U.S. patent application number 11/066848 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-31 for balance assessment system.
Invention is credited to Daniel Goldstein.
Application Number | 20060194178 11/066848 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36932319 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060194178 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Goldstein; Daniel |
August 31, 2006 |
Balance assessment system
Abstract
A body movement assessment device for measuring a position of a
center of gravity of a person at a plurality of time intervals
relative to a recordable event, such as ball impact in a golf
swing, and displaying those measurements for analysis. The body
movement assessment device is useful in analyzing the tempo of body
movement of a person, the consistency of body movement over two or
more repetitions of a movement, the weight shift and postures of
the person, and balance of the person. The body movement assessment
device may include a visual recording device that enables a visual
image of the person to be recorded and replayed together with other
analytical information for increased analysis and understanding by
the person. In at least one embodiment, the body movement
assessment device may be configured to analyze a golf swing.
Inventors: |
Goldstein; Daniel; (Palm
Beach Gardens, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
AKERMAN SENTERFITT
P.O. BOX 3188
WEST PALM BEACH
FL
33402-3188
US
|
Family ID: |
36932319 |
Appl. No.: |
11/066848 |
Filed: |
February 25, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
434/252 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2220/806 20130101;
A63B 2220/807 20130101; A63B 69/0015 20130101; A63B 69/002
20130101; A63B 69/3676 20130101; A63B 2069/367 20130101; A63B
24/0003 20130101; A63B 2069/0008 20130101; A63B 2102/14 20151001;
A63B 2071/0627 20130101; A63B 69/3667 20130101; A63B 69/38
20130101; A63B 69/0071 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
434/252 |
International
Class: |
A63B 69/36 20060101
A63B069/36 |
Claims
1. A body movement assessment device, comprising: at least one body
movement sensor for determining a position of a center of gravity
of a person relative to at least one body movement sensor; at least
one recordable event sensor for activating storage of data produced
by the at least one body movement sensor relative to a recordable
event; at least one display screen for displaying the position of
the center of gravity of the person at time intervals relative to
the recordable event; and at least one central processing unit in
communication with the at least one body movement sensor, the at
least one recordable event sensor, and the at least one display
screen, wherein the central processing unit is configured to record
and display on the display screen a plurality of marks representing
the position of the center of gravity of a person at time intervals
relative to the recordable event, thereby enabling analysis of
movement tempo of the person to be analyzed.
2. The body movement assessment device of claim 1, wherein the at
least one body movement sensor comprises at least one force plate
with at least one flat surface for supporting a person.
3. The body movement assessment device of claim 1, wherein the
recordable event sensor is capable of being activated upon
detecting a ball strike event and the recordable event is the ball
strike event.
4. The body movement assessment device of claim 3, wherein the ball
strike event is selected from the group consisting of a golf club
strike, a baseball bat strike, a softball bat strike, a tennis
racket strike, a soccer ball strike, a racket ball racket strike, a
hand ball hand strike, a football kick, and a cricket bat
strike.
5. The body movement assessment device of claim 1, wherein the
recordable event sensor is adapted to be activated upon detecting a
ball release event and the recordable event is the ball release
event.
6. The body movement assessment device of claim 5, wherein the ball
release event is selected from the group consisting of a ball
throw, a basketball shot, a tennis serve toss, a lacrosse throw, a
bowling ball throw, a bowling ball release, and a horseshoe
throw.
7. The body movement assessment device of claim 1, wherein the time
interval between center of gravity measurements is about in 1/100
of a second.
8. The body movement assessment device of claim 1, further
comprising a visual recording device for recording the movement of
the person relative to the recordable event wherein the at least
one display screen is configured to display the movement and is
configured to replay a recording of the movement of the person.
9. The body movement assessment device of claim 8, wherein the
central processing unit is capable displaying on the at least one
display screen a screen with center of gravity positions together
with a visual recording of the person moving before and after the
recordable event.
10. The body movement assessment device of claim 1, wherein the
central processing unit is capable of displaying a percentage of
weight of the person in contact with the at least one body movement
sensor for each of left foot toe region, left foot heel region,
right foot toe region, and right foot heel region
simultaneously.
11. The body movement assessment device of claim 1, further
comprising at least one alarm triggered when the center of gravity
of the person moves outside of a predetermined area.
12. The body movement assessment device of claim 11, wherein the at
least one alarm is triggered when a threshold weight percentage for
one or more center of gravity quadrants for the person is
exceeded.
13. The body movement assessment device of claim 12, wherein each
center of gravity quadrant includes an alarm that, when actuated,
is different from an alarm of other center of gravity quadrants for
the person, wherein a threshold for each alarm is adjustable
independent of other center of gravity quadrant alarms, and wherein
each center of gravity quadrant alarm is independently
activated.
14. The body movement assessment device of claim 1, wherein the
central processing unit displays marks on the at least one display
screen in a first manner indicating movement of the person in a
first lateral direction and displays marks on the at least one
display screen in a second manner indicating movement of the person
in a second, generally opposite, lateral direction.
