As seen from FIG. 2, the mat 100 is planar; in one embodiment, the mat 100 is substantially 175 cm square in shape and has a thickness of substantially 1-3 mm, but the mat 100 is not so restricted by these dimensions or shape. Preferably, material of the mat 100 is flexible or pliable, thereby allowing the mat 100 to be rolled up or folded up when not in use; in use, the mat 100 is preferably laid out on a floor or ground, or mounted on a wall; in another use, it is possible that one mat 100 is laid on the ground while another mat 100 is mounted or hung on an adjacent wall. The front and rear faces of the mat 100 are also preferably durable, soft, tactile, anti-slip, breathable, and so on. Suitable materials for the mat 100 include rubber, polyurethane, vinyl, woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics, or laminates or compounds thereof; preferably, the front face is coated with rubber, polyurethane, vinyl, and so on, to give it an easy-clean surface.

[0024] On the front face 101, the mat 100 is printed with polar coordinates 120, with an origin O located substantially near the centre of the mat 100 and angular axes with markings 0-180 degrees fanning out to the right- and left-hand sides from the centre, vertical axis. Preferably, the major axes (ie. vertical, horizontal and those at 45° angles) are in bold print; in addition, these major axes are calibrated in centimeters from the origin O. Preferably, other minor polar coordinate axes are also shown so that the front face 101 is uniformly marked out at 15° polar angles. Radiating from the origin O are concentric bands, so that the front face 101 in polar coordinates is divided into annular rings 122; each annular ring 122 has a radial width Lr; preferably, the radial width Lr is substantially uniform; as an example, the radial width Lr is substantially 10cm. Preferably, each annular ring 122 is printed in a colour that is distinct from that of an adjacent annular ring; with distinct colour differentiation, the mat 100 allows quick, visual cognition and visual memory, thereby assisting the therapist or trainer to remember the positions of a user’s foots or palms, for example, so that ranges of motions or angular flexibility of the foots or palms can then be recorded, calculated and analyzed. [0025] Along a top edge 105 of the mat 100, with reference to an upright orientation or the major vertical-horizontal axes of the polar coordinates 120, FIG. 2 shows that there is a plurality of grab holes 110; in one embodiment, there are 4 grab holes 110. These grab holes 110 can be used to mount or to hang the mat 100 on pegs or hooks located on a wall. Alternatively, it is also possible to provide flexible lines to hang the mat 100 on the wall, with lengths of the flexible lines being adjustable so that the height of the mat 100 on the wall is adjustable according to a user’s height. It is possible that each grab hole 110 is strengthened with a crimped ring or an attached flat ring. Additionally or alternatively, it is also possible to provide adhesive strips along the top edge 105 or between the grab holes 110 to adhesively mount the mat on the wall, depending on the material and weight of the mat 100.

[0026] The above mat 100 can be used in many ways, for example, by a user, a trainer, a coach, or even by a professional practitioner. For example, a user may undergo physical training, re-retraining or mobility enhancement exercise by oneself, by an occupational or sports therapist; undergo rehabilitation after surgery or sickness; undergo physical mobility evaluation by a nurse, doctor, chiropractor, podiatrist, fitness instructor, and so on. For example, the user may stand on the mat 100 with the front face 101 facing up from the ground, say, with the left foot placed at the origin O, and from cues, for eg., from the trainer or therapist, the user moves the right foot and steps forward in a natural manner (instead of using moveable markers as targets to move to); range of linear movement of the right foot is visually noted by changes in locations on the mat 100 as aided by the distinctive annular rings 122, whilst rotation of the right foot is visually noted from changes in angular orientation as aided by the polar coordinates axes 120; further tests can then be carried out to analyze range of linear movement and rotation of the left foot, with the right foot now placed at the origin O; from these tests, range and symmetry of motions, rotational flexibility, movement efficiency, balance and coordination, and so on, are noted and recorded for movement each foot or body part.

[0027] In another example, a mat 100 is mounted or hung substantially vertically on a wall, for example, by locating the grab holes 110 on pegs or hooks fixed on the wall; the user stands in front of the mat 100 and is instructed to reach his/her arms up and out at various heights or levels to determine the range and symmetry of each reach. An advantage of using the mat 100 is that the range of movement, range of reach, angular movement, movement efficiency, balance and coordination, and so on, can be quickly and visually noted by movement of the body part, such as, the palms or elbows movements with the aid of the distinctive annular rings 122; the polar coordinates axes 120 also allow the trainer to measure changes in angular positions and symmetry of movements of each pair of arms. Such a use can also be adapted where the mat 100 is placed on a bench and movements of one’s body parts, such as, arms, hands and palms in relation to a respective shoulder or hip can be noted and recorded.

