AU674188B2 - Exercise system - Google Patents

Description

P/00/01 1 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1 990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: EXERCISE SYSTEM 9*09 .9 9 *999 9**9 9* 9 *989 "Cc. 9 99*9 9999 *999 9. 6* 9. 9 99 9.

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9.99 t, The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: GH&CO REF: P50124B/BJN 2 The present invention is concerned with an exercise system. The exercise system may be used by any person seeking to improve their fitness but has particular application to the therapeutic treatment of cardio-pulmonary disease and will be described primarily with reference to cardio-pulmonary patients.

Cardio-pulmonary disease is among the major causes of death in Australia and other affluent nations. The lifestyle of many people in these countries combines a poor diet with a paucity of exercise. As a consequence a large proportion of the population has high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol which can cause cardio-pulmonary disease in these indi'iduals.

Fortunately, the prognosis for these people can be improved with regular exercise and a good diet but exercise programs for people with severe cardio-pulmonary disease and for those recovering after a heart attack must be carefully designed. Constant and close supervision is generally required to ensure that the patient exercises sufficiently without overdoing it and .to monitor the improvements in the patient's fitness.

Complex, expensive and bulky machinery such as treadmills are often required to achieve this. The present invention provides a technique which allows a patient to regulate exercise to ensure that the exercise is sufficient without being excessive.

According to one broad aspect the present invention provides a method of exercising suitable for use by cardio-pulmonary patients comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of concentric walking paths each divided into segments of predetermined length; (ii) walking along one of the paths at a suitable pace to walk the length of one of the segments in a predetermined time; wherein a timing device emits a signal after said predetermined time at which time the suitability of the patient's walking pace is gauged by their position PA relative to the end of the segment and adjusted.

S:p 5 0124B 3 According to a further broad aspect the present invention provides an exercise system suitable for use by cardio-pulmonary patients comprising a walking path having a segment of predetermined length and a timing device which emits a signal after a predetermined time wherein the patient walks along the path at a suitable pace to walk the length of the segment in a predetermined time whereby the suitability of the patient's walking pace is gauged by their position relative to the end of the segment when the signal is emitted and adjusted accordingly.

The walking path may be a straight path only one segment in length but, preferably, the walking path includes a plurality of segments. In the former case a patient will walk back and forth along the track, for example a 50m straight track, and will aim to be at the end of the path each time the timing device emits a signal.

It is particularly preferred that the walking path be circular but it can be straight or may follow an undulating path between two points. In the latter case each segment along the path is marked by a marker such as a flag. An undulating path may, for example, be a 25 pathway through parklands so long as the pathway remains relatively flat. Where a straight or undulating path which includes a plurality of segments is followed, the timing device will emit a signal as the patient passes the marker at the end of each segment. If the patient has not yet reached the marker they must increase their walking speed but if they have passed the marker when the signal is emitted they should reduce their walking speed.

Preferably, the markers are set 50m apart and the time allowed to walk the 50m segment is between 30 and seconds.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention a plurality of concentric walking paths are each divided into segments by a plurality of radii. In 124B 4 this embodiment of the invention the intersection of a radius with one of the concentric walking paths marks one end of a segment along that path and the intersection of the adjacent radius with that walking path marks the other end of the segment. It is the aim of the patient walking along any one of the circles to pace themselves so that they will walk the length of the segment in the predetermined time, so it will be apparent that a patient walking a path near the centre of the circle will need to cover less ground in the predetermined time than a patient walking one of the outer circular paths. The patient on the inner path will walk slower so the exercise this patient undertakes is gentler than the exercise which the patient on the outer path performs, A person recently recovered from a heart attack or with severe cardio-pulmonary disease begins their exercise program on the innermost walking path. As their fitness improves the person moves progressively outwards from the centre of the circles so that the exercise becomes increasingly challenging and their fitness level is gradually improved. The person exercises comfortably to their capacity and can monitor their progress simply by noting their rate of progression towards the outermost circle.

