JP2003204977A - Lumber belt - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lumber belt which shows excellent usability when a user is wearing it and effectively alleviates symptoms accompanying lower back pain by putting pressure on the gluteus medius. <P>SOLUTION: The lumber belt 1 is strip-shaped, and is provided with an upper level belt 2 wrapped around a wearer's lumbar part to increase abdominal pressure and a lower level belt 3 placed at the lower part of the upper level belt 2 and wrapping in and supporting the gluteus medius muscle by abutting on the back side of the lumber part when the upper level belt 2 is wrapped around the lumber part. The lower level belt 3 is made into a gradual W shape, and both the right and left ends and the center part of the lower level belt 3 are connected to the upper level belt 2. Elastic pads 7, 8 to put pressure on the gluteus medius muscle are sewed onto both circular arc parts of the lower level belt 3. Wrapping the lumber belt 1 around the lumber part increases abdominal pressure by the upper level belt 2, wraps in the gluteus medius muscle by the lower level belt 3, puts pressure on the gluteus medius muscle by the elastic pads 7, 8, and stabilizes the lumber part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a waist belt used for posture correction, treatment and prevention of low back pain and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when a person walks, the muscles around the hip joint (gluteus major muscles, gluteus medius muscles, gluteus minor muscles, etc.) are used.
However, due to recent changes in social life due to the development of traffic, etc., the number of people walking and walking with their own feet has decreased in daily life even when they move a short distance. For this reason, in modern people, the muscle around the hip joint used when walking is weakened, and this weakening of the muscle is one of the causes of deterioration of posture and back pain. Therefore, conventionally, as a treatment method for such a backache, local massage, manual treatment such as stretching, ultrasonic
In addition to physical therapy such as low-frequency therapy and drug therapy such as injection and medication, orthotic therapy such as corsets is used.

[0003]

By the way, regarding these treatment methods, particularly in the case of orthosis, the abdominal pressure is increased by wrapping and holding the whole trunk from the outside by using a tubular corset so as to increase the abdominal pressure. I was trying to fix it. However, the treatment method of fixing the trunk using a corset as described above is useful from the standpoint of resting, especially for seriously injured patients whose symptoms have deteriorated to such a degree that it is difficult to get up.
From a practical point of view, the following problems have been pointed out.

That is, since the corset fixes the trunk, it is difficult for the patient to move the body as he or she desires while wearing the corset. Therefore, for lightly injured patients who usually get up and have a normal social life,
It was the actual situation that it was difficult to accept the orthosis using the corset because it was uncomfortable to use.
Further, also for the seriously injured patient, when the treatment by wearing a corset is completed and returns to social life, it is the actual situation that there is no suitable brace for maintaining the cured state and preventing recurrence, Therefore, there is a possibility that the back pain may recur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a good feeling during use and to effectively reduce the symptoms associated with back pain by pressing the gluteus medius muscle. To provide a waist belt that can.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, in the waist belt according to claim 1, an upper belt for being wound around a waist portion to increase abdominal pressure and a lower side of the upper belt. In the state in which the upper belt is arranged and wound around the waist, the lower belt abuts on the rear side of the waist and wraps and supports the gluteus medius muscle.

Further, in the waist belt according to a second aspect of the invention, the upper belt and the lower belt are coupled to each other at least at a central portion in the longitudinal direction, and the longitudinal direction extends from the coupling portion of the central portion where both belts are coupled. Thus, a pair of left and right cuts are formed between the lower edge of the upper belt and the upper edge of the lower belt.

In the waist belt according to a third aspect of the present invention, the lower belt is provided with means for compressing the gluteus medius muscle for pressing the gluteus medius muscle when it abuts on the rear side of the waist portion. In the waist belt according to the fourth aspect, the expansion / contraction ratio of the entire lower belt is smaller than that of the upper belt.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a waist belt embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, a waist belt 1 according to the present embodiment has an upper belt 2 having a strip shape that is long in the left-right direction, and an upper belt 2 which is arranged substantially parallel to the lower belt and has an upper edge partially. And a lower belt 3 connected to the lower belt 3.
The upper belt 2 is for increasing abdominal pressure when wound around the waist, and the lower belt 3 contacts the rear side of the waist when the upper belt 2 is wound around the waist and the contact state. At, it wraps and supports the gluteus medius muscle m. It should be noted that the waist belt 1 has the front side in FIG. 1 as an inner surface at the time of wearing and is worn by being applied to the waist of the wearer H.

