JP4840509B2 - Passive motion system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a passive motion system including a device main body that induces muscle activity by giving a muscle stimulus to a user.

  In recent years, exercise has become a popular way to achieve objectives such as health maintenance, disease treatment, and recovery of motor function. Achieving this type of goal through exercise requires a safe and effective exercise prescription. At various exercise facilities, the ability level of each user's athletic ability and physiological information are numerically evaluated to evaluate the ability level of the user with his / her specialized knowledge. providing.

  In other words, in order to provide safe and effective exercise prescriptions, it is necessary to have expert knowledge to evaluate ability levels and create exercise prescriptions. In many cases, the effect is not obtained, and depending on the physical condition, exercising may cause health problems.

  As exercise equipment that can be used easily even by users with low ability levels, passive exercise equipment that can exercise with light load without exerting spontaneous muscle strength has been proposed. Exercise equipment has been proposed. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-21231 discloses a passive exercise device that has a saddle-like seat portion on which a user sits and a drive portion that swings and drives the seat portion, and simulates riding exercise. is doing.

  Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-245375 discloses a passive exercise apparatus configured to move the left and right footrests back and forth while maintaining a contradictory positional relationship in order to perform walking training.

  On the other hand, in recent years, the relationship between posture and health is being recognized, and posture is also attracting attention from an aesthetic point of view. In particular, worsening walking posture is thought to lead to knee pain and back pain, and health methods that improve walking posture are attracting attention. Moreover, since the riding posture is important in British riding, a posture correction effect is also expected in riding exercise.

  By the way, as described above, there are known passive exercise devices that simulate horse riding exercise and those that simulate walking exercise, but the user's posture when using the passive exercise device is evaluated. It cannot be used for the purpose of acquiring the correct posture. Moreover, since the posture at the time of using the passive exercise equipment is also related to the exercise effect, there are cases where the desired exercise effect cannot be obtained even if the passive exercise equipment is used in an incorrect posture.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above reasons, and its purpose is to obtain a correct posture by evaluating the posture at the time of use of the device main body that performs a passive movement, and in a correct posture. It is an object of the present invention to provide a passive motion system that can enhance the exercise effect by the exercise of.

The present invention relates to a device main body that induces muscle activity by giving a muscle stimulus to a user, body movement trajectory measuring means for detecting a movement trajectory of a specific part of the user during use of the device main body, and body movement trajectory measurement. A movement posture evaluation means for evaluating a movement posture of a user during movement based on a magnitude of a value obtained by periodically obtaining a square sum of a position error at each time between a movement locus detected by the means and a specified reference movement locus; And an evaluation presentation means for presenting an evaluation result by the exercise posture evaluation means to the user during exercise .

  The device main body preferably includes a seat portion on which a user sits and a drive portion that swings and drives the seat portion, and allows the user to perform an exercise simulating a riding exercise.

  Alternatively, the device main body may change the ratio of the weight that acts on the seat portion that supports the user's buttocks, the pair of footrests on which the user places the left and right feet, respectively, and the leg portion of the user. Each footrest is provided with an upward restoring force, and the squat motion is simulated without stepping on the knee by stepping on the footrest when the drive is swinging. What makes a user perform exercise can be used.

  The body movement trajectory measuring means may be one that detects the movement trajectory of the user's waist. The body movement trajectory measuring means may be one that detects the movement trajectory of the user's knee. Alternatively, the body movement trajectory measuring means may detect a movement trajectory of the upper body of the user.

  The movement posture evaluation means can use a means for digitizing the degree of coincidence between the movement locus detected by the body movement locus measurement means and a reference movement locus, and converting the digitized degree of coincidence into a score. Further, the movement posture evaluation means uses a degree of coincidence between the movement locus detected by the body movement locus measurement means and a reference movement locus as an evaluation value, and uses the evaluation value divided into a plurality of posture levels. Can do.

  As the body movement trajectory measuring means, an acceleration sensor can be used.

  The body movement trajectory measuring means may be configured by an imaging device that captures an image of a user and an image processing device that extracts a change in position of the specific position of the user from an image obtained by the imaging device.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, the user's posture is evaluated by detecting the movement trajectory of the specific part of the user while performing the passive movement and comparing it with the reference movement trajectory. Since the evaluation result is presented, the user can know whether or not the passive movement is performed in a correct posture. As a result, the user is conscious of exercising in the correct posture and can acquire the correct posture.

  In addition, in the equipment body that performs passive movement simulating horse riding exercise, the passive movement promotes strengthening of the muscles of the back and back, contributing to the improvement of balance function and the prevention of low back pain and the acquisition of a beautiful posture with extended back muscles. become. Furthermore, an improvement in glucose metabolism can be expected by expanding and contracting a muscle group having a large volume such as the back of the waist.