[0028] In yet another example, a first mat 100 is placed substantially flat on the ground and a second mat 100 is mounted or hung substantially vertically on an adjacent wall. With this arrangement, range of movement of the entire body (including the feet, lower limbs, knees, hip, shoulders, elbows, upper limbs and palms, and so on) and/or rotation flexibility of these body parts can be recorded and assessed. This arrangement of two mats 100 is also useful for assessing mobility of a body part that is formed with multiple joints.

[0029] In another embodiment, the above mat 100 is used with the vertical pole assembly 200. FIGs. 3A-3B show the vertical pole assembly 200 according to one embodiment, whilst FIG. 3C shows an exploded view of the vertical pole assembly and FIG. 3D shows a rear side of a base plate 201 supporting the vertical pole assembly 200. As shown, the vertical pole assembly 200 is made up of the base plate 201, two poles 205 that are extendable by joining two ends together, and a height gauge assembly 220 for fixing onto one of the poles 205. A pole support boss 202 is provided on an upper face of the base plate 201 for supporting the lower pole 205, so that the pole can be removeably connected to the base plate 201. Along the length of each of the pole 205, there are holes 208 formed at regular intervals h of 10 cm. The holes 208 allow the height gauge assembly 220 to be mounted onto the pole 205, so that the height gauge assembly 220 can be used to indicate a height, for example, of reach of a body part, from the mat 100 or ground surface. The height gauge assembly 220 is made up of a rectangular frame 221 where one short side is a fixing member 222 for mounting onto the pole 205. Substantially parallel and spaced from the fixing member 222 is a pin 224. A stack of ten horizontal bar members 226 are held and pivoted about the pin 224; FIG. 3C shows the height gauge assembly 220 with one horizontal bar member 226 (for clearer illustration). The stack of ten horizontal bar members 226 has a height of 10cm, so that when one horizontal bar member 226 is pivoted out about the pin 224 (as illustrated in FIG. 3B), its position in the stack will enable the user to determine its height H from the mat 100 or ground surface. In one embodiment, each of the pole 205 is substantially 120 cm long. It is possible to disconnect the lower pole 205 from the base plate 201 and from each other, so that the poles 205 can be used separately as measuring tools, using the colour bands for linear measurement and change of angle of the pole for angular measurement.

[0030] Preferably, the removeable connection between the base plate 201 and the pole 205 is configured with a stepped end 204 on the pole 205 to be received in a recess 203 on the pole support boss 202. Preferably, the pole 205 and the pole support boss 202 is of a square section with rounded edges. It is possible that the recess 203 and the stepped end 204 are shaped and dimensioned to match and engage, with the pole 205 and the pole support boss 202 being round in profile. In a similar manner, the upper end of the lower pole 205 has a recessed end 206 that is identical to the recess 203 and a matching stepped end 207 on the upper pole 205 that is identical to the stepped end 204; in this way, both the poles 205 become interchangeable. The length of each of the pole 205 is painted with bands of different colours, with each band being 10cm long. Each band also coincides with the position on the pole 205 at which the height gauge assembly 220 is attached. When in use, by noting the colour of the band and order of the stack of the horizontal bars 226, the height of reach of a body part of the user can be quickly noted and recorded.

[0031] In another example, the two poles 205 are used separately, one pole 205 is held adjacent to the hip and the other is held near the middle of the backbone. When the body executes a bend to the right side, both the hip and the backbone tilt and the individual poles 205 are used to determine the angle of rotation, respectively, of the hip and the backbone.

[0032] To assist the user, trainer or therapist to measure rotation or change of angular position of a body part, the base plate 201 has an orientation knob 240 to take reference from. The base plate 201 can be made from a solid piece or with a hollow cavity, as long as it has a certain weight to keep the pole 205 stable in the vertical position. If the base plate 201 has an internal hollow cavity, the internal hollow cavity can be filled with a flowable material, such as, sand, small pebbles, water, a liquid or a gel, to give the base plate 201 additional stability. If the hollow cavity is open, the bottom side of the base plate 201 is formed with ribs or webs 230 to give rigidity to the base plate 201, as seen in FIG. 3D. [0033] In the above, it is described that the base plate 201 has a support boss 202; in another embodiment, it is possible to dispense away with the support boss 202 by providing a recess 203 directly in the base plate 201 and a matching stepped end 204, 207 at the end of each pole 205.

