WO2025172181A1 - Method for optimising a sports movement - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for optimising a sports movement executed by a person (1), in which a foot pressure centre point is calculated based on foot pressure data, and a graphical representation of the foot pressure centre point (31) is generated on a display (3), the display position of the graphical representation changing depending on the determined foot pressure centre point. According to the invention, a graphical representation of at least one indication (33, A, B, I, F) is generated, which is indicative of at least one position of the foot pressure centre point that is optimised for an optimal execution of the sports movement.

Description

Description

Method for optimizing a sports movement

The present invention relates to a method for optimizing a sports movement performed by a person, in particular a golf stroke, having the features of claim 1.

When learning or optimizing a complex sports movement, such as a golf swing, it is advantageous to have access to objective information about one's own performance. In many sports movements, weight distribution and the position of the center of gravity play an important role. One way to identify movement patterns and enable their analysis is to measure and evaluate foot pressure data using several pressure sensors arranged under the person's feet. From the distribution of foot pressure and/or the position of the center of foot pressure, conclusions can be drawn about correct weight distribution or a correct position of the center of gravity. By analyzing this information, for example, incorrect posture in one or more movement phases of the sports movement can be precisely identified. Based on this information, a targeted selection of suitable measures can then be made to improve posture or the movement pattern.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for optimizing a sports movement performed by a person, in which the person can be given objective feedback in a simple and understandable manner to improve his execution of the sports movement.

This object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1. Preferred features are the subject of the dependent claims. Further advantages and features can be gathered from the general description and the exemplary embodiments. The present invention also relates to a computer program product having the features of claim 8, a computer with the features of claim 9 and a system with the features of claim 10.

The computer-implemented method according to the invention for optimising a sports movement performed by a person, in particular a golf shot, comprises the following steps:

- receiving foot pressure data, in particular by a processor, which is recorded by means of a sensor device arranged under the person's feet and having a plurality of spaced-apart pressure sensors;

- Determining a foot pressure center, in particular by a processor, based on the foot pressure data and the spatial positions of the pressure sensors;

- generating a graphical representation of the foot pressure center on a display, wherein a display position of the graphical representation of the foot pressure center within a display area changes depending on the determined foot pressure center;

- Generating a graphic representation of at least one indication indicative of at least one position of the foot pressure center within the display area optimized for optimal execution of the sports movement, on the display.

The invention is based on the idea of providing a person who wants to level or optimize a sports movement with real-time visual feedback on the position of their center of gravity and how this position compares to a predefined, optimized position. This allows the person to instantly recognize whether their stance and/or movement pattern conforms to a specific specification or how the stance and/or movement pattern needs to be corrected. In other words, the invention enables advantageous human-machine interaction, allowing a simple comparison between an optimal or optimized movement pattern and the person's actual movement pattern. Each of the listed method steps can be carried out by one processor or by several processors connected to one another for data transmission. A data transmission connection between different processors can be established by cable or wirelessly, in particular via a telecommunications network (e.g., the Internet). According to one embodiment of the invention, a processor carrying out the above method steps can be part of a computer. According to one embodiment of the invention, the display can be part of the computer. A possible computer can be, for example, a tablet computer, a smartphone, a smartwatch, a head-mounted display, or another, particularly wearable, computer system.

Fundamentally, different devices can be considered as sensor devices for recording foot pressure data. For example, the sensor device can be a plate or mat with integrated pressure sensors, on which the person can stand while performing the sports movement. Preferably, the pressure sensors are attached directly to the person's footwear, so that the sensor device is worn by the person and the person's range of motion is therefore not limited to the area of a pressure-recording plate or mat. For example, pressure sensors can be integrated into one or both of the person's shoes or into one or two insoles. Examples of insoles equipped with pressure sensors are disclosed in EP 3771357 A1 and WO 2023051879 A1. To transmit the recorded foot pressure data, the sensor device is provided with appropriate wired or wireless communication interfaces.

