METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BIOMECHANICAL OUTPUT MEASUREMENT

Field of invention

[01] This invention relates to apparatus for and a method of collecting and processing data in the context of a piconet of short-range data transmitters. It extends to the use of these in measuring and providing biometric feedback on the biomechanical output of limbs, in particular during exercise.

Background to the invention

[02] An athlete's hands and feet are where the proverbial "rubber hits the road". It is through them that virtually all forces imparted by the muscles required to participate in a particular activity are directed, whether this be running, walking, lifting, pulling, pushing, striking and the like.

[03] In exercising, training and participating in resultant competition, an athlete may be stronger or dominant in one limb compared to the other: For example, a cyclist may be able to exert more effort with their right leg compared to their left; a rehabilitation patient may have one limb stronger than another; or a sufferer of LLI may rely on one limb more than the other. In sports where individual physical endurance is paramount, such as in mountaineering and rock climbing, an imbalance in the strength of one limb compared with another can compromise performance with tragic results.

[04] Exercise machines typically have fixed cross bars that do not facilitate effort equalization. The result is that the exerciser's stronger limb will dominate the other. Testing has shown the human mind may attempt to, but cannot successfully - let alone consistently - equalize training effort in the limbs. Therefore current training methods allow individuals to be dependent on their stronger or more dominant limbs, without being aware of discrepancies. It is a concern for performance outcomes that the person training or being trained may be completely training only one half of their body.

[05] How a person, such as an athlete (but without being so limited), experiences fatigue over time, which limbs decrease their performance first and at what rate and why, are questions not adequately answered by currently known or used technologies.

[06] Numerous sporting and biomechanics researchers have proposed solutions, but these are not without deficiencies. For example: They tend to focus on one sport only, they are too expensive for widespread uptake, they are too big and bulky to be practical in the exercise environment, and they are not transferable to different items of apparel or wearable equipment, such as shoes, gloves, a smart phone or watch.

[07] Smart medical devices are gaining traction in the consumer market as seen in the popularity of fitness monitoring systems, for example those available under the brand "FitBit". Heart rate monitors are also widely available, such as the Mio Link Heart Rate Wristband. This system has smartphone application software that causes the smartphone running it to receive heart rate data from sensors mounted in a wrist band worn by the user. The data is interpreted and displayed graphically on the smartphone display as a graph of pulse rate over time. Neither of these devices provides a real time measurement of effort being delivered biomechanically by the limb or by muscle groups in it or in its appendages, such as the fingers and toes.

[08] Piconets comprising up to eight Bluetooth devices connected in wireless communication with a master device are known. These suffer a drawback in that the eight devices need to serve different functions: When the devices are similar, in delivering the same type of data to the master device, it is found that their output is unable to be processed, as the receiver is unable to discern between the data from the different senders. It is believed that this deficiency is at least in part a cause of data transfer or processing bottlenecks. Objects of the invention

[09] It is an object of this invention to address the shortcomings of the prior art and, in doing so, to provide a method and apparatus monitoring the biomechanical output of a limb or appendages thereto.

[010] It is a further object to provide a system for constant monitoring of exertion to enable comparison of data collected from each limb to determine whether optimal biomechanical levels are being achieved.

[Oil] A further object of the invention is to provide method of alerting a person that the subject being monitored is over- or under-exerting one limb or appendage in comparison to another.

[012] The preceding discussion of the background to the invention is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. However, it should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to was part of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere as at the priority date of the present application.

[013] Further, and unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words 'comprise', 'comprising', and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense - that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not being limited to" - as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense - that is to say meaning "including this and nothing else".

Summary of invention

[014] According to the invention, there is provided a data-processing method for data obtained substantially simultaneously from a plurality of local data collectors, the method comprising the steps of: a. dividing simultaneously-obtained data from a plurality of local data collectors into packets of time-stamped data points, b. identifying the collector of the data in each data point, c. sending the packets in staggered sequence to a receiving processor, causing the processor to rearrange the data according to time of collection, and d. Generating, in near-real-time, output derived from data having substantially the same time of collection.

[015] In a preferred form of the invention, the data collector comprises two or more data-collecting sensors and a data sender connected to receive collected data from the sensors. Preferably, the data points include indicia identifying the collecting sensor.

