CH718441A2 - Proprioception garment with localized compressive effect for people with autistic disorders. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a proprioception garment (1) for the treatment of autistic disorder, comprising at least one piece (3) made of textile material configured at least to surround and compress a part (2) of the body of the autistic person by exerting a minimum pressure of 7 mmHg on the part of the body, such pressure making it possible to achieve surprising results, including better postures, a reduction in enuresis, a reduction in self-harm on compressed regions or even a marked reduction in disorders of behaviors.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to the field of medical devices for the treatment of autistic disorders.

The present invention relates more particularly to a proprioception garment with a localized compressive effect which allows treatment of autistic disorders by compression.

State of the art

[0003] Autism presents itself as a human neurodevelopmental disorder which is complex and whose clinical signs are both qualitative and quantitative disorders in three domains: social interactions, verbal and non-verbal communication, and scope of interests and activities that are restricted and repetitive.

[0004] Autism is also qualified as a disorder of neuro-integration and sensory neuro-modulation. Sensory integration is defined as a neurophysiological process that allows us to filter, organize and process sensory information coming from our body and the environment in order to produce an adapted response, an effective action to achieve a goal. Sensory modulation is a regulatory mechanism of the central nervous system whose role is to filter (facilitate or inhibit) relevant stimuli from those that are not. Cognitively, it is selective attention that plays a key role in the ability to select what is of interest in the environment, namely to focus on the conversation in progress while inhibiting ambient noises, for example .

[0005] Sensory disorders concern about 40% of autistic people. This proportion is also found in Asperger's syndrome. Sensory disorders are strongly present during childhood and persist into adulthood, although an attenuation is observed. All sensory modalities are affected and are marked either by hypersensitivity (eg hyperacusis) or hyposensitivity (eg insensitivity to pain).

[0006] Sensory disorders concern all of the sensory modalities in autistic people: the areas of hearing, vision, taste, smell, touch, but also proprioception and the vestibular sense which are both closely correlated.

[0007] Proprioception involves the muscles and joints. These convey information to the brain regarding the location of body parts and their movements. Proprioception is about body awareness. Motor disorders are very present in autism and are highly correlated with sensory disorders. All people with autism have difficulty in building awareness of their body.

[0008] The vestibular sense relates to balance. The receptors located in the inner ear provide the brain with information about the position of the body in space, more precisely about the speed and direction of a movement. The balance is often disturbed with heterogeneous skills and deficits. For example, either static balance (immobilization and limb control) is in place but dynamic balance is difficult and will be marked by problems in running, standing on one foot. The opposite is possible, the child will show extraordinary balance prowess on heights but will be unable to stand still for a few moments (stay seated for a moment, for example). Vestibular stimulations, such as rocking, are often present and are a characteristic sign of people with autism.

[0009] There are two types of approach to treating autistic disorders, namely rehabilitation and accommodations and adaptations.

[0010] Rehabilitation will be provided by occupational therapists trained in sensory approaches: progressive habituation work; desensitization work such as sensory diet, and by psychologists trained in cognitive and behavioral therapies: explanation of the cause of the noise; cognitive rehabilitation, etc.

The arrangements and possible adaptations in the environment are diverse, including the use of tight clothing, particularly concerning the present invention. It is indeed recognized that the use of clothing providing pressure on the body can soothe patients with autistic disorders through proprioception. Among the known prior art, patent application WO2012046068A1 relates to a proprioception garment for the treatment of autism disorders. This proprioception garment comprises an inflatable chamber provided with compartments, the configuration of which makes it possible to ensure pressure on a part of the body. This proprioception garment design requires the use of garment inflation equipment. In addition, the inflation is random and depends on the therapist or the person (eg a relative) who puts the garment on the autistic person. As a result, the pressure applied to the autistic person's body part is usually not adequate to provide effective treatment.

[0012] Document US Pat. No. 5,782,790 is also known, which also discloses a compression garment for the treatment of neurological disorders.

[0013] The applicant submits, however, that autism is not one of the pathologies targeted by this document.

[0014] The Applicant also submits that this document remains silent on the compression values to be achieved in order to obtain the relevant therapeutic results on such pathologies; it is simply suggested the use of a synthetic fiber such as elastane known for its elasticity.

[0015] For these reasons, the Applicant considers that the state of the art does not currently offer any compression garment suitable for the treatment of autism.

Summary of the invention

The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

To this end, the invention relates to a proprioception garment for the treatment of autistic disorders in autistic people.

The proprioception garment according to the present invention is made to measure in a textile material and is configured to surround at least one part of the body of the autistic person to be treated by compressing it, the pressure exerted on said part of the body being at the minimum of 7 mmHg, preferably between 7 and 25 mmHg, preferably between 8 and 14 mmHg.