25 Advantageously, all of the segments are equal in length. Conveniently, where there are a plurality of concentric walking paths, the walking paths are defined by a plurality of regularly spaced radii and each radius has a plurality of markers spaced therealong, the spacing being equal on each radius su that a plurality of circular paths at predetermined distances from the centre of the circles are formed. The markers define the circular walking paths simply by extrapolation of a circular segment between markers at the same distance from the centre of the circle on adjacent radii.

Conveniently, a pierE, of rope or like material with marker flags tied a. intervals along the rope is used as each radius. Any convenient number of ropes are joined S:p50124B to extend radially from a point and this arrangement is laid out over a suitable large area to define the walking paths. Conveniently, the outermost circle is 80m in diameter and marker flags are spaced at 2m intervals from the centre of the circles, however marker flags need not be spaced at regular intervals along the rope. The walking paths could be any other suitable shape such as an ellipse or a regular polygon.

When the segments are equal in length the timing device emits the signal at regular intervals while the patient is in an exercise phase, however, the timing device may also include a warm-up phase during which the intervals between signals is progressively decreased until the desired interval for the exercise phase is reached.

Advantageously, the interval between signals is decreased step-wise with periods in which the interval remains constant between each decrease.

Typically, the interval between signals in each period is between 1 and 3% greater than in the succeeding period and the interval between signals remains constant for periods of 3 minutes at a time.

Preferably, the timing device comprises a transmitter which transmits to a receiving device worn by S 25 the patient and the receiving device generates the signal. In this way a large number of patients can exercise at the same time. They may exercise to different levels although all will be receiving the signal at the same time when a plurality of circular paths are used as each patient walks around a different circular path.

In this esibodiment of the invention the transmitter comprises a quartz crystal controlled oscillator operating at a predetermined frequency and divided down under the control of selector means to provide an output pulse which controls an audio tone signal which is transmitted to the receiver by a radio transmitter using frequency modulation.

S:p50124B 6 Preferably, the receiver is a radio receiver and upon receiving the transmission produces an audible and/or visible signal to the patient.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention each patient may wear a microprocessor unit which is programmed to generate an audible and/or visible signal.

The microprocessor can be programmed to generate this signal at any predetermined interval and it will be appreciated that only the user of the microprocessor will be able to hear this signal, thus this system is well suited to individual exercise by a patient. More particularly, where a straight or undulating path through parklands is contemplated a patient may exercise individually and progressively step up the exercise by gradually reducing the period of time they have to reach the markers. However, the apparatus is equally well adapted to use in walking a circular path.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be eo..described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method according to the present invention in which a plurality of circular paths is used; Figure 2 is a flow chart of the electronic circuitry 25 in a transmitter suitable for use in the present invention; Figures 3 to 5 are circuit diagrams of the transmitter shown in Figure 2; and 0 0 Figure 6 is a flow chart of the electronic circuitry in a microprocessor unit suitable for use in the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, it can be seen that a circular precinct 10 (only half of which is shown) including circular paths 11, 12, 13 is defined on an oval or the like by radially extending ropes 14, 15, 16, 17. All of the ropes 14, 15, 16, 17 are joined in the centre 18 of the circular precinct and have marker flags at the points where the circular paths 11, 12, 13 (which are generally S:p50124B 7 not marked on the ground but are shown as solid !.ines here for easier illustration of the system) cross the ropes. In fact, the circular paths are simply the path followed by the patient and are determined by following a circular path between the marker flags. The path is simply extrapolated from the markers in the mind of the patient.

In order to complete the illustration of the exercise system, the receiver 20 -orn by a patient together with the head-phones 21 worn by the patient (so that their particular audible signals are heard only by them) are shown. In general and depending on the interval selected the audible and/or visible signal occurs accurately, say, every 5.00 seconds, at which time 15 the patient should be walking past a marker. If the patient is a little short of the marker they should increase the pace but if the patient is ahead of the mark they should slow down. If a patient is exercising comfortably on a particular circular path but is not yet S 20 ready to progress to the next path out from the centre, the selector means can be adjusted so that an audible and/or visible signal will be generated, say, every 4.95 seconds so that the patient must walk more quickly to keep pace with the signal. Once this pace is comfortable S: 25 the timing of the signal can again be adjusted or the **patient can progress to the next circular path and re-set the timing to the origin. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 the transmitter 22 transmits a signal every 5.00 seconds (or 4.95, 4.90, etc seconds as selected by S.o.