[016] According to a first further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of providing feedback relating to exertion in a limb of a subject, the method comprising steps of: a. Monitoring a limb undergoing exertion, by collecting from said limb data points comprising biometric data, location on the limb of its collection and time of its collection, b. Deriving from at least one of the data points a value relating to effort made by said limb; and c. Outputting to a graphic user interface a representation of said limb's effort.

[017] In a preferred form of the invention, the method includes the steps of packaging the data points from each limb being monitored into a respective data packet, and transferring each packet individually to a common data processor. The data of the packets may be utilized singularly in regard to one limb, or for comparison between limbs.

[018] In a further preferred form of the invention, the transferring step includes using short-range wireless data communication. A preferred example of such wireless communication is performed according to the standard known as Bluetooth ^® . [019] Further according to the invention, the method extends to monitoring a simultaneously exercising second limb and of comparing the biometric data collected substantially simultaneously from both limbs.

[020] In a preferred form of the invention, the method comprising steps of: a. Substantially simultaneously measuring pressure being exerted individually by both limbs of a pair belonging to the subject, to provide simultaneously-obtained pressure measurement data pairs; b. Outputting to a graphic user interface a representation of relative effort made by each limb, based on at least one of the data pairs.

[021] In a still further preferred form of the invention, the method includes the step of banking (or buffering) the data pairs. The buffering is performed to achieve temporary storage pending onward packet-wise transmission for processing.

[022] Preferably, the method includes assigning, to each limb undergoing monitoring, a data buffering device configured for temporarily holding the packet.

[023] In an embodiment, the method includes providing two or more separate buffering devices for each limb

[024] In a further embodiment, providing at least one biometric sensor device for each buffering device.

[025] In a preferred form of the invention, the method includes integrating the biometric sensor device with a wearable item for associating in use with the limb under exertion.

[026] In a preferred embodiment, the biometric sensor device comprises a pressure sensing device. The pressure sensing device comprises an electrically conductive textile.

[027] Preferably, the wearable item is applied to a subject's palm, fingers, sole or toes. [028] The pressure sensing device may be incorporated into a glove, an item of footwear such as a sock or a shoe, or be incorporated into an insole for insertion in a shoe.

[029] Further, the invention provides for the effort measured from the or each limb to be represented as an aggregate for each.

[030] The method preferably includes representing aggregate pairs of effort values, having a corresponding collection time from different limbs, side by side in a bar graph.

[031] The method more preferably includes generating, from data points having corresponding collection time, a pressure exertion map showing individual or relative pressures being exerted on or by corresponding surface localities of (both, delete) limbs (in a pair, delete) being monitored. The map may be adapted to display other biomechanical and biometric data, in addition to, or as an alternative to pressure data, depending on the nature of the sensors being employed to collect data from the limbs.

[032] Further according to the invention, the method includes comparing data collected from two or more individual limbs and determining in near real time whether equality of exertion is being achieved.

[033] In an embodiment, the method includes: a. preparing a packet of the data pairs in compressed form b. transferring the packet to a receiving device programmed with software configured to process the data; c. causing the device to process the data to provide seamless feedback to an output device associated with the exercising subject.

[034] Preferably, to avoid data congestions when multiple short range wireless communications devices transmit data simultaneously, the method includes causing each device to d. bank data (for periods of up to approximately 0.25s), then e. send a compressed packet in concert with the other short range transmitting devices to a computing device (by way of example a tablet, smartphone or smart watch),

[035] Further preferably, the method includes causing the computing device to perform operations of expanding and overlaying the data, thereby to provide a resultant seamless flow of near-real time feedback to the subject or a trainer relating to the level of exertion of the individual limbs being monitored.

[036] In a preferred form of the invention, the method includes monitoring pressure exerted by each limb of the subject.

[037] In preferred embodiments, this invention provides a system of pressure sensors located in purpose-designed inner soles for shoes and gloves that communicate data - preferably wirelessly - to a data-receiving software application being run on a computer-equipped device, and issuing an output concerning the relative levels of exertion between limbs, in order to alert the subject being monitored, their minder or trainer of the uneven effort.

[038] Data communication is via synchronised short-range sender units. These may use Bluetooth or similar frequencies and protocols.

[039] The wearable items of the apparatus may comprise inner soles and gloves containing sensors located at strategic contact locations on the subject's hands and feet, to measure the forces applied to or by those particular areas, as well simultaneously measure heart rate and blood pressure.