The foot pressure center is the mean of the positions of the pressure sensors weighted by the measured value of the foot pressure.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the indication indicates at least one optimal position of the foot pressure center at a specific moment of the sports movement. By indicating the optimal position of the foot pressure center and the assignment to a specific moment of the During a sports movement, the person can effectively adjust and optimize their posture and/or movement pattern by viewing the display in real time. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the indication indicates at least one optimal course of the foot pressure center during at least a partial section of the sports movement. In this way, by adjusting their posture and/or movement pattern with the foot pressure center shown on the display, the person can trace the predetermined course also shown and thus optimize their sports movement. An optimal course can be understood as a plurality of consecutive optimal positions.

The following objects (individually or combined) are particularly suitable as graphic representations of the notice:

- a predefined path for the optimal course of the foot pressure center,

- a given corridor, i.e. e.g. a given path with a tolerance range extending from it, or another area within whose boundaries the optimal course of the foot pressure center runs,

- a boundary line that the foot pressure center should not exceed,

- at least one predetermined position for the foot pressure center at a specific moment of the sports movement,

- a projection of the foot pressure centre onto a horizontal axis and/or a projection of the foot pressure centre onto a vertical axis, in particular including a specified tolerance range within which the optimal course of the foot pressure centre runs,

- a projection of the foot pressure centre at a specific moment of the sports movement onto a horizontal axis and/or a projection of the foot pressure centre onto a vertical axis, in particular including a predetermined tolerance range within which the optimal position of the foot pressure centre lies at the specific moment of the sports movement, - a position of the projection of the foot pressure centre on a horizontal and/or vertical axis averaged over at least one section or phase of the sports movement, in particular including a predetermined tolerance range within the limits of which the optimal averaged position of the projection of the foot pressure centre lies.

All these representations of cues may have been determined empirically, e.g., from a variety of reference data sets, e.g., recorded foot pressure data from experienced athletes.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the following step:

- receiving touch input data based on a user input entered into a pressure-sensitive input device arranged above or below the display, wherein the indication is generated taking into account the touch input data.

In this way, a hint indicating at least one position of the foot pressure center optimized for optimal execution of the sports movement can be entered manually. A hint indicating an optimal position and/or an optimal course of the foot pressure center can be drawn into the display area, for example, using a finger gesture. For example, a trainer can easily enter an easily understandable instruction for optimizing a specific movement pattern. The display and the pressure-sensitive input device arranged above or below the display can collectively be referred to as a touchscreen.

The following gestures (individually or in combination) are particularly suitable as user input:

- Manually drawing a predefined path for the optimal course of the foot pressure center, - Manually drawing boundaries of an area within whose boundaries the optimal course of the foot pressure center runs,

- Manually drawing a boundary line that the foot pressure center should not exceed,

- Manually drawing at least one predefined position for the foot pressure center at a specific moment of the sports movement,

- Manually drawing on a horizontal and/or vertical axis a specified position and/or a tolerance range for the projection of the foot pressure center onto the horizontal or vertical axis,

- Manual input of limits of a tolerance range for the projection of the foot pressure center onto the horizontal or vertical axis (e.g. using a slider or a numerical specification of the boundary values).

