WO2007060667A2

WO2007060667A2 - A method and device for training motor skills

Info

Publication number: WO2007060667A2
Application number: PCT/IL2006/001357
Authority: WO
Inventors: Avraham Feazadeh; Ziv Kuniz; Giora Ein-Zvi; Motti Haridim
Original assignee: Meditouch Ltd.
Priority date: 2005-11-24
Filing date: 2006-11-26
Publication date: 2007-05-31
Also published as: WO2007060667A3; IL172157B; IL172157A0

Abstract

Some embodiments of the present invention may relate to a device, a computer program product and a method of training motor skills. In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a device for training motor skills may include a motion data processing module and an EMS training module. The motion data processing module may be adapted to process data corresponding to a composite motion to receive data relating to an elementary motor skill associated with the composite motion. The EMS training module may be adapted to provide based upon the processed data at least one training exercise intended to train the elementary motor skill to which the processed data relates.

Description

A METHOD AND DEVICE FOR TRAINING MOTOR SKILLS

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[001] This application claims the benefit of priority from IL Application Serial No. 172157, entitled Method and Device for Training Motor Skills, filed on November 24, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[002] The present invention generally relates to the field of motor skills training and/or analysis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[003] Many of our everyday activities involve composite motions which actually comprise a number of well orchestrated and coordinated elementary motor skills. For example, even a relatively simple motion such a hand's gripping motion involves a coordinated set of elementary motor skills of the fingers and finger' joints(relates to inner range, middle range, outer range position) . Each of these elementary motor skills has several characteristics. Thus, a subject's motion depends at least in part on the characteristics of one or more of his/her elementary motor skills.

[004] It has been suggested that in order to improve various motions, and specifically composite and intricate motions, focused and repetitive training should be provided for improving the elementary motor skills involved in the composite motion.

[005] As with learning many new and complex skills, an important aspect of improving a certain elementary motor skill is that a well focused and effective exercise be repeated over and over again with instant feedback. Thus, in order to improve, for example, a composite motion of a subject, a carefully selected and parameterized set of exercises should be provided for the elementary motor skills involved in the composite motion, and in some cases, for a specific characteristic of a specific elementary motor skill. [006] In addition, for an exercise to be effective the exercise should be selected such that it strikes a delicate balance. On the one hand, the exercise should be sufficiently challenging so that progress can be made. It is equally important however that the exercise be within the subject's capability so that it does not lead to frustration and loss of motivation and faith. These objectives are especially challenging when applied to the field of elementary motor skill training and rehabilitation, since significant data in respect of the subject's use of an elementary motor skill may sometimes have a relatively miniscule value, which may easily be overlooked.

[007] Furthermore, carefully directed, repetitive and challenging exercising is essential for improving the subject's "brain plasticity". The term "brain plasticity" refers to the ability of the brain to adapt itself and remodel its neural connections. It is believed that the brain is capable of changing the activity level of its neurons in response to specific tasks when these tasks are repeated time and again. For example, studies have shown that a damaged brain is able to reorganize, such that undamaged areas of the brain take over the functions previously performed by the damaged areas in the brain. This is a special manifestation of "brain plasticity". It should be noted however, that "brain plasticity" can also be used to improve certain functions of a healthy brain.

[008] Many groups of people can benefit from highly focused and well structured training of certain elementary motor skills. Generally speaking, focused and well structured elementary motor skills training may benefit, for example, athletes or other professionals requiring an especially high skill level, people suffering from various degrees of motor skill deficiencies, children at various stages of motor skill development and patients suffering from certain brain damage resulting from an injury or a stroke.

[009] As an example, people suffering from motion degradation must undergo intensive therapy over long periods of time in order to restore some of their motor abilities. Current motion therapy demands constant supervision and guidance by professional therapists and is also not very effective. At a certain stage, a subject's progress may slow down, possibly after only restoring basic or gross movement such as shoulder and elbow mobility. At this stage patients are told that they have reached a plateau, before significant progression is made towards more intricate and complex motions, and treatment is discontinued with instructions to continue exercising at home. This routine may deprive many patients of their chance to reach their full recovery potential.

[010] In addition, motion rehabilitation treatments rely to a large extent upon the therapist's observations with regard to the patient's condition and progress. Therapists are affected by the ongoing nature of such treatment and the fact that some improvements, specifically improvements in the subject's elementary motor skill, are gradual and very slight, and can easily miss or overlook significant signs of improvement or deterioration. Spotting these signs of improvement (or of deterioration) is critical to success of the treatment. In order to achieve the greatest progress, the patient should always be challenged to improve upon his current condition. However, a very fine balance must be struck when challenging the patient. On the one hand, under-challenging exercises may lead to stagnation in the patient's recovery and eventually to fixation, whereas over- challenging exercises may create frustration and may adversely affect the patient's motivation and outlook, which are essential to the patient's ability to improve. In order to allow patients to reach their full recovery potential, current therapy techniques must be improved.

[01 1] As mentioned above, other groups may also benefit from improved motor skill exercising techniques and devices. For example, young children gradually develop their motor skills and in particular their fine motor skills over the years. Many children, especially a large number of children suffering from various motor disabilities, may greatly benefit from improved elementary motor skill exercising techniques and devices.

[012] Unfortunately, current motor skill training techniques and motor skill related therapy fail to provide a simple, effective, and side-effects-free solution which may assist the subject to achieve optimal results.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[013] There is thus a need for a method and a device for enabling intensive and repetitive training of targeted elementary motor skills. There is a further need for a -A-

method and a device for enabling effective and accurate assessment of a subject's elementary motor skill, providing focused and intensive training in respect of the elementary motor skill based upon the assessment thereof. There is still a further need for a method and a device for enabling effective and accurate assessment of a subject's elementary motor skill, providing focused and intensive training in respect of the elementary motor skill based upon the assessment thereof, and repeating said assessment and training as needed.

[014] There is yet a further need for a method and a device for processing data corresponding to a composite motion in a manner to receive data relating to an elementary motor skill utilized as part of the composite motion, and for providing a training exercise which is focused on improving one or more aspects of elementary motor skill. There is yet a further need for a method and a device which is able to detect even slight improvements on a measurable quantitative basis in respect of an elementary motor skill, and to constantly present the subject with challenging yet motivating training exercises which are intended to improve specific aspects of a subject's elementary motor skill.

[015] Some embodiments of the present invention relate to a device, a computer program product and a method of training motor skills. In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a device for training motor skills may include a motion data processing module and an EMS training module. The motion data processing module may be adapted to process data corresponding to a composite motion to receive data relating to an elementary motor skill associated with the composite motion. The EMS training module may be configured to receive from the motion data processing module the processed data, and in response thereto provide at least one training exercise that is intended to train the elementary motor skill based upon the processed data.