[0034] FIGs. 4A-4E shows the embodiments of the movement markers 300 and position markers 301. FIGs. 4F-4I show ways to arrange the movement markers 300 and position markers 301 for various methods of analysing and enhancing movements performance of a user body or parts of the body. As shown in FIGs. 4A-4D, the movement markers 300 are substantially flat, round in shape and are provided in various colours, such as, red, blue, green, pink, and so on. Some of the movement markers are marked with numerals 1, 2, 3, and so on, for ease of identification; it is also possible that some of the movement markers 300 are marked with alphabets or symbols. To help assess angle of movement, each movement marker 300 is marked with polar coordinates 310, for example, at 45 degrees angle intervals.

[0035] The position markers 301 are similar to the above movement markers 300 in that they are flat, round in shape and marked with polar coordinates 310a. Preferably, the position markers 301 are larger in diameter, identified by a different colour from the movement markers 300, and are used to identify position of a stationary part of the body or a start point of motion of the body part; for example, the position marker 301 may be black in colour and a user may sit on the position marker 301 whilst the movement markers 300 are used to indicate the positions of one’s outstretched palms or feet. The movement markers 300 are not used as moveable targets for the user to reach out to but are used simply as markers for the trainer or therapist, so that movements of the user are executed naturally. These movement markers 300 and position markers 301 may be used together with the mat 100 or separately on a floor. Even when used on the floor, the polar coordinates 310, 310a on the markers 300, 301 allow the user, trainer or therapist to assess angle of movement or angular flexibility or symmetry of the user’s body or body part; for example, the polar coordinates 310a on the position markers 301 may point in the starting direction of a foot, whilst the polar coordinates 310 on the movement markers 300 are adjusted to point in the ending direction of the foot; by so doing, the markers 300, 301 provide a measure of the foot’s angular change from the start position to the end position. [0036] In one embodiment, the movement markers 300 are provided in four colours and are labelled 1-4; the position markers 301 are black in colour and are provided in a pair; therefore, in one embodiment, there are 16 movement markers 300 and two position markers 301 provided in each set of system 10.

[0037] FIG. 4F shows a method of arranging the movement markers 300 and position markers 301. As shown in FIG. 4F, the movement markers 300 arranged in columns are of the same identification mark but of one colour; alternatively, it is possible that the movement markers 300 arranged in rows are of different identification marks but of the same colour. FIGs. 4G-4I show other methods of arranging the movement markers 300 and position markers 301 where spatial arrangements of the movement markers and position markers define directional cues to move one’s body part; to determine the range of motion between the position marker and the movement marker, the above poles 205 can be used as measuring tools; it is also possible that a body part is stationary and the range of movement, for example, of a foot, is marked with the movement markers and the pole 205 is used as a measuring tool. In this way, analysis or training of various natural movements of the user’s body or body parts is provided; these are only some examples of arranging the markers, and other methods are possible according to creativity of the user or trainer. When the position and movement markers are laid out spatially on a floor, these markers create a multitude of movement programs with varying difficulties of movement execution.

[0038] The above mat 100 provides a simple and new way of analyzing natural and 3- dimensional movements of a human body or body parts by visually noting changes in positions and angular positions of a user’s body, palms, feet, head and any other parts of the body with the aid of the polar coordinates 120 and coloured annular rings 122 on the mat 100; in addition, the vertical pole assembly 200, the pole 205 and height gauge assembly 220 allow the user or trainer to assess vertical movements. By quick, visually noting changes in positions of user’s body, palm, foot or any body part on or with reference to the mat 100 and vertical pole assembly 200 the trainer or therapist is able to determine ranges of movements in any linear directions, whilst changes in angular positions allow analysis of rotational flexibility. As described above, one use of the mat 100 is for the user to stand with the feet on the mat 100; alternatively, it is possible that the user sits, squats, lays supine on one’s back, lays in a prone, push-up position on the mat 100; sits on a stool placed on the mat 100; sits on the mat or floor with the help of movement markers 300 and position markers 301 to mark the origin and reach of movement; and so on; in these ways, range of linear or angular motions in a natural manner and in 3 -dimensions of any body part can be measured, recorded or analyzed, thus allowing progress of physical rehabilitation or training to be monitored or assessed.