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the display position of the foot pressure center is compared with the at least one position of the foot pressure center optimized for optimal execution of the sports movement, and a deviation of the display position of the foot pressure center from the optimized position of the foot pressure center is determined. In this way, an objective measure of the correspondence of the movement pattern performed by the person with a predetermined movement pattern is provided, which enables a precise analysis of the person's performance. Preferably, when a predetermined lower or upper threshold value for the deviation of the display position of the foot pressure center from the optimized position of the foot pressure center is exceeded and/or undershot, an output signal is generated, which is designed to cause a signal generating device to generate an acoustic, visual, and/or tactile signal. In this way, an additional feedback signal can be generated that supports the person in adjusting their posture and/or movement pattern. For example, a deviation can be the (Euclidean) distance between the displayed position of the foot pressure center and the optimized position of the foot pressure center. The lower threshold can also be set to zero, which generates a feedback signal exactly when the Display position of the foot pressure center corresponds to the optimized position of the foot pressure center.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the spatial positions of the pressure sensors relative to one another are predefined. In other words, for the calculation of the foot pressure center, it is assumed that the positions of all pressure sensors are fixed. This represents a significant simplification in the calculation of the foot pressure center, particularly when using a sensor device worn by the person, e.g., where the pressure sensors are arranged in the person's shoes and the positions of the pressure sensors therefore depend on the person's current posture. For example, an additional measurement of the distance between pressure sensors arranged in different shoes can be dispensed with. It has surprisingly been shown that good results can be achieved in the context of the invention even with such a simplification.

According to what has already been described above and what has been described further below, the object stated at the outset is also achieved by a computer program product according to claim 8. The computer program product according to the invention comprises instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method according to the invention.

According to what has already been described above and further below, the object set out above is also achieved by a computer according to claim 9. The computer according to the invention comprises means for carrying out the method according to the invention. In particular, the computer comprises a processor which is configured and designed

- to receive foot pressure data recorded by a sensor device arranged under the person's feet and comprising a plurality of spaced-apart pressure sensors;

- to determine a foot pressure center based on the foot pressure data and the spatial positions of the pressure sensors; - to generate a graphical representation of the foot pressure center on a display, wherein a display position of the graphical representation of the foot pressure center within a display area changes depending on the determined foot pressure center; and/or

- to generate a graphic representation of at least one indication on the display which is indicative of at least one position of the foot pressure centre within the display area which is optimised for optimal execution of the sports movement.

The display is preferably part of the computer. The computer can be, for example, a tablet computer, a smartphone, a smartwatch, a head-mounted display, or another, particularly wearable, computer system. The display, together with an input device, can form a touchscreen of the computer. The computer can further comprise a signal generating device for generating an acoustic, visual, and/or tactile signal.

According to what has already been described above and further below, the object stated at the outset is also achieved by a system according to claim 10. The system according to the invention comprises

- a sensor device for recording foot pressure data, comprising a plurality of spaced-apart pressure sensors and adapted to be arranged under the feet of a person, and

- a computer according to the invention.

The sensor device preferably comprises one or more shoes and/or one or more insoles, in each of which several pressure sensors are arranged and/or integrated.

It is expressly pointed out that the embodiments of the invention explained above can be combined individually or in any technically reasonable combination with each other with the subject matter of the independent claims. Modifications and embodiments of the invention, as well as further advantages and details of the invention, can be found in the following description and the drawings. The schematic figures show:

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a system according to the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of the inventive

procedure;

Fig. 3 shows a graphical user interface represented by a display, which was generated according to an embodiment of the method according to the invention; and

Fig. 4 shows a graphical user interface represented by a display, which was generated according to a further embodiment of the method according to the invention.

Parts with the same or similar function are provided with identical reference numbers where appropriate.

Individual technical features of the embodiments described below can also be combined with previously described embodiments as well as the features of the independent claims and any further claims to form subject matter according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a system according to the invention for optimizing a sports movement performed by a person 1. The system comprises a sensor device 2 for recording foot pressure data of the person 1 and a computer 5. The sensor device comprises several spaced-apart pressure sensors 21, 22, which can be arranged under the feet of the person 1 or, in the present following case. For example, the pressure sensors 21, 22 are integrated in the shoes of the person 1, e.g. in insoles. For the sake of simplicity, only one pressure sensor 21, 22 per foot is shown in the present case. In practice, several pressure sensors per foot have proven advantageous. The sensor device 2 is designed to record foot pressure data of the person 1 when performing a sporting movement (here: a golf shot). The sensor device 2 has a communication interface 23, 24 for each foot of the person for the wireless transmission of the foot pressure data to the computer 5. The computer 5 in the present case is a smartphone with a touchscreen which has a display 3 and an input device 4 arranged above the display 3 (see Fig. 3). The computer 5 further has a processor which is set up and designed to carry out the method 100 described below.