  Furthermore, the body of the device that performs passive movement that simulates squat movement without knee flexion and extension encourages strengthening of leg muscles, especially thigh muscles, to relieve knee pain and prevent falls. Will contribute. Furthermore, an improvement in glucose metabolism can be expected by expanding and contracting a large-volume muscle group such as the thigh.

  When the movement locus of the waist is detected, it can be determined whether the user's waist is correctly moving following the swing of the seat. In addition, by detecting the movement trajectory of the knee during the passive movement simulating the squat movement, it is possible to determine whether the user is stepping on the footrest due to the vertical displacement of the knee. . When detecting the movement trajectory of the upper body, it is determined whether or not the shoulder or head is not wobbled, and a guideline for knowing the balance function and exercise ability of the user can be obtained.

  If the degree of coincidence of the movement trajectory is converted into a score, the user is motivated to increase the score, and it is easy to acquire a correct posture. Also, if the posture level is classified based on the degree of coincidence of the movement trajectory, knowing the posture level will make the user interested in the posture, and as a result, the user will be encouraged to increase the posture level. Can be motivated. Alternatively, if a movement trajectory is detected using an acceleration sensor, a measure of momentum can also be obtained by using a detection value (force) of the acceleration sensor.

If the movement trajectory is detected by imaging the user, the movement trajectory can be detected in a non-contact manner, and the user can be exercised without causing a sense of incongruity.

It is a principal part block diagram which shows embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the whole system same as the above. It is a schematic block diagram of the passive exercise apparatus used for the same as the above. It is a schematic block diagram of the active mass meter used for the same as the above. It is a schematic block diagram of the body composition meter used for the same as the above. (A) (b) is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the example of the response pattern in the same as the above. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other example of the structure which detects an attitude | position in the same as the above. It is explanatory drawing which shows another example of the structure which detects an attitude | position in the same as the above. (A) (b) is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the other examples of the passive exercise apparatus used for the same as the above. It is a top view which shows the other examples of the passive exercise apparatus used for the same as the above.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the case where it exercises using the passive exercise equipment 1 installed in the house A is assumed. The passive exercise device 1 may be of any type, but in the following, a user gets on the saddle-shaped seat portion, and the seat portion is driven to swing to enable exercise simulating riding exercise. An example of the passive exercise apparatus 1 will be described.

  The passive exercise device 1 is a device that induces muscle activity by giving muscle stimulation to the user. In the passive exercise device 1 that simulates riding exercise, the user's waist or thorough seating on the seat portion 12 is used. By changing or tilting the position of the buttocks, muscle stimulation is given to disrupt the user's posture, and at this time, the muscle activity is induced by the action of maintaining the posture by nerve reflex or the like. In the riding exercise, as will be described later, the seat portion 12 swings in an ∞ shape, and the center of gravity of the upper body of the user is displaced at least in the front-rear direction. As a result, the balance function can be improved and back pain can be prevented and a beautiful posture with stretched back can be expected. In addition, since the muscle groups in the lumbar region include the muscles having a larger volume in the human body, it is expected that sugar metabolism can be improved by expanding and contracting these muscle groups.

  The passive motion system described in the present embodiment is constructed by using the passive motion device 1 as a device main body and linking the passive motion device 1 with an activity meter 6 and a center server 101 described later.

  A home network (LAN) 201 based on Ethernet (registered trademark) is built in the home of the home A, and the home network 201 is connected to a wide area such as the Internet via a router (broadband router) 3a housed in the home information panel 3. It is connected to a network (WAN) 202. The wide area network 202 is connected to a center server 101 and a video distribution server 102 that are managed by a company B that provides an exercise prescription including exercise using the passive exercise device 1. The exercise prescription includes the type and time of posture when using the passive exercise equipment 1 and the content of other exercises such as stretching, but in the following, the exercise prescription for using the passive exercise equipment 1 Will be described mainly.

  The service provided by the center server 101 includes a service that provides an exercise prescription when the user exercises at home. In addition, the video distribution server 102 distributes a video showing exercise motion when performing exercise according to the exercise prescription provided by the center server 101. The video distributed from the video distribution server 102 is transmitted from the router 3 a to the display device 2 via the home network 201 and displayed on the screen of the display device 2.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the passive exercise apparatus 1 includes a control unit 11 mainly composed of a microcomputer, a drive unit 13 that swings and drives a seat unit 12 formed in a bowl shape, and other devices. Infrared communication unit 14 for performing wireless communication using infrared as a transmission medium (hereinafter, wireless communication using infrared as a transmission medium is simply referred to as “infrared communication”), and a control instruction to the power switch and control unit 11 The operation unit 15 includes a storage unit 16 that stores data for swinging the seat unit 12 in various swing patterns, a program for instructing the drive unit 13 to swing patterns, and the like.