[016] According to further embodiments of the present invention, the motion data processing module may be adapted to de-multiplex or to decompose the data corresponding to the composite motion into two or more segments. The motion data processing module may be further adapted to identify the elementary motor skills associated with each of the segments. According to yet further embodiments of the present invention, as part of identifying the elementary motor skills associated with each of the segments, the motion data processing module may be adapted to extract from each of the two or more segments identification data associated with the elementary motor skill with which that segment is associated.

[017] In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the data relating to the composite motion may include one or more of the following: measured data corresponding to a composite motion of a subject, data relating to a subject's past performance, average performance of individuals, average performance of persons belonging to a certain group with the same characterizations, and data provided by an operator.

[018] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the motion data processing module is adapted to receive the data corresponding to the composite motion from an array of sensors operatively connected thereto. According to further embodiments of the present invention, the motion data processing module may be adapted to de-multiplex or to decompose the data corresponding to the composite motion into two or more segments. The motion data processing module may be further adapted to determine with which elementary motor skill each of the two or more segments is associated.

[019] According to still further embodiments of the present invention, the EMS training module may be adapted to analyze at least one of the two or more segments. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the EMS training module may be adapted to provide an appropriate training exercise in response to the analysis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[020] In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, some embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[021] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustration of a device for assessing training motor skills of a subject, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention; [022] FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustration of a method of training motor skills of a subject, according to some embodiments of the present invention;

[023] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustration of an array of sensors attached to the hand of a subject in a manner to enable the measuring of various performance parameters associated with a composite motion of the hand of the subject; and

[024] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustration of some aspects of a method of training motor skill of a subject, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

[025] It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements, for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[026] In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.

[027] Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the following discussions, it will be appreciated that throughout the specification discussions utilizing terms such as "processing", "computing", "calculating", "determining", "generating", "assigning" or the like, refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or computing system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform data represented as physical, such as electronic, quantities within the computing system's registers and/or memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computing system's memories, registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.

[028] Embodiments of the present invention may include apparatuses for performing the operations herein. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the desired purposes, or it may comprise a general purpose computer selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as, but not limited to, any type of disk including floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs, magnetic-optical disks, read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs) electrically programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), electrically erasable and programmable read only memories (EEPROMs), magnetic or optical cards, or any other type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions, and capable of being coupled to a computer system bus.

[029] The processes and displays presented herein are not inherently related to any particular computer or other apparatus. Various general purpose systems may be used with programs in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove convenient to construct a more specialized apparatus to perform the desired method. The desired structure for a variety of these systems will appear from the description below. In addition, embodiments of the present invention are aot described with reference to any particular programming language. It will be appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the teachings of the inventions as described herein.

[030] Throughout the specification and the claims the term "composite motion" or the like, unless stated otherwise, is used to mean any motion which involves two or more elementary motor skills.

[031] The term "elementary motor skill", also referred to herein as EMS (or EMSs in the plural), may relate to a basic, rudimentary motor skill involving one or a substantially small number of joints. For example, a gripping motion may be considered a composite motion of the hand which involves the use of a plurality of elementary motor skills, for example, corresponding to the motion associated with inner range mid range and/or outer range of each finger/the wrist. A physical manifestation of an EMS is typically measured in relatively small units, such as microns and/or millimeters, where the full range of motion associated with an EMS is usually in the order of a few centimeters. Consequently, in respect of an EMS, a physical measurement that is in the order of microns or a few millimeters may be of significance. Accordingly, assessing and training an EMS or certain aspects thereof requires a relatively high level of sensitivity in the physical domain so that substantially miniscule deviations can be detected and acted upon. Similarly, assessing and training an EMS or certain aspects thereof also requires a high level of sensitivity in the time domain, since significant evidence of irregular EMS can take place during a relatively short period of time. The speed of an area of a subject's body that is associated with an EMS is typically measured in the order of microns/second.

[032] Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a block diagram of a device 100 for assessing and training elementary motor skills of a subject, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. According to some embodiments of the invention, the device 100 includes a motion data processing module 110 (hereinafter "MDPM") and an EMS training module 120. The MDPM 110 is operatively connected to the EMS training module 120. Reference is now additionally made to FIG. 2, which is a flow chart illustration of a method of training elementary motor skills of a subject, according to one aspect of the invention. According to one aspect of the invention, data corresponding to a composite motion may be received at the device 100 for assessing and training an elementary motor skill of a subject (block 210). According to some embodiments of the invention, the data in respect of the composite motion may be provided to the device 100 as part of an assessment stage. The data in respect of the composite motion may be used by the device 100 to provide one or more training exercises that are intended to one or more aspects of an EMS of the subject. The device 100 may be configure to provide training exercises which target a certain aspect of an EMS that was utilized as part of the composite motion to which the input data relates.

[033] According to some embodiments of the invention, the data in respect of the composite motion may include or may be associated with motion parameters which represent some aspects of the composite motion. According to further embodiments of the invention, the data in respect of the composite motion may include data which through processing may provide data in respect of an EMS or in respect of some aspects of an EMS, specifically an EMS that is associated with the composite motion.

[034] According to some embodiments of the invention, the MDPM 110 may be adapted to receive the data which corresponds to the composite motion and to process it. The MDPM 110 may be configured to process the data in respect of the composite motion in a manner to receive data with respect to at least one EMS utilized as part of the composite motion (block 220). The data in respect of the EMS may include, for example, a sequence of parameters which relate to an aspect of an EMS. According to some embodiments of the invention, the MDPM 110 may be adapted to process the input data in respect of the composite motion in a manner so as to distinguish at least one segment within the composite motion data which includes data in respect of an EMS, as will be described in greater detail below. According to further embodiments of the invention, the MDPM 110 may be adapted to perform further actions in respect of the incoming data, including, but not limited to, filtering the data, converting the data from one format to another, adding tags or other metadata, reordering segments of data, and/or any other data processing task which may contribute to assessing and training an EMS.

[035] The processed data or some portion thereof may be input to the EMS training module 120. For example, the EMS training module 120 may receive from the MDPM 110, processed data which includes one or more sequences of parameters. Each sequence of parameters may relate to an EMS or to an aspect of an EMS. Some examples of aspects of an EMS and discussions relating to various parameters which may be used providing measurable data in respect of an aspect of an EMS shall be provided below. The EMS training module 120 is configured to provide, based upon the processed data, at least one training exercise intended to train an EMS or some aspect of an EMS utilized as part of the composite motion (block 230).

