JP2001238982A - Walking training device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that an actual step cannot be recognized as the parameter of walking ability since no particular significance is given to a measured actual step. SOLUTION: This walking training device is provided with a pseudo walking path on which a user performs walking training, an actual step derivation means for deriving the actual step which is the actual step of the user performing the walking training on the pseudo walking path, a target step derivation means for deriving a target step as the recommended value of a step for the user for performing the walking training and a step comparison means for making a comparison between the derived actual step and target step to the user.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a walking training apparatus for performing walking training (including running training) on an annular belt that rotates.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, gait training devices that can easily perform gait training in a space-saving manner have become widespread, reflecting the growing interest in health. The walking training device is configured such that a pseudo walking path (hereinafter, referred to as a pseudo walking path) is created by rotating an annular belt by connecting the ends, and a user can walk on the pseudo walking path. Have been.

[0003] The walking training device can easily perform walking training in a narrow space according to the convenience of the user, and is used for sports training for the purpose of improving the physical strength of a sports competitor and for recovering the walking function of a disabled person. Has been used for rehabilitation.

[0004] Various functions are provided in recent walking training apparatuses so that walking training can be performed according to various needs of users. For example, a function of adjusting the rotation speed of the belt, a function of changing the setting of the training program, a function of adjusting the inclination angle of the pseudo walking path, and a function of measuring and displaying the physical strength of the user such as a walking distance, a pulse, and calorie consumption are exemplified.

The function of measuring and displaying the physical fitness of the user is provided so that the user during walking training can grasp his or her own walking ability. In addition to the walking distance, pulse, calorie consumption, etc. There is also a walking training device that can measure and display the actual step length (hereinafter referred to as the actual step length) when the user is performing walking training. As a conventional walking training device having such a function of measuring and displaying the actual step length, for example, the following walking training device is given.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a conventional walking training device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-43327. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes an annular belt.
a is a walking surface on which the user performs walking training, and 1b is a walking surface 1a.
, A roller for assisting the rotation of the belt 1, a motor for driving the rotation of the belt 1, a rotating shaft 3 a for the motor 3, a servo control circuit for controlling the motor 3, Is a rotation speed sensor for detecting the rotation speed of the motor 3, 6 is a speed indicator for displaying the walking speed, 9 is a walking speed setting and changing means for setting and changing the walking speed, 10 is a detection of the landing motion of the user's foot. The reference numeral 16 denotes a stride calculating circuit for calculating the actual stride of the user, and 17 denotes a stride display for displaying the calculated actual stride.

Next, the operation will be described. The belt 1 rotates according to the driving force of the motor 3, and the user performs walking training on the walking surface 1 a of the rotating belt 1. When walking training is started, the rotation speed of the motor 3 is detected at each sampling time by using the rotation speed sensor 5, and a walking speed that changes over time is derived. Since the rotation speed of the belt 1 changes momentarily every time the user's foot lands, the number of times the rotation speed changes is counted by the landing detection circuit 10 and is used as the number of steps of the user. The stride length calculating circuit 16 calculates the actual stride length during the walking training from the sampling time, the walking speed, and the number of steps, and displays the actual stride length to the user using the stride length display 17.

[0008]

Since the conventional walking training apparatus is configured as described above, it has a function of measuring and displaying the actual step length of the user who is performing the walking training, but has the function of displaying the measured actual step length. There is a problem that the user cannot read his / her walking ability from the actual step length and cannot grasp the actual step length as a barometer of the walking ability because the meaning is not given.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and the meaning of the actual stride is set so that the user can read his or her own walking ability from the actual stride. An object of the present invention is to obtain a walking training device that can be grasped as a barometer.

[0010]

A walking training apparatus according to the present invention derives a pseudo walking path on which a user performs walking training and an actual step length which is an actual step length of a user who performs walking training on the pseudo walking path. Stride deriving means, target stride deriving means for deriving a desired stride as a recommended value of the stride when the user performs gait training, and stride comparing means for comparing the derived actual and target stride to the user. It is provided with.

In the walking training apparatus according to the present invention, the target step deriving means includes a setting changing means for inputting physical data of the user and a storage means for storing the target step in advance, and is set by the setting changing means. A desired step length adapted to physical data is derived from a storage means.

The walking training apparatus according to the present invention is medical,
The average standard data of the stride statistically classified is used as the target stride.

[0013] In the walking training device according to the present invention, the target step deriving means includes setting changing means for changing the target step.

A walking training apparatus according to the present invention includes a time measuring means for measuring a walking training time, a pedometer for measuring the number of steps from the vibration of a user who performs walking training, and a walking speed measurement for the user during walking training. The actual walking length is derived from the measured walking training time, the number of steps, and the walking speed.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Embodiment 1 FIG. In the walking training device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in order to give meaning to the actual step length during the walking training, the target step length is presented to the user together with the actual step length. Here, the target step is a step as a recommended value suitable for the user's walking training, and also means a value of an actual step to be a target in performing the walking training.