[0019] This design guarantees an effective treatment of the autistic person, since it is simply necessary to put on the tailor-made proprioception garment on the part of the body of the autistic person, without any inflation, with the assurance of applying pressure providing the desired effects.

[0020] This is also referred to as a localized-effect compression garment.

[0021] Preferably, this piece of textile material is configured to exert uniform pressure on the part of the person's body.

[0022] The applicant has observed the benefit of applying uniform pressure to obtain good results.

[0023] Preferably, this pressure exceeds a certain threshold around the part of the body which needs to be compressed in order to activate the senses and effectively treat the autistic person. In any case, it should be noted that a minimum pressure of 7 mmHg around the part of the body (preferably between 7 and 14 mmHg) makes it possible to achieve surprising results, in particular better postures, reduction of enuresis , a reduction in self-mutilation on the compressed regions, a clear reduction in behavioral disorders, the autistic person seeks contact and interacts more with others.

[0024] The proprioception garment according to the invention requires a tailor-made design to be appropriate for the part of the body to be compressed and to apply the desired pressure around said part of the body.

[0025] In one embodiment, the proprioception garment according to the invention comprises at least two custom-made garment pieces adapted to two different parts of the body, said garment pieces being connected together by connecting pieces or even directly by seams. . These pieces of clothing may consist of a vest or singlet and leggings or tights, long sleeves of a vest or singlet and mittens or gloves, legs of leggings or tights and socks. The proprioception garment can also consist of a combination of these different pieces of clothing so as to constitute a combination compressing the whole body of the autistic person, except possibly the head.

[0026] In one embodiment, the proprioception garment comprises a double skin with a first and a second thickness.

[0027] Preferably, the first layer is configured to provide compression of at least 7 mmHg around the body part.

[0028] Preferably, the second thickness is configured in particular to ensure another function such as for example a function of thermoregulation of the part of the body.

[0029] Other embodiments could however be envisaged, the proprioception garment could in particular comprise a single thickness configured to concomitantly ensure on its own a minimum compression of 7 mmHg (preferably between 7 and 14 mmHg) around the part of the body and thermo-regulate said part of the body.

[0030] Preferably, this textile piece has a face intended to be in direct contact with the part of the body of the autistic person.

[0031] In addition, the textile material used is configured to facilitate donning of the proprioception garment. It is thus envisaged to use a soft textile material which is able to slide easily over the skin of the autistic person, thus facilitating donning. This reduces the risk of tearing of the proprioception garment by the autistic person wearing said garment.

In one embodiment of the proprioception garment according to the invention, the textile material is composed of a mixture of synthetic fibers of the polyamide or polyester type (or natural fibers) and elastane fibers.

Preferably, the textile material is in the form of a weaving or knitting of synthetic fibers of the polyamide or polyester type (or of natural fibers) (for example at 59%) and of elastane fibers (for example at 41%).

[0034] The proprioception garment according to the invention may be a glove, a mitten, a sock, a headband, a hood, leggings, tights, a jersey, a vest, a jumpsuit, a combination of these aforementioned garments, or even simply a sleeve.

Brief description of figures

The following description relates to non-limiting design variations of proprioception garments for the treatment of autistic disorders according to the invention.

[0036] This description is based on figures, among which: [Fig.1] FIG. 1 illustrates a proprioception garment according to the invention, of the sleeve type as such, which can be positioned independently around a part from the body ; [Fig.2] Figure 2 illustrates a proprioception garment according to the invention, of the tights or leggings type comprising; [Fig.3] Figure 3 illustrates a proprioception garment according to the invention, jersey or vest type; [Fig.4] Figure 4 illustrates a proprioception garment according to the invention, of the cap type; [Fig.5] Figure 5 illustrates a proprioception garment according to the invention, of the glove type; [Fig.6] Figure 6 illustrates a proprioception garment according to the invention, of the sock type, [Fig.7] Figure 7 illustrates a non-limiting mode of design of a proprioception garment according to the invention having a single thickness

detailed description

In the remainder of the description, the same references are used to designate identical or equivalent characteristics.

In Figure 1, the proprioception garment 1 consists of a single piece 2 made to be positioned around a specific part of the body 3 and to compress it. This part of the body 3 can be for example the calf, the thigh, the waist belt, the bust, the forearm, the back arm or the circumference of the head, a hand or a foot, or even other parts of the body. Positive results have been seen on people with autism using 2 custom-made pieces of textile materials configured to exert a minimum pressure of 7 mmHg (preferably between 7 and 14 mmHg) on different parts of the body.

[0039] Research has been carried out in this direction by using proprioception garments 1 made to measure and composed of several parts exerting pressures beyond 7 mmHg on different parts of the body 3, namely the calves, the thighs, the buttocks, forearms or backarms, head circumference, hands, feet, waist belt, abdominal belt, chest, even the entire bust. The behaviors of autistic people using said clothes 1 were then analyzed, these autistic people being composed of children aged 7 to 16 years.