Fig. 2 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method 100 according to the invention. In a first step 110, foot pressure data is received which is recorded by means of the sensor device 2 arranged under the feet of the person 1 and having a plurality of pressure sensors 21, 22 spaced apart from one another. In a further step 120, a foot pressure center is determined on the basis of the foot pressure data and the spatial positions of the pressure sensors 21, 22. The spatial positions of the pressure sensors 21, 22 relative to one another are preferably predefined, i.e. the positions of all pressure sensors 21, 22 and their distances from one another are assumed to be fixed, which facilitates the calculation of the foot pressure center. In a further step 130, a graphic representation of the foot pressure center 31 is generated on the display 3, wherein a display position of the graphic representation of the foot pressure center 31 within a display area 32 changes depending on the determined foot pressure center. In a further step 150, a graphic representation of at least one indication 33, A, B, I, F is generated on the display 3 (see Fig. 3), which is indicative of at least one position of the foot pressure center within the display area 32 that is optimized for optimal execution of the sports movement. By viewing the display 3 while performing the sports movement, person 1 can obtain real-time visual feedback on the position of their center of gravity and simultaneously see how this position relates to an optimized position specified by the indicator 33, A, B, I, F. Through this human-machine interaction, person 1 can specifically adjust their posture and/or movement pattern and check whether the adjustment also leads to an approximation of their actual posture or movement to the optimal posture or movement.

The display of the hint (step 150) may be preceded by the following step:

- Receiving touch input data based on a user input input into a pressure-sensitive input device 4 arranged above or below the display 2, wherein the indication is generated taking into account the touch input data (step 140).

In this way, for example, a trainer can draw one or more optimal positions of the foot pressure center A, B, I, F at a specific moment of the sports movement and/or at least one optimal course of the foot pressure center 33 during at least a partial section of the sports movement into the display area 32 by means of a finger gesture.

Fig. 3 shows a detailed representation of the display 3 from Fig. 1 with a graphical user interface that was generated according to an embodiment of the method 100 according to the invention. A graphical representation of the foot pressure center 31 (here a black dot) is generated, the display position of which within the display area 32 changes depending on the foot pressure center determined from the foot pressure data. This means that the person 1 can specifically influence the position of the graphical representation of the foot pressure center 31 on the display area 32 by a corresponding weight shift. At the same time, a graphical representation of several indications 33, A, B, I, F is generated, each of which is indicative of at least one for optimal execution Position of the foot pressure center within the display area 32 optimized for sports movement.

In this case, the sports movement is a golf shot. The clues marked with the letters A, B, I, F each indicate an optimal position of the center of foot pressure (A, B, I, F) at a specific moment of the golf shot: A - position at address, B - top of backswing, I - moment of impact of the golf club on the golf ball, F - final position after the golf shot. Person 1 can ensure that the graphic representation of the center of foot pressure is always in the optimal position by correctly shifting their weight when executing the individual movement phases.

Furthermore, an optimized path of the foot pressure center 33 was manually drawn by a trainer during the golf swing by entering a corresponding gesture into the pressure-sensitive input device 4 arranged above the display 2. When executing the individual movement phases, the person 1 can also cause the graphical representation of the foot pressure center 31 to move along the predetermined path 33 by correctly shifting their weight.