  The display device 2 incorporates a television tuner and a client function (browser function), and is connected to the router 3a via a LAN cable constituting the home network 201. Therefore, it is possible to communicate with the center server 101 and the video distribution server 102 through the wide area network 202.

  In the display device 2, for example, the video distribution server 102 is requested to distribute the video via the home network 201 and the wide area network 202, and the video distributed from the video distribution server 102 via the wide area network 202 and the home network 201 is displayed on the screen. Can be displayed above. The display device 2 is provided with a speaker (not shown) and outputs sound from the speaker if the image has sound. The display device 2 includes a wireless receiver (not shown) that receives a wireless signal using infrared as a transmission medium. The wireless reception unit receives a wireless signal transmitted from the remote control device 2a when the remote control device 2a is operated. The remote control device 2a instructs the video distribution server 102 to access the video distribution server 102 by using the client function of the display device 2 as well as instructing the television tuner to switch channels and adjust the volume. It is also possible to transmit the stored video.

  The housing information board 3 has functions of a distribution board and an information board. That is, the house information board 3 includes a main switch and a branch switch as in the distribution board, and supplies power to each branch circuit in the house branched by the branch switch. The home information board 3 incorporates a router 3a for connecting the wide area network 202 and the home network 201. The router 3a includes the network adapter 4 in addition to the display device 2 described above via the home network 201. Is connected.

  The network adapter 4 functions as a wireless LAN access point and performs communication by low power wireless. In the present embodiment, wireless communication using radio waves as a transmission medium with the network adapter 4 (hereinafter, wireless communication using radio waves as a transmission medium is referred to as “radio communication”) and between other devices. A wireless repeater 5 for performing infrared communication is provided. That is, the wireless repeater 5 has a function of converting a transmission medium between infrared communication and wireless communication and relaying communication contents.

  The partner device with which the wireless repeater 5 performs infrared communication includes, for example, the activity meter 6 and the body composition meter 7 described later, in addition to the above-described passive exercise device 1. The wireless repeater 5 is connected to a transmission source, a transmission destination, and a partner device (in the illustrated example, the passive exercise equipment 1, the activity meter 6, and the body composition meter 7) that exist within a range where infrared communication is possible. When the wireless signal including the identification information is transmitted and received, and the wireless signal using the infrared as the transmission medium is received from the partner device, the radio signal is converted into the wireless signal using the transmission medium and transmitted to the network adapter 4. When a wireless signal using a radio wave as a transmission medium is received, the infrared signal is converted into a wireless signal using a transmission medium and transmitted to the above-described partner apparatus.

  Since the network adapter 4 is connected to the router 3 a via the home network 201, communication is possible between a device connected to the home network 201 and a device connected to the wide area network 202. In the present embodiment, the network adapter 4 communicates with the display device 2 and can communicate with the center server 101 and the video distribution server 102. When information is received from the wireless repeater 5 by wireless communication, communication with the display device 2, the center server 101, and the video distribution server 102 is performed using the identification information of the counterpart device of the wireless repeater 5 described above.

  By the way, the activity meter 6 includes a flat device main body 60 that is used by being worn on a user's belt or the like (see FIG. 2), and has the configuration shown in FIG. In the illustrated example, the apparatus main body 60 includes an acceleration sensor 61 that detects accelerations in three axes (three directions orthogonal to each other), and the acceleration sensor 61 detects a body movement of a part where the apparatus main body 60 is worn by the user. Further, the activity meter 6 is provided with an arithmetic processing unit 62 for obtaining the exercise intensity of the exercise performed by the user, the posture during exercise, and the like based on the detection output obtained by A / D converting the output of the acceleration sensor 61. It is done. The arithmetic processing unit 62 has a microcomputer as a main component.

  Further, the activity meter 6 includes a clock unit 63 that gives time data of the current time to the arithmetic processing unit 62, an input operation unit 64 that is exposed and pushed on the outer surface of the apparatus main body 60, and an arithmetic processing unit 62. A storage unit 65 that stores calculation results, personal attribute data, and the like, a display unit 66 that displays various information, an infrared communication unit 67 that performs infrared communication with the wireless repeater 5 described above, and a battery BT as a power source And a constant voltage circuit 68 for outputting a predetermined voltage necessary for the operation of each circuit described above. The storage unit 65 includes a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory, and a liquid crystal display is used as the display unit 66, for example. In this embodiment, the activity meter 6 including the acceleration sensor 61 is used to detect the user's body movement. However, a sensor for detecting a pulse or a heartbeat is used to detect the user's movement state. It may be used.

  The input operation unit 64 is a mode switching operation for selecting an operation mode of the activity meter 6, a cursor operation or a confirmation operation on a display screen displayed on the display unit 66, and personal attribute data (for example, age) used for calculating an activity amount , Gender, height, weight, purpose, health status (historical history), region). The operation mode of the activity meter 6 includes a measurement mode, a data setting mode, an output display processing mode, and the like, and attribute data is input in the data setting mode.