[0040] Remarkable results have been observed as specified above.

In Figure 2, the proprioception garment 1 is tights or leggings 4 which includes two legs 5, 6 each compressing the calves and thighs of the autistic person, and a waist belt 7 compressing the waist. The pressures exerted on the legs and the waist are greater than 7 mmHg, these can be the same or different.

Preferably, it will be noted that very good results are obtained by making the garment 1 of the pantyhose type or leggings 4 so that the pressure is between 7 and 9 mmHg, preferably 8 mmHg.

[0043] Indeed, for clothing covering a large part of the body such as a calf or a thigh, it is found that the pressure can be between 7 and 9 mmHg, preferably 8 mmHg, to achieve good results. .

In Figure 3, the proprioception garment 1 is a shirt or vest 8 which includes two sleeves 9, 10 positioned at arm level and a final sleeve 11 positioned around the trunk of the autistic person. The sleeves 9, 10 and the sleeve 11 are assembled together by means of seams (not shown), so as to constitute said proprioception garment 1. The sleeves 9, 10 and the sleeve 11 ensure a minimum pressure of 7 mmHg around the arms and trunk of the autistic person.

[0045] For parts of the body of smaller dimensions, such as here an arm or a forearm, it is found that the pressure can be between 10 and 14 mmHg, preferably 12 mmHg, to achieve good results. In Figure 4, the proprioception garment 1 is a cap 12 which includes a sleeve 13 positioned around the head, at the forehead of the autistic person. This sleeve ensures a pressure of at least 7 mmHg. The cup 12 also comprises a piece 14 of textile material connected to the sleeve 13, which can also ensure a pressure greater than 7 mmHg or even less. One could also consider a 12 cup in one piece ensuring a minimum pressure of 7 mmHg on the whole head.

In Figure 5, the proprioception garment 1 is a glove 15 or even a mitt providing compression around the fingers 16 and around the wrist 17 which is at least 7 mmHg, preferably between 10 and 14 mmHg.

In Figure 6, the proprioception garment 1 is a sock 18 comprising two sleeves 19, 20 connected by means of a connecting piece 21 positioned at the heel, and seams (not shown), the first sleeve 19 providing pressure around the ankle and the second sleeve 20 providing pressure around the foot. The pressures exerted are at least 7 mmHg, preferably between 10 and 14 mmHg.

The proprioception garment 1 can also be composed of a combination of two of the proprioception garments illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 6, or even more than two, connected together by connecting pieces and/or seams (not illustrated). ). We can also provide a combination of all these proprioception garments so as to constitute an integral combination ensuring a minimum pressure of 7 mmHg on the whole body of the autistic person. In the example described in Figure 7, the garment 1 has a piece of a single thickness 24 made to measure in a textile material consisting of a weaving or knitting based on 59% polyamide fibers and fibers of 41% elastane,

The foregoing detailed description is not limiting. On the contrary, its purpose is to remove any possible imprecision as to its scope. Thus, numerous variants of proprioception clothing 1 could be envisaged depending on the autistic disorders of autistic people.

Claims (9)

1. Proprioception garment (1) for the treatment of autistic disorder in an autistic person, which comprises at least one piece (2, 4, 8, 12, 15, 18) of textile material configured to surround and compress a part of the body of the autistic person by exerting a minimum pressure of 7 mm Hg on the part of the body. 2. Garment (1) according to claim 1, wherein said at least one piece (2, 4, 8, 12, 15, 18) is configured to exert pressure around the part of the body of the autistic person between 7 and 25 mm Hg, preferably between 8 and 14 mm Hg. 3. Garment (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said at least part (2, 4, 8, 12, 15, 18) of textile material is configured to exert uniform pressure on said at least one part of the body of the autistic person. 4. Garment (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said at least part (2, 4, 8, 12, 15, 18) has a face intended to be in direct contact with said at least one part of the body of said autistic person. 5. Proprioception garment (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, which comprises at least two parts (2, 4, 8, 12, 15, 18) adapted to two different parts of the body, said parts being interconnected by connecting pieces of textile material and/or seams. 6. Garment (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said at least one piece (2, 4, 8, 12, 15, 18) is made of a textile material consisting of a mixture of synthetic fibers of polyamide or polyester type and elastane fibers. 7. Garment (1) according to claim 6, in which the mixture is a weaving or a knitting based on polyamide fibers and elastane fibers. 8. Garment according to claim 6 or 7, in which the weaving or knitting is carried out based on 59% polyamide fibers at 59% and 41% elastane fibers. 9. Clothing according to one of claims 1 to 7, which is a glove (15), a mitten, a sock (18), a headband, a cap (12), tights (4), a singlet (8), leggings, vest, jumpsuit or sleeve (2).