15. The body movement assessment device of claim 1, wherein the at
least one display screen displays percentage of body weight on each
foot and a center of gravity track so that both can be analyzed
together.
16. The body movement assessment device of claim 1, wherein the at
least one display screen displays at least one arrow indicating the
direction of shear force produced by a foot of a person.
17. The body movement assessment device of claim 16, wherein the at
least one display screen indicates the amount of shear force
produced by the foot of a person.
18. A body movement assessment device, comprising: at least one
body movement sensor having at least one surface for determining a
position of a center of gravity of a person relative to at least
one body movement sensor; at least one recordable event sensor for
activating storage of data produced by the at least one body
movement sensor relative to a recordable event; at least one
display screen for displaying the position of the center of gravity
of the person; a visual recording device for recording the movement
of the person relative to the recordable event and wherein the at
least one display screen is configured to display the movement and
is configured to replay a recording of the movement of the person;
and at least one central processing unit in communication with the
at least one body movement sensor, the at least one ball-strike
sensor, the at least one display screen, and the visual recording
device, wherein the central processing unit is configured to record
and display on the display screen a plurality of marks representing
the position of the center of gravity of a person at time intervals
relative to the recordable event.
19. The body movement assessment device of claim 18, wherein the
central processing unit is capable displaying on the at least one
display screen a balance screen with center of gravity positions
together with a visual recording of the person moving relative to
the recordable event.
20. The body movement assessment device of claim 18, wherein the
central processing unit is capable of displaying a percentage of
weight of the person in contact with the at least one body movement
sensor for each of left foot toe region, left foot heel region,
right foot toe region, and right foot heel region
simultaneously.
21. The body movement assessment device of claim 18, wherein each
center of gravity quadrant includes an alarm signifying that the
person is out of balance and that, when actuated, is different from
an alarm of other center of gravity quadrants for the person,
wherein a threshold for each alarm is adjustable independent of
other center of gravity quadrant alarms, and wherein each center of
gravity quadrant alarm is independently activated.
22. The body movement assessment device of claim 18, wherein the
central processing unit displays marks on the at least one display
screen in a first manner indicating movement of the person in a
first lateral direction and displays marks on the at least one
display screen in a second manner indicating movement of the person
in a second, generally opposite, lateral direction.
23. The body movement assessment device of claim 18, wherein the at
least one display screen displays percentage of body weight on each
foot and a center of gravity track so that both can be analyzed
together.
24. The body movement assessment device of claim 18, wherein the at
least one display screen displays at least one arrow indicating the
direction of shear force produced by a foot of a person.
25. The body movement assessment device of claim 24, wherein the at
least one display screen indicates the amount of shear force
produced by the foot of a person.
26. A method of analyzing balance and consistency of a person
performing an athletic movement, comprising: positioning a person
in proximity with at least one body movement sensor for determining
a position of a center of gravity of the person relative to at
least one body movement sensor; determining the occurrence of a
recordable event using at least one recordable event sensor;
measuring the center of gravity of the person at a plurality of
time intervals before and after a recordable event using the at
least one body movement sensor; recording the measurements taken of
the center of gravity of the person at time intervals in at least
one central processing unit; displaying on at least one display
screen the center of gravity of a person taken at the plurality of
time intervals before and after the recordable event as marks
enabling a movement tempo of the person to be analyzed.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to balance assessment of a person
during an athletic activity, and more particularly, to the balance
assessment of a person to heighten body coordination skills
critical to maximizing the power and accuracy of movements during
athletic activities.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Many exercise performances, such as athletic activities, are
focused, in part, on participants' abilities to repeatedly contact
a ball or release a ball in a particular manner. For instance,
golf, baseball, and softball include ball contact as a major
portion of the games, and basketball, football, baseball, and
softball, include ball release actions. Participants who excel in
these activities often possess a number of attributes that, when
combined, enable those participants to hit or throw a ball further,
straighter, and more accurately then other competitors. One factor
that typically plays a major part in whether a person excels in an
athletic activity is the person's balance during the athletic
activity. In particular, if a person maintains the proper balance
throughout an athletic activity, the person has created a good
foundation from which the person may perform at a high level and
prevent injuries from developing from unnatural movements and from
over compensating for poor balance. In addition, proper weight
transfer, which is required in some athletic movements, enables a
person to transfer the maximum momentum from the person to the
ball.
[0003] Analytical devices have been developed to analyze the
movement of the center of gravity of a person through an exercise
performance. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,791 discloses an
analytical device for measuring the center of gravity of a person
while hitting a golf ball or performing other athletic activities
or exercise performances and displaying the center of gravity on a
display screen. The display screen shows the path of the center of
gravity for a period of time before and after a ball strike. The
analytical device may be used to identify faults in portions of the
person's swing so that the person may focus training efforts on
those areas to improve the person's swing.
