JP2008173393A - Massage apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user to sufficiently feel the comfort of a massage and receive the massage in a mentally relaxed posture, and promote a warm-up before an exercise, a recovery from fatigue after the exercise, and the blood circulation of an affected part by promoting an increase in oxygenated hemoglobin (O<SB>2</SB>Hb) by the promotion of muscular tissue circulation. <P>SOLUTION: The frequency of transducers of this massage apparatus is defined to within the range of 15 Hz-45 Hz, especially 30 Hz, so as to provide maximum comfort and improve the massage effect by increasing the oxygenated hemoglobin (O<SB>2</SB>Hb). This massage apparatus is so constituted that, after the user sets a bed face to a neutral posture where the massage apparatus constituting a couch comes into contact with the body, and disposes the parts under the knees higher than the heart, vibrations are applied to the user in a back support position, a lumbar support position, a thigh support position, and a calf support position with the vibration faces tilt relative to the vertical direction within a range of not less than 40° and not more than 90°. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a massage device that applies vibration generated from a vibrator to a body. More specifically, the present invention is particularly suitable for application to a chaise longue type massage device.

  Conventionally, for the purpose of massage and relaxation, an attempt has been made to obtain a massage effect, a rehabilitation effect, a hypnosis / sleeping effect, etc. by providing a vibration device / vibrator on a chair or bed for the purpose of massage or relaxation. . For example, assuming that a muscle contraction phenomenon (named as vibration-induced skin reflex) occurs as if bending when applying 60 Hz vibration to the skin on a human muscle, a vibratory stimulus of 60 Hz is applied to the vibrator. By giving intermittently repeatedly, the blood flow volume is increased by the contraction of the muscle when applying the vibration and the relaxation of the muscle when stopping the vibration, thereby obtaining a massage effect and a rehabilitation effect. In this massage chair, the skeletal muscle is further contracted by applying a vibration stimulus of 110 Hz from the skin onto the muscle abdomen or tendon of the skeletal muscle, and the contraction is gradually increased by continuously applying this vibration stimulus (this is a tension). It has also been proposed to increase the blood flow by causing the reflex effect (in combination with the vibration-induced skin reflex caused by 60 Hz vibration stimulation) (Patent Literature). 1). In this massage chair, a massage effect and a rehabilitation effect can be obtained by applying 60 Hz vibration stimulation alone or alternately by alternately applying vibration stimulation of 60 Hz and 110 Hz. In this chair-type massage machine, the seat, backrest, and leg mounting table are each provided with a vibration transmission plate and a vibration generator, and the body such as the seat, backrest, calf resting portion, etc. via the vibration transmission plate. It is provided so that vibration is propagated to the entire surface that supports.

  Also, the same inventor as in Patent Document 1 alternately applies vibration stimulation of 50 to 70 Hz, preferably 60 Hz, causing vibration-induced skin reflex and vibration stimulation of 100 to 120 Hz, preferably 110 Hz, causing tension vibration reflection to the human body. Proposing a mattress with a vibration function that has the function of making the blood flow in good condition and contracting / relaxing skeletal muscles so that body fat can be burned efficiently without damaging health (Patent Document 2).

  Furthermore, a mattress with a vibration function that induces sleep by vibration-stimulating the whole human body at a single vibration frequency of 50 to 70 Hz has been proposed (Patent Document 3).

JP 2000-262578 A JP 2000-79150 A JP 2000-79149 A

  Although these massage devices have a slight range in the vibration frequency of the vibrator used, the muscle contraction phenomenon caused by vibration stimulation of 60 Hz, the vibration-induced skin reflex, and the contraction of skeletal muscle caused by vibration stimulation of 110 Hz gradually. This phenomenon uses a phenomenon that reinforces itself and tension vibration reflection.

  However, according to the present inventors' research on vibration stimulation, it has been found that applying vibration stimulation of 60 Hz or more is not comfortable for the user of the Marsurge device. That is, when the vibration frequency is 60 Hz or more, an experimental result is obtained that the probability of feeling uncomfortable increases even if the vibration intensity is weak, and at 60 Hz, the number of people who feel “comfortable” and the number of people who feel “uncomfortable” are half. It was. If the vibration stimulus is not comfortable for the user, continuous use of the massage device cannot be expected, and eventually there is a possibility that a sufficient massage effect or rehabilitation effect cannot be obtained. In addition, since the comfort in using the massage device is inferior in physical experience, psychological satisfaction cannot be sufficiently obtained.

  Furthermore, in the chair-type massage machine described in Patent Document 1, a user sits on a horizontally arranged seat, puts his back on a backrest, and places a leg on a leg table to receive a massage. Although a relaxed posture can achieve a muscle relaxation effect compared to an upright posture, the load on the blood limbs from the lower limbs still remains, although the load on the blood circulation is reduced. Because you are sitting in a chair, you cannot receive a massage in a completely relaxed state. Moreover, even if the backrest is tilted or the calf resting part is lifted to some extent, it is basically in a state of sitting on a chair, so that it does not lead to the opening of the blood circulation system. On the other hand, a horizontal posture like a bed can relax muscles throughout the body and reduce the load on blood circulation, but the posture that exposes the abdomen is psychological. It can't be said that it is in a more relaxed state because of its undefense posture.

An object of this invention is to provide the massage apparatus which can fully experience the comfort of a massage and can receive a massage in a psychologically relaxed posture. Furthermore, the present invention promotes the increase of oxyhemoglobin (O ² Hb) by promoting the circulation of muscle tissue, enabling warming up before exercise, promoting recovery from fatigue after exercise, and promoting blood circulation in the affected area. The purpose is to provide massage equipment. Moreover, an object of this invention is to provide the massage apparatus which exhibits the effect of sleep induction.