  The arithmetic processing unit 62 of the activity meter 6 has a function of performing data processing for calculating, for example, the number of steps the user has walked and calorie consumption based on a program incorporated in the activity meter 6 in advance. When the data setting mode is selected by the input operation unit 64, the arithmetic processing unit 62 controls the display of the display unit 66 to display a data input screen, and prompts the user to input the attribute data on the data input screen. To display guidance and other information. When the attribute data is input using the input operation unit 64, the arithmetic processing unit 62 writes the input data into the storage unit 65, and uses the attribute data read from the storage unit 65 for the calculation of the activity amount in the subsequent arithmetic processing.

  When the measurement mode is selected by the input operation unit 64, the arithmetic processing unit 62 determines the number of steps of the user based on the detection output of the three-dimensional (ie, three directions) acceleration input from the acceleration sensor 61. The calculation process of exercise intensity (Mets) is performed, the calculation result is written in the storage unit 65, and the calculation result is displayed on the display unit 66 in real time.

  When the output display processing mode is selected by the input operation unit 64, the arithmetic processing unit 62 displays personal attribute data, activity amount measurement results, and the like based on data stored in the storage unit 65 and arithmetic processing results. It is displayed on the display unit 66.

  On the other hand, the body composition meter 7 includes a flat rectangular parallelepiped device main body 70 that is used by being placed on the floor or the like (see FIG. 2), and has the configuration shown in FIG. On the upper surface of the apparatus main body 70, electrode portions 71a that are in contact with the soles are disposed at portions where the soles of the left and right feet placed on the apparatus main body 70 come into contact with each other. A display unit 72 composed of a liquid crystal display for displaying measurement results and the like is arranged.

  The apparatus main body 70 is a weight sensor 73 that measures the weight of a person riding on the apparatus main body 70 and a living body that measures electric resistance (bioimpedance) of the human body by passing a weak current (high frequency) between the left and right electrode portions 71a. And an impedance measurement unit 71. Further, the body composition meter 7 obtains the body fat percentage of the person to be measured based on the measurement result of the bioimpedance measurement unit 71, or controls the display of the display unit 72 to detect the detection result of the weight sensor 73. An arithmetic processing unit 75 that displays the calculation result of the body fat percentage on the screen of the display unit 72 is provided. The arithmetic processing unit 75 has a microcomputer as a main component.

  Further, the body composition meter 7 includes an input operation unit 74 for performing an operation for selecting an operation mode and an operation for inputting personal attribute data (for example, age, gender, height, etc.), and an operation of the arithmetic processing unit 75. A storage unit 76 for storing results and personal attribute data, an infrared communication unit 77 that performs infrared communication with the wireless repeater 5, and a predetermined power necessary for the operation of each circuit described above using a battery as a power source A battery power supply unit 78 for outputting a voltage. The operation mode selected by the input operation unit 74 includes a measurement mode and a setting mode, and attribute data is input in the setting mode. The storage unit 76 uses a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, for example.

  As described above, the display device 2 is connected to the home network 201 and can communicate with the center server 101 and the video distribution server 102 via the home network 101 and the wide area network 202. The service provided is enjoyed by the browser function, and the video and audio distributed by the video distribution server 102 are output. On the other hand, the passive exercise device 1, the activity meter 6, and the body composition meter 7 are connected to the home network 201 through the wireless repeater 5 and the network adapter 4, respectively, and through the home network 201 and the wide area network 202. Since communication with the center server 101 is possible, transmission / reception of data to / from the center server 101 is possible.

  In addition, the individual exercise equipment 1, the display device 2, the net adapter 4, the wireless repeater 5, the activity meter 6, and the body composition meter 7 are assigned with individual local IP addresses, respectively, and the router 3a has a global IP address. Conversion to local IP address is performed.

  In the following, a case where the business operator B provides a service called home lesson service and the user uses this service in the house A will be described as an example.

  It is assumed that the video distribution server 102 stores a plurality of types of moving images indicating the contents of each exercise for a plurality of types of exercise prescriptions using the passive exercise equipment 1. When the video distribution server 102 distributes the moving image to be displayed on the display device 2, the video distribution server 102 (or the center server 101) transmits control information for the passive exercise equipment 1 at the same time and arranges it in the home. It is desirable that the swing pattern of the seat portion 12 of the passive exercise equipment 1 matched with the swing pattern of the seat portion in the passive exercise equipment displayed on the screen of the display device 2. Since the data for determining the swing pattern of the seat portion 12 of the passive exercise device 1 and the program for instructing the drive portion 13 to the swing pattern are registered in the storage unit 16 of the passive exercise device 1 in advance, the control information is It is only necessary to instruct which swing pattern to operate.