For example, the target step length may be defined as average standard data of the human step length classified medically and statistically based on physical data such as gender, age, height and weight. By doing so, the target stride means the average walking ability of the Japanese, and the average walking ability of the Japanese and the walking ability of the user himself are grasped by comparing the target stride with the actual stride. Will be able to

For a sports athlete aiming for sports training or a disabled person performing rehabilitation, the target step may be defined as a target value for the improvement and recovery of the walking function. In this case, for example, the value of the target stride is specially determined from the judgment of a sports advisor or a doctor. By doing so, it is possible to grasp a guideline for improving and recovering the walking function by comparing the target step length with the actual step length.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a walking training apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 21 denotes a frame of the walking training device, and each component of the walking training device is fixed to a predetermined position of the frame 21. The frame 21 also has a tilt angle adjustment mechanism that secures the mechanical strength of the walking training device and changes the tilt angle of the pseudo walking path on which the user performs walking training.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a plurality of rollers which are rotated by a motor (not shown). The rotation speed of the roller 22 can be changed. Reference numeral 23 denotes a belt that rotates by being driven by the rotation of the roller 22. A roller 22 is provided on the inner peripheral side of the belt 23, and is used on a belt 23 (pseudo walking path) that is rotated by being driven by the roller 22. Trains walking. Reference numeral 24 denotes a tachometer (actual stride deriving means, walking speed measuring means) for measuring the rotation speed of the roller 22, and 25, a pedometer (actual stride deriving means, step counting means) for measuring the number of steps of the user.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a control unit (storage means,
A memory (storage means) which is a timekeeping means, an actual step derivation means, a target step derivation means) and which stores control functions and data for controlling the rotation of the roller 22 and the inclination angle of the pseudo walking path.
In addition, a timekeeping function to measure walking training time (timekeeping means)
It also has a function of deriving an actual step from the rotational speed and the number of steps obtained from the tachometer 24 and the pedometer 25 (actual step deriving means) and a function of deriving a target step (target step deriving means).

Reference numeral 27 denotes an interface unit (setting changing means, target stride deriving means, stride comparing means) provided on the frame 21, and a keyboard (setting changing means, target stride deriving means) for changing the control of the walking training device. And a display (stride contrast means) and a speaker (stride contrast means) for presenting various information to the user. The tachometer 24, the pedometer 25, and the timekeeping function of the control unit 26 constitute an actual step length deriving unit.

Next, the operation will be described. When the user turns on the power on the belt 23 of the walking training device, the gender,
The user performs physical training such as age, height, weight, and sitting height, and the walking training such as the rotation speed of the belt 23, the inclination angle of the pseudo walking path, the walking training time, the training program such as interval, random, and custom. The walking training load described above is input by the keyboard of the interface unit 7.

The control unit 26 controls the rotation of the roller 22 and the tilt angle adjusting mechanism of the frame 21 based on these settings, and the rotation speed of the belt 23 driven by the rotation of the roller 22 and the tilt angle adjusting mechanism of the frame. The user performs walking training on the belt 23 in accordance with, for example, the inclination angle of the pseudo walking path adjusted by the user.

While the user is training in walking, the tachometer 24 measures the rotation speed of the roller 22 and outputs the measured rotation speed to the control unit 26. Further, the pedometer 25 measures the vibration caused by the user's walking training as the number of steps of the user, converts the measured number of steps into an electric signal, and outputs the signal to the control unit 26.

From the walking training time measured by the timing function of the control unit 26, the rotation speed of the roller 22 measured by the tachometer 24, and the number of steps measured by the pedometer 25, a conventional method is used. The control unit 26 derives the actual step length during the walking training.

The average standard data of the stride, which is medically and statistically classified from the physical data of the human, is stored in the memory of the control unit 26 as the target stride, and the physical data of the user set before the walking training is stored. With reference to the data, the control unit 26 derives from the memory a target stride adapted to the physical data of the user. The derived target step length is presented to the user together with the actual step length by a numerical value or graph displayed on the display of the interface unit 27, or by a change in sound pressure or frequency of the speaker output sound.

In the case where a sports athlete for sports training or a disabled person performing rehabilitation uses the walking training apparatus of the first embodiment, an improvement and recovery of the walking function of the user is taken into consideration. Since it is preferable to gradually set the target stride, the target stride can be changed to correspond to the situation of each user.

In this case, the target step length determined based on the improvement and recovery of the walking function of the user is stored in the memory of the control unit 26 from the keyboard of the interface unit 27, and the target step length is displayed by the display and the speaker of the interface unit 27. And the actual step length. By doing so, it is possible to change the target stride according to the situation that is hard to predict for the individual user.

Further, in the first embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a transducer for converting the vibration of the user during walking training into an electric signal as the number of steps as disclosed in, for example, JP-A-3-208974. The pedometer 25 is used, and the electric signal output from the lightweight, small and inexpensive pedometer 25 is counted by the control unit 26. By doing so, the number of steps required for deriving the actual step length can be measured at a lower cost and in a smaller size, and the effect of reducing the cost and downsizing of the walking training device can be obtained.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the target unit as a recommended step length suitable for the user during the walking training is compared with the user by the interface unit 27 together with the actual step during the walking training. As a result, an effect is obtained in which the actual step length, which was not meaningful in the conventional technology, can be grasped as a barometer of the walking ability of the user himself.