[040] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for providing biometric feedback relating to a limb of an exercising subject, the apparatus comprising: a. Data collecting means for collecting biometric data from the limb under exertion, the data comprising data points distinguished by time of collection; b. Transmitter means in data receiving communication with the data collecting means and configured to transmit, in packets, the data received; c. A data processor configured to receive the data packets, arrange the data according to time of collection and output feedback derived from the data; and d. A graphic user interface configured to display, in near real time, a representation of the feedback for viewing by the subject exerciser or their trainer.

[041] Further, according the invention, the apparatus in a preferred embodiment provides means for testing evenness of exertion in two or more simultaneously exercising limbs, the apparatus including a graphic user interface configured to receive display instructions from the processor and, in accordance therewith, to display a comparative simultaneous representation of exertion by each limb being monitored.

[042] In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a plurality of short range wireless transmitters, in data communication with the data collection means, configured to send the collected data in said packets.

[043] The subject may be a mammal, not necessarily a human. An example of a non- human subject is a racehorse. Another example is a dog, in particular a racing dog or a working dog, such as a police dog.

[044] In an embodiment, the transmitters operate according to the Bluetooth ^® standard.

[045] In a preferred embodiment, the graphic user interface is the screen of a mobile computing device.

[046] According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of providing real time feedback relating to a person exercising, comprising the steps of: a. providing a data-receiving device, having data processing capability; b. causing the receiving device to receive sequential packets of time-distinguished data from multiple biometric sensing devices, c. pairing a plurality of biometric sensing devices with the receiving device; d. locating said plurality of biometric sensing devices on the person of an exerciser, operatively to collect data pertaining to exerciser while exercising (undergoing exertion); e. causing the sensing devices to collect said exercise data; f. transmitting the collected data in packets, over a short range wireless communications system to the receiving device, g. identifying which sensing device collected the respective data contained in a packet; and h. Causing analysis of the data and producing output therefrom, substantially in real time, representative of the exerciser's instantaneous performance.

[047] In an embodiment of the method, the biometric sensing devices are located on each of a pair of limbs of the person.

[048] In a preferred form of the invention, the sensing devices are located at corresponding positions on the respective limbs.

[049] In a further preferred embodiment, the sensing devices are located a corresponding positions of appendages to the respective limbs.

[050] Still further, the method in a preferred form of the invention includes pairing a plurality of biometric sensing devices with the receiving device.

Brief description of drawings

[051] In order that the invention may be readily understood, and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying figures. Thus: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the apparatus of the apparatus used in this invention according to a preferred embodiment thereof.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the apparatus of the invention in an further developed embodiment for monitoring more than one limb.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of footwear according to another preferred embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention

[052] Referring to figure 1, in a preferred embodiment of this invention, an item of apparel, in the form of a glove 10, is shown palm-up in (a) and palm-down in (b). The glove is wearable as an inner glove when the wearer is taking part in activities requiring hand protection. It may alternatively be worn on its own where appropriate and feasible.

[053] The palm-side 12 of the glove is equipped with a plurality of pressure-sensing elements 14. These elements are distributed as discrete sensor areas over the palm, thumb and fingers 16.

[054] The textile is imprinted with electrically conductive inks to enable multi-touch pressure sensing and consequent pressure mapping. A suitable material of this kind is available from Sensing Tex. S.L., of Fabra i Puig 474, Local 2, 08042 Barcelona, Spain. The sensor areas have a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) backing. In this embodiment, each sensor are has 12 sensor spots.

[055] The sensor areas of the glove are networked by wired conductors (not shown), printed as flat connectors on the textile of the glove, to feed biomechanical data in the form of the pressure measurements to a data collector node 18 in real time. The data collector node functions as an intermediate data management or control element. It comprises a microprocessor and a short range wireless transmitter compliant with the Bluetooth ^® standard. It is located in this embodiment on the palm-up side 20 of the glove proximate to the opening 22 of the glove, as shown in figure 1(b). In this embodiment, the data collector node is equipped with a 3-axis accelerometer, a temperature sensor, a rechargeable battery, a charging circuit, a micro-USB port and an Atmel ATmega 328P microcontroller unit (MCU) with 8 MHz clock speed, 3V operating voltage, 6 digital I/O pins and 2 analog pins (for connection to the sensors). The node further includes a Bluetooth ^® low energy (LE) transmitter peripheral that is wirelessly programmable.