  The center server 101 also provides a web page that introduces a plurality of types of exercise prescriptions. From the web page, the video distribution server 102 is linked to video files corresponding to each exercise prescription. Yes. Accordingly, when an exercise prescription is selected from a web page using the browser function of the display device 2, a video file associated with the link from the exercise prescription is downloaded to the display device 2 in the video distribution server 102. .

  In order to enjoy a service called home lesson service when the user uses the passive exercise device 1, the user first operates the remote controller 2a to access the center server 101. That is, the display device 2 has a function of accessing the center server 101 using the home network 201 and the wide area network 202, and accesses the center server 101 when receiving an instruction from the remote control device 2a. The center server 101 displays a web page having service options that can be provided to the user on the screen of the display device 2, and when the home lesson service is selected from the options, the web page introducing the exercise prescription is displayed on the display device 2. On the screen. When a desired exercise prescription is selected using a remote controller 2a from a plurality of types of exercise prescriptions presented so as to be listed on the screen of the display device 2 in this state, the center server 101 links to the selected exercise prescription. The video (moving video) being downloaded is downloaded from the video distribution server 102.

  The display device 2 includes a memory (not shown) that stores a moving image video file downloaded from the video distribution server 102 via the wide area network 202 and the home network 201. A message is displayed on the screen indicating that preparation for playback has been completed. The user performs an operation of starting playback of video using the remote control device 2a after a message indicating completion of playback preparation is displayed on the screen of the display device 2. The reproduction start request transmitted from the remote control device 2 a is received by the display device 2 and transmitted from the display device 2 to the center server 101 via the home network 201 and the wide area network 202.

  When the center server 101 receives a playback start request from the display device 2, the center server 101 transmits a video control signal for starting playback of the downloaded video file to the display device 2, and also swings corresponding to the video file. A device control signal for swinging the passive exercise device 1 in a pattern is transmitted to the passive exercise device 1 corresponding to the display device 2. The video control signal transmitted from the center server 101 via the wide area network 202 is transmitted to the display device 2 via the router 3a, and the device control signal transmitted from the center server 101 via the wide area network 202 is transmitted to the router 3a. Is transmitted to the passive motion apparatus 1 via the network adapter 4 and the wireless repeater 5. In addition, the association between the passive exercise equipment 1 and the display device 2 is made in the house information board 3.

  The display device 2 that has received the video control signal starts playback of the video file downloaded from the video distribution server 102. Also, in the passive exercise device 1, when a device control signal is received through the infrared communication unit 14, the corresponding swing pattern is read from the storage unit 16 based on the device control signal, and the drive unit 13 is controlled according to the read swing pattern. To do.

  With the above operation, the seat portion 12 of the passive exercise device 1 can be swung in accordance with the moving image displayed on the display device 2. That is, in the center server 101, the passive exercise apparatus 1 can follow the motion content of the moving image displayed on the display device 2 by controlling the timing at which the passive exercise apparatus 1 starts to operate. In other words, the center server 101 functions as a control device that determines the operation of the passive exercise equipment 1 connected via the wide area network 202 and the home network 201.

  When the reproduction of the moving image on the display device 2 is completed, the passive exercise device 1 also stops operating. However, if the user desires to repeat the exercise with the same exercise prescription, the remote control device 2a is used. Then, the operation for starting the reproduction of the video file may be performed again. That is, when the reproduction start is requested by operating the remote control device 2a, the above-described operation is repeated again, and the passive exercise device 1 is driven in accordance with the moving image displayed on the display device 2.

  When the user wishes to exercise with a different exercise prescription, the remote server 2a may be operated to access the center server 101. Since the center server 101 displays on the screen of the display device 2 a web page that introduces an exercise prescription that can be provided to the user, the center server 101 selects a desired prescription from the list of exercise prescriptions displayed on the display device 2 in the same manner as described above. When the remote control device 2a is operated so as to select an exercise prescription, it becomes possible to exercise with the selected exercise prescription.

  As described above, by selecting a desired exercise prescription using the display device 2 and the remote control device 2a, the passive exercise apparatus 1 operates in a swing pattern corresponding to the selected exercise prescription, and the selected exercise prescription Is displayed on the display device 2, and as a content of the moving image, by showing a guidance on the correct usage of the passive exercise device 1 and a video showing a sample posture at the time of use, the passive exercise The device 1 can be used correctly, and as a result, the desired exercise effect can be obtained. In other words, even if the passive exercise device 1 is used in a place such as a house where the guidance of the instructor cannot be received, the body can be moved according to the content of the video displayed on the display device 2. The passive exercise device 1 can be used in the correct posture as in the case of receiving guidance.

  By the way, the exercise posture while using the passive exercise device 1 cannot be evaluated objectively if the user is not aware of it without receiving guidance from the leader. Even if the exercise equipment 1 is used, the user cannot know whether the exercise posture is correct.