[0004] While conventional systems have assisted people in
identifying poor balance during a golf swing and other athletic
movement, conventional systems have not addressed other factors
that affect an athletic movement. For instance, conventional
systems have not addressed analyzing the tempo of athletic
movements, which is often a major factor in a successful athletic
movement. In addition, while conventional systems provide a good
basis for analysis, the conventional systems typically do not
include elements that facilitate rapid teaching of a well-balance
movement to users. For at least these reasons, there exists a need
for an improved system for assessing the balance and movement of a
person engaged in an exercise performance, such as an athletic
movement or position.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0005] This invention is directed to a body movement assessment
device usable to record and display the center of gravity of a
person while performing a movement or body position and to enable a
person to become more consistent at repeating that movement or body
position. For instance, the body movement assessment device may be
configured to assist a person in analyzing an exercise movement,
such as an athletic movement or position. The analysis can improve
the person's balance during the movement or position and enhance
the person's consistency in producing the movement or position. The
body movement assessment device may be usable to analyze a
recordable event, which may be a number of different events. For
instance, the body movement assessment device may be configured to
analyze a recordable event such as a ball strike event including,
but not limited to, a golf club strike, a baseball bat strike, a
softball bat strike, a tennis racket strike, a soccer ball strike,
a racket ball racket strike, a hand ball hand strike, a cricket bat
strike, a football kick, or others. In addition, the body movement
assessment device may be configured to analyze a recordable event
such as a ball release event including, but not limited to, a ball
throw, a basketball shot, a tennis serve toss, a lacrosse throw, a
bowling ball throw, a horseshoe throw, a bowling ball release or
others. In still other embodiments, the body movement assessment
device may be configured to analyze body movements and balance of
horseback riders and others.
[0006] The body movement assessment device may be used as an
analytical device to analyze incorrect body balance to facilitate
the learning of a more balanced movement. In at least one
embodiment, the body movement assessment device may be configured
to analyze a golf swing. The body movement assessment device may
also be used as a training device to train a person once an
analysis has been competed to assist the person in developing good
balance. Still yet, the body movement device may be used in
physical therapy applications to isolate certain aspects of
exercise performances, such as athletic movements, for
rehabilitation of disabled athletes.
[0007] The body movement assessment device may include at least one
body movement sensor for determining a position of a center of
gravity of a person relative to at least one body movement sensor
and at least one recordable event sensor for activating storage of
data produced by the at least one body movement sensor before or
after a recordable event, or both. The body movement sensor may be
capable of measuring body movement in two or three dimensions, or
both. In at least one embodiment, the body movement sensor is a
force plate having a surface configured to support a person
standing on the plate. The recordable event sensor may be adapted
to movement or position desired to be analyzed. In at least one
embodiment, the recordable event sensor may be a microphone for
capturing a ball strike event.
[0008] The body movement assessment device may also include at
least one display screen for displaying the position of the center
of gravity of the person. The center of gravity of the person may
be displayed at time intervals before and after the recordable
event and at least one central processing unit in communication
with the at least one body movement sensor, the at least one
recordable event sensor, and the at least one display screen,
wherein the central processing unit is configured to record and
display on the display screen a plurality of marks representing the
position of the center of gravity of a person at time intervals
before and after the recordable event, thereby enabling analysis of
movement tempo of the person to be analyzed.
[0009] The body movement assessment device may also include one or
more alarms, which may be visual or audio, or both, for alerting a
person that the person has moved into an out of balance position.
In at least one embodiment, the alarm may be set off when a person
has moved into an out of balance position as signified by a weight
percentage in a one of the four quadrants formed of the left toe
region, the left heel region, the right toe region, and the right
heel region exceeding a predetermined threshold. The threshold for
the weight percentages for the alarm may be changed independently
for each region, and the alarms for each region may be turned on
independently. The alarm for each region may be different than the
others so that the person can easily determine in which region the
person has placed too much weight.
[0010] The body movement assessment device may also include one or
more visual recording devices for recording the person during a
movement or position. The visual recording may be replayed together
with the analytical graphs on the display screen so that the person
may be analyzed visually and analytically together. This
configuration greatly accelerates learning because the person is
able to see at what stages of the swing is the person out of
balance.
[0011] The body movement assessment device may also display the
movement of the center of gravity of a person at various time
intervals rather then continuously. The body movement assessment
device may produce a trace of the center of gravity formed from a
plurality of marks representing the center of gravity for a period
of time before and after a recordable event. Each mark forming the
trace signifies a position of the center of gravity of the person
at a time interval relative to the recordable event. For instance,
in at least one embodiment, the body movement assessment device may
display a plurality of marks representing the center of gravity of
a person during a golf swing for a period of time before or after a
ball strike, or both. The marks may represent the positions of the
center of gravity taken at intervals of 1/100 of a second over a
time period of two seconds before the ball strike until one second
after the ball strike. Displaying the center of gravity in this
manner enables the tempo of the golf swing to be analyzed. In has
been recognized that most good golfers maintain the same tempo from
shot to shot with the same club and the same tempo with all clubs,
from a wedge to a driver. Thus, it is advantageous to analyze the
tempo of a person's golf swing to assist the person in maintaining
consistency of the swing tempo in all shots, thereby enabling the
golfer to develop a more consistent golf game.