[036] As mentioned above, according to some embodiments of the invention, the data in respect of an EMS or a certain aspect thereof may be obtained through processing data which relates to a composite motion which the EMS is part of. It would be appreciated that by evaluating an EMS or some aspect thereof as part of a composite motion which includes the use of the EMS of interest may provide a more reliable representation of a subject's use of the EMS in "real-life" situations, and thus a more helpful training may be presented to the subject. Nonetheless, it would be appreciated that other embodiments of the invention are not dependent upon receiving data which relates to some composite motion which includes data in respect of an EMS of interest. Rather, according to some embodiments of the invention, the data in respect of an EMS that is to be used for evaluating the EMS may not necessarily be part of data in respect of a composite motion and/or may not include data in respect of other EMSs.

[037] According to some embodiments of the invention, the EMS training module 120 may include an assessment module 122. The EMS training module 120 may be adapted to utilize the assessment module 122 to evaluate an incoming sequence of parameters relating to an aspect of an EMS. According to some embodiments of the invention, the assessment module 122 may be adapted to apply a set of assessment rules for evaluating an incoming sequence of parameters relating to an aspect of an EMS. As part of the assessment of the EMS, the assessment module 122 may provide data indicating which aspect (or aspects) of which EMS requires training and data in respect of the current performance parameters of the aspect of the EMS which requires training. According to some embodiments of the invention, the assessment module 122 may also provide data in respect of desired target parameters. However, according to further embodiments of the invention, the target parameters may be determined elsewhere, as will described below.

[038] As part of the evaluation of an incoming sequence of parameters relating to an aspect of an EMS, the assessment module 122 may obtain data in respect of recorded performance parameters of a corresponding aspect of an EMS. The recorded performance parameters may include, for example, performance parameters of the aspect of that specific EMS. According to some embodiments of the invention, the recorded performance parameters may include personal performance parameters, which have been obtained by measuring performance parameters of the same EMS and of the same subject which about to undergo training, and/or according to further embodiments of the invention, the performance parameters may be based upon a collection of performance parameters of obtained from a group of people whose EMS shares a common characteristic with the subject of the training. The recorded may also be simulated, based upon general statistics or come from any other suitable source.

[039] Next, based on the assessment, the EMS training module 120 may select or generate a training exercise that is intended to train an EMS or some aspect of an EMS, and may provide the training exercise for being presented to the subject. The training exercise provided by the EMS training module 120 may be intended to improve an aspect of the EMS. According to some embodiments of the invention, the EMS training module 120 may include or may be associated with a training manager 124. The training manager 124 may be adapted to select or generate the training exercise that is to be presented to the subject. The training manager 124 may receive, for example, from the assessment module 122 data in respect of an aspect of the EMS. The data received at the training manager 124 may include data in respect of which aspect (or aspects) of which EMS the exercise should be directed at, and data in respect of current (actual or simulated) performance parameters that are associated with that aspect of the EMS. The training manager 124 may also receive data in respect of desired target parameters. However, according to further embodiments of the invention, determining the desired target parameters may be under the responsibility of the training manager 124. For this purpose (and for any other purpose) the training manager 124 may include or may have access to recorded data in respect of previous performance parameters of a current subject of the training and/or of various groups of people.

[040] According to some embodiments of the invention, once selected or generated, the training exercise may be provided for being presented to the subject. The training module 120 may include a training monitor 126. The training monitor 126 may be adapted to monitor one or more aspects of the subject's reaction to the training exercise, including one or more sequences of performance parameters corresponding to an aspect of an EMS which the subject is utilizing in reaction to the exercise. The training monitor 126 may include one or more sensors. According to further embodiments of the invention the training monitor 126 may be operatively connected, for example, trough interface(s) to one or more external sensors.

[041 ] The training monitor 126 may be configured to feed the sequences of performance parameters corresponding to an aspect of an EMS to the assessment module 122. The assessment module 122 together with the training module 124 may select or generate a further training exercise based upon the data received from the training monitor 126. This process may be repeated until the parameters provided by the training monitor 126 are determined to be indicative of a target improvement or until the parameters provided by the training monitor 126 are determined to indicate that the subject has become fatigued and the training session should therefore be paused or stopped. [042] In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the in respect of a composite motion and/or the data in respect of an EMS or with respect to an aspect of an EMS may be obtained through an array of sensitive biofeedback sensors 140. The array of sensitive biofeedback sensors 140 may be operatively connected to the device 100. The sensitive sensor array 140 may includes two or more sensitive sensors 141 as will be described in greater detail below. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the sensitive sensor array 140 may be configured to measure various performance parameters associated with at least one composite motion of a subject. According to further embodiments of the present invention, the sensor array 140 is configured to measure various performance parameters associated with at least one EMS of a subject.

[043] According to some embodiments of the present invention, one or more sensors 141 in the array 140 may be associated with a specific EMS. One or more of the sensors 141 may be adapted to measure one or more performance parameters of a specific EMS with which the sensor 141 is associated. According to some embodiments of the invention, each sensor 141 in the array 140 may be sensitive to physical position variations that are in the order of a few microns. In addition, the sampling rate of each sensor 141 in the array 140 may be in the order of several hundreds of cycles/second, for example 625Hz, so that a sensor 141 is able to detect changes, such as changes in the position of an area of a subject's body that is associated with a certain EMS, even when the changes occur over a relatively short period of time. Furthermore, it would be appreciated that a sensor's 141 sensitively in the time domain is also important for providing useful data in respect of continuous motion. If the sensor 141 is sensitive enough so as to sample a continuous motion at a relatively high rate, the data provided by the sensor 141 may be used to identify and isolate specific difficulties or faults within and during the continuous motion. Some examples of parameters which may be measured by a sensor 141 in respect of an EMS shall be provided below.

[044] For example, one or more of the sensors 141 may be used to measure one or more of the following performance parameters of a specific elementary motor skill with which the respective sensor 141 is associated: relative position (e.g. absolute amount of movement), position on X, Y and/or Z axis, speed, force, etc. [045] Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which is a block diagram of an array of sensors attached to the hand of a user in a manner to enable the measuring of various performance parameters of a composite motion of the hand of the user and of one or more elementary motor skills utilized as part of the composite motion, as part of some embodiments of the present invention. As part of some embodiments of the present invention, the sensors array 140 may be configured to measure performance parameters of a composite motion of a user. For example, as part of measuring the performance parameters of a composite motion of a user, the sensor array 140 may be used to measure various relative position parameters, speed parameters and/or force parameters in respect of the composite motion. In the example of the array of sensors shown in FIG. 3, the sensors 141 in the array 140 are adapted to collectively measure performance parameters of a composite motion of the hand of a user.

