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Method and apparatus for controlling repetitive movementsRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, Involving User Translation Or Physical Simulation Thereof, BicylclingMethod and apparatus for controlling repetitive movements description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070219068, Method and apparatus for controlling repetitive movements. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of International Application No. PCT/EP2005/010076, entitled "METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING RECURRENT MOVEMENTS" by Korfmacher and filed Sep. 19, 2005, which in turn claims priority from German Patent Application No. DE102004045140, entitled same and filed Sep. 19, 2004, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and for all purposes. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention is related to a method for controlling movement patterns in repetitive movements, in particular in cyclical or alternating movements defined by the parameters of the amplitude (A) and frequency (F) of the movement, as well as a device for realizing the method. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Such method are well known in training or therapy devices in the form of bicycle or rowing devices (ergometers) where the person concerned is obliged to exercise against (a) resistance or depending on his pulse measurement. The pulse measurement, however, is a relatively irregular value and depends on the general constitution of the person. Furthermore, it needs explanation and very often is misunderstood or misinterpreted by the person considered. This may lead to erroneous demands on the circulatory system or to counter-indicated results. In particular, constant loads may result in undesirable collateral effects or even damage. The currently known methods and exercise devices comprise in particular pulse measurements, performance measurements, measurements of the step frequency, the speed and the time. These measurements have to be correlated and adjusted by complex medical equations, which frequently are not understood by the person exercising, and therefore induce to errors. [0004] Importantly, these known devices essentially recruit mobiliser muscles that are recruited at .gtoreq.40% of (the) maximum voluntary muscle contraction. These devices are inadequate to train stabilizer muscles which are recruited at lesser loads. [0005] Furthermore, currently known devices such as rowing ergometers necessitate a relatively high and complex mechanical design comprising a fly-wheel for storing the energy between two strokes (simulation of the inertia moment of the boat), a handle element connected to the fly-wheel through a chain, belt or cable (simulation of the paddle), a damping mechanism on the fly-wheel (simulation of the friction between the hull and the water) as well as haul-back mechanism (simulation of the starting situation). Thus, one has to do with numerous simulations, which inevitably, alone or in their combination, are subject to errors. SUMMARY [0006] The present invention, thus, proposes a method and apparatus, wherein the mechanical complexity of currently known devices is largely avoided so as to essentially simplify the method and apparatus and enable the understanding by the person exercising by a minimum of parameters, and wherein the person exercising is not stressed by pulse numbers or other simulations, in particular when under permanent load, but just by the optimum use of his body energy, for the control of which only one single objective parameter is necessary. [0007] The present invention suggests a method and apparatus, as specified above, to correlate the parameters (A, F) with the mean velocity (V) of a body really or fictively moved forward by the movement. [0008] In a device according to the invention, three values are important in this context, namely the amplitude of a movement, the frequency of the movement as well as the desired real or fictive speed of a body driven forward by the movement. The amplitude is given by the total diameter of a pedal drive, the frequency by the number of rotations of the pedal drive per second and the desired speed in km/h according to walking, (trotting), jogging or running of the person exercising. [0009] What is important is to optimally correlate these parameters in the sense of an optimum use of the body energy of the person concerned. The model for such optimum relationship is nature itself with the migration of birds. They have to overcome long distances without overstressing their body forces (energy). On the other hand they do not reach their goal if they do not make optimum use of their energy. [0010] Physics teach us in fluid mechanics an equation which puts the above mentioned parameters in an optimum relationship, the so-called Strouhal equation defined as follows: S.sub.t=A.times.F/V. This equation is equally valid for cyclical as well as for oscillating movement patterns. It is independent of any mass to be moved or from any outer resistive load. It describes a pure movement pattern in relation to a speed. [0011] Therefore, in an advantageous embodiment of the inventive method and apparatus, the relationship between amplitude, frequency and speed is adjusted by the equation X=A.times.F/V. In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention the value of X is 0,3. [0012] Science has confirmed that the Strouhal number S.sub.t defined by this equation is between 0,2 and 0,4 for optimum energy performance of fish and birds. This applies for sardines aw well as for whales, for bats as well as for swallows or geese. This value seems to be an evolutionary optimum valid in the whole universe. Dimensionless numbers are important in biomechanics as they may imply by their constancy dynamic similarities, despite possible differences in media and size. [0013] The device according to the invention provided for realizing the method accomplishing the objective described above comprises means to perform a cyclical or alternating movement and suggests that means are provided to adjust the amplitude, frequency and the desired mean speed of the body really of fictively driven by the movement. [0014] On the device according to the invention and adequate for realizing the method the mean speed V can be chosen according to the target idea such as walking, jogging or running, where walking is i.e. 6 km/h. S.sub.t is given with 0,3. It is important now to adjust A and F in such a way that the Strouhal equation is satisfied with S.sub.t=0,3. In case the amplitude is given with a (fix) diameter of i.e. 0,3 m for the pedal drive, the frequency must adjusted to 1,67 Hz to achieve optimum use of the body's own energy. [0015] Imagining that the person exercising shall walk, at these adjustments, for 1/2 hour using optimum body energy, it is important to control the frequency of the pedal movement at 1,67 Hz. This means that one single and objective value only is decisive, in this case the frequency, which is totally independent of any judgment or arbitrary decision and which is not subject to simulation errors. [0016] On the other hand and according to the invention it is also possible to bring a person back to a movement pattern with optimum energy use without overstressing him. A frail person may not immediately be able to reach or hold a frequency calculated for him over a longer period of time. That means that an objective value is fixed independently of the current condition of the patient. [0017] After an exercise according to the invention other well known load tests may be performed to evaluate the condition of the patient such as energy balance, pulse rate and other medical key values. [0018] The device according to the invention in particular has no energy storing masses and thus there are no complex mechanics or controls that correlate energies and losses with medical key values as in well known devices. The device according to the invention, therefore, works much more precisely and is essentially less prone to failures. [0019] Due to the absence of masses to be moved, the device according to the invention is particularly suited for children, elderly and people who are not, or are only insufficiently, able to control their movements. Due to the simplicity of its design even bed-rest patients in a supine position can use it. By properly choosing the value for V it is possible to determine movement patterns from slow walk to fast run without overstressing the patient energetically. As there is no mass to be moved in the device according to the invention, it can also be used under weightlessness conditions for the controlled training of astronauts. [0020] With the device according to the invention it is furthermore possible to bring a person to his best performance level at optimum energy use. Thus, the method according to the invention and the device for its realization can be used to determine the optimum longtime energy performance level of a person. Based on this knowledge the person then can do further and well-known optimizations. Continue reading about Method and apparatus for controlling repetitive movements... 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