[056] The data collector node of the glove is in data communication with a paired data-receiving device, in this embodiment depicted as a mobile smartphone 26. LE transmission of the collected data takes place in appropriately sized packets, as denoted by arrow sections 24, to avoid data overload in the receiving device when data needs to be received from multiple sensors. Each of the packets is marked to identify the collector sending it. Each data point in the packet comprises the measured value and the time of its measurement, or collection. These sensors include both those on the glove and biometric sensors that may be located nearby, such as a heart rate monitor on a wrist band. Furthermore, as will be discussed in later paragraphs, the receiving device may also be receiving data collected from sensors on a second glove worn on the exerciser's other hand, for use in a comparison of hand strength.

[057] The smartphone is loaded with application software (an "app") to receive the data and process it according to proprietary algorithms, so as to output a graphic representation of the exertion being achieved by the gloved hand. This is shown by the bar 28, shown horizontally disposed within a display window 30. The length of bar 28 at any given time will differ according to the aggregate force being exerted by the hand, as measured by the sensors. The time delay between the time that the force being exerted by the hand is measured and the time of its being displayed in window 30 is dependent on the time it takes to gather the data packet and the quantity of data therein. These need to be suitably managed.

[058] It is found that the sending of packets from the same group of sensors at intervals of about 0.25s enables near-real-time feedback to be achieved and represented on the display of the smartphone, taking into account the processor speed. This form of feedback enables an exercising subject and/or their trainer to notice near, or at least sufficiently, instantaneously when effort begins diminishing, or when muscle or joint fatigue begins to sets in - even if the subject himself has not yet realised it. Additional feedback concerning the point when flagging begins is provided by an audible output. Historical data sets are able to be built up from the collected data, for later analysis to supplement the benefits of immediate feedback.

[059] The output may be visually presented not only by way of a comparative progress bar as show at 30 in Figure 1, but also by means of a continuously updated pressure map of the subject's palm and fingers, as shown by the screen window 32. The different shades in the map represent the distribution of different pressures being exerted. The visual comparison bar and map give virtually instantaneous feedback to the subject or trainer about the total exertion of the hand being monitored.

[060] Figure 2 represents the use of the invention in a comparative method of assessing evenness of biomechanical performance by a pair of limbs, in this case a subject's hands. The apparatus includes a corresponding identically sensor-equipped glove 50, 52 for each of the subject's hands, also with data-receiving and -transmitting capabilities. The hands need not be those of the pair of a sole exerciser, but may belong to different simultaneously exercising persons (or animals) competing, undergoing assessment or training together.

[061] The gloves may have a single sensor textile area, such as the entire palm and finger inside surfaces. However, having a large area of such textile is more expensive than providing a plurality of sensor areas, each defined by a separate piece of the sensor textile, and wiring these to a common transmitter, or to a plurality of transmitters, each of which is then paired with the data receiver. The data collected by each sensor is timestamped with its moment of collection before being packaged for sending. The sensor from which the data emanates is identified by means of an electronic signature emitted by the sensor concerned.

[062] The app on the smart device 26 receives a sequence of packets 44 a, b, c, d, e, f of timestamped data points from each glove and from each sensor area 46 a, b, c, d, e, f on the glove. (Not every sensor area is depicted in the drawing, for convenience).

[063] The processor acts on instructions from the app and matches, overlays and processes the data and other biometric information it receives, to give a graphical and/or audio readout of forces and pressures that are being applied to and by all the areas being monitored. As discussed below, the app causes the receiving device to buffer the data it collects from each set of sensors, to send discrete amounts of the data in packets, then to relay that input to the processor, which then is programmed to provide a seamless readout of subject activity, limb by limb. The result is currently unavailable in any known wearable apparatus.