[0012] Another advantage of the invention is that the alarm
function enables a person to determine whether the person has
fallen out of balance very easily. Conventional systems typically
require a person to be viewing a monitor to determine whether the
person has fallen out of balance, which at times, forces the person
to be placed into an unnatural position. In the instant invention,
the person may be alerted that the person has fallen out of balance
through an audible alarm. Thus, the person can maintain focus on
the ball in a natural position, rather than unnaturally viewing a
monitor while swinging at the ball. Enabling the person to maintain
a natural position can greatly assist the person in determining
where the problem areas in his swing exist more rapidly. In
addition, the alarms may be used not only for analysis but also for
training exercises to remove bad habits, such as reverse pivots,
weight transfers not along the sagittal plane, and others.
[0013] Yet another advantage of the invention is that the person
may review a swing in numerous manners simultaneously. More
specifically, the person may review a swing by watching a replayed
visual recording of the swing that is in time with analytical
information showing the percentage of weight in each of the
quadrants of the feet and showing the location of the person's
center of gravity relative to the sagittal plane. The visual
recording may be replayed at normal speed, a slower speed, a faster
speed, or paused to assist the analysis. The visual recording
improves upon the center of gravity testing by giving a person a
chance to determine whether the person's posture is correct in
addition to having a balanced stance with weight properly
distributed. A person can be properly balanced but at the same time
have bad posture as he steps to the ball in a golf situation or
vice versa.
[0014] Another advantage of this invention is that the alarms and
the display screen enable a person to identify and learn to stay
within a "balance zone" to increase the person's ability to repeat
a particular movement or position consistently without exceeding
such zone and suffering from increased stress on the body resulting
from over compensation.
[0015] These and other embodiments are described in more detail
below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a body movement assessment
device including aspects of this invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is another schematic diagram of the body movement
assessment device including aspects of this invention.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective diagram displaying aspects
of this invention.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the body
movement assessment device.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
body movement assessment device that is portable.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a screen shot of a two dimensional display of the
position of a center of gravity of a person conducting a balanced
golf swing relative to a sagittal alignment reference.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a screen shot of a two dimensional display of the
position of a center of gravity of a person conducting a poorly
balanced golf swing relative to a sagittal alignment reference.
[0023] FIG. 8 is another screen shot of a two dimensional display
of the position of a center of gravity of a person conducting
another poorly balanced golf swing relative to a sagittal alignment
reference.
[0024] FIG. 9 is a screen shot displaying screen/mode options of
the body movement assessment device.
[0025] FIG. 10 is a screen shot displaying percentages of weight of
a person in each of the quadrants including a left toe region, a
left heel region, a right toe region, and a right heel region.
[0026] FIG. 11 is a screen shot displaying the percentage of weight
of a person in the toe and heel regions.
[0027] FIG. 12 is a screen shot displaying the percentage of weight
of a person in the left and right feet.
[0028] FIG. 13 is a screen shot displaying percentages of weight of
a person in each of the quadrants including a toe region, a heel
region, a right foot region, and a left foot region in graph
form.
[0029] FIG. 14 is a screen shot displaying a two dimensional
display of the position of a center of gravity of a person
conducting a golf swing in a chipping/putting mode which has
increased body movement sensitivity usable for stability training
and includes weight percentages for each quadrant in each corner of
the two dimensional display.
[0030] FIG. 15 is a screen shot displaying a two dimensional
display of the position of a center of gravity of a person
conducting a golf swing in a training mode and including weight
percentages for each quadrant in each corner of the two dimensional
display.
[0031] FIG. 16 is a screen shot displaying two golf swings overlaid
to compare movement patterns and determine swing consistency.
[0032] FIG. 17 is a screen shot displaying a two dimensional
display of the position of a center of gravity of a person
conducting a golf swing in a training mode and includes weight
percentages for each quadrant in each corner of the two dimensional
display.
[0033] FIGS. 18-25 display a person at various stages of a golf
swing and the corresponding trace produced on the display screen of
the body movement assessment device.
[0034] FIG. 26 is a screen shot displaying a two dimensional
display of the position of a center of gravity of a person
conducting a golf swing in a training mode and including weight
percentages for each quadrant in each corner of the two dimensional
display and a track of the center of gravity of the person.
[0035] FIG. 27 is similar to FIG. 14 and further includes arrows
that indicated the direction of shear force created by a person's
foot in the four quadrants.
