Method and apparatus for enhancing physical and cardiovascular health, and also for evaluating cardiovascular health

A method for enhancing physical activity and cardiovascular health of a horizontally disposed participant utilizing an RRE apparatus wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• positioning the participant under the RRE apparatus in a horizontally disposed manner;
• coupling a first limb group including a left leg and right arm of the participant to a first flexible line and coupling a second limb group including a right leg and a left arm of the participant to a second flexible line;
• supporting or balancing the weight of the limb groups one against the other via respectively coupling the first and second lines to opposite sides of the drive assembly;
• coupling the drive assembly to the energy dissipative assembly;
• drivingly elevating and lowering the limb groups in an alternate manner against a resistive mechanical impedance load presented by the energy dissipative assembly thereby applying power thereto;
• and
• dissipating the applied power as heat.

A method for determining running values of power applied to an exercise RRE apparatus in conjunction with a method for determining instant values of power applied to RRE apparatus, the apparatus for use by a horizontally disposed participant in implementing an exercise wherein each limb extremity of the horizontally disposed participant is coupled to the RRE apparatus by a pair of pulleys supported by flexible lines, one of the pair connected to a first limb group including a left leg and a right arm of the participant, an other of the pair connected to a second limb group including a right leg and a left arm of the participant wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• sampling instant values of applied power once during each unit of time where a time unit is a selected fraction of average RRE apparatus cycle time;
• summing the first N samples of instant applied power values over N time units where N time units are at least equal to a maximum RRE apparatus cycle time;
• dividing by the number N to obtain a first average value of applied power;
• concomitantly eliminating the oldest sample of instant applied power values and adding the most recent sample thereof;
• dividing by the number N to obtain the running value of applied power;
• and
• multiplying the running value of applied power by a constant suitable for its conversion into any desirable units such as Kilogram-Meters/minute.

A method for determining a running applied energy value of energy applied to an RRE exercise apparatus in conjunction with a method for determining running values of power applied to an RRE apparatus, the apparatus for use by a horizontally disposed participant in implementing an exercise wherein each limb extremity of the horizontally disposed participant is coupled to the RRE apparatus by a pair of pulleys supported by flexible lines, one of the pair connected to a first limb group including a left leg and a right arm of the participant, an other of the pair connected to a second limb group including a right leg and a left arm of the participant wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• partitioning time into time increments each defined by a sequential passage of N time units;
• multiplying the running value of applied power attained at the end of each time increment by that time increment to obtain a value of applied energy for that particular time increment;
• generating a running sum of the applied energy values to determine the running value of energy applied to the RRE apparatus;
• and
• multiplying the running value of applied energy by a constant suitable for its conversion into any desirable units such as Calories.

RRE apparatus for use in cardiovascular stress testing of a horizontally disposed heart patient while the patient implements RRE, comprising:

• pulley supported flexible lines respectively coupled to the extremities of the legs of the horizontally disposed heart patient;
• a hand bar for the heart patient to hold on to and achieve stability as the patient implements RRE via drivingly elevating and lowering the legs;
• a drive assembly coupled to the lines;
• an energy dissipative assembly coupled to the drive assembly;
• a combining and supporting structure;
• a controller;
• means for providing the controller with a suitable signal or signals for determining running values of power applied to the RRE apparatus based upon the signal or signals;
• and
• electrocardiographic equipment for collecting electrocardiographic data as the heart patient implements RRE;
• the combination for nominally supporting or balancing the weight of the horizontally disposed heart patient's legs one against the other such that the heart patient is able to alternately apply lifting force to the left leg while pulling down on the right and then lifting force to the right leg while pulling down on the left, for dissipating power applied by the heart patient while he or she periodically elevates and lowers the legs in an alternate rhythmic manner, and for enabling the generation of a coefficient of performance produced by the heart patient concomitantly with the gathering of electrocardiographic data in order to test his or her cardiovascular capacity as he or she implements RRE.