[046] As part of further embodiments of the present invention, each sensor 141 in the array 140 may be adapted to measure one or more performance parameters of a certain EMS of the subject. According to one embodiment of the invention, a sensor (or a certain group of sensors) 141 may be operated independently to measure performance parameters of a certain EMS. According to another embodiment of the invention, a plurality of sensors 141, for example, the entire array 140 may be operated in cooperation to measure performance parameters of a plurality of EMSs, for example, as part of measuring a composite motion of a subject. According to some embodiments of the invention, a sensor 141 in the array 140 may be sensitive enough to measure changes in the physical location of an of a subject's body that is associated with a certain EMS that are in the order of microns According to further embodiments of the invention, a sensor 141 in the array 140 may be configured to provide a sampling rate that is in the order of Jtiundreds of cycles per second.

[047] According to one embodiment of the invention, the array of sensors 140 may be coupled to a subject's hand, for example, in a manner to enable one or more (including all) of the sensors 141 to measure various performance parameters of one or more EMSs, for example, as during composite motions of the hand. As mentioned above, a composite motion or motions of the hand is just one example of a composite motion. According to yet further embodiments of the present invention, a sensor 141 in the array 140 may be positioned at a specific location on the user's hand. The location where a sensor 141 is placed may be selected in a manner to enable the sensor 141 to measure one or more performance parameters of an EMS. Thus, when the user's hand or some portion thereof is utilized, one or more sensors 141 in the array may each provide data in respect of an EMS with which the sensor(s) 141 is associated, and the array 140 of sensors or some portion thereof, as a collective, may provide data which represents a composite motion of the hand

[048] For example, during an assessment exercise in which a subject is requested to fully extend his/her fingers and fully flex his/her fingers, a sensor 141 may sample a relative position of an area of the subject's hand, with which the sensor 141 is associated. The seonsor 141 may thus provide data with respect to the relative position at each point in time of the area of the of the subject's hand with which it is associated. Similar data may be provided by other sensor's in the array 141 which are associated with other areas of the subject hand. .For illustration purposes, an example of an area of a subject's hand with which a sensor 141 may be associated is an area whose physical position and the motion associated with the area's physical position is controlled by a single joint. It would be appreciated that a finger joint (as an example) is associated with an EMS, and that by appropriately positioning a suitable sensor, the sensor may provide data in respect of the subject's use of the EMS.

[049] Any sensors suitable for measuring performance parameters of an EMS may be used as part of the present invention. Such sensors may include for example, but are not limited to mechanical sensors, electromagnetic sensors, both wired and contactless, electro-optical sensors and optical sensors, including infra red, UV and ultrasonic sensors. As part of some embodiments of the invention, the sensors may be attachable to various areas of a subject's body so as to record various parameters in respect of the motion of an area of the subject's body; However, some embodiments of the invention are not limited in this respect, and the sensors may also be physically detached from the subject's body.

[050] In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, as part of measuring the performance parameters of a certain composite motion, the sensor array 140 measures the performance of two or more EMSs utilized as part of the composite motion, and the data from each of the sensors 141 may be collected and combined to provide a data stream corresponding to a composite motion. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a portion of the sensor array 140 may be disabled or the input received from the sensors associated with that portion may be omitted from the output of the array 140, such that only a portion of the performance parameters of a certain composite motion is collected. In such case, for example, the data collected from the sensor array 140 may represent only a portion of the composite motion. In one embodiment of the present invention, the data collected from the sensor array 140 represents the performance parameters of one or more, but not all, EMSs utilized as part of the composite motion. In case the data collected from the sensor array 140 relates to only EMS (and other EMSs utilized as part of the composite motion are disregarded), there may be no need to combine the data received from the sensors and the data may be provided to the device 100 substantially as is. The selection of which of the EMSs utilized as part of the composite motion of the user to measure, may be performed, for example, by an operator 150 of the device 100.

[051] According to some embodiments of the present invention, in case the data from the sensor array 140 corresponds to two or more EMSs, the data may be combined as described below. Initially, the data from a sensor 141 may be temporarily stored in a buffer, for example, in real time. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the data from each sensor 141 may stored separately from data received from any of the other sensors. The data from the sensors 141 may be combined such that each segment of data within the data compilation includes a reference to or is otherwise associated with the respective sensor 141 from which that segment of data was received. However, the invention is not limited in this respect, and the device 100 may use any data relating to a composite motion which includes segments which are associated with and include reference to at least two elementary motor skills utilized as part of the composite motion.

[052] There are various well known methods and techniques, for example, in the field of data transfer and communication protocols, which may be used as part of some embodiments of the present invention, to provide a data stream comprised of a plurality of data segments which include some reference to or which are otherwise associated with a node from which they were received, such that each segment in the data stream may be traced back to the node (or sensor) from which it was received. One simple example of such a protocol is illustrated in FIG. 3, in which each sensor 141 in the sensor array 140 is associated with a specific identification code. In accordance with the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, each sensor 141 is configured to stamp each segment of data generated by the sensor 141 with an identification code uniquely correlated with that sensor 141. When the data from all the sensors 140 is combined, each segment of the combined data may include a reference to the sensor 141 from which the data was received. Thus, each segment of data within the data stream may be traced back to the specific sensor 141 which generated the data, and subsequently to the motor skill to which it relates. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to any particular method or technique for associating each segment of data within a data stream with the node or sensor from which it was received, and other methods or techniques may be used, for example, synchronous communication, wherein each sensor may be associated with a specific timeslot, etc.

[053] It should also be noted that the sensor array 140 and the device 100 may be interconnected through any suitable wired or wireless communication links and may include any suitable interfaces or other circuitry as may be necessary to facilitate intercommunication. The sensors 140 may provide the data in respect of an EMS as a time domain waveform, representing the relative position of a finger, for example, over time. The MDPM module 110 may apply a Fourier transform, or any other suitable transformation, to convert the data received from the sensors into data representing the parameters of an EMS measured by the sensors 140.

[054] It should be further noted that the invention is not limited to the use of the above described sensors array for obtaining the initial input with respect to the user's performance. Rather, according to further embodiments of the present invention, the data corresponding to the composite motion may be obtained (in addition or in alternative to the sensor array) from any other suitable source. For example, the device 100 may be operatively connected to an exterior data source (not shown), on which there may be prestored data corresponding to one or more composite motions which may be provided to the device instead of the measured data. In another example, the data may be input to the device by the operator 150, for example, based on the operator's evaluation of the user's motion. In yet another example, precompiled data stored in the device 100 may be selected for each user in accordance with relevant parameters, such as for example, the user's age, medical condition, and performance level, the target of the current exercise, etc. Whatever the source of the initial input data, the initial input data may relate to a composite motion of the user (whether actual or simulated) which involves the use of at least two elementary motor skills (whether actual or simulated) and may comprise at least two segments, each of which including or being associated with some reference indicative of the elementary motor skill with which that segment is associated.

