Apparatus and method for relating pain and activity of a patient

Apparatus for relating pain and activity experienced by a patient, comprising:

• activity transducing means for measuring a level of a parameter of a physical activity of a patient and for producing an activity parameter level signal indicative of the measured level of the parameter;
• pain transducing means responsive to the activity parameter level signal for producing a patient signal perceptible by the patient and including input means for allowing the patient to select any one pain level from a predetermined number of pain levels to correspond to the measured level of the parameter, and for producing a pain level signal indicative of the selected pain level;
• and
• relating means responsive to the pain level signal and the activity parameter level signal for characterizing the activity of the patient corresponding to the selected level of pain to be one activity level of a predetermined number of predefined activity levels and for producing a signal indicative of the characterized level of activity and the corresponding pain level.

Apparatus for relating pain and activity experienced by a patient, comprising:

• a patient interface operable by the patient to indicate the occurrence of a predefined event wherein the predefined event is the performance of a specified physical activity;
• activity transducing means for measuring a level of a parameter of a physical activity of a patient and for producing an activity parameter level signal indicative of the measured level of the parameter;
• pain transducing means responsive to the activity parameter level signal for producing a patient signal perceptible by the patient and including input means for allowing the patient to select any one pain level from a predetermined number of pain levels to correspond to the measured level of the parameter, and for producing a pain level signal indicative of the selected pain level;
• and
• relating means responsive to the pain level signal and the activity parameter level signal for and relating the occurrence of the predefined event to the associated level of activity and pain and for characterizing the activity of the patient corresponding to the selected level of pain to be one activity level of a predetermined number of predefined activity levels and for producing a signal indicative of the characterized level of activity and the corresponding pain level.

A method of relating pain and activity experienced by a patient, comprising the steps of:

• measuring a level of a parameter of a physical activity of a patient;
• producing a patient signal perceptible by the patient in response to the measured level of the parameter of the physical activity exceeding a threshold level;
• allowing the patient to select any one pain level from a predetermined number of pain levels when the patient signal is perceived by the patient;
• characterizing the activity of the patient corresponding to the selected level of pain to be one activity level of a predetermined number of predefined activity levels;
• and
• producing a signal indicative of the characterized level of activity and the corresponding pain level.