GB2292889A

GB2292889A - Arm support

Info

Publication number: GB2292889A
Application number: GB9417935A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mavis Wooley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-09-06
Filing date: 1994-09-06
Publication date: 1996-03-13
Anticipated expiration: 2014-09-06
Also published as: GB2292889B; GB9417935D0

Abstract

An arm support, for supporting an injured or immobilised arm, comprises a sleeve 15, which can be fastened by velcro pads 19, 20 to form a tapering tube to fit about a forearm. A belt 16 is passed through loops 21, 22 in an outer layer of the sleeve, so that the belt can be worn to support the arm at the waist level. The sleeve is padded with soft material such as foamed plastics, fleece or cotton wool. <IMAGE>

Description

ARM SUPPORT This invention relates to an arm-support, for use in supporting an arm which is injured, or requires to be immobilised because of injury to a related part such as a collar bone or shoulder for example.

Conventionally, an injured arm, or arm requiring support for other reasons, is held by a sling in the form of a folded cloth square holding the forearm across the patient's chest, or a strap holding the wrist, both of these being looped around the back of the patient's neck.

The weight of the arm, and of any dressings particularly a plaster cast can create a cumulative load on the neck and shoulders giving rise to discomfort and pain, strain to neck and shoulder muscles, chaffing, and in some cases giving rise to headaches caused by pressure on nerve tissue.

In many elderly patients, the position of the immobilised arm over the chest creates a top and front heavy weight distribution which causes stooping and bowing of the neck and shoulders, with the weight of the arm pulling the neck forward, and this causes an unstable posture in which the risk of stumbling and falling forwards is greatly increased.

An object of this invention is to provide an arm support which will enable the weight of an injured or immobilised arm to be supported without exerting a load or pressure on the neck and shoulders of the patient.

The invention accordingly provides an arm support for supporting an injured or immobilised arm, comprising a sleeve for fastening around the forearm, and means for attaching the sleeve to a belt band or strap for passing around the patient's body.

The belt may be provided as a waist belt which is passed through loops provided on the sleeve, so that the immobilised forearm can be held in a comfortable position at about waist height.

The sleeve is preferrably fastenable by means of VELCRO (Trade Mark) pads on either surface of the sleeve, about the forearm.

It has been found that the strap or belt should preferrably be from 30 to 50mm. in width, as narrower straps tend to curl about their longitudinal axis when fed through the loops, thereby creating discomfort.

The sleeve may be of any suitable web material, and is prefferably composite, with a protective and perhaps decorative covering on the outerside, and some form of padding on the inner side. Textile fabrics, plastics sheet material, foam pads, quilted material, or fleece or felted cotton wool may be suitable.

A preferred embodiment of arm support according to the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figs. la and ib illustrate two known forms of arm support; Fig. 2 shows an arm support according to the invention in use; Fig. 3 shows the inner side of the sleeve of the arm support; and Fig. 4 shows the outer side of the sleeve, showing a belt threaded through loops on the sleeve.

Refering to the drawings, Figs. la and lb illustrate embodiments of prior art arm supports which are in widespread use.

Fig. la shows a sling 10, in the form of a wide band, or folded square of cloth, supporting the forearm, and looped about the patient's neck, which bears the weight of the arm and of any plaster cast. Similarly, Fig. ib shows a strap sling 11, looped about the wrist, and again suspended from the patient's neck.

These known arm supports suspend the arm from the neck, and thus exert a load and pressure which is applied to the neck and shoulders. The sling may be tied behind the neck, and the knot creates an additional pressure point and source of discomfort.

According to the invention however, as shown in Fig. 2.

a sleeve 15 is provided, which is fastened about the forearm, and in turn fastened to a strap or belt 16 passed about the patient's body, preferrably about the waist, as shown. Thia suspends the weight of the arm, and any plaster, from the belt, exerting the load about the waist where it is distributed over an extensive zone, which does not include any signifigant pressure points.

Fig. 3 shows the inner face of the sleeve. The sleeve 15 itself is formed with curved sides, to provide a longer side 17, and a shorter side 18, so that when the sleeve is fastened it forms a tapering tube to hold a forearm, which tapers from the elbow to the wrist. A velcro pad 19 is provided, to adhere to a further Velcro pad 20 on the outer face of the sleeve (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4 shows the outer side of the sleeve 15, with Velcro pad 20, and also loops 21, 22 for the belt 16. The loops are provided in an outer cover 23 of the sleeve, so that the belt passes between the cover 23 and padding or lining 24 which forms the inner face of the sleeve 15.

The sleeve is lined with fleece, or felted cotton wool, for example for comfort, but may be lined instead with foamed plastics, or quilting pads if preferred. The sleeve may be provided with a washable skin. The fastenings of the sleeve could be of any desired kind, including straps and buckles, or spring buckles.

The sleeve may be made in any of a series of sizes, to fit about various girths of arm, with or without dressings or plaster casts.

The advantage of the arm support according to the invention is that it enables an arm which needs to be immobilised because of injury to the arm or to a related part, to be comfort ably supported without pressure on the neck, and provides a lower loading point, so that a stooping posture and resulting instability is not encouraged.

Claims

1. An arm support, for supporting an injured or immobilised arm, comprising a sleeve for fastening around the forearm, and means for attaching the sleeve to a belt band or strap for passing around the patient's body.

2. An arm support according to Claim 1, wherein the belt is provided as a waist belt which is passed through loops provided on the sleeve, so that the immobilised forearm can be held in a comfortable position at about waist height.

3. An arm support according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the sleeve comprises an outer protective covering, and padding on the inner side.

4. An arm support according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the sleeve is fastenable into a tapering tube by means of loop and pile fabric fasteners on the inner and outer surfaces of the sleeve, about the forearm.

5. An arm support, according to any preceding claim, wherein the sleeve is shaped as a segment of a ring, having a pair of convergent sides, and a longer and a shorter curved side, the convergent sides being intended for overlapping and being provided with respective engageable velcro pads, and the longer curved side to form a wider end (adjacent the elbow) and the shorter curved side to form a narrower end (adjacent the wrist) when the sleeve is fastened about a forearm to form a tapering tube.

6. An arm support, according to Claim 3, wherein the belt is passed through loops formed in the outer protective covering of the sleeve, so that the belt does not contact the arm, but is shielded by the padding.

7. An arm support according to Claim 3 wherein the outer covering is a washable material, and the padding is any one of foamed plastics, quilting pads, fleeces or cotton wool.

8. An arm support, for supporting an injured or immobilised arm, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in Figs 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.