tuning the time selector switch 23 to the appropriate position) and at the first signal a patient will be at each one of points A, C and E. At the second audible and/or visible signal it is expected that the first patient (who is very unfit) will reach ipoint B, the second patient (who is improving in health) will cover a substantially 9reater distance than the first patient and reach point D and the third patient (who is virtually fully recovered) will reach point F.

S:p50124B -8- The operation of the transmitter shown in Figure 1 is illustrated in Figure 2. The transmitter functions to provide an accurate timing source which is transmitted by radj 3 frequency signal to the receiver. The transmitter corr 3es a quartz crystal controlled oscillator 30 which operates at 5242880 cycles per second and is divided down according to the position of the time selector switch 23 to give the desired output timing pulse, ranging from 4.75 to 5.00 seconds, inclusively, at 0.05 second increments. The pulse from the programmable divider 31 controls an audio tone generator 32 and an audio tone signal is transmitted from the audio tone generator 32 to a radio frequency transmitter 33. The radio frequency transmitter 33 transmits the signal to the receiver (shown in Figure 1) using frequency modulation through aerial 34.

Figures 3 to 5 show the circuits in the quartz crystal timing generator (comprising the quartz crystal oscillator, the programmable divider and the selector S 20 switch), the radio frequency transmitter and the audio tone generator, and the relationship between the circuits as described with reference to Figure 2 will be well understood by the person skilled in the art.

o **Figure 6 illustrates a microprocessor which can be used to control the exercise program by emitting an audible and/or visible signal at predetermined intervals.

The unit comprises a microprocessor 40 into which data is entered by way of keypad 41. Optionally, an electrocardiograph (ECG) can provide additional input 30 from ECG electrodes 45, A digital readout 43 and audio *Toe beeper 44 are provided.

A microprocessor can be operated in any one of three modes and a printout of the software which controls this S is appended to the specification as appendix 1. The operation of the microprocessor apparatus will now be described with reference to these three operational modes.

If the first operation mode is selected EPI will be S:p50124B 9 displayed on the readout, the patient will then be required to key in the duration of the exercise time (in minutes) via the keypad 41. The microprocessor unit is programmed to instruct the audio beeper 44 to emit an audible beep every 5.00 seconds (although this is adjustable) and this will continue until the exercise time which has been entered has expired at which time the unit will turn itself off.

By pressing a mode key on the keypad, exercising program 2 (displayed as EP2) may be selected. This mode allow the patient to perfor the equivalent exercise to EPl on a 50m track rather than walking on a circular track. The track may be a straight line or a pathway through parklands marked at 50m intervals so long as it remains relatively flat. The patient can then select a pace time value, which is the time selected in which the must be walked. This value is very specific to each individual patient and would normally be set in accordance with doctors instructions. Once this value is S 20 entered the patient will again be required to enter the duration of the exercise time. The microprocessor unit will then take the patient through a warm-up phase in which beeps sound at intervals which progressively decrease as the exercise phase approaches. A number of warning beeps are provided just prior to the beep indicating the end of the interval to alert the patient that the end of the interval is approaching so that they can increase or decrease the pace. The digital readout will display the current pace time (in seconds) as well 30 as the elapsed exercise time (in minutes).

To select exercise program 3 the mode key is pressed once more until the unit displays EP3. Note that this *mode is for use only under the direct supervision of a suitably qualified medical person. It is similar to the previous EP2 mode in that there is a warm-up phase followed by an exercise phase, however, in EP3 the pace time will continue to be reduced during the exercise phase.

S:p501248 10 The microprocessor unit illustrated in Figure 6 includes an ECG amp 42 and ECG electrodes 45. The ECG electrodes 45 are attached to the patient's body to measure the heart pulse rate and display it on the digital readout. This allows the patient's ECG wave forms to be input to and processed by the microprocessor In this way the microprocessor may detect exerciseinduced heart abnormalities and can determine the change in pulse rate in response to exercise.