A common cloth is used for both the upper belt 2 and the lower belt 3 of the waist belt 1. That is, the fabric used is a fabric that is breathable and highly stretchable. Specifically, an elastic yarn in which polyurethane fiber is used as a core yarn and nylon yarn, polyester yarn, etc. are covered around it is used. The knitted fabric is used. Therefore, the waist belt 1 as a whole is wide (see FIG.
In the vertical direction) and in the lateral direction (horizontal direction in FIG. 1), it is highly stretchable and easily fits the wearer H's body shape when worn on the waist.

The cloth used for the waist belt 1 has one surface (the surface on the front side in FIG. 1) knitted smoothly by flat knitting or the like, while the other surface (the surface on the back side in FIG. 1). Has an entire surface brushed in a loop (not shown). The upper belt 2 and the lower belt 3 are formed as different parts at the manufacturing stage, and are sewn together by sewing means such as a sewing machine at the sewing stage and are joined together to form one waist belt 1. To be done.

As shown in FIG. 1, the upper belt 2 is in the form of a long belt in the left-right direction (lateral direction), and the length of the upper belt 2 circulates around the waist of the wearer H while being worn on the waist. Both ends of the two are formed to have a length capable of being joined.
Further, the upper belt 2 is formed such that the lower belt 3 has a different width in the vertical direction at the portion where the lower belt 3 is arranged on the lower side and at both end portions on the outer side in the left-right direction from this portion. The width of the upper belt 2 in the portion to be covered is about 2/3 of the width in both end portions.

Further, a surface fastener 4 as fixing means is attached to one end of one surface (front surface in FIG. 1) of the fabric of the upper belt 2 over the entire width direction. Therefore, while the waist belt 1 is worn on the waist of the wearer H, by pressing this surface fastener 4 against the other surface of the cloth (the surface on the back side in FIG. 1), the waist belt 1 becomes immovable with respect to the waist. Become supportable.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the lower belt 3 is formed in a W shape such that the entire shape is formed by continuous downward gentle arcs, and the lateral length thereof is the upper belt 2. Is formed to have a length of about 2/3 of the length. That is, the length is formed to extend from one of the left and right sides of the waist to the rear side and reach the other side. The width of the lower belt 3 continuously changes according to the position in the left-right direction. Specifically, the vertical width is the smallest at both ends 3a of the lower belt 3, and the vertical width at both ends 3a is about half the width of the upper belt 2 at the same position.

Further, the width of the lower belt 3 gradually increases from each end 3a toward the central portion 3c of the lower belt 3, and each arc-shaped portion forms the W-shape. (Hereinafter, it is referred to as "middle gluteus muscularis portion.") 3b is approximately twice the width of the end 3a and is the widest. The width gradually decreases from the middle gluteus muscularis corresponding portion 3b toward the central portion 3c, and the central portion 3c has substantially the same width as the central portion of the upper belt 2.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the lower belt 3
The upper edge is overlapped with the lower edge of the upper belt 2 at three positions, that is, the both ends 3a and the central portion 3c. Therefore, the upper and lower two-stage belts 2 and 3 are integrated as the waist belt 1 in a state where three positions in the belt longitudinal direction (horizontal direction) are coupled to each other.

In the waist belt 1, since the upper edge of the lower belt 3 is joined to the lower edge of the upper belt 2 at three points, that is, both ends 3a and the central portion 3c, the belts 2 and 3 are joined together. Has a pair of holes (cuts) 5 and 6 formed on both left and right sides of the central portion 3c of the lower belt 3.
The holes 5 and 6 have a shape that is long in the left-right direction, and the holes 5 and 6 extend in the vertical direction from both ends (joining portions of the belts 2 and 3) toward the center of the holes 5 and 6. The shape is wide.