[055] Similarly, the performance of the user with respect to the exercise(s) may also be measured by the sensor array 140 or may be provided to the device 100 from any of the other suitable sources (some of which were mentioned above with reference to the sources of the initial input data). Whichever is the source of the data relating to the user's performance with respect to the exercise(s), in case more than one elementary motor skill is trained, the data corresponding to each of the elementary motor skills may or may not be combined. However, in case the data is combined it may be de-multiplexed or decomposed at the device 100, as described above, to provide data relating to each of the elementary motor skills utilized in response to the exercise(s).

[056] Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which is a flowchart illustration of a method of assessing and training motor skills of a subject, in accordance with further embodiments of the present invention. In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a subject may be presented with an assessment exercise (block 410). As part of the assessment exercise, the subject may be requested to perform a composite motion involving two or more elementary motor skills. According to some embodiments of the invention, the assessment exercise may include various perceptual stimuli which may be presented to the subject, in response to which the user may be expected to perform a certain (one or more) composite motion(s). The assessment exercise may further include various predefined performance parameters which may be used to assess the subject's performance of the assessment exercise. In one embodiment of the present invention, the assessment exercise may be selected, either manually or automatically in accordance with the target of the training session, for example, in accordance with the subject's medical condition, in accordance with a certain motion with which the subject is having some difficulties, and/or in accordance with any other relevant criterion.

[057] In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the perceptual stimuli may be presented to the user via various output devices, including, for example, visual displays and audio output devices. In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the source of the assessment exercise may be the EMS training module 120 and/or, for example, an exterior data structure (not shown) and/or a manually generated assessment exercise provided by the operator 150.

[058] In accordance with one example, as an assessment exercise (or an assessment protocol), a subject may be requested to flex her/his fingers as much as possible and then to extend her/his as much and possible. The sensor array 140 may be used to record the parameters of the subject's motion and may transfer the recorded data to the device 100 for assessing and training elementary motor skills. The data from the sensor array 140 may undergo processing at the MDPM module 110 and the processed data may be provided to the assessment module 122 for evaluation thereof.

[059] The MDPM module 110 possibly in cooperation with the assessment module 122 module may use the data from the sensors 140 to determine the active range of motion (ROM) value(s) of at least one EMS of the subject. That is, using the data received from the sensors 140, the MDPM module 110 may determine in respect of an EMS of the subject, what are the farthest points (extremes) the subject can independently reach from full flexion to full extension and the distance therebetween. Typically, the ROM value(s) are determined based upon the behavior of an area of the subject's body that is associated with an EMS. It is the behavior of an area of the subject's body that is measured, and typically the MDPM module 110 is configured to interpret the data in respect to that area to the active ROM value and other values which are used to asses the subject's condition in respect to a certain EMS. According to some embodiments of the invention, the active ROM is measured in the order of microns. According to some embodiments of the invention, as part of the assessment exercise (or the assessment protocol), the subject may be requested to repeat the full flexion to full extension motion several times so as to provide a wider base of data and for generating a more reliable result.

[060] Continuing with the example of an assessment exercise (or an assessment protocol), the MDPM module 110 possibly in cooperation with the assessment module 120 may use the data from the sensors 140 to provide data in respect of the speed of a subject's EMS. The speed data in respect of the speed of subject's EMS may relate to the amount of time required by the subject to utilize an EMS from one extreme to another. In accordance with the example provided above, MDPM module 110 may determine the amount of time required by the subject for moving one finger from a fully flexed position to a fully extended position. In addition or in alternative, in case the repeated version of the exercise is implemented (the subject is requested to repeatedly flex-extend-flex his finger), the data in respect of the speed of the subject's EMS may be provided in terms of cycles per-second, the number of times the subject can go from full flexion to full extension within a given amount of time.

[061] In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, an assessment exercise (or an assessment protocol) may further include obtaining data in respect of a subject's passive ROM. Passive ROM as used herein, refers the subject's performance of a motion associated with a particular EMS when the area of the subject's body that is associated with the EMS is driven not (only) by the subject himself but also at least with the assistance of an exterior force (such as by a trainer, for example). It would be appreciated that the passive ROM may provide some indication as to the subject's potential active ROM.

[062] However, it would be appreciated that the data in respect of an EMS which may be provided to the MDPM module 110, for example, from the array of sensors 140 may include a lot more information which may be used by the MDPM module 110 possibly in cooperation with the assessment module 122 to provide additional values in respect of an EMS. For example, the assessment module 122 may identify based upon data received from the MDPM 110 which part of a subject's EMS is particularly unsatisfactory and may provide an indication as to the deficiency value (or score) at each of an inside range a mid range and an outside range of the EMS. If we relate this example to a subject's fmger, the the assessment module 122 may identify based upon data received from the MDPM 110 may identify that an EMS associated with a certain finger of a subject is characterized in a 0% motion in the inner range (finger fully flexed to 1/3 extended); 30% motion in the mid range (finger 1/3 extended to 2/3 extended); AND 90% motion in the outer range (finger 2/3 extended to full extended). The MDPM module 110 possibly in cooperation with the assessment module 122 may be adapted to provide data in a higher resolution and may identify difficulties in a subject's EMS that are in the order of microns.

[063] Another example of a value in respect of an EMS which the MDPM module 110 possibly in cooperation with the assessment module 122 may provide is related to spasticity. Spasticity is a condition which is related with muscular hypertonicity with increased tendon reflexes. Since the data received at the MDPM module 110 may be include not only the extreme points and the number of cycles per unit of time, but also very detailed information about many points in between the two extremes, including, for example, a detailed account of the relative position of an area of the subject's body that is associated with an EMS at each fraction of a second, the MDPM module 110 may evaluate the subject's EMS by referring to very small fragments of motion. Thus, for example, the MDPM module 110 may identify that at some portions of a motion of the subject that is associated with an EMS (for example, a finger moving from full flexion to full extension) the rate of progress is spastic, or that the rate of the motion associated with the EMS is not uniform.

[064] Yet another example of a set of values in respect of an EMS which the MDPM module 110 possibly in cooperation with the assessment module 122 may provide is related to abduction. Those with ordinary skill in the art may devise the specific parameters which may be evaluated in connection with abduction of certain area of a subject's body that is associated with an EMS.

[065] Once all the MDPM module 110 and the assessment module 122 complete the evaluation of an EMS, and assessment file may be created, including all the values generated for the EMS. The assessment file may be input to the training manager 124. Upon receiving the assessment file, the training manager 124 may select a readymade exercise or may generate an exercise in accordance with the data in the assessment file. According to some embodiments of the invention, the training manager may be adapted to select or generate a training exercise that is intended to improve the deficiencies indicated in the assessment file.

