Patient positioning system and method for computer controled muscle

Abstract

A patient positioning system for computer controlled muscle exercising machine allows for automatic positioning of large numbers of patients prior to exercises and evaluations. The patient positioning system simplifies the patient positioning process by allowing the seat and actuator to be moved, manually or automatically, in both the horizontal and vertical direction relative to each other. This is accomplished by indicating the direction in which the seat and actuator are to be moved based upon optimum exercise positions stored in a data storage means. The directions are indicated adjacent to a four way switch and on a display device for selecting the direction of movement. In response to this prompt, the direction of movement of the seat and/or actuator is selected by pressing the four way switch for the seat or the four way switch for the actuator in the direction indicated adjacent to the switch and on the display device. The seat and/or actuator are moved based on the direction selected until the optimum exercise position stored in the data storage means is reached. Once the exercise position for the particular exercise and patient is reached, i.e. automatic (standard or custom) positioning is completed, the relative positions of the seat and actuator are manually adjusted. The exercise positions are stored in the data storage means in association with a particular patient and exercise.