[0039] Advantages of using the mat 100 and the vertical pole assembly 220 of the present invention are now compared with known exercise mats identified in the background section. As described above, with this mat 100, a range of natural motion of a foot or palm is quickly determined by noting position changes on the coloured annular rings 122; on the graduated scales on the major polar coordinate axes 120; with distances and angular change between the movement markers 300 and the position markers 301; and in vertical height change with the use of the vertical pole assembly 200. In contrast, with the 1080MAT and blue MAT, a range of motion is not readily and visually determinate from the polar coordinates. In addition, with the use of the present mat 100, symmetry of motions, for example, of the feet or palms is quickly determinate by visually noting position changes by the colours of the annular rings 122 or vertical symmetry the polar coordinates 120. With this mat 100, the trainer or therapist provides cues so that body movements are executed in natural manners instead of using the annular rings 122 as targets to reach to. In the present invention, body movements are also executed in 3- dimensions, with the pole 205 and vertical pole assembly 200 being used as height measuring tools.

[0040] The use of the mat 100 is also contrasted with the Total Gym functional training grid mat, where the functional training grid shows sectors are angularly distinguished by colours, instead of providing quick visual determination of range of motion or symmetry of movements. Whereas Procedos’ platform 9 mat has 9 circle markings arranged in three rows and three columns, thus does not provide equal distances to the left or right to help determine lateral range of motions or forward/rear range of motions. In addition, the distances between the circle markings are restricted by the size of the platform 9 mat; with the present system 10, arrangements and layouts of the position markers 301 and movement markers 300 are tailored to a user’s needs and the space required is not restricted by the size of the mat 100, such that the markers can be arranged in any creative ways on the floor to create patterns grouped by the numbers, symbols, alphabets and/or colours, thus providing a multitude of movement programs with varying difficulties of movement execution. The combinations of colour and the polar coordinates on the mat 100 help the user to mentally process moving one’s foot or palm in response to cues from the trainer/therapist, and this is particularly helpful for dementia or Alzheimer patients. Due to the various combinations of colours and identification marks on the movement markers 300, the number of movement markers 300 for an individual user may be reduced to minimize cognitive load or confusion to a user; in addition, it is also possible to flip the movement markers 300 to its opposite face and use only colours to indicate movement directional cues according to instructional cues from the trainer or therapist.

[0041] Localized joint measuring tools, such as, goniometers require the user, trainer or practitioner to manually measure individual joint angle passively on a treatment table or actively when the user is instructed to perform a specific joint movement. Measurement tool often only checks range of movement of a specific joint and does not provide measurements of full body movements that are contributed by multiple joints in the body. With the present invention, the mat 100 and the vertical pole assembly 220 can be used to measure ranges of linear and angular motions, thereby providing assessment on the symmetry of movement, flexibility of movement, and so on, of a body part that is made up of several connected joints or of the entire body as the body parts are moved in a natural manner and in 3 -dimensions without using the components of the present system 10 as targets to coax movement; for example, a natural, forward step of a foot requires movements of the ankle, knee, hip and spine, without the user consciously looking at the foot or target area on the mat 100; in another example, a reach of a hand involves movements of the upper arm, lower arm, elbow, wrist and fingers; as natural movements of the entire or full body can be analyzed, the mat 100, the vertical pole assembly 220, the movement markers 300 and the position markers 301 provide components that are usable for analyzing movement symmetry, movement efficiency, range of motion, balance/stability and coordination, and so on.

[0042] While specific embodiments have been described and illustrated, it is understood that many changes, modifications, variations and combinations thereof could be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention. In the above description, the polar coordinate axes on the front face are described as being printed; it is possible that these polar coordinates axes are printed or painted on transparent or translucent laminates and these laminates are then mounted onto a core material of the mat 100. It is also possible that the mat 100 is manufactured in a roll form and layouts of the mat 100 can be rolled out in a continuous manner on a floor, for example, to facilitate users perform a group therapy or exercise program. Whilst cues have been described as being issued by a trainer or therapist for the user to perform body movements, it is also possible that these instructional cues are issued auditorily via a recording or issued audio- visually via a display panel. It is also possible that the edges of the mat 100 are marked with graduated scales 140 to help the user or trainer determine the range of linear movement; possible graduated scales 140 are illustrated in FIGs. 5A-5C.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A body movement analysis and enhancement system comprising: a mat, with a planar, front face being marked with polar coordinate axes and regularly spaced concentric circles radiating from an origin of the polar coordinate axes to form distinctively coloured annular rings; and a vertical pole assembly with a height gauge assembly; such that changes in positions of a body or body part on the mat or in heights from the mat provide measurements of linear and angular ranges of motions, and such measurements, in a horizontal direction, a vertical direction or 3-D directions, allow movement efficiency, movement symmetry, coordination, mobility and stability of the body or body part to be assessed or evaluated, so as to reduce movement dysfunction, to improve muscle-skeletal functions, to enhance mobility performance, to enhance hearing- visual-muscle motor response or to reduce bodily pain.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the polar coordinate axes are arranged with major axes spaced at 45 degrees with the start at 0 degree from a vertical, and these major axes are marked in bold, labelled symmetrically to the left and right, and are graduated in cm, and each coloured annular ring has a width of substantially 10 cm.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the polar coordinate axes further comprise minor axes spaced at 15 degrees from the major axes.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the mat has a square periphery and is made from a pliable material with surfaces that are durable, soft, tactile, anti-slip and breathable.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of grab holes formed along a top edge of the mat, with the top being defined with reference to the polar coordinate axes, so as allow the mat to be mounted or hung on a wall.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the vertical pole assembly comprises a pole removeably connected to a base plate, with the pole being marked at regular incremental intervals to form bands along the pole, and each band is coloured for quick visual recognition and memory.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the pole is configured with two poles being joined to each other at two ends.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the pole connectable to the base plate is disconnected, and the two poles are used separately to measure linear or angular motions.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the height gauge assembly comprises a stack of ten horizontal bar members being pivoted in a height of 10 cm, such that a selected horizontal bar member can be pivoted out to indicate a height of a multiple of 1 cm according to a height order in the stack of the horizontal bar members.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the height gauge assembly is removeably connected to the pole and is positioned at any one of the coloured bands on the pole.

11. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of movement markers and position markers, wherein the position marker is used to indicate a start or stationary point of motion of the body or body part and the movement marker is used to indicate a reach of the motion.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the movement markers are provided in four distinctive colours and four identification marks, whilst the position markers are provided in black colour to allow a user to create a multitude of movement patterns by spatially arranging the movement markers according to the colours and identification marks to create varying difficulties of movement execution.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein each of the movement markers and position markers is printed with polar coordinate axes.

14. A method for analyzing, enhancing or training natural movements of a body or body part, the method comprising: determining a range of motion of the body or body part by visually identifying changes in positions as the body or body part moves on the mat recited in claims 1-13, and as visually aided by the distinctively coloured annular rings and the polar coordinate axes on the mat, wherein the body movements are executed naturally.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein directions of body movements are executed naturally following cues given by oneself, a trainer or a therapist.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the body movements are executed in three-dimensions.

17. The method according to claim 14, further determining angular motion of the body or body part by visually identifying changes in angular positions on the mat, as aided by the polar coordinate axes.

18. The method according to claim 14, further determining both linear and angular ranges of motions of the body or body part by marking with a plurality of position markers and movement markers.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the position marker is used to indicate the start point of motion of the body or body part and the movement marker is used to indicate a reach of the motion, so that the linear range of motion is given by the change in position of between the position marker and the movement marker, whilst the angular range of motion is given by the change in direction of the polar coordinates on the position marker and the movement marker.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein determining range of motion of the body or body part comprises determining a height of vertical motion with aid of the coloured bands on a pole constituting a vertical pole assembly and with a height gauge assembly, which coloured bands allow quick visual cognition and memory of the vertical measurement.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the pole is configured with two poles joined at two ends, and the two poles are separable to provide tools for measuring linear or angular motion.

22. The method according to claim 18, wherein the position markers and the movement markers are used with a surface having the polar coordinates facing up.

23. The method according to claim 18, wherein the movement markers are used with a surface having the polar coordinates facing down, so that the use of only colours on the movement markers help to reduce visual cognitive loads or confusion on the user.

24. The method according to claim 19, wherein the position markers and movement markers are placed on a floor without the mat placing limits on spatial dimensions and to create a multitude of movement patterns with varying difficulties of movement execution.

25. The method according to claim 19 is practised by a user or users in a group.

26. A method for analyzing and enhancing natural motion of a body or a body part that is made up of multiple joints, the method comprising: placing a mat recited in claims 1-13 substantially flat on a ground; hanging another mat recited in claims 1-13 substantially vertically on an adjacent wall; and giving instructions to a user to move one’s body or a body part in a natural manner so that a range of linear or angular motion of the body or the body part is measured by changes of location or angular positions, as aided by the distinctively coloured annular rings and the polar coordinate axes printed on the mats.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein measuring the linear motion comprises measuring a vertical motion of the body or body part by using the vertical pole assembly and the height gauge assembly recited in claim 1.

28. The method according to claim 26, wherein measuring the angular motion of a first body part joined to a second body part comprises measuring a change in angle of the first body part with a pole from the pole assembly and measuring a change in angle of the second body part with another pole.

29. The method according to claim 26 is practiced by an individual user or by users in a group.