  In the present embodiment, a function for evaluating the posture of the user while using the passive exercise device 1 is provided. In order to evaluate the posture of the user, the user uses the passive exercise device 1 with the activity meter 6 attached. Since the activity meter 6 can communicate with the center server 101 as described above, the posture is evaluated in the center server 101 using the output of the acceleration sensor 61 (see FIG. 4) provided in the activity meter 6. To do.

  Specifically, a three-dimensional acceleration is detected by an acceleration sensor 61 provided in the activity meter 6, and a user's body movement relative to the movement of the seat portion 12 in the passive exercise apparatus 1 is detected. The activity meter 6 detects, for example, acceleration acting on the user's lower back by wearing it on a belt. The swinging pattern of the seat part 12 is a swinging pattern in which the seat part 12 is reciprocated twice back and forth while reciprocating once to the left and right, and the position in the front-rear direction is made coincident at the center position in the left-right direction. Shall. In this case, the movement trajectory at the center of the seat portion 12 is ∞-shaped (eight-shaped horizontally) in plan view.

  In this operation, the user's pelvis repeatedly tilts forward and backward, and the waist moves in the shape of ∞ in a plan view, like the seat portion 12. Therefore, when the change of the inclination angle of the user's pelvis and the movement locus in the plane of the waist are obtained using the output of the acceleration sensor 61, the movement patterns as shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b) are detected. be able to. This movement pattern is a response pattern to muscle stimulation when the passive exercise apparatus 1 is used, and the response pattern changes depending on the posture when the passive exercise apparatus 1 is used. It can be used for posture evaluation. Since the ideal type of the response pattern changes according to the individual attribute data, the individual attribute data is also required to determine the ideal type response pattern. If the ideal response pattern is used as a reference response pattern, and the reference response pattern is compared with the response pattern obtained from the output of the acceleration sensor 61, the posture of the user when using the passive exercise device 1 can be determined. Can be evaluated.

  Therefore, when the passive exercise device 1 is used, the response pattern obtained by the arithmetic processing unit 62 provided in the activity meter 6 is transferred to the center server 101. That is, the activity meter 6 functions as a body movement trajectory measuring means for detecting the movement trajectory of the user's lower back (specific part). In other words, since the three-dimensional acceleration is obtained by the acceleration sensor, the movement locus of the waist can be obtained by tracking the change in direction and magnitude of the acceleration with time.

  In transferring the response pattern to the center server 101, the data obtained as time elapses is sequentially transferred, or the response pattern for a plurality of cycles of the swing of the seat portion 12 is stored in the storage unit 65 and then the storage unit Read from 65 and transfer. If the latter configuration is adopted, the connection time with the center server 101 can be shortened. However, since it is desirable to notify the user of the posture evaluation during exercise, it is preferable that the time stored in the storage unit 65 is short even when the latter configuration is adopted.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the center server 101 includes a posture evaluation unit (exercise posture evaluation means) 103 that evaluates the posture of the user from the response pattern obtained by the activity meter 6. The posture evaluation unit 103 compares the ideal response pattern obtained from the user attribute data with the response pattern obtained by the activity meter 6 and acquired through the home network 201 and the wide area network 202 to evaluate the degree of coincidence.

  As the degree of coincidence, for example, a value (norm) obtained by calculating the sum of squares of the position error at each time for one cycle of the swing of the seat portion 12 is used. By using the norm, the degree of coincidence can be quantified. If the norm is large, it means that the degree of coincidence is low. If the degree of coincidence is low, it means that the user is not using the correct posture, but the user cannot determine whether the posture is appropriate or not based on the norm value. Accordingly, the posture evaluation unit 103 converts the norm value into a score or defines a plurality of posture levels according to the norm. For example, if the norm value is within a specified range close to 0, the correct posture is set to 10 points (or the highest level of five posture levels), and the norm value is equal to or higher than the specified value. 0 points or the lowest posture level. Here, a numerical value that is not particularly meaningful is used for the score, and a posture level (for example, normal, normal, slightly abnormal, abnormal, etc.) is used as the posture level.

  The score or posture level obtained as described above is transmitted through the service providing unit 104 of the center server 101 and presented on the screen of the display device 2. That is, the service providing unit 104 and the display device 2 of the center server 101 constitute an evaluation presentation unit. Here, the service providing unit 104 means a main function of a web server that provides various services using the client function (browser function) of the display unit 2.

  By transmitting the acceleration detected by the activity meter 6 to the center server 101 while exercising with the passive exercise device 1, the posture evaluation is displayed on the display device 2. It is possible to know whether or not the exercise equipment 1 is being used in a correct posture. As a result, the user is conscious of exercising in the correct posture and can acquire the correct posture. Further, when the correctness of the posture is indicated by a score, the motivation to increase the score works, and it becomes easy to acquire the correct posture. On the other hand, when the correctness of the posture is indicated by the posture level, the user knows the suitability of the posture by knowing the posture level, and is motivated to improve the posture level.