Below the holes 5, 6 and at each position of the W-shaped middle gluteus muscularis corresponding portion 3b of the lower belt 3, the middle gluteus musculature is formed so as to form a convex portion. Elastic pads 7 and 8 serving as compression means are attached. The elastic pads 7 and 8 are made of an elastic material such as urethane so as to conform to the shape of the gluteus medius muscle corresponding portion 3b.
1 is sewn on one surface (front surface in FIG. 1). Since the elastic pads 7, 8 are less stretchable than the material used for the material composition of the upper belt 2 and the lower belt 3, the elastic pads 7, 8 are sewn to the lower belt. The expansion / contraction ratio of the belt 3 as a whole is smaller than that of the upper belt 2.

More specifically, the elastic pads 7 and 8 are crescent-shaped in plan view formed along the shape of the gluteus medius muscle corresponding portion 3b of the lower belt 3, and the elastic pads 7 and 8 are Each tip portion 7a which is an outer side portion in the left-right direction,
8a is formed in a taper shape such that the width gradually narrows, while the base end portions 7b and 8b, which are the portions on the inner side in the left-right direction (on the side of the central portion 3c), are arranged in the width direction so as to be substantially perpendicular to the left-right direction. It is formed by cutting along. Therefore, the elastic pads 7 and 8 formed in this way have a length in the left-right direction that can oppose the central gluteus muscle m and press the central gluteus muscle m in a state where the waist belt 1 is worn on the waist. Will have.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cross-sectional shape of the elastic pads 7, 8 cut in the width direction is such that the central portion is thickest and the width is increased toward both ends in the width direction (left and right directions in FIG. 2). It has a gentle convex shape with reduced thickness. Although not shown, the cross-sectional shape of the elastic pads 7, 8 in the left-right direction is also thickest in the vicinity of the central portion, and each tip portion 7a, 8a and each base end portion 7b,
It has a gentle convex shape whose thickness decreases toward 8b. Piping (not shown) is applied to the entire outer edge of the waist belt 1 including the upper belt 2 and the lower belt 3 and the inner edge of each hole to prevent the fray of the thread from the material edge of the belt 1. ing.

Next, the operation of the waist belt 1 according to the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. When the waist belt 1 is worn on the waist, the waist belt 1 is applied to the waist so that the elastic pads 7 and 8 attached to the lower belt 3 are on the inner side (wearer H side). That is, as shown in FIG. 4A, the wearer H grips the left and right ends of the waist belt 1 with his / her hands and places the waist belt 1 on the back side (back side) of the waist of the wearer H. The central portion of the belt 1 faces the spine.

In this state, while the entire waist belt 1 is slightly tensioned (extended), the waist belt 1 is run along the waist so that the upper belt 2 hits the hip bone, and both ends of the belt 1 are wound forward. (FIG.4 (b)). Then, the upper edge of the waist belt 1 is positioned near the lower part of the navel, and the surface fasteners 4 provided at one end of the belt 1 are pressed against the raised surface of the other belt end so that both ends of the upper belt 2 are fixed. Fix (Fig. 4 (c)). As a result, the abdominal pressure can be increased by the upper belt 2. At the time of starting the winding of the waist belt 1, the waist belt 1 is wound around the waist without tension, and the entire belt 1 is tensioned while the ends are positioned in front of each other while adjusting the abdominal pressure. The belt 1 may be fixed by the hook-and-loop fastener 4.

When the upper belt 2 of the waist belt 1 is wound around the waist in this way, in this state, the lower belt 3 is arranged at a position where the middle gluteus muscle corresponding portion 3b supports the middle gluteus muscle m. This is the case (FIGS. 4D and 4E). Also, the elastic pads 7, 8 attached to the lower belt 3
Contacts the gluteus medius muscle m and presses it (FIG. 4 (f)).

