GB2095559A

GB2095559A - A support for body therapy

Info

Publication number: GB2095559A
Application number: GB8110289A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MATTHEWS JOHN RUSSELL
Current assignee: MATTHEWS JOHN RUSSELL
Priority date: 1981-04-01
Filing date: 1981-04-01
Publication date: 1982-10-06

Abstract

A body support comprises a strip of elastomeric material which is made to a length appropriate for wrapping around a part of the body requiring therapy. The strip is held in position around the part of the body in question for example by means of Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) pads (10) engaging with Velcro strips (11). The means of attachment of the support is adjustable, which allows the tension with which the support is applied to the body to be varied. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A support for body therapy The invention relates to a support for body therapy and more particularly for application to parts of the body to provide added support where for example muscles and ligaments have been damaged.

Various types of supports are known and these commonly comprise elasticated tubular supports of various sizes which can be slid on over limbs, various crepe bandages which can be applied and there has been provided for the particular treatment of tennis elbow a rigid splint which is applied to the lower arm by means of one band which is attached to the lower arm above the wrist and one band which is attached to the lower arm just below the elbow. These bands are adjustable in size but are made of a non-elastic material.

The invention provides a body support comprising a sheet or strip of elastomeric material, two edge or end portions of the sheet being provided with means for attachment to one another to form the sheet or strip into a tube around a part of the body, said attachment means being adjustable so as to vary the tension in the tube which is applied to the part of the body.

The invention is particularly applicable in one embodiment to the condition known as tennis elbow. In this case the strip or sheet is placed around the upper end of the lower arm just below the elbow and is placed in tension.

This method of treatment has been found to be surprisingly effective and is far simpler than the known support.

The adjustable connection may be comprised of Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) strips.

The invention is also particularly suited to other conditions such as the provision of a lumbar support, a waist support, a shin splint, groin supports etc. Quite clearly the sheet or strip would be shaped or sized to suit the particular therapy required.

It is also preferred that the sheet of elastomeric material is provided with a backing layer on one or both sides of the sheet or strip. The backing layer is preferably in the form of a layer of nylon or towelling which will expand and contract with the elastomeric material.

The invention also includes a method of therapy which includes the use of the body support just described.

A number of embodiments of body supports according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows an elbow or wrist support; Figure 2 shows a lumbar support; Figure 3 shows a shin splint support; Figure 4 shows a groin support; and Figure 5 shows a knee support.

Each of the supports is made from a sheet of neoprene rubber of 4 mm thickness and a nylon or towelling backing is attached to the sheet on the side of the sheet which is intended to be placed against the human body. A similar backing may be attached to the other side of the sheet.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 1 comprises a strip of rubber which is made to an appropriate length to support either an elbow (for treatment of tennis elbow) or above the wrist.

At one end of the strip there are two Velcro pads 10 and at the other end of the strip there are two Velcro strips 11 which are engageable with the pads to hold the strip around the elbow or wrist.

The lumbar support shown in Fig. 2 is a much bigger sheet and is intended to be wrapped around the torso. Three Velcro pads 1 2 are provided on one side and two velcro strips 13 are provided on the other side. This enables the support to be adjusted. If desired a pad 14 may be placed on the side of the support nearer the body to provide additional support for the lumbar region.

The shin splint support shown in Fig. 3 is similar to the support shown in Fig. 1 except that a double thickness of neoprene rubber 1 5 is provided on the inside of the strip to provide additional support to the injury.

The groin support shown in Fig. 4 comprises a first portion 16 which goes around the waist and a second portion 17 which goes around the groin. In each case the ends are held together by Velcro connections 18 and 1 9 respectively.

The knee support shown in Fig. 5 is shaped so that there is a portion 20 which goes over the knee and bands 21 and 22 are provided which can be connected at their ends above and below the knee.

Claims

1. A body support comprising a sheet or strip of elastomeric material, two edge or end portions of the sheet being provided with means for attachment to one another to form the sheet or strip into a tube around a part of the body, said attachment means being adjustable so as to vary the tension in the tube which is applied to the part of the body.

2. A body support as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the adjustable attachment means is comprised of Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) strips.

3. A body support as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the sheet of elastomeric material is provided with a backing layer on one or both sides of the sheet or strip.

4. A body support as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the backing layer is in the form of a layer of nylon or towelling which will expand and contract with the elastomeric material.

5. A body support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

6. A method of therapy which includes the use of a body support as claimed in any preceding claim.