Fig. 4 shows a detailed representation of the display 3 from Fig. 1 with a graphical user interface that was generated according to a further exemplary embodiment of the method 100 according to the invention. The graphical representation of the foot pressure center 31 is analogous to the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 3. Fig. 4 shows a snapshot in which the end position has been reached after the golf shot. The path traveled by the foot pressure center 31 during the golf shot was recorded and is shown as curve 31a. The graphical representation of the foot pressure center 31 and the path traveled by the foot pressure center 31 during the golf shot are optional in this exemplary embodiment. In the lower area of the display 3, a graphical representation of a horizontal axis 37 is displayed. A marker 36 is displayed on the horizontal axis 37, which acts as an indication 33 to indicate the Axis 37 represents the projected position of the foot pressure center 31 at a specific moment of the golf shot (here in position A when addressing the golf ball). The reference 33 also contains a predefined tolerance range 38, within whose limits the marker 36 should optimally lie when addressing the golf ball. By projecting the two-dimensional foot pressure center 31 onto the one-dimensional horizontal axis, person 1 can easily determine a weight distribution in a lateral direction or along the frontal plane during the golf shot and immediately optimize this during the next attempt. In an analogous manner, alternatively or additionally, a marker can be displayed on a vertical axis in order to optimize a weight distribution along the sagittal plane; this was recorded and is shown as curve 31a.

In an alternative embodiment, the marker 36 may represent a real-time projection of the foot pressure center 31 on the horizontal axis 37.

For better orientation, the graphical user interface contains a graphic representation of an outline of the two shoes 34a, 34b of person 1.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Computer-implemented method (100) for optimising a sports movement performed by a person (1), in particular a golf stroke, comprising the following steps: - receiving foot pressure data recorded by a sensor device (2) arranged under the feet of the person (1) with a plurality of spaced-apart pressure sensors (21, 22) (step 110); - Determining a foot pressure center point based on the foot pressure data and the spatial positions of the pressure sensors (21, 22) (step 120); - generating a graphic representation of the foot pressure center point (31) on a display (3), wherein a display position of the graphic representation of the foot pressure center point (31) within a display area (32) changes depending on the determined foot pressure center point (step 130); - generating a graphic representation of at least one indication (33, A, B, I, F) which is indicative of at least one position of the foot pressure center within the display area (32) which is optimized for optimal execution of the sports movement, on the display (3) (step 150). 2. Computer-implemented method (100) according to claim 1, wherein the indication (33, A, B, I, F) indicates at least one optimal position of the foot pressure center (A, B, I, F) at a specific moment of the sports movement and/or at least one optimal course of the foot pressure center (33) during at least a partial section of the sports movement. 3. Computer-implemented method (100) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising the following step: - receiving touch input data based on a user input input into a pressure-sensitive input device (4) arranged above or below the display (2), wherein the indication is generated taking into account the touch input data (step 140). 4. Computer-implemented method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the display position of the foot pressure center (31) is compared with the at least one position of the foot pressure center optimized for optimal execution of the sports movement, and a deviation of the display position of the foot pressure center (31) from the optimized position of the foot pressure center is determined. 5. The computer-implemented method (100) according to claim 4, wherein, when a predetermined upper threshold value for the deviation of the display position of the foot pressure center (31) from the optimized position of the foot pressure center is exceeded, an output signal is generated which is designed to cause a signal generating device to generate an acoustic, visual and/or tactile signal. 6. Computer-implemented method (100) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein when a predetermined lower threshold value for the deviation of the display position of the foot pressure center (31) from the optimized position of the foot pressure center is undershot, an output signal is generated which is designed to cause a signal generating device to generate an acoustic, visual and/or tactile signal. 7. Computer-implemented method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the spatial positions of the pressure sensors (21, 22) relative to one another are predefined. 8. A computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer (5), cause the computer (5) to carry out the method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7. 9. Computer (5) comprising means for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 7. 10. System for optimising a sports movement performed by a person (1), comprising - a sensor device (2) for recording foot pressure data, which has a plurality of spaced-apart pressure sensors (21, 22) and can be arranged under the feet of a person (1), - a computer (5) according to claim 9.