  In the above example, the user's body movement is detected by the activity meter 6 attached to the lower back, but as shown in FIG. 7, the leg (eg, knee), hand, and head are used as specific parts. The user's posture can also be evaluated by arranging the acceleration sensors 21a to 21c and evaluating the outputs of the acceleration sensors 21a to 21c. The part for detecting the movement trajectory by body movement may be at least one of the waist and knees. Further, the posture can be evaluated by detecting the movement trajectory of the upper body such as the shoulder or the head, which is desired to have less body movement when the passive exercise apparatus 1 is used correctly. Alternatively, if an acceleration sensor to be worn on the user's back is added and acceleration in the gravitational direction is detected by the acceleration sensor, distortion of the back muscles can be detected from the output of the acceleration sensor.

  Instead of using the acceleration sensor, as shown in FIG. 8, an image pickup device (preferably a plurality of devices) 22 such as a TV camera is used, and the position change of the specific position of the user is detected from the image obtained from the image pickup device 22. By using the image processing device 23 to be extracted, it is also possible to obtain the movement locus of the specific part. In this case, there are a case where the marker 24 is attached to the user's body and a case where the marker 24 is not attached to the user's body, but the former can obtain the movement locus with higher accuracy. Furthermore, an infrared marker is attached to a specific part (such as the head) of the user, and a position detection sensor (a sensor that projects an infrared beam and detects a position with a light receiving element such as a PSD, a position used for an autofocus camera) The configuration may be such that the position of the infrared marker is tracked using a sensor similar to the detection sensor.

  In the configuration using the acceleration sensor, as represented by the activity meter 6, it is possible to obtain the activity amount (exercise amount). Therefore, the acceleration sensor can be shared for detecting the activity amount and evaluating the posture. . Further, in the configuration in which the user is imaged by the imaging device 22, the movement trajectory of the user can be detected in a non-contact manner, and the user can be exercised without causing a sense of incongruity.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the number of passive exercise devices 1 connected to the home network 201 is one is illustrated, but a plurality of passive exercise devices 1 may be connected to the home network 201. In this case, by giving a device control signal having the same content from the center server 101 to the plurality of other sports equipment 1, the operations of all the sports equipment 1 are matched with the content of the moving image displayed on the display device 2. A plurality of users can exercise the exercise prescription with the same content using the passive exercise device 1.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the center server 101 connected to the home network 201 in the home via the wide area network 202 is used as a control device that determines the operation of the passive exercise equipment 1, but without using the wide area network 202. The operations of the passive exercise device 1 and the display device 2 may be controlled by a control device connected via the home network 201. Furthermore, the posture of the passive exercise device 1 is provided with the function of the posture evaluation unit 103 described above, and the posture is evaluated by taking the output of the activity meter 6 into the passive exercise device 1 without being connected to the home network 201. May be.

  In the present embodiment described above, a device that simulates a riding exercise is illustrated as the passive exercise device 1, but the passive exercise device 1 is not limited to a device that simulates a riding exercise, and may be an exercise device that performs a passive exercise. The technical idea of the present invention can be applied to any configuration.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a seat portion 31 that supports the user's buttocks and a drive portion 32 that swings the seat portion 31 are provided on the upper portion of the support column 30 that is erected on the mount 37. Furthermore, you may use the passive exercise apparatus 1 of the structure which provided the left-right paired footrest 33 on which the user mounts each foot | leg on either side in the mount frame 37. FIG. In the illustrated example, a post 35 is erected on the front end portion of the gantry 37, and a display operation panel 36 is attached to the upper end portion of the post 35.

  In the passive exercise device 1, the upper surface of the seat portion 31 increases the forward tilt angle (the forward tilt) while the seat portion 31 moves forward from the rear end position, and the seat portion 31 moves rearward from the front end position. The drive unit 32 drives the seat unit 31 so as to reduce the forward tilt angle of the seat unit 31 while moving. Further, when moving forward from the rear end position, an operation of moving to the right and an operation of moving to the left are alternately repeated. In other words, the representative point on the upper surface of the seat portion 31 (the center position of the buttocks, etc.) has a V-shaped movement locus in plan view, and moves along the leg piece on the V-shape side and the left leg piece. The movement along the line is repeated alternately.