[064] Since the data is being collected from multiple points (for example 46 a, b, c, d, e, f) on each hand, it is collected and transferred to the processor in discrete packets at convenient intervals from each glove, so as to avoid data congestion and overload and thereby minimise the technology footprint imposed on the subject. It is found that intervals of 0.25s are small enough to enable virtual real time outputs to be issued by the imaging software generating the map within the limitations of the processing device. Shorter intervals are desirable, but need to be tailored for the amount of simultaneously captured data to be contained in a single packet. The more sensors there are, the greater the quantity of data, and so the larger the packet and the longer the time interval - unless additional transmitters are provided to transmit data in smaller packets in a staggered sequence. Hence, for example, the smaller packets may be sent from three different sensor groups via three different Bluetooth transmitters at intervals of 0.08s between each transmitter, while each transmitter sends its own data at intervals of 0.24s. Thus for example a packet 44a containing data points collected at time t=0 from sensors commonly connected to its associated Bluetooth transmitter 48a, is dispatched at times t=0s, t=0.24s, t=0.48s, t=0.72s and so on, packet 44b, containing data points collected at time t=0 from sensors commonly connected to its associated Bluetooth transmitter (not shown), is sent at time t=0.08, t=0.32, t=0.56, t=0.80 and so on, and packet 44c, containing data points collected at time t=0 from sensors commonly connected to its associated Bluetooth transmitter (not shown), is transmitted by its processor at time t=0.16, t=0.40, t=0.64. t=0.88 and so on.

[065] The data obtained on each hand is appropriately time-stamped for collation and matching by the processor when received, so that an accurate map is generated within 0.3 to 0.4 seconds of a measurement being taken from interrogating the sensors monitoring the first hand. By way of example, the map is be derived from the data collected from sensors 46 a, b, c, d, e, f at time t=0, next from the data collected from the same sensors at time t=0.24, then from data from time t=0.48 and so on.

[066] In addition to representing the output of comparative exertion visually, it may also be rendered audibly by sound emitted via the mobile device and/or smart watch (depending on computing power) when either hand is underperforming, or vice versa.

[067] The output may be visually presented not only by way of a comparative progress bar as show at 54 in Figure 2, but also by means of pressure maps of the subject's palm and fingers of each hand simultaneously, as shown by the screen window 56. The different shades in the maps represent the distribution of different pressures being exerted. Arrows 58 indicate the bar to which the hand map corresponds.

[068] The visual comparison bars and maps give virtually instantaneous feedback to the subject or trainer about the total exertion of the hand being monitored. The data from which they are generated enable the pressure maps of the palm sides of the gloves to be generated in virtual real time and displayed conveniently for the subject or trainer to gain a visual comparison of both hands simultaneously. A difference, such as indicated by light coloured area 60, suggests that the right hand is exerting greater pressure in the corresponding portion of the hand than its left counterpart. The trainer or exerciser is then alerted to this difference and is able to take remedial action, such as increasing the pressure applied by the left hand in that area, or investigating why the left hand is not performing to the same degree as the right.

[069] The invention optionally provides for the addition of further features: In particular the glove preferably includes one or more of the following: a. location fixing capability via GPS, triangulation or similar techniques, b. an accelerometer for use in monitoring limb acceleration and speed of movement, c. a gyroscopic sensor to motor relative positioning, orientation of limbs and posture, d. a body temperature sensor, and e. a heart rate monitor.

[070] These additional data points obtained simultaneously with the direct biometric data assist in the determining of effort expended by a limb and by parts thereof being monitored.

[071] It will be appreciated the wireless technologies other than those that accord with the Bluetooth standard may be applied in this invention. Examples include (without limitation) ZigBee and Z-wave. Of course, in less preferred embodiments, there may be a wired connection between the data receivers on the gloves and the data processing device.

[072] The software for the data receiving and processing and output generation is preferably delivered together with the sensor-equipped glove, ready for loading to a computer device, be it a Windows-based PC, IOS system or Android mobile platform. The mobile processing device in turn is connected to a higher capacity computer unit or module, such as a PC through a Bluetooth communication, for instance using a Bluetooth dongle, or via a hardwiring solution, such as a USB cable. When the glove is within wireless range of the higher capacity processor, it is programmed conveniently to upload its data directly to that processor for immediate processing and storage.

[073] The sizes of the sensor areas may be larger or smaller than those shown and may even be contiguous along the length of the fingers and from side to side and end to end of the palm, so as to cover all areas of the hand used from exerting grip or grasping force on an object. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is envisaged that the larger the sensor areas, the greater the area of the hand that is covered and the more complete the pressure map will become.

[074] The concepts and devices described above for the glove embodiment are similarly embodied in gear for comparing leg and foot performance. Thus the sensor areas of the glove are integrated into a sock and into an insole for insertion in footwear to be worn by a subject. An exemplary embodiment illustrating the invention in the form of an insole is presented in figure 2. The sensors of the invention may also be incorporated in an orthotic device for remedial wear inside a shoe, so that a pressure profile or map of the foot can be established, monitored and compared with that of the subject's other foot.

