Patent Application
20200230462
The present invention relates to physical therapy, and more specifically, to devices and systems that unload a human spine, and associated exercises, for relieving pain, maintaining and improving muscle and postural balance, and maintaining and improving core strength.
Back pain is a miserable reality for many people. It is one of the leading causes of missed work, and the second leading cause for visits to the doctor's office, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections. One-half of all working Americans admit to having back pain symptoms each year. It is estimated that approximately 80% of the population will experience a back problem at some time in their lives, and that Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on back pain.
Most cases of back pain have a mechanical or non-organic origin, versus a medical origin. Examples of mechanical or non-organic origins include sprained ligaments, strained muscles, ruptured discs, and irritated joints arising from anything from sports injuries to accidents to everyday activities such as getting out of a car. Conditions such as poor posture, obesity and psychological stress can also cause or exacerbate back pain. Examples of medical origins of back pain include arthritis, infection, fracture, bone loss, cancer, blood clots, and even kidney stones.
Spinal discs in the body are similar to a sponge surrounded by water. A disc, or a sponge, in a persistent compressed condition pushes out fluid. Conversely, during unloading, when the sponge or disc is allowed to expand, fluids are drawn inward. Spinal disc fluid contains nutrients, so it is important that discs continuously draw in and expel fluids for hydration and health. The process of moving fluids in and out of the discs is imbibition, and is brought about via natural segmental movements of the spinal segments.
Spinal joint health is also dependent on segmental spinal movement. When a joint moves the inner lining of the joint capsule releases hyaluronic acid, which is essential to imbibe fluids into the joint. This fluid is essential for articular cartilage resilience and health.
Another component of spinal health is core strength, which provides muscle balance and motor control. Motor control requires that muscles receive proper sequential sensory feedback from all associated muscles, with the muscles having the greatest number of sensory feedback receptors, mechanoreceptors, providing the greatest amount of feedback. The small core muscles such as the intertransversarii medialis and lateralis, interspinalis, and multifidus are the small deep spinal muscles and have three to four times as many mechanoreceptors as the larger outer muscles. Spinal health requires that these small core muscles remain strong and healthy. Again, strengthening of these muscles can only occur by performing active segmental spinal movement.
While there are many exercises that target the major muscles of the midsection, such as the transversus abdominis, multifidus, internal and external obliques, rectus abdominis, erector spinae (sacrospinalis), and longissimus thoracis, it is more difficult to isolate and strengthen true core muscles of intertransversarii medialis and lateralis, interspinalis, and multifidus. This is because the larger stronger muscles of the midsection effectively “take over” the motion, so the true core muscles are only tangentially involved, if at all.
While there are many devices that make claim to spinal unloading leading to fluid exchange, recreating active segmental movement as the body intended is the most efficient and effective way to improve fluid movement leading to the nutrient exchange of the discs.
As can be seen, there is a need for devices, systems and methods that unload a human spine, and associated exercises, for relieving pain, maintaining and improving muscle and postural balance, and maintaining and improving core strength. It is desirable that the devices and systems are relatively easy to use, store and transport; and are safe and effective. It is desirable that the methods are relatively easy to follow; and are safe and effective. It is desirable that the devices, systems and methods unload the spine of the patient; restore mobility of spinal segments; target muscles for resistance strengthening; allow natural diaphragm breathing; provide gentle tensile loading in line with the collagen fibers of the disc; mimic the natural movements of the spine of compression and unloading by extension, flexion and side-bending; and facilitate the natural ability of the spinal discs to imbibe fluids.
A spinal unloading system generally includes a harness configured to wrap around a human patient's lumbar or cervical region and including multiple attachment points for connecting elastomeric bands. Elastomeric bands can be attached to exert pulling forces along longitudinal axis of body, which results in unloading of spine. Elastomeric bands can also be attached to exert force while patient is engaged in a “hip thrusting” motion, thereby strengthening core muscles. The system can include all components for use in a clinical setting such as a physician, physical therapist or chiropractor's office, or can include components for use in a home setting.
The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
The following structure numbers shall apply to the following structures among the various FIGS.:
Broadly, the present inventions relate to devices and systems that unload a human lumbar or cervical spine, and associated exercises. As used herein, “unload”, “unloaded” and the like refer to the state or condition in which there is no apparent loading force of gravity acting on the spine. Unloading may exist because the force is eliminated, locally weak, or because the body is position horizontally, thereby eliminating the vertical loading forces of gravity. Methods of the present invention have therapeutic and maintenance applications. As used herein “therapeutic” shall refer to circumstances where the devices and methods of the present invention are employed for improving, arresting and/or slowing the progression of at least one specific pathology. As used herein “maintenance” shall refer to circumstances where devices and methods of the present invention are employed for improving, arresting and/or slowing the progression of non-pathological based decline, for example related to age.