  As the seat portion 31 swings as described above, the proportion of the user's own weight acting on the left and right leg portions of the user changes. That is, when the seat part 31 moves forward, the forward tilt angle of the seat part 31 increases, so that the dead weight acting on the legs increases as the dead weight acting on the buttocks supported by the seat part 31 decreases. And if it moves toward the back, since the forward inclination angle of the seat part 31 will decrease, the dead weight which acts on a hip part will increase, and the dead weight which acts on a leg part will decrease. By this operation, the muscle groups of the legs (particularly the thigh and crus) repeatedly expand and contract. In addition, since the seat portion 31 alternately moves from the rear end position to the right front and the left front, the muscle groups of the right leg and the left leg can be alternately expanded and contracted.

  This passive movement is equivalent to changing the weight of the leg that is applied to the leg while keeping the knee bent in the squat movement. As for squat exercise, muscle activity of muscle groups can be promoted. Moreover, since it does not involve knee flexion and extension, it can be used by users with knee pain. Here, in order not to change the knee bending angle when the seat portion 31 swings, it is desirable to move the footrest 33 vertically. That is, the knee bending angle can be kept substantially constant by stepping on the footrest 33 along with the swing of the seat portion 31.

  The footrest 33 is provided with a return mechanism 34 that applies a return force upward using a spring force, and resists the spring force of the return mechanism 34 when the forward tilt angle of the seat portion 31 increases. By depressing the footrest 33 and moving the foot position downward, it is possible to increase the own weight acting on the leg without changing the knee bending angle.

  The above-mentioned passive movement may strengthen the thigh and crus muscles, may relieve knee pain by strengthening the muscles around the knee, and may fall by strengthening the leg muscles. It will contribute to prevention. In addition, since there are muscle groups with large volumes like the thighs in the legs, it is expected that sugar metabolism can be improved by expanding and contracting these muscle groups.

  What is necessary is just to obtain | require a movement locus about at least 1 location of a user's waist | hip | lumbar part, knee part, and upper body (shoulder part, head, etc.). The movement trajectory is obtained from acceleration detected by an acceleration sensor or an image captured by a TV camera. If the movement locus of the knee is detected, it can be determined whether or not the footrest 33 is correctly depressed from the vertical movement of the position of the knee. That is, it is possible to determine whether or not the passive movement is performed without the knee joint bending or stretching.

  When using the passive exercise apparatus 1 that simulates squat movement, if the movement locus of the waist is detected, it is determined whether or not the user's waist is moving correctly following the swing of the seat. As with the passive exercise equipment 1 that simulates a horse riding exercise, the user's balance function and the standard of exercise ability can be obtained. Regardless of the passive motion equipment 1 that simulates horse riding or the passive motion equipment that simulates squat motion, if the movement trajectory of the shoulder or head is detected, the degree of wobbling of the shoulder or head can be detected. , Get a guide to know the user's balance function and athletic ability.

Claims (10)

Detected by a device body that induces muscle activity by giving muscle stimulation to the user, body movement locus measuring means for detecting a movement locus of a specific part of the user while using the device body, and body movement locus measuring means A motion posture evaluation means for evaluating the motion posture of a user during motion based on the magnitude of a value obtained by periodically calculating the sum of squares of the position error at each time between the motion trajectory and the specified reference motion trajectory, and motion posture evaluation A passive movement system comprising: evaluation presentation means for presenting an evaluation result by the means to a user during exercise.   2. The apparatus main body includes a seat portion on which a user is seated and a drive portion that swings and drives the seat portion, and allows the user to perform an exercise simulating a riding exercise. Dynamic movement system.   The device body includes a seat portion that supports a user's buttocks, a pair of footrests on which the user places the left and right feet, respectively, and a seat portion that changes the proportion of the weight that acts on the user's legs. Each footrest is provided with an upward restoring force, and by pushing the footrest when the drive is swinging, exercises simulating squat motion without bending and stretching the knee. The passive movement system according to claim 1, wherein the movement system is performed by a user.   4. The passive movement system according to claim 2, wherein the body movement trajectory measuring means detects a movement trajectory of a user's waist.   4. The passive motion system according to claim 3, wherein the body movement trajectory measuring means detects a movement trajectory of a user's knee.   4. The passive movement system according to claim 2, wherein the body movement trajectory measuring means detects a movement trajectory of a user's upper body.   2. The motion posture evaluation means quantifies the degree of coincidence between the movement locus detected by the body movement locus measurement means and a reference movement locus, and converts the digitized degree of coincidence into a score. Passive movement system.   The motion posture evaluation means obtains the degree of coincidence between the movement locus detected by the body movement locus measurement means and a reference movement locus as an evaluation value, and classifies the evaluation value into a plurality of stages of posture levels. Item 2. A passive movement system according to item 1.   The passive motion system according to claim 1, wherein the body motion trajectory measuring means is an acceleration sensor.   The body movement trajectory measuring unit includes an imaging device that captures an image of a user and an image processing device that extracts a change in a specific position of the user from an image obtained by the imaging device. Item 2. A passive movement system according to item 1.

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