METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING AND REHABILITATION

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for assisting a person in walking, comprising a measurement unit for measuring physiological data including vital sign data and movement data of the person; an activity ability determination unit which is configured to determine a frailty state of the person based on the vital sign data, and to determine walking characteristics of the person based on the movement data; an activity program unit which is configured to select and continuously update a walking program based on the determined frailty state of the person and the determined walking characteristics of the person.

Claims

1. System for assisting a person in walking, comprising: a measurement unit for measuring physiological data including vital sign data and movement data of the person; an activity ability determination unit which is configured to determine a frailty state of the person based on the vital sign data, and to determine walking characteristics of the person based on the movement data; an activity program unit which is configured to select and continuously update a walking program based on the determined frailty state of the person and the determined walking characteristics of the person.

2. System of claim 1, further comprising an activity hardware unit for physically leading and/or supporting the person during the person's execution of the walking program, wherein the activity hardware unit is configured to physically lead and/or support the person based on the selected walking program.

3. System of claim 2, wherein at least one of the measurement unit, the activity ability determination unit and the activity program unit are comprised in the activity hardware unit.

4. System of claim 1, wherein the measurement unit for measuring vital sign data is composed of at least one physiological data sensor selected from the group consisting of a vital signs camera, a blood pressure sensor, a pressure sensor, and a galvanic skin sensor.

5. System of claim 1, wherein the measurement unit for measuring movement data is composed of at least one movement data sensor selected from the group consisting of a photosensor, camera, accelerometer, pedometer sensor, and a GPS sensor.

6. System of claim 1, further comprising an input unit for entering preferences of the person and/or a data interface for receiving weather reports, wherein the activity program unit is further configured to take into account preferences of the person and/or weather reports for selecting and continuously updating the walking program.

7. System of claim 1, further comprising a display unit.

8. System of claim 1, wherein the system is a walking assistance device or an exoskeleton.

9. Method for assisting a person in walking, comprising: measuring physiological data including vital sign data and movement data of the person; determining a frailty state of the person based on the vital sign data; determining walking characteristics of the person based on the movement data; selecting and continuously updating a walking program based on the determined frailty state of the person and the determined walking characteristics of the person.

10. Method of claim 9, further comprising the step of physically leading and/or supporting the person during the person's execution of the walking program based on the selected and continuously updated walking program.

11. Method of claim 9, wherein selecting the walking program is further based on at least one of preferences of the person, and weather reports.

12. Method of claim 9, wherein determining the frailty state of the person comprises performing a test selected from the group consisting of a heart rate test, a respiratory syncytial virus test, a blood pressure test, and a galvanic skin response test.

13. Method of claim 9, wherein determining walking characteristics of the person comprises performing a movement test selected from the group consisting of a time up & go test, tremor frequency analysis, movement pattern analysis and a functional movement screen.

14. Method of claim 9, wherein the method for assisting a person in walking is performed in real-time.

15. Computer program comprising program code means for causing a computer to carry out the steps of the method as claimed in claim 10 when said computer program is carried out on the computer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter. In the following drawings

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a schematic drawing of a rollator for assisting a person in walking;

[0053] FIG. 2 schematically shows the general system execution, i.e. how the method for assisting a person in walking is performed; and

[0054] FIG. 3 schematically shows the main features of a system for assisting a person in walking.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0055] FIG. 1 schematically shows a system 10 for assisting a person in walking. The system according to the shown embodiment is a rollator 10. It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to a rollator, but on the contrary each kind of system for assisting a person in walking may be comprised, such as another walking assistant device or an exoskeleton.

[0056] The rollator 10 comprises a frame 12 and four wheels 14 rotatably mounted thereto. Handles 16 are provided with brakes 18. The rollator 10 further has a seat 20 and back rest 22 permitting the person to take a time out. The rollator may be collapsed for facilitating transport. The rollator may be provided with a number of sensors 80, such as vital signs camera 84a, hand-grip sensors 84b and photosensors 84c. The sensors 80 of the rollator 10 are adapted for wirelessly transmitting physiological data signals to a measurement unit (not shown). The measurement unit may be included in a handheld device and stored in cradle 86.