[0036] FIG. 28 is similar to FIG. 15 and further includes arrows
that indicated the direction of shear force created by a person's
foot in the four quadrants.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0037] As shown in FIGS. 1-28, the invention is directed to a body
movement assessment device 10 for measuring a position of a center
of gravity 12 of a person 14 at a plurality of time intervals
relative to a recordable event and displaying those measurements so
that the movements of the person 14 may be analyzed. The body
movement assessment device 10 is useful in determining consistency
of body movement of a person undertaking body movements, such as
athletic body movement in, for instance, a sport. In at least one
embodiment, the body movement assessment device 10 may be useful in
analyzing a golf swing of the person 14 to determine the position
of the center of gravity 12 of the person at various points during
the swing and to determine the tempo of the swing at various times
during the swing and to analyze the person's posture. The body
movement assessment device 10 is also useful to determine the
consistency of the person's 14 movement between two or more
different swings.
[0038] The following description of the body movement assessment
device 10 is described in an embodiment configured to be used in
analyzing a golf swing. However, the body movement assessment
device 10 is not limited to analyzing a golf swing but may be
configured to analyze other body movements as well. For instance,
the recordable event from which the analysis may be made may be a
ball strike event such as, but not limited to, a golf club strike,
a baseball bat strike, a softball bat strike, a tennis racket
strike, a soccer ball strike, a racket ball racket strike, a hand
ball hand strike, a cricket bat strike, a football kick, or others.
In other embodiments, the recordable event may be a ball release
event such as, but not limited to, a ball throw, a basketball shot,
a tennis serve toss, a lacrosse throw, a bowling ball throw, a
horseshoe throw, a bowling ball release, or others. In still other
embodiments, the body movement assessment device 10 may be
configured to analyze body movements and balance of horseback
riders. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, the body movement
assessment device 10 may include one or more body movement sensors
16 for determining a position of the center of gravity 12 of the
person 14. The body movement assessment device 10 may be formed
from different devices depending on the body movement to be
analyzed. The body movement assessment device 10 may measure a
center of gravity 12 of a person 14 in three dimensions or in two
dimensions. In embodiments in which three dimensional analysis is
performed, measurements may be made using light sensing devices or
other appropriate devices. In an embodiment configured to measure
the center of gravity 12 of a person 14 in two dimensions, the body
movement sensor 16 may be a force plate 20 having a surface 18 for
supporting the person 14. The force plate 20 may measure forces
transmitted from the person 14 to the plate 20 and transmit those
measurements to a central processing unit 22. The force plate 20
may measure forces from a person 14 when the person 14 is standing
on a surface 18 of the plate 20.
[0039] The force plate 20 may be configured to measure forces in
all areas of the feet of the person 14 such that the measured
forces transmitted to the central processing unit 22 may be used to
calculate the center of gravity 12 of the person 14 and to
calculate the percentage of weight of the person 14 in various
portions of the feet of the person 14. In at least one embodiment,
the force plate 20 measures forces such that the central processing
unit 22 may determine the percentage of weight of a person in each
quadrant, wherein the quadrants may be formed from left foot toe
region 25, left foot heel region 27, right foot toe region 29, and
right foot heel region 31. In other embodiment, the central
processing unit 22 may calculate the weight percentages on the
heels or toes of the person's feet or on the left or right feet.
The force plate 20 may be positioned proximate to a ball support
system 32, as shown in FIGS. 3-5. The force plate 20 and the ball
support system 32 may include an artificial turf having a grid 34
for accurately positioning of the feet of the person 14 on the
force plate 20 and may include a grid 36 surrounding a tee 38 for
supporting a ball. The grad 36 may be used to facilitate the person
14 addressing the ball properly and consistently.
[0040] Measurement of body movements may be controlled by the
central processing unit 22 in cooperation with one or more
recordable event sensors 24. The central processing unit 22 may be
any processing unit capable of performing the necessary
calculations to determine the center of gravity 12 of a person 14,
such as, but not limited to, a microprocessor, a personal computer,
or other appropriate devices. The recordable event sensor 24
determines when the person has performed a recordable event, such
as listed above. For instance, in an embodiment in which the body
movement assessment device 10 is configured to be used to analyze a
golf swing, the recordable event sensor 24 may be a microphone 26
usable to determine when ball strike occurs, such as when a club
face strikes a golf ball 40. The microphone 26 may transmit the
sound of the ball strike to the central processing unit 22 to
record the moment in time that the ball strike occurred. In other
embodiments, the recordable event sensor 24 may be a laser for
detecting movement of a ball or other object desired to be struck,
a pressure sensor to determine a release of an object, such as a
ball, or other appropriate devices.
[0041] The body movement assessment device 10 may also include one
or more display screens 28 for displaying a position of the center
of gravity 12 of the person 14 at time intervals before and after a
recordable event. The display screen 28 may enable the person 14 to
view various screens, as shown in FIGS. 9-17, which are described
below in more detail. In at least one embodiment, the display
screen 28 may display splits screens, such as two or more screens
displayed simultaneously. The display screen 28 is not limited to a
particular size or configuration. Rather, the display screen 28 may
be any display screen capable of displaying the screen shots shown
in FIGS. 9-17 and other information.