Further, according to the first embodiment, the user can be conscious of performing the walking training with the target step as the recommended value of the step, and the effect of increasing the effectiveness of the walking training can be obtained. .

Further, according to the first embodiment, the target step is stored in the memory of the control unit 26 in advance, and the target step adapted to the physical data of the user set by the interface unit 27 is stored in the control unit. 26, the target step is compared with the actual step by using the interface unit 27, so that the user can determine the difference between the target step and the actual step without setting the target step by himself / herself. The effect is that the user can be conscious.

Further, according to the first embodiment, the average standard data of the stride, which is medically and statistically classified based on gender, age, height, weight, sitting height, etc., is defined as the target stride. The user who is performing can easily compare the average walking ability with his / her own walking ability from the comparison between the target stride and the actual stride, and can grasp the actual stride as a barometer of his / her walking ability. The effect is obtained.

Further, according to the first embodiment, the value of the target stride can be changed by the keyboard of the interface unit 27, so that the target stride can be changed according to the special situation of the user. As a result, it is possible to obtain the effect that the walking training can be performed using the target stride that matches various situations of the user.

Further, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the number of steps of the user during walking training is measured by a lightweight, small and inexpensive pedometer, so that the number of steps required for deriving the actual step length can be measured more easily. It can be made inexpensively downsized,
The effect that the cost reduction and downsizing of the walking training device can be performed is obtained.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, an actual step length for deriving a pseudo walking path on which a user performs walking training and an actual step length which is an actual step length of a user who performs walking training on the pseudo walking path. Means and a desired step deriving means for deriving a desired step as a recommended value of the step when the user performs walking training;
A step length comparison means for comparing the derived actual step length and the target step length to the user is provided, so that the actual step length, which was not given by the conventional technology, is grasped as a barometer of the user's own walking ability. Is obtained. Further, according to the present invention, it becomes possible for the user to be conscious of performing the walking training with the target step length as the recommended value of the step length, and the effect that the effect of the walking training is enhanced is obtained.

According to the present invention, the target stride deriving means includes the setting changing means for setting the user's physical data and the storage means for storing the target stride in advance, and the physical data set by the setting changing means. Since the target step adapted to the step is derived from the storage means, the user can be made aware of the difference between the target step and the actual step without setting the target step himself. .

According to the present invention, the average standard data of the stride classified medically and statistically is used as the target stride. Therefore, the average walking ability and the self walking can be determined by comparing the target stride with the actual stride. The user can easily compare the ability with the ability, and an effect that the actual step can be grasped as a barometer of the walking ability of the user can be obtained.

According to the present invention, the target stride deriving means is provided with the setting changing means for changing the desired stride, so that the desired stride can be changed according to the special situation of the user. In addition, an effect is obtained in which walking training can be performed using a target stride that matches a special situation of the user.

According to the present invention, the time measuring means for measuring the walking training time, the pedometer for measuring the number of steps from the vibration of the user performing the walking training, and the walking speed for measuring the walking speed of the user during the walking training The actual step is derived from the measured walking training time, the number of steps, and the walking speed, so that the step measurement required for deriving the actual step is more inexpensive and smaller. As a result, the cost reduction and downsizing of the walking training device can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a walking training device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a conventional walking training device.

[Explanation of symbols]

21 frame, 22 rollers, 23 belt (simulated walking path), 24 tachometer (actual step length deriving means, walking speed measuring means), 25 pedometer (actual step length deriving means, step number measuring means), 26 control unit (storage means) , Clocking means, actual step deriving means, target step deriving means), 27 interface units (setting changing means, target step deriving means, step comparing means).

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A pseudo walking path for a user to perform walking training, actual step length deriving means for deriving an actual step that is an actual step of the user who performs walking training on the pseudo walking path; Target stride deriving means for deriving a target stride as a recommended value of the stride in performing the step, and stride comparing means for comparing the derived actual stride and the target stride to the user. Walking training device. 2. The target step deriving means includes: setting change means for inputting physical data of a user; and storage means in which the target step is stored in advance. 2. The walking training device according to claim 1, wherein the adapted target step length is derived from the storage unit. 3. The gait training device according to claim 2, wherein the target step length is average standard data of the step length classified medically and statistically. 4. The walking training device according to claim 1, wherein the desired step deriving means includes setting changing means capable of changing the desired step. 5. An actual step length deriving means, a time measuring means for measuring a walking training time, a pedometer for measuring the number of steps from a vibration of a user performing the walking training, and a walking speed of the user during the walking training. 2. The walking training device according to claim 1, further comprising: a walking speed measuring unit configured to derive an actual step length from the measured walking training time, the number of steps, and the walking speed.