[075] Referring therefore to Figure 3, the apparatus of the invention is denoted generally by the numeral 100. A pair of insoles 102, 102' is provided, shown in simultaneous schematic top and side views. Each insole has sensor areas 104, 104' and a data collector and transmitter 106, 106. The data collector and transmitter devices are embedded in the body of the insole, typically manufactured from a polyurethane or other suitably comfortable polymer.

[076] The sensor areas are located to correspond with the placement of the subject's big toe, the ball of the foot and the heel. The data is collected at intervals of 0.01 seconds by interrogating the sensors. It is then packaged in packets of 1MB and uploaded to a smart watch 110 at intervals of 0.3s, staggered at 0.1s - that is a packet is sent by the left insole transmitter 106, followed 0.1s later by the right insole transmitter 106'. The process is repeated every 0.3s until the program is terminated through human invention from the trainer or subject, or automatically according a preset criterion. By way of example, the criterion is the absence of exertion in either limb above a threshold level for a period of, say, 10 minutes.

[077] The smartwatch runs application software to receive and process the data packets and generate a display as described in relation to the gloves in the embodiment of Figure 1. The insoles thus provide the data for training feedback, which the smartwatch provides by visual and/or audio signals. A subject profile is developed and updated as the case requires. It can be instructed to report, for example, on muscle utilisation, ensuring that athletes, patients undergoing rehabilitation and others, have a convenient tool to use in training each limb equally and effectively. This reduces instances of one limb not being adequately rehabilitated or sufficiently strengthened compared with the other. Balancing biomechanical output across the limbs helps reduce the incidence of further injuries or motor complications.

[078] Inclusion of GPS or other position-determining data assists in tracking changes in location of an athlete in the course of activity. Coupled with muscle-related performance data such as contraction strength and downward pressure exerted through the foot, the positioning data (showing acceleration, instantaneous velocity and deceleration) enable early detection of increased muscle failure risk, for example of the hamstrings, as a result of changes in gait, footfall and exertion, as the body involuntarily attempts to take protective measures prior to such failure, without the athlete necessarily even being conscious of them.

[079] Optionally, the data from the smartwatch may be uploaded to a PC 112 for further processing or display of the data, storage in the "cloud" or distribution to other interested parties over the internet 116. The data may also be uploaded to the Cloud and downloaded to the PC for analysis and display.

[080] Instead of the data collection and transmitting device being located in the glove or footwear, it may be located in the form of a small dedicated wireless transmitter located with a miniature GPS/gyro/accelerometer/processor in a pocket located in a vest, belt or other clothing worn by the subject.

[081] The processor, acting on the app contained on the smart device, then overlays and processes this information to give a graphical and/or audio readout of forces being applied to all the areas being monitored. Sending the data from each set of sensors in a packet, to then be relayed as input to the processor, enables the GUI display to provide a seamless readout of activity.

[082] In further embodiments, the evenness or balance display for comparative limb performance uses a visual/audio readout comprising a pair of quadrants on the display, to show any discrepancies in effort. By way of example, one display quadrant shows left/right hand output, while the other shows that of the subject's feet. In similar manner to a fuel gauge, if the subject is overusing the right side limbs, both output quadrants will reflect that bias. The same sort of output is achieved with audio warnings: The subject or trainer pre-sets the tone he or she wishes to hear if any limb is dominant, and this output can be emitted via the mobile device speakers or through headphones and the like.

[083] Since almost any sport requires the participant to run, throw, kick or hold something, the apparatus of this invention will allow micro-management of training and preparation - both by the participant and the trainer or training team . Additional benefits include being able to monitor heel strike, pronation and supination (such as of knees, quads, hamstrings and other joints or muscle groups).

[084] The invention provides beneficial outcomes whether the subject being monitored is a human or an animal, for example a racehorse. Monitoring may take place in the context of training, such as in the course of preparation for an event, or in the course of rehabilitation following an illness or injury, or in training for overcoming a disability. It may also take place during an activity or event, for monitoring on-the-spot performance.

[085] These embodiments merely illustrate particular examples of the method, kit and apparatus of the invention providing means for the monitoring of effort expended in performing exercise involving use of the limbs. With the insight gained from this disclosure, the person skilled in the art is well placed to discern further embodiments by means of which to put the claimed invention into practice.