[0042] The body movement assessment device 10 may also include one
or more visual recording devices 30 for recording movement of the
person 14 before and after the recordable event. The visual
recording device 30 may be coupled to the central processing unit
22 or to the display screen 28, or both, to display recordings of
the person 14 for analysis. In at least one embodiment, the body
movement assessment device 10 may include a plurality of visual
recording devices 30 for recording movement of the person 14 from
different angles. For instance, a person 14 positioned to engage in
a golf swing may be recorded from a location facing the person 14,
from behind the person, from a position to the right of the person
14, a position to the left of the person 14, or above the person
14, or any combination thereof, or in other positions as well. The
recordings may be reviewed on one or more display screens 28. In at
least one embodiment, the visual recordings may be reviewed
together with other analytical screens shown in FIGS. 9-17 so that
the person 14 may see the body position in good balance positions
and in poor balance positions to facilitate the person 14 learning
proper balance and weight transfer throughout the golf swing. The
body movement assessment device 10 may be configured such that the
visual recording may be paused at any moment during playback
throughout the recorded swing and shown together with the
analytical information shown in FIGS. 9-17 correlating to that
particular point in the swing, thereby enabling visual and
analytical information of the swing to be analyzed together. Such a
display tremendously accelerates the learning process for
correcting bad habits and teaching a well-balanced golf swing.
[0043] The body movement assessment device 10 may also include one
or more alarms 50 for alerting the person 14 that the person has
moved to an out of balance condition. For instance, in at least one
embodiment, the device 10 may include an alarm 50 for each of the
quadrants, including the left foot toe region 25, left foot heel
region 27, right foot toe region 29, and right foot heel region 31.
The alarm 50 may be actuated for each quadrant independently. In
addition, the threshold for each alarm 50 may be established
independent of the threshold for alarms 50 for other quadrants. For
instance, an alarm 50 for the left foot toe region 25 may be turned
on and set for 40 percent such that when the left foot toe region
25 exceeds 40 percent of the weight of the person 14, the alarm is
activated. The alarm 50 may be an audible or visual alarm, or both.
In at least one embodiment, the alarm 50 includes a audible noise
and a flashing of the portion of a graph on the display screen 28
correlating to the particular quadrant in which the weight
percentage has been exceeded. The alarms 50 may include an audible
alarm for each quadrant that is distinctly different from the other
quadrants 50. Such a configuration is particularly advantageous
because it allows the person 14 to get into a ready position
without looking up to view the display screen 28. In addition, and
most importantly, the person 14 may perform a golf swing without
looking at the display screen 28 and be notified audibly whenever
the person 14 exceeds a weight percentage in one or more of the
quadrants. This is particularly useful because a person 14 may stay
is the person's normal golf swing posture and swing naturally and
yet be told if the person 14 falls out of balance during the
swing.
[0044] In addition, a golf instructor can use the body movement
assessment device 10 to correct bad habits in a golf swing of a
person 14. For instance, a golf instructor may use the device 10 to
cure a reverse weight shift where a person 14 incorrectly shifts
weight to the back foot, which is the right foot for a right handed
golfer, at ball contact. The instructor can set the thresholds such
that the person 14 must set off the alarms 50 for the left foot in
order to perform create a proper weight transfer. Thus, the person
14 must continue to transfer weight to the left foot during the
swing until the person 14 hears the alarms 50 activate. Without
activation of the alarm 50, proper weight transfer has not taken
place.
[0045] The body movement assessment device 10 may also measure
shear forces developed by the feet of the person 14 standing on the
force plate 20 during movement. The shear forces may be measured
using any conventional shear stress sensor, as known to those of
ordinary skill in the art. The shear forces that are measured may
be displayed in screen shots, as shown in FIGS. 27 and 28. More
specifically, FIG. 27 displays a center of gravity display together
with arrows 66 corresponding with each of the four quadrants
previously described. The arrows 66 indicate the direction of shear
force. In addition, a plurality of dots 68, or other shape or
method, may be shown on the display screen 28 to indicate the
amount of shear force exerted in a particular quadrant. Each dot 68
may represent an increment of force, such as, but not limited to
five pounds. FIG. 28 displays arrows 66 used to indicate a
direction of shear force created by a person's 14 foot and the
magnitude of that shear force. The magnitude of the shear force may
be indicated by the length of the arrow. The larger the shear force
measured, the longer the arrow may be displayed, and vice
versa.
[0046] During use, the body movement assessment device 10 may be
used to trace the center of gravity 12 of a person throughout a
golf swing, as shown in FIGS. 18-25. The body movement assessment
device 10 is actuated by first turning the device 10 on. A golf
ball 40 may be placed on the turf or a tee 38 in of the ball
support system 32. The horizontal and vertical position of the
surface 18 of the body movement sensor 16 relative to the ball
support system 12 may be adjusted to simulate an uphill lie, a down
hill lie, or other shots encountered on a golf course. The person
14 steps onto the body movement sensor 16. As shown in FIG. 3, the
person 14 may position his feet generally symmetrically on the grid
34 relative to the longitudinal alignment line 34 and the right and
left lateral lines 44, 46. For instance, the person 14 may stand on
the body movement sensor 16 such that ankle joints of the person 14
are positioned over a longitudinal alignment line 42, which
positions the ankle joints of the person 14 relative to the front
and back boundaries of the body movement sensor 16. Spacing of the
feet relative to the boundaries of the body movement sensor 16 are
indicated by positions of the feet relative to the right lateral
alignment lines 44 and the left lateral alignment lines 46. An
arrow 48 shows the desired direction of ball flight, which is
generally parallel to the longitudinal alignment line 42.