Moreover, in the worn state of the waist belt 1, only the width of the upper belt 2 circulates the waist of the wearer H over the entire circumference, and the lower belt 3 extends to the rear side of the waist. Only the contact is made. Therefore, in the wearing state of the waist belt 1, the waist belt 1 does not suppress the activity of the wearer H in daily life.

Therefore, according to the waist belt 1 of the above embodiment, the following features can be obtained. (1) When the waist belt 1 is worn, the abdominal pressure can be moderately increased by the upper belt 2 wrapped around the waist, and at the same time, the lower belt 3 that abuts on the rear side of the waist wraps and supports the gluteus medius muscle m. can do.

(2) Since the lower belt 3 is formed to have a length necessary and sufficient to wrap the middle gluteus muscle m, when the lower belt 3 wraps and supports the middle gluteus muscle m, the lower belt 3 is supported. It does not go around the front of the waist. Therefore, it is possible to improve the feeling of use when the waist belt 1 is worn.

(3) The lower belt 3 is connected to the upper belt 2 at both ends 3a and the central portion 3c, and holes (cuts) 5 and 6 are formed between the respective connecting portions.
By the holes 5 and 6, the movements of the upper belt 2 and the lower belt 3 are separated, and even when the crouching operation is performed, only the lower belt 3 moves following the part of the gluteus medius muscle m, and the gluteus medius muscle m. Can support.

(4) Elastic pads 7 and 8 are attached to the lower belt 3 to press the gluteus medius muscle m. Therefore, the gluteus medius muscle m can be effectively pressed by the elastic pads 7 and 8, and the hip joint and the pelvis can be stabilized.

(5) The surface fastener 4 is attached as a fixing means to one end of the waist belt 1 in the left-right direction, and the cloth surface is annularly raised at the other end of the waist belt 1 in the left-right direction.
Therefore, the ends of the waist belt 1 can be easily fixed and supported by the surface fastener 4, and the fixing operation and the position adjustment are also easy.

(6) Since the lower belt 3 is sewn with the elastic pads 7 and 8 having a lower expansion / contraction ratio than the material of the belt 3, the expansion / contraction ratio of the lower belt 3 as a whole is lower than that of the upper belt 2. . For this reason, in the state where the waist belt 1 is fixed to the waist based on the winding of the upper belt 2, the lower belt 3 can surely press the middle gluteus muscle m.

The above embodiment may be modified as follows. Although the elastic pads 7 and 8 are sewn to the lower belt 3 in the above embodiment, the elastic pads 7 and 8 are detachably attached to the lower belt 3 via hook-and-loop fasteners, hooks, etc. It may be removable and replaceable.
As a result, the types of the elastic pads 7 and 8 can be changed, and the degree of compression of the gluteus medius muscle m can be changed depending on the symptom stage.

The elastic pads 7 and 8 may be formed by using a material other than urethane (foam rubber, EVA, etc.), and the shape (planar shape, cross-sectional shape) of the elastic pads 7 and 8 is also limited to the above embodiment. However, other shapes may be adopted.

Surface fasteners 4 provided at the ends of the waist belt 1.
Instead of this, a button may be attached to one of the belt ends and a overhanging hole may be provided on the other belt end, or a male hook may be provided on one side and a female hook or the like may be provided on the other side.

The upper belt 2 and the lower belt 3 may have different fabrics or different stretch ratios. That is, in the above-described embodiment, the elastic ratios 7 and 8 attached to the lower belt 3 make the elastic ratio of the lower belt 3 smaller than the elastic ratio of the upper belt 2 as a whole of the lower belt. It is also possible to make the upper and lower belts 2 and 3 have the same expansion / contraction ratio as a whole by means such as using a cloth having a smaller expansion / contraction ratio as the cloth. Further, the lower belt 3 may be configured to have a smaller elastic ratio as a whole than the upper belt 2 by means such as using a material having a small elastic ratio for the upper belt 2. Thereby, the abdominal pressure and the compression of the gluteus medius muscle m can be adjusted depending on the body type (for example, the abdominal condition).