[0057] FIG. 2 schematically shows general execution of the present system 10. In a first step 30 data are acquired for measuring physiological data 32, 34, i.e. vital sign data 32 and movement data 34 of the person. At a same stage previous available reports on the person, such as a patient history, may be entered. Also preferences 36 of the person, such as patient itinerary preference data, may be entered by the person using or intending to use the system 10. Additional reports 38 may be received via internet. It will be appreciated that there is no particular restriction about the amount and combination of sensors, input unit and/or data interface. Rather any number of sensors for measuring vital sign data 32 and movement data 34 of the person may be employed. In a next step 40 frailty state 42 of the person based on the vital sign data 32 of the person and walking characteristics 44 of the person based on the movement data 34 are determined. Frailty state 42 and walking characteristics 44 are used for determining activity ability 46. Activity ability 46 data are further used for selecting and continuously updating a walking program 50 based on the determined frailty state 42 of the person and the determined walking characteristic 44 of the person. In the present case, additionally preferences 36 of the person and weather reports 38 have been taken into account for selecting and continuously updating the walking program 50. Thereby, the present system enables in step 60 guiding a patient according to the selecting walking program 50 in view of a number of physiological data not only comprising vital sign data, i.e. data reflecting the current health status of the person, but also walking characteristics, i.e. data reflecting the current capability of the person to walk, patient itinerary preference data and weather reports.

[0058] An optional data interface, such as an internet module, for receiving weather reports 38 permits considering of e.g. unfavorable weather. Accordingly, the system 10 may decide that the person should not follow any walking program at all during a particular day. Alternatively, based on a determined frailty state 42 and/or a determined walking characteristic 44 below a minimum threshold, the system 10 may also decide that a person should not follow any walking program at all. The walking program may be characterized by a specific itinerary (that may or not include curves/ground inclined to an angle), (varied) speed, and duration. While the person follows the walking program 50, the system 10 keeps monitoring the patient frailty state 42 and walking characteristics 44, and based on these it updates the walking program 50. If for example the values of the determined frailty state 42 and/or the determined walking characteristics 44 are at a stable or even positively improved, the walking program 50 will be continued. Otherwise, the walking program 50 will be adjusted to meet the current frailty state 42 and/or the current walking characteristics 44.

[0059] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the system 10 for assisting a person in walking. The measurement unit 70 for measuring physiological data 32, 34 including vital sign data 32 and movement data 34 of the person receive sensor signals from a number of sensors, such as a vital signs camera, a blood pressure sensor, a pressure/hand grip sensor, an accelerometer, and/or a receiver sensor. It will be appreciated that any kind and any number of sensors may be used and that the present invention is not limited to the proposed combination of sensors. The vital signs camera may be mounted for instance on the center/top side of the rollator 10 and is directed to the person's chest. The vital signs camera acquires continuously the patient heart and respiration signals. The blood pressure sensor may be embedded into the handle of the system 10. An integrated optical sensor may be employed. The pressure/handgrip sensor may be embedded into the handles of the system 10 as well and comprise for example an air cushion embedded in the handle, or contact sensors. The accelerometer may be also integrated in the system 10. Alternatively, the accelerometer may be configured for attachment to the person by e.g. a clip to the clothing. Accordingly, the accelerometer may measure data of the person and does not require any other signals. The receiver sensor may be mounted on the center bottom side of the system 10, wherein two senders may be attached on each of the person's ankle/show. Each sender signal preferably contains a foot identifier (right or left), a time stamp, and a distance from each foot to the receiver module attached to the system 10.

[0060] The movement data 34 of the person include inter alia its speed and walk patter. An accelerometer may be employed for determining the speed. Accordingly, speed values and trends may be monitored and recorded. Feet movement sensors may determine a walk pattern. Step characteristics including time and length are required and may be determined via optical sensors. Variation of the signal may be indicative for limps. Based on these sensor data, the activity ability determination unit 72 determines a frailty state 42 of the person based on the vital sign data 32, and walking characteristics 44 of the person based on the movement data 34. The determination of activity ability may be expressed for example as a function that maps the patient frailty state 42 and the patient walking characteristics 44 to an indication of activity ability expressed as a numerical score or as a more discrete measure such as “low/medium/high”. Such a function may be also weighted average for the above input.

[0061] The activity program unit 74 in turn selects and continuously updates the walking program 50 based on a determined frailty state 42 of the person in the determined walking characteristics 44, and (optionally) based on the weather report 38, preferences 36 of the person and patient history in the following way: at a personalization step goal components will be adjusted to address current values and past trends in all of the above. In that sense a short-term goal may be represented as a delta or fraction upon the long-term goal in terms of goal components. For example, medium current value for walking characteristics combined with a decreasing trend of this parameter leads to decreased duration of walking and path difficulty. An increasing trend in walking characteristics and report on good weather leads to increased walk duration, and pace. The person is informed about the current status of the walking program and such intended changes/updates by display unit 82.

[0062] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

[0063] Other variations to the disclosed embodiments may be understood and effected by those skilled in the art and practicing the claimed invention from the study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appending claims.

[0064] In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single element or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0065] A computer program may be stored/distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication systems.

[0066] Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.