Computer controlled exercise machine

An exercise system operated by a user for performing a variety of exercise comprising:

• computer means,
• means for producing a resistive force,
• means operated by said computer means for controlling the amount of resistive force produced by said force producing means,
• an actuating member for operation by the user against such resistive force,
• means for measuring the force applied to said actuating member, and for producing signals corresponding thereto,
• said computer means sampling the data values of said signals on a high speed basis,
• means for operating said computer means in a recording mode to record data corresponding to the variable force exerted by a user against said actuating means during the performance of an excerise movement, as measured by said measuring means, to produce recorded data thereof, and
• means for operating said computer in an exercise mode subsequent to said recording mode to cause said means for controlling to control the amount of resistive force produced by said force controlling means in relationship to said recorded data.

A method for producing an individualized variable resistance excerise for a user comprising the steps of:

• having the user exercise against an actuating member,
• measured the variable amount of force applied by said user against said actuating member as the user performs an excerise movement,
• recording as a data signal the variable amount of force measured in said measuring step,
• providing a controllable resistive force producing means operable to resist the movement of said actuating member,
• after said recording step, having the user excerise by moving said actuating member against the resistive force produced by said controllable resistive force producing means operated so as to resist the movement of said actuating member, and
• during the user's exercise, controlling the amount of force produced by said controllable resistive force producing means in relationship to said recorded data.