Although the upper belt 2 and the lower belt 3 are formed as different parts, the waist belt 1 may be integrally formed by cutting or punching a piece of cloth into a predetermined shape. ○ Holes (breaks) formed in the waist belt 1,
6 is not limited to the shape of the above embodiment as long as it can divide the movement of the upper belt 2 and the lower belt 3,
It may be a mere cut formed between the upper belt 2 and the lower belt 3.

If the central portion 3c of the lower belt 3 is connected to the upper belt 2, both ends 3a of the lower belt 3 do not necessarily have to be connected to the upper belt 2. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, both ends 3a of the lower belt 3 are extended outward in the left-right direction to be formed to have substantially the same length as the upper belt 2, and only the central portion 3c of the lower belt 3 is coupled to the upper belt 2. You may. Even with such a configuration, the abdominal pressure adjustment by the upper belt 2 and the wrapping support of the gluteus medius muscle m and the compression force adjustment by the lower belt 3 can be performed independently. The surface fasteners 4 provided at the end portions of the upper belt 2 in the above-described embodiment have the surface fasteners 4a for the upper belt 2 and the surface fasteners 4b for the lower belt 3 at the respective belt end portions in this another example. Will be provided.

The elastic pads 7 and 8 may be attached only to the gluteus medius corresponding portion 3b on either the left or right side of the lower belt 3. For example, when the muscle strength of only one of the left and right gluteus medius muscles of the wearer H is weakened, the elastic pads 7 and 8 are used to support the one gluteus medius muscle in order to press the one gluteus medius muscle m. You may make it attach only to the part 3b.

Next, the technical ideas that can be understood from the above-described embodiments and other examples will be added below along with their effects. (1) The waist belt according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lower belt has a larger expansion / contraction ratio as a whole belt than the upper belt. Therefore, according to the technical idea described in (1), the abdominal pressure can be increased without pressing the gluteus medius muscle so strongly.

(2) The waist belt according to claim 3, wherein the gluteus medius compression means is detachable from the lower belt. Therefore, according to the technical idea described in (2), it is possible to easily change the strength of the compression of the gluteus medius muscle according to the symptom stage.

[0041]

As described above in detail, according to the waist belt of the present invention, it is possible to improve the feeling of use during wearing and to effectively compress the gluteus medius muscles during wearing to prevent symptoms associated with low back pain. Can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a waist belt according to this embodiment.

2 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a waist belt of another embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a method for wearing a waist belt,
(A) is a front view showing a state in which the belt is arranged on the back side of the wearer before being worn, (b) is a front view showing a state in which the belt is being wound, and (c) is a belt completed (D) is a side view showing a relationship with the pelvis in a state in which the winding is completed, (e) is a front view showing a relationship with the pelvis, and (f) is also a middle gluteus medius. The rear view which showed the relationship.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 waist belt, 2 upper belt, 3 lower belt, 4
Fixing means (face fasteners), 5, 6 ... Long holes (breaks),
7, 8 ... Gluteus medius compression means (elastic pad), H ... Wearer.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 4C098 AA02 BB05 BC03 BC13 CE07                       DD01 DD06 DD22 DD26 DD28

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An upper belt that is wound around a waist to increase abdominal pressure, and, in a state where the upper belt is arranged below the upper belt and is wound around the waist, abuts on a rear side of the waist. A waist belt with a lower belt that wraps and supports the gluteus medius. 2. The upper belt and the lower belt are coupled to each other at least at a central portion in the longitudinal direction, and the lower edge and the lower belt of the upper belt are arranged so as to extend in the longitudinal direction from a joint portion of the central portions where the both belts are coupled. The waist belt according to claim 1, wherein a pair of left and right cuts are formed between the belt and the upper edge of the belt. 3. The waist belt according to claim 1, wherein the lower belt is provided with a gluteus medius compression means for pressing the gluteus medius muscle when contacting the rear side of the waist. . 4. The expansion / contraction ratio of the entire lower belt is smaller than that of the upper belt.
The waist belt according to claim 1.