Balance testing and training system and method

A human balance testing and training system comprising:

• a mobile communication device comprising:
• a computer processor:
• a system memory;
• a display unit;
• and
• a network interface comprising one or more communication modules adapted to communicate over a wide area network;
• a combination of sensors, the combination of sensors including (i) a 3-axis gyroscope adapted for measuring orientation and angular velocity and (ii) a 3-axis accelerometer adapted for measuring acceleration, the combination of sensors configured to measure sensor data characterizing movement of a human subject, the sensor data comprising one or more of gyroscope data and the accelerometer data;
• and
• a mobile application operating on the mobile communication device in communication with the combination of sensors and configured to receive data from one or more of the human subject's interaction with the mobile communication device and said combination of sensors, the mobile application including a balance evaluation subsystem for evaluating balance capabilities of the human subject utilizing data collected when said human subject is performing one or more balance evaluation exercises, said data including data received from one or more of the human subject's interaction with the mobile communication device and said combination of sensors;
• the balance evaluation subsystem configured to evaluate the collected data and to provide a balance evaluation for the human subject, wherein the mobile application operating on the mobile communication device further comprises:
• an expert subsystem for prescribing an exercise plan for the human subject based on the balance evaluation provided by the balance evaluation subsystem, the exercise plan comprising one or more balance training exercises tailored for improving balance of the human subject;
• and
• a training subsystem for administering the prescribed exercise plan received from the expert subsystem to the human subject, the prescribed exercise plan administered as an interactive exercise plan including one or more balance training exercises for the human subject, wherein the training subsystem is configured to collect performance data for the human subject during performance of the one or more balance training exercises,
• wherein the expert subsystem is adapted to modify the interactive exercise plan as the human subject progresses in accordance with a level of performance of the human subject based on evaluating the performance data for the human subject provided by the training subsystem,
• wherein the mobile application is further configured to provide one or more cognitive challenges for dual tasking to actively engage the human subject's mind during performance of one or more balance evaluation exercises and balance training exercises, including (i) communicating the one or more cognitive challenges to the human subject during performance of one or more balance evaluation exercises and balance training exercises and receiving performance data while the human subject is under the cognitive challenge, (ii) determining differences in the performance data for the human subject under the cognitive challenge with performance data under conditions without the cognitive challenge, and (iii) evaluating the determined differences in the performance data to ascertain an amount of variability in the human subject's performance during times when the human subject's attention is focused away from performing the balance evaluation or training exercises by the cognitive challenge, and
• wherein the human balance testing and training system enables the human subject using a mobile communication device to evaluate balance and to receive one or more exercise plans tailored for improving balance of the human subject to reduce risk of falls.

A method of evaluating and training human balance, comprising:

• at a mobile communication device comprising a computer processor, a system memory, a display unit, a network interface comprising one or more communication modules adapted to communicate over a wide area network, and a combination of sensors for measuring movement and rotation of the mobile communication device, the combination of sensors including (i) a 3-axis gyroscope adapted for measuring orientation and angular velocity and (ii) a 3-axis accelerometer adapted for measuring acceleration, the combination of sensors configured to measure sensor data characterizing movement of a human subject, the sensor data comprising one or more of gyroscope data and accelerometer data:
• receiving, at a balance evaluation subsystem operating on the mobile communication device for evaluating balance capabilities of a human subject, data collected when said human subject is performing one or more balance evaluation exercises, said data including data received from one or more of the human subject's interactions with the mobile communication device and data received from said combination of sensors, the balance evaluation subsystem configured to evaluate the data and to provide a balance evaluation for the human subject;
• prescribing an exercise plan for the human subject, at an expert subsystem, based on the balance evaluation provided by the balance evaluation subsystem, the exercise plan comprising one or more balance training exercises specifically tailored for improving balance of the human subject;
• and
• administering, using a training subsystem, the prescribed exercise plan received from the expert subsystem to the human subject, the prescribed exercise plan administered as an interactive exercise plan including one or more balance training exercises for said human subject,
• wherein said expert subsystem is adapted to modify the interactive exercise plan as the human subject progresses in accordance with a level of performance of the human subject based on evaluating the performance data for the human subject provided by the training subsystem, wherein updates to the interactive exercise plan are determined based on at least one of the balance evaluation provided by said balance evaluation subsystem, the performance data provided by said training subsystem, and input from the human subject;
• providing one or more cognitive challenges for dual tasking to actively engage the human subject's mind during performance of one or more balance evaluation exercises and balance training exercises, including (i) communicating the one or more cognitive challenges to the human subject during performance of one or more balance evaluation exercises and balance training exercises and receiving performance data while the human subject is under the cognitive challenge, (ii) determining differences in the performance data for the human subject under the cognitive challenge with performance data under conditions without the cognitive challenge, and (iii) evaluating the determined differences in the performance data to ascertain an amount of variability in the human subject's performance during times when the human subject's attention is focused away from performing the balance evaluation or training exercises by the cognitive challenge,
• wherein the human balance testing and training system enables the human subject using the mobile communication device to evaluate balance and receive interactive exercise plans tailored for improving balance of the human subject to reduce risk of falls.

A method of evaluating and training human balance, comprising:

• at a mobile communication device comprising a computer processor, a system memory, a display unit, a network interface comprising one or more communication modules adapted to communicate over a wide area network, and a combination of sensors for measuring movement and rotation of the mobile communication device, the combination of sensors including (i) a 3-axis gyroscope adapted for measuring orientation and angular velocity and (ii) a 3-axis accelerometer adapted for measuring acceleration, the combination of sensors configured to measure sensor data characterizing movement of a human subject, the sensor data comprising one or more of gyroscope data and accelerometer data:
• receiving data collected when said human subject is performing one or more balance evaluation exercises at a balance evaluation subsystem on the mobile communication device adapted for evaluating balance capabilities of the human subject, the data including data received from one or more of the combination of sensors and the human subject's interactions with the mobile communication device, the balance evaluation subsystem configured to evaluate the collected data and to provide a balance evaluation for the human subject based thereon,
• prescribing an exercise plan for the human subject at an expert subsystem based on the balance evaluation provided by the balance evaluation subsystem, the exercise plan comprising one or more balance training exercises tailored for improving balance of the human subject;
• administering to the human subject the prescribed exercise plan received from the expert subsystem, using a training subsystem, the prescribed exercise plan administered as an interactive exercise plan including one or more balance training exercises for said human subject;
• and
• providing one or more cognitive challenges for dual tasking to actively engage the human subject's mind during performance of one or more balance evaluation exercises and balance training exercises, including (i) communicating a cognitive challenge to the human subject during performance of one or more balance evaluation exercises and balance training exercises and receiving performance data while the human subject is under the cognitive challenge, (ii) determining differences in the performance data for the human subject under the cognitive challenge with performance data under conditions without the cognitive challenge, and (iii) evaluating the determined differences in the performance data to ascertain an amount of variability in the human subject's performance during times when the human subject's attention is focused away from performing the balance evaluation or training exercises by the cognitive challenge,
• wherein the human balance testing and training system enables the human subject using the mobile communication device to evaluate balance and to receive one or more exercise plans tailored for improving balance of the human subject to reduce risk of falls.