[066] In accordance with one example of a training exercise which may be provided by the training manager 124 includes displaying a path to the subject, the path being representative of a sequence of flexion-extension motions which the subject is requested to perform. In order to follow the path the subject needs to utilize an EMS so flex and extend a finger to various degrees, as represented by the path. The path may have a certain width, and the bandwidth of the path may represent a tolerance value. The subject may be requested to use his EMS in a manner so that the subject remains within the boundaries of the path. Accordingly, the y-axis of the path may relate to the relative position of the finger. Thus, each 'y' value of the path represents a certain relative position. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, in order to evaluate the relative position component of the subject's performance, the training monitor 126, possibly in cooperation with the assessment module 122, may be adapted to determine for a point along the path an offset value which represents, for example, the subject's offset from the optimal relative position of the area of the subject's body as represented by the path. The assessment module may employ predefined acceptable an non-acceptable offset values to further evaluate the subject's performance.

[067] The x-axis component of path represents time. The x-axis component of the path provides the rate at which the subject is requested to use the EMS in order to stay within the path. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, in order to evaluate the speed component of the subject's performance, the training monitor 126, possibly in cooperation with the assessment module 122, may be adapted to determine for a point along the path a delay value which represents the subject's delay in reacting to the changes in the relative position of the area of the subject's body as represented by the path. According to some embodiments of the invention, in order to determine the delay value at a certain point the training monitor 126, possibly in cooperation with the assessment module 122, may be adapted to look at previous points so as to establish a delay pattern, an average delay, a delay increase/decrease (delta) and/or a delay trend, etc.

[068] The path may be provided by the training manager 124 in the form of a target function, and may be converted to some form which may be presented to the user by an agent application or by any other suitable component.

[069] The subject's reaction to the training exercise may be monitored, for example by sensors, and the data from the sensors may be used to provide the subject with instant feedback as to his position relative to the path, for example. The data from the sensors may also be input to the EMS training module 120, and specifically to the assessment module 122, where the subject's performance may be assessed. The assessment of the subject's performance may be used for managing the training exercise. The assessment of the subject's performance may also be recorded, for example in a subject's training file, for future reference. The recorded data may be used for designing further training sessions and may also be used for various statistical analyses. The cycle of assement- training-reassement-training may continue for a predetermined amount of time, until there is an indication that the subject is fatigued, or as long as the operator decides.

[070] Various aspects of the user's physical reaction in response to the perceptual stimuli may be measured, for example, by sensors 141 attached to specific locations on the user's body. In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the measured physical reaction may include measured performance parameters of the composite motion of the user (block 420). As discussed above, each sensor 141 may be configured to measure one or more performance parameters of a specific motor skill utilized as part of the composite motion, and the data from each of the sensors 141 used to measure the elementary motor skills utilized during the exercise may be combined in a manner to provide a data stream including data corresponding to a composite motion of the user. As mentioned above, the initial input data may arrive from other sources to the device 100, and in some cases, the assessment exercise(s) may even not be necessary and may be replaced by precompiled input data.

[071] In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, the data stream including the data corresponding to the composite motion may be input to the device 100, and more specifically, to the MDPM 110. The MDPM 110 may be adapted to process the data corresponding to the composite motion to receive data relating to performance parameters associated with each of two or more elementary motor skills utilized as part of the composite motion (block 430). In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the MDPM 110 is configured to de-multiplex/decompose the data corresponding to the composite motion in a manner to receive a plurality of discrete data segments, each of which includes data relating to one of the two or more elementary motor skills utilized as part of the composite motion. In accordance with further embodiments of the present ^' invention, as part of de-multiplexing or decomposing the data stream, the MDPM 110 may extract from each segment of the data stream, reference data indicative of the motor skill with which that segment of the data is associated. In accordance, with further embodiments of the present invention, the MDPM 110 may determine with which elementary motor skill a certain segment of data is associated in accordance with other indications associated with or included in each segment of the data stream as described above in greater detail.

[072] In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, based upon the processed data, the EMS training module 120 may be configured to provide one or more training exercises intended to improve one or more characteristics of at least one elementary motor skill associated with the composite motion (block 440). For example, the EMS training module 120 may provide a training exercise intended to improve a specific elementary motor skill utilized as part of the composite motion which was represented by the initial input data. In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, as part of providing the training exercise(s) for each of the elementary motor skills to be trained, the EMS training module 120 may be adapted to select or determine the training exercises to be provided. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a training exercise may be selected based upon data corresponding to an elementary motor skill, such as for example, the processed data obtained from the MDPM 110. An example of a process of determining/selecting the training exercise to be provided is described below.

[073] According to some embodiments of the invention, previous to the selection of training exercises, it may be determined which of the elementary motor skills identified by the MDPM 110 requires training. As part of determining whether exercising is required for a certain elementary motor skill, the EMS training module 120 may compare the processed data corresponding to each of the elementary motor skills with predefined thresholds. For example, the EMS training module 120 may determine that a certain elementary motor skill needs to undergo training only in case the data in the segment or segments of the input data which correspond to that elementary motor skill exceed (or are below) a certain threshold. Additional discussions regarding the decision whether or not to train a certain elementary motor skill are provided below.

[074] In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, in case the EMS training module 120 determines that at least one of the elementary motor skills is to be exercised, the EMS training module 120 may select the training exercise to be used for training each of the elementary motor skills determined to require training. At least one of the training exercises may be selected based upon at least the processed data. Additional training exercises may be selected either automatically or manually.

[075] In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, once it has been determined which elementary motor skills (one or more) are to be exercised, the EMS training module 120 may select the training exercise to be presented to the user. In accordance with further embodiments of the invention, at least one training exercise may be selected in accordance with the processed data. The at least one training exercise may be selected in accordance with the portion of the processed data which corresponds to the elementary motor skill which is the target of the selected training exercise.

[076] In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a storage device 155 may be operatively coupled to the EMS training module 120 and may be used to store a plurality of precompiled training exercises. Each of the precompiled training exercises may be associated with a specific selection criterion or criteria. Each selection criterion may be associated with various performance parameters of one or more (including any) elementary motor skill(s). The EMS training module 120 may be adapted to select the training exercise to be provided for at least one of the elementary motor skills in accordance with the respective selection criteria of the relevant training exercises. In accordance with further embodiments of the invention, each selection criterion may establish a certain range of performance parameters, which, in case the current performance parameters fall within such a range, the training exercise associated with that range may be selected. The selection of the training exercise may be influenced by other factors, such as, for example, data relating to the user's past performance, average performance of individuals, average performance of persons belonging to a certain group with the same characterization (for example, Parkinson's group or a group associated with a certain sport), etc or, in accordance with further embodiments of the invention, the selection of some of the training exercises may be manual.

[077] In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, as part of selecting the training exercise to be presented to the user, the EMS training module creates a list of relevant exercises for each of the elementary motor skills to be trained. The list of relevant training exercises may be created in response to the processed data.