[0047] When the person 14 stands on the body movement sensor 16,
the display screen 28 displays the screen shot shown in FIG. 17.
The center of gravity 12 is displayed on the screen 28. In at least
one embodiment, the center of gravity 12 is not displayed as a
continuous line. Rather, the center of gravity 12 is displayed at
time intervals and forms a dotted trace as shown in FIGS. 6-8 and
14-17. The dotted trace provides two types of information. First,
the dotted trace conveys the movement path of the center of gravity
12 of the person 14 during an event, such as a golf swing. As shown
in FIGS. 14-17, the trace displays the center of gravity in
relation to a balance zone 52, which extends generally between the
left and right feet and between the heels and bridges of the feet.
FIGS. 14-17 displays the center of gravity 12 of the person 14 as
viewed from above the person 14 and relative to the sagittal
alignment reference 54, which represents the longitudinal alignment
line 42. While golf swings typically differ from person to person,
most good golf swings have a corresponding center of gravity 12
that does not travel outside of the balance zone 52.
[0048] The tracing aspect of the body movement assessment device 10
enables a person to understand the body movements that are not
consistent with good golf. The tracing aspect enables a person 14
to better understand the position of the body throughout a golf
swing.
[0049] Second, the dotted trace conveys the position of the center
of gravity 12 at consecutive time intervals, such as, but not
limited to, 1/100 of a second. In other embodiments, the time
intervals may be less than or greater than 1/100 of a second.
Displaying the center of gravity 12 of the person 14 enables the
rate, or tempo, of movement of the person 14 to be analyzed. Dots
that are positioned close together indicate slower movement than
dots that are positioned further apart. The tempo of one golf swing
by a person 14 may be compared with the tempo of a golf swing from
the same person 14 with the same or different club. It has been
determined that many excellent golfers typically have a very
consistent tempo from shot to shot and throughout all clubs, from
wedges to drivers. Thus, analyzing the consistency of the tempo of
a golf swing of a golfer is useful.
[0050] In at least one embodiment, the center of gravity 12 may be
displayed in one manner when the person 14 is moving in a first
direction along the longitudinal alignment line 42 and may appear
in a different manner when the person 14 is moving in a second
direction that is generally opposite to the first direction. This
configuration facilitates easy analysis of the screen shot shown in
FIGS. 14-17, which displays the trace of the movement of the center
of gravity 12 of a person through a golf swing. In at least one
embodiment, the center of gravity 12 may be displayed in a first
color when the person 14 is moving in a first direction along the
longitudinal alignment line 42 and may appear in a different color
when the person 14 is moving in a second direction that is
generally opposite to the first direction. Alternatively, rather
than different colors, the dots representing the center of gravity
12 in one direction may be represented by a symbol that is
distinguishable from a symbol used to represent movement of the
center of gravity 12 in a direction generally opposite to the first
direction.
[0051] The person 14 may address the ball 40 positioned on the ball
support system 32. The visual recording device 30 and the body
movement sensor 16 record information while the person 14 is
standing on the body movement sensor. The person 14 may proceed
with a typical golf swing. The body movement sensor 16 records the
forces generated by the person 14 during the swing and transmits
the data to the central processing unit 22, which calculates the
center of gravity 12 of the body movement assessment device 10. The
central processing unit 22 also calculates the percentage of weight
of the person in each of the regions 25, 27, 29, and 31 and
displays it on the display screen 28. As the golf swing is made,
the center of gravity 12 may be displayed on the display screen 28,
as shown in FIGS. 14-17. In the example of a golf swing, the ball
strike is the recordable event. The recordable event sensor 24
transmits the ball strike to the central processing unit 22.
[0052] Once the person 14 has completed the swing, the central
processing unit 22 produces a window of data that correlates to
data created by the person 14 before the ball strike, which is the
recordable event, and after the ball strike so that the person 14
may analyze the swing before and after the swing. In at least one
embodiment, the central processing unit 22 produces data
correlating to two seconds before the ball strike event to one
second after the ball strike event. However, in other embodiments,
the time frame of data produced by the central processing unit 22
may vary. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the central processing unit 22
may produce data to display a dotted trace representing the path of
the center of gravity 12 for a time period and may display an X or
other appropriate mark 60 marking the location of the center of
gravity 12 at the recordable event, which in this case is at the
time the club impacts the ball 40.