  As a result of various experiments and researches by the present inventors in order to achieve such an object, in general, the “comfort” of the massage is not related to the frequency and becomes “uncomfortable” if the vibration intensity is too strong. However, if it is weak, it is thought that it can be said to be “neither”, or rather “feel comfortable”, but it is considered to be effective for the muscle contraction mechanism due to the tension vibration reflex reported in Patent Document 1 etc. It was found that vibration stimuli with the above frequencies tend to increase the number of people who feel uncomfortable (people who make negative evaluations) even in a “state where vibration is not strong”. On the other hand, when applying vibration stimulation at a vibration frequency of 45 Hz or less, preferably 30 Hz to 15 Hz, more preferably 30 Hz, the ratio at which it is possible to experience the most “comfort” is high and the vibration intensity is increased. The inventors have found that they are less likely to feel “uncomfortable” and can further promote an increase in oxyhemoglobin.

  The present invention is based on such knowledge, and in a massage device that applies vibration generated from a vibrator to the body, the frequency provided by the vibrator is in a range of 15 Hz to 45 Hz.

  In addition, the massage device of the present invention comprises a chaise longue, and a bed area in contact with the body supports a first area where the upper half of the user is supported, a second area where the upper half of the lower body is supported, and a lower half of the lower half of the knee. A third region that supports a portion, the first region and the second region are arranged in a valley shape, the second region and the third region are arranged in a mountain shape, In the third region, the lower knee portion of the user is disposed higher than the heart, and the back support position and the waist support position of the first region and the support region of the second region and the third region are arranged. Preferably, the vibrator is provided at the calf support position, and the vibration surface of the vibrator is inclined in the range of 40 degrees to 90 degrees with respect to the vertical direction.

  In the case of this chaise longue type massage device, when the user lies on his / her back on the bed surface, the buttocks are in the valley bottom part between the first region and the second region, and the back of the knee is the second region and the third region. It will be supported by the top of the mountain, and it will be a relaxed posture with the waist and knees slightly bent. This relaxed posture is a posture in which the weight of the user is distributed almost evenly on the bed surface supporting the weight, and is a very comfortable and relaxing posture. In the third region, the lower part of the user's knee is positioned higher than the heart, so that blood circulation is improved and swelling of the foot is eliminated. This is also a relaxing posture. Further, this relaxed posture is a slightly bent forward posture in which the waist is slightly bent and the abdomen is retracted, and is also a posture in which the abdomen is psychologically protected and easy to get off the bed (defense posture). For this reason, a sense of security can be obtained when lying down, and psychologically relaxed.

  Further, vibrators are provided at the back support position of the first area of the bed surface, the waist support position of the first area, the thigh support position of the second area, and the calf support position of the third area. . By vibrating the vibrator, it is possible to massage a person (user) lying on the bed surface. The stronger the user's weight is applied to the vibrating surface (vibrated portion of the bed surface) by the vibrator, the better the vibration is transmitted to the body, so the efficiency of the massage is improved. In this relaxed posture, the weight of the user is distributed almost evenly, so that the weight can be satisfactorily applied to each vibration surface.

  In addition, since each vibration surface is inclined in the range of 40 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less with respect to the vertical direction, the weight of the user can be satisfactorily applied to each vibration surface without breaking the relaxing posture. it can. That is, the weight of the user on the vibration surface decreases as the inclination of the vibration surface with respect to the vertical direction approaches 0 degrees, and conversely increases as the inclination approaches 90 degrees. In the present invention, the inclination of the vibration surface with respect to the vertical direction is 40 degrees or more, and the weight of the user can be applied to the vibration surface to such an extent that at least a sufficient massage effect can be obtained. On the other hand, the vibration surface provided in the first region (vibration surface of the vibrator provided at the back support position and vibration surface of the vibrator provided at the waist support position) exceeds 90 degrees with respect to the vertical direction. When tilted, the tilt of the upper body of the user is reversed and the head is lower than the waist. In such a posture, the user becomes anxious and cannot relax. Similarly, when the vibration surface provided in the third region (vibration surface of the vibrator provided at the calf support position) is inclined more than 90 degrees with respect to the vertical direction, the inclination of the user's lower knee is reversed. The toe is higher than the knee. In such a posture, the user becomes anxious and cannot relax. In the present invention, since the third region places the user's lower knee part higher than the heart, the vibration surface provided in the second region (the vibration surface of the vibrator provided at the support position) is vertical. It does not tilt more than 90 degrees with respect to the direction, that is, the knee does not become lower than the waist. In the present invention, since the inclination of each vibration surface with respect to the vertical direction is 90 degrees or less, the posture does not cause the user to feel uneasy, and the user can relax.

According to the massage device of the present invention, the vibration of 30 Hz mainly works directly on the blood vessels in the muscle tissue to promote the circulation of the muscle tissue to increase oxyhemoglobin (O ₂ Hb), and has a weak sympathetic nerve suppression effect. Therefore, it works effectively for warming up before exercise and for promoting recovery from fatigue after exercise. In addition, it promotes blood circulation in affected areas for people with stiff shoulders and low back pain, and also promotes recovery of the affected area, promotes blood circulation in the lower limbs of bedridden patients, and recovers fatigue after work on feet that are tired from standing work it can. Furthermore, the effect of suppressing the sympathetic nerve by vibration can be used as one of daytime nap and relaxation methods by using it together with the effect of inducing sleep by lying down and the effect of making the parasympathetic nerve significant. In particular, the combination of stimulation frequency and stimulation intensity can be used effectively by changing them stepwise as in this case. It is suitable for use as a nap capsule for workers.

  According to the invention of claim 2, wherein the massage device of the present invention is a