It should be understood that the specification describes devices and methods relating to spinal unloading, but that those devices and methods are equally applicable to spinal stretching and core strengthening.
The present inventions can be configured for use by a patient in a non-clinical setting, or for use in a clinical setting. A non-clinical configuration is suitable, for example, for a patient who has been instructed by their clinician to exercise at home as part of a therapeutic protocol.
Referring to
While it is preferred that the tension-exerting means is an elastomeric loop, it should be understood that other tension-exerting means, such as non-looping elastomeric bands, springs and other resilient bodies, and traction from weights or mechanical means are also within the scope of the invention.
Mobilization pad 76 is preferred for certain applications. It can allow a therapist to palpate specific segments of the spine during treatment to facilitate specific vertebral movement; allow for the spine to move through its natural movements while in the unloaded position; facilitate pelvic rotation similar to the pelvic motion of gait; specifically mobilize the spine into extension; and/or allow the patient to perform the exercises in a positon of extension to a neutral spinal position to insure avoidance of flexion loading on the discs.
In use, securing strap 26 and V-strap 30 are secured with carabiner 66 or hook 68 for subsequent attachment to elastomeric structure such as elastomeric loop 60. In this configuration equal pulling force is exerted on both posterior and anterior lumbar regions when system is in use. Orientation of securing strap 26 relative to V-strap 30 is also depicted in
In a preferred embodiment, the force exerted by elastomeric bands is approximately 25-40% of user's body weight, although this can vary according to patient condition, therapeutic goal and other factors. Preferred elastomeric bands are 1 ¼ inches wide and having a resistance range of 40-80 lbs.; 10 to 35 pounds resistance (½ inch wide); 30 to 60 pounds resistance (¾ inch wide); 50 to 125 pounds resistance (1-¾ inches wide); and/or 65 to 175 pounds resistance (2-½ inches wide). Other elastomeric bands are also within the scope of this invention.
In addition to, or instead of longitudinally applied pulling force discussed with respect to
Referring to
Although cinching anchor in a door is a preferred way to stabilize the unloading system shown in
In use, a patient with compromised spinal movement and/or function is identified. Someone with compromised lumbar spinal movement could exhibit segmental hypomobility of the lumbar vertebrae restricting segmental movement into spinal extension. Someone with compromised lumbar spinal function may exhibit back pain, hip pain, leg pain, difficulty bending, difficulty lifting, difficulty with prolonged standing, difficulty with prolonged sitting, and/or difficulty with prolonged walking. Someone with compromised cervical spinal movement may exhibit neck pain, arm pain, shoulder pain, mid back pain, difficulty bending head side to side, difficulty reading, and/or difficulty rotating head to the side.
Next, a patient's treatment protocol is established by a licensed practitioner based on the individual's specific presentation of objective findings.
In one method harness 20 is fitted around the waist of a patient, the patient is positioned on core board 40, elastomeric loop 60 is attached to loops 27 and apex 31 and anchored by, for example, wall mount 70 or anchor 65 in door jamb. Elastomeric loop 60 is then elongated by winch, patient scooting away from anchor, or by other means. The elongated elastomeric loop exerts unloading tension on patient's spine.
The method optionally or alternatively includes attaching upper elastomeric bands 61 and/or lower elastomeric bands 63 to core board 40, and preferably performing a series of thrusting or “hula” motions to strengthen core.
Patients are regularly monitored to confirm they are progressing towards their clinical goals, and to determine when their clinical goals have been achieved.
It should be understood that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. By way of example, material, sizes, volumes and mechanisms can differ. Terms such as “substantially” and the like shall mean within reasonable bounds when considering limitations such as machines, materials, manufacturing methods, and people. By way of example, a “substantially smooth” surface means there are no intentional bumps or irregularities. All ranges set forth herein include the endpoints as well as all increments there between, even if not specifically stated. By way of example 1 to 2 inches includes 1 inch, 1.000001 inches and so forth. Finally, unless otherwise stated or contrary to common sense, “approximate” and the like shall mean +/−10%.
This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application 62/793,502 entitled DEVICES AND METHODS FOR RESTORING SPINAL MOVEMENT AND FUNCTION, which was filed Jan. 17, 2019, and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62793502 | Jan 2019 | US |