[0053] FIG. 6 shows a screen shot of a two-dimensional display
screen 28. The center of gravity 12 marks are shown relative to the
sagittal alignment reference 54, which corresponds to the
longitudinal alignment line 42, and the lateral dimension of the
display screen 28 corresponds to the left-right axis of the person
14. During a well-coordinated golf swing, the direction of ball
flight should approximately correspond to the sagittal alignment
reference 54 and remain within the balance zone 52. The center of
gravity 12 begins at a calculated start-time 56 before a recordable
event and continues until a calculated stop-time 58. A mark 60
designates the center of gravity 12 corresponding with the
ball-strike.
[0054] The screen shot shown in FIG. 6 displays a well-coordinated
golf swing. The center of gravity 12 of the person 14 at the
beginning of the swing is centered relative to the sagittal
alignment reference 54 and lateral references 44, 46. During the
back swing of the person 14, the center of gravity 12 moves to the
right lateral line 44, and during the forward swing, the center of
gravity 12 moves toward a center position on the sagittal alignment
reference 54 between the lateral references 44, 46. After ball
strike in the follow through portion of the swing, the center of
gravity 12 moves to the left lateral line 46. By moving the center
of gravity 12 generally along the sagittal alignment reference 54,
the person 14 moves the center of gravity 12 in a straight line
aligned with the desired direction of ball-flight. In addition,
moving the center of gravity 12 the full distance between the right
and left lateral lines 44, 46 and by striking the ball while
generally centered between the lateral lines 44, 46, the person 14
is performing an advantageous weight shift.
[0055] In contrast, FIG. 7 is a screen shot displaying a poorly
balanced golf swing. Initially, the center of gravity 12 of the
person 14 is centered relative to the sagittal alignment reference
54 and lateral lines 44, 46. During the back swing, however, the
center of gravity 12 moves away from the sagittal alignment
reference 54. As the person 14 began the forward portion of the
swing, the center of gravity 12 moves toward the sagittal alignment
reference 54 and the ball 40 is struck before the center of gravity
12 is centered between the lateral lines 44 and 46. After ball
contact, the center of gravity 12 moves away from the sagittal
alignment reference 54. Movement of the center of gravity 12 shown
in FIG. 7 is not in line with the desired direction of ball flight,
thereby reducing the likelihood of a good shot. In addition,
striking the ball 40 before the center of gravity 12 is centered
between the lateral lines 44 and 46 prevents the person 14 from
transferring maximum momentum to the ball 40.
[0056] FIG. 8 also displays a poorly balanced golf swing in which
the person 14 fails to go through a proper weight shift. In
particular, the person 14 fails to move the center of gravity 12
the full distance to the right lateral line 44, and at the
completion of the swing after follow-through, the person 14 fails
to shift the center of gravity 12 the full distance to the left
lateral line 46. Failure to shift the center of gravity 12 the full
distance between the lateral lines 44, 46 prevents the person 14
from imparting the maximum forward momentum to the ball 40.
[0057] The swing of the person 14 may be analyzed in numerous
manners. For instance, the tempo of the swing, the balance of the
person 14, and the visual recording of the person 14 may be
analyzed. The person 14 may also swing multiple times and compare
the multiple swings on a single display screen 28, as shown in the
screen shot in FIG. 16. This comparison enables a conclusion to be
made regarding the consistency of weight transfer during the swing
of the person 14. Typically, the more consistent the swing of a
golfer, the more successful the golfer will be.
[0058] In at least one embodiment, the device 10 may display the
visual recording of the person 14 swinging together with the
analytical graphs shown in FIGS. 14-17. The display may occur on a
single display screen 28 or on multiple screens 28 with the visual
recording shown on one screen 28 and the analytical information
shown on other screens 28. Furthermore, a person may chose to view
a screen, as shown at FIG. 26, that combines the screen shot shown
in FIG. 10 that displays percentages of weight of a person in each
of the quadrants including a left toe region, a left heel region, a
right toe region, and a right heel region with the screen shot
shown in FIG. 15 displaying a two dimensional display of the
position of a center of gravity of a person conducting a golf swing
in a training mode and including weight percentages for each
quadrant in each corner of the two dimensional display. Such a
combined display will enable a person to whom the data correlates,
an instructor, or others, to analyze the person's swing or movement
throughout the recorded period.
[0059] With the integrated approach of video and audio analysis in
combination with the balance enables a far more sophisticated
analysis of the golf swing to be undertaken. Thus, balance alone is
not sufficient, but balance analyzed together with overall body
posture enables scrutiny on a heretofore unrecognized level.
Additionally with balance appropriately being studied, the
integration of the movement of center of gravity of the player
during critical moves such as the downswing can be carefully
analyzed. Additionally audio feedback is added to the device 10 to
give a person 14 a measure of consistency of the center of gravity
from one golf swing to the next either with the same clubs or
different clubs.
[0060] The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating,
explaining, and describing embodiments of this invention.
Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent
to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from
the scope or spirit of this invention.
* * * * *