The warm-up period in EP2 and EP3 modes enables the patient to become accustomed to the pace time that was keyed into the microprocessor unit through a controlled increase in walking speed, sLarting a little slower and gradually increasing speed until the pace time setting is reached some 15 minutes later. There are five discrete warm-up settings which are calculated before the exercise program begins. The first value that is calculated is 3% greater than the pace time. The remaining four values calculated for the warm-up settings are each successively 3% greater than the previous setting. Take as an example the pace time setting of 33.20 seconds and a warm-up which last for 15 minutes and changes every 3 minutes to the next value, the warm-up times will be calculated in *the following manner:- 33.20 97 0.03423 0.3423 x 100 34.23 The process is repeated using 34.23 in the next calculation and so on to define the remaining four values, noting that each new value will be slightly 30 larger than the previous one and allows the patient to walk a little slower in the earlier periods during he warm-up.

A similar method can be used to find the five values used in the exercise phase of EP3. In EP3 for each period of 3 minutes during the 15 minutes exercise phase the pace time decreases by If a pace time of 33.20 is chosen the standard calculation for each of the successive 3 minute periods in the 15 minute exercise S:p50124B 11 phase is as follows:- 33.20 100 0.332 33.20 0.332 32.87 The warm-up phase in EP3 mode is the same as in EP2 so the EP3 program comprises a 15 minute warm-up and a minute exercise phase in which the calculated time to pass each marker for each of the five periods in each phase is as follows:- Period Minutes Warm Up Exercise 1 0 3 38.67 <33.20> 2 3 6 37.51 32.87 3 6 9 36.38 32.54 4 9 12 35.29 32.22 12 15 34.23 31.90 Thus, at the start of the warm-up phase a patient is expected to cover the 50m between markers in 38.67 seconds and this time progressively decreases until at the end of the exercise phase the patient is expected to cover the same distance in 31.90 seconds.

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Claims (11)

1. A method of exercising suitable for use by cardio-pulmonary patients comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of concentric walking paths each divided into segments of predetermined length; (ii) walking along one of the paths at a suitable pace to walk the length of one of the segments in a predetermined time; wherein a timing device emits a signal after said predetermined time at which time the suitability of the patient's walking pace is gauged by their position relative to the end of the segment and adjasted accordingly.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of concentric walking paths are each circular and divided into segments by a plurality of radii.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the segments are equal in length and the timing device emits the signal at regular intervals during an exercise e 26 phase. S:

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 which includes to: a warm-up phase during which intervals between signals is o progressively decreased.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the intervals between signals is decreased step-wise with periods in which the interval remains constant between o55o each decrease. e.

The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the interval between signals in each period is between 1 and 30 3% greater than in the succeeding period.

7. The method as claimed in any one of claims i to 6 in which the timing device comprises a transmitter which transmits to a receiving device worn by the patient and the receiving device generates the signal.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the transmitter comprises a quartz crystal controlled oscillator operating at a predetermined frequency and divided down under the control of selector means to S:p50124B 13 provide an output pulse which controls an audio tone signal which is transmitted to the receiver by a radio transmitter using frequency modulation.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the receiver is a radio receiver and upon receiving the transmission provdes an audible and/or visible signal to the patient.

The method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 in which a patient wears a microprocessor unit which is programmed to generate an audible and/or visible signal.

11. A method of exercising on an exercise system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 17th day of October 1996 GEOFFREY JAMES CORNISH By his Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HAC. CO. 4 0 S ei S:p60124B ABSTRACT A method of exercising suitable for use by cardio- pulmonary patients comprising the steps of: providing a walking path having a segment of predetermined length; (ii) walking along the path at a suitable pace to walk the length of the segment in a predetermined time; wherein a timing device emits a signal after said predetermined time at which time the suitability of the patient's walking pace is gauged by their position relative to the end of the segment and adjusted accordingly. 0: a **o *ee ee •coo S:p50124B