[078] As mentioned above, the EMS training module 120 may access a storage device 155 in order to obtain precompiled training exercises and data associated with such training exercises. In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, the storage device 155 may be used to store a training exercises database. The training exercises database may include a plurality of entries, each of which corresponds, for example, to a specific training exercise. In accordance with further embodiments of the present invention, each training exercise entry may be associated with one or more elementary motor skills.

[079] The training exercises may be obtained from other sources either in addition to or as an alternative to the training exercises database. For example, the training exercises may be manually created and provided by the operator 150, who may manually enter all the necessary data required to provide the user with an appropriate training exercise for training at least one elementary motor skill of the user based upon the data relating to the performance parameters of that motor skill. The EMS training module 120 may include a convenient interface to enable the operator to efficiently and manually create training exercises. Yet in accordance with further embodiments of the present invention, the operator may modify prestored training exercises and use the modified version rather than the precompiled and prestored version. [080] In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, each training exercise may include data corresponding to at least a perceptual stimulus to be presented to the user and to which the user is expected to react. Once the training exercise(s) is (are) provided by the EMS training module 120, the EMS training module 120 may be adapted to present the user with the perceptual stimuli associated with each of the training exercises (block 450). As part of presenting the user with the training exercise(s), the EMS training module 120 may be adapted to utilize one or more audio/visual/sensory devices to create the perceptual stimuli for each of the training exercises presented to the user. For example, as is shown in FIG. 1, the EMS training module 120 may be operatively connected to a display screen 160. In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, as part of presenting the user with the training exercise, the EMS training module 120 may provide the display screen 160 with appropriately formatted data associated with the target performance parameters. In response, the display may translate the data and display a graph corresponding to the range of performance parameters within which the user may be expected to remain when utilizing the motor skill. The EMS training module 120 may configure other perceptual stimuli devices or systems either in addition to or as an alternative to the display screen 160. The device 100 and specifically the EMS training module 120 may include or may be associated with any components, such as processors, storage media, interfaces and input/output devices to enable the presentation of the training exercises to the user, and specifically, for the presentation of the perceptual stimuli.

[081] In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, one or more elementary motor skills may be autonomously trained in accordance with the respective particular performance parameters obtained thereof. In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, one or more of the elementary motor skills which have been determined to require training may be simultaneously trained and the training of each of the elementary motor skills may be influenced by or may be otherwise associated with the training of the other elementary motor skill(s).

[082] In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, for each exercise presented to the user, one or more performance parameters of the elementary motor skill(s) which is the subject of the training exercise may be measured (block 460). In accordance with some embodiments of the invention the performance parameters of the elementary motor skill(s) being trained may be measured by, for example, an array of biofeedback sensors, such as for example, array 140. The performance parameters may be continuously measured as long as the training exercise is continued.

[083] In accordance with further embodiments of the invention, the data relating to the measured performance parameters of the elementary motor skill which is the subject of the training exercise may be translated and fed to one or more perceptual feedback devices or systems in a manner to provide the user with instant feedback. The perceptual feedback device may be the same device used to create the perceptual stimuli or may be a different device or an additional device. For example, the measured performance parameters of the elementary motor skill may be provided to the display screen, directly or indirectly, where they may be displayed as a progressing pattern overlayed on top of the graph representing the range of performance parameters within which the user may be expected to remain when utilizing the motor skill during the training exercise. Specific feedback may be provided if and when the user's performance parameters of the elementary motor skill overstep the boundaries defined by the training exercise.

[084] In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, each exercise may be configured with a specific responsiveness parameter. The responsiveness parameter may determine, for example, the manner by which one or more parameters of the elementary motor skill(s) being exercised, are translated. For example, the responsiveness parameter selected for an athlete seeking to perfect a certain elementary motor skill may be set at a very high level such that the athlete must react within a very short time and utilize the elementary motor skill being exercised to perform relatively significant or accurate motions within short periods of time. The responsiveness value may be one of the parameters which determine and influence the instant feedback devices or systems. For example, as part of two different exercises, each for a different user with different exercising parameters, a display screen may display a certain graph. The graph may represent a certain extraction/contraction scheme for the user to follow by utilizing the elementary motor skill(s) which is the subject of the exercise. For the first user, for example a person suffering from brain damage which affects his motor skills, the time parameter of the graph may be considerably moderate, allowing the user abundant time to follow the scheme represented by the graph. For the second user, for example a trained athlete seeking to perfect a certain motor skill, the time parameter of the graph may be quite extreme, allowing the user only a very short amount of time to make the necessary contraction/extraction movements in order to stay within the contraction/extraction scheme represented by the graph. The responsiveness parameters may be adjusted for any user in accordance with the user's progress, driving the user to further improve his skills and maintaining motivation. It should be noted that the responsive parameter and similar parameters may be adapted, and consequently may adapt the training exercises presented to the user, to accommodate for the degree of severity of the user's motor skill reduction, the target skill level, the average skill level of persons in similar condition as the user, the user's historical performance data (peak values, deviation, speed of performance, etc.)

[085] In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, the performance parameters measured in response to the exercises may be used to determine whether any of the user's elementary motor skills require further training (block 470). In accordance with further embodiments of the invention, as part of determining whether any of the user's elementary motor skills require further training, the performance parameters measured in connection with each of the training exercises (or the training exercise in case only one is provided) may be analyzed by the EMS training module 120. The analysis of the performance parameters may be performed on-line during the training exercise, or alternatively the performance parameters measured during the exercise may be stored by the training module 120 and may be analyzed once the training exercise is completed.

[086] In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, as part of the analysis, the measured performance parameters may be compared against one or more (e.g., all the relevant) target performance parameters to determine whether the user's performance reached a predefined target associated with that training exercise. According to some embodiments of the present invention, in case at block 470 it is determined that at least one of the user's elementary motor skills requires further training, for example in case the measured performance parameters are below the predefined target (or are outside the target range), the training exercise may be repeated and blocks 440-470 may be repeated for that (or these) training exercise(s). However, if at block 470 it is determined that none of the user's elementary motor skills requires further training, the assessment and training session may be terminated (block 480). As part of terminating the training session, various data relating to the user's performance may be stored for future use, such as, for example, for further training.

[087] It should be noted that further training may be presented to the user not only in order to optimize a certain aspect of the user's motion (e.g., the user's elementary motor skills) but also to improve various other aspects of the user's motion by presenting the user with various training exercises which are intended to improve these other aspects of the user's motion. In this respect, a training exercise may be repeated in case the results are unsatisfactory, but also, in some cases, when the results are satisfactory, for example in order to train or perfect additional aspects of the user's motion. Thus, for example, in order to improve complicated movements of each finger a plurality of exercises may be provided for each of the fingers in order to train various aspects of the user's fingers motion or other joints, limbs or other parts and under various conditions, including, for example, exercises intended to improve bending positions under conditions of dynamically changing challenges, improve accuracy of movement, improve partial movement of joints and limbs (rather than simply repeating a simple monotonic motion time after time).

[088] In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, for any of the training exercises, the data relating to the target performance parameters may be obtained from the training exercises database. Each entry in the training exercises database, which as mentioned above may be associated with a specific training exercise, may include data relating to the target performance parameters associated with that training exercise. In accordance with yet further embodiments of the invention, the data relating to the target performance parameters may be provided in the form of a pattern of performance parameters corresponding to specific parameter variations over time. The target performance parameters pattern may correspond to a certain motion the user may be expected to perform by utilizing the motor skill(s) which is to be trained by the training exercise. In accordance with yet further embodiments of the invention, the pattern may introduce some tolerance band to the training exercise and may provide for each point in time during the exercise a certain range of target performance parameters within which the user may be expected to remain.

[089] Any necessary data in connection with the various aspects of the training exercises mentioned above may be stored in the exercises database. The EMS training module 120 may be adapted to access the database in order to extract any such data as may be necessary to provide suitable training exercises for training the user's motor skills and/or to enhance the training for the user's motor skills.

[090] It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that some embodiments of the invention provide for an accurate, focused and readily available training which is based upon a quantitative measurement of targeted motions of the user, whether these are diminished and require rehabilitation or for purposes of achieving an especially high level of skill. By enabling a focused and repetitive training of each elementary motor skill which is utilized as part of a composite motion of the user, the composite motion may be improved beyond what was previously available to many people.

[091] It will also be understood that the device according to the invention may include a suitably programmed computer. Likewise, the invention contemplates a computer program being readable by a computer for executing the method of the invention. The invention further contemplates a machine-readable memory tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine for executing the method of the invention.

[092] While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of training motor skills of a user, comprising: processing data corresponding to a composite motion to receive data relating to an elementary motor skill associated with the composite motion; and providing at least one training exercise intended to train said elementary motor skill based upon the processed data.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data in respect of the composite motion includes data in respect of performance parameters of two or more elementary motor skills, and wherein said processing includes obtaining from the data in respect of the composite motion data in respect of performance parameters of at least one of said two or more elementary motor skills.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the data corresponding to a composite motion includes at least two data segments each being associated with a different elementary motor skill, and wherein said obtaining includes distinguishing at least one segment of data which includes data in respect of an elementary motor skill within the data corresponding to the composite motion.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising identifying with which elementary motor skill a distinguished data segment is associated.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the data relating to the composite motion consists of one or more of the following: measured data corresponding to a composite motion of a user, data relating to a user's past performance, average performance of individuals, average performance of persons belonging to a certain group having common characterizations, and manually provided data.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein said at least one training exercise intended to train said elementary motor skill is selected in accordance with performance parameters of said elementary motor skill obtained from the data in respect of the composite motion.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising: measuring one or more performance parameters of said elementary motor skill during said at least one training exercise intended to train said elementary motor skill; selecting a further training exercise intended to improve said elementary motor skill based upon performance parameters of said elementary motor skill measured during said at least one training exercise.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising repeating said selecting at least one further training exercise, said providing at least one training exercise and measuring one or more performance parameters of said elementary motor skill during said training exercise as long as measured performance parameters of said elementary motor skill are below a certain goal level.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the goal level is determined in accordance with predefined criteria.

10. The method according to claim 2, further comprising utilizing an array of sensors operatively associated with at least a portion of a user's body to measure one or more parameters of a composite motion of the user.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein each sensor in the array is configured to measure one or more performance parameters of an elementary motor skill of the user, and wherein said utilizing the array of sensors comprises utilizing two or more sensors in the array to measure one or more performance parameters of each of two or more elementary motor skills of the user utilized as part of the composite motion of the user.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said an array of sensors further comprises: recording two or more segments of data, wherein each segment of data includes performance parameters measured by a certain sensor in the array; and adding a unique ID to each recorded data segment, the unique ID being indicative of the sensor with which the recorded data segment is associated.

13. A device for training motor skills, the device comprising: a motion data processing module adapted to process data corresponding to a composite motion to receive data relating to an elementary motor skill associated with the composite motion; and an EMS training module responsive to the processed data for providing at least one training exercise intended to train said elementary motor skill based upon the processed data.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the data in respect of the composite motion includes data in respect of performance parameters of two or more elementary motor skills, and wherein said motion data processing module is adapted to obtain data in respect of performance parameters of at least one of said two or more elementary motor skills from the data in respect of the composite motion.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the data corresponding to a composite motion includes at least two data segments each being associated with a different elementary motor skill, and wherein motion data processing module is adapted to distinguish at least one segment of data which includes data in respect of an elementary motor skill within the data corresponding to the composite motion.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein said EMS training module is adapted to select said at least one training exercise intended to train said elementary motor skill in accordance with performance parameters of said elementary motor skill obtained from the data in respect of the composite motion.

17. The device according to claim 16, further comprising any array of sensors, said array of sensors being associable with at least a portion of a user's body and being operative for measuring one or more parameters of a composite motion of the portion of the user's body with which said array of sensors is associated.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein said array of sensors is comprised of two or more sensors, and wherein each sensor in the array is configured to measure one or more performance parameters of an elementary motor skill of the user utilized as part of the composite motion of the user.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein in response to providing a training exercise: said array of sensors is adapted to measure one or more performance parameters of an elementary motor skill used during said at least one training exercise intended to train said elementary motor skill ; said motion data processing module is adapted to process data received from the array of sensors in connection with said training exercise so as to provide data in respect of said elementary motor skill; said EMS training module is adapted to select a further training exercise intended to improve said elementary motor skill based upon performance parameters of said elementary motor skill measured during said at least one training exercise.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said EMS training module is adapted to select a further training exercise intended to improve said elementary motor skill as long as performance parameters of said elementary motor skill are below a certain goal level.

21. The device according to claim 18, wherein said array of sensors further includes a sensor array control unit, said sensor array control unit being adapted to record two or more segments of data, wherein each segment of data includes performance parameters measured by a certain sensor in the array, and being further adapted to add a unique ID to each recorded data segment, the unique ID being indicative of the sensor with which the recorded data segment is associated.

22. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein for training motor skills of a user, the computer program product comprising: computer readable program code for causing the computer to process data corresponding to a composite motion to receive data relating to an elementary motor skill associated with the composite motion; and computer readable program code responsive to the processed data for causing the computer to provide at least one training exercise intended to train said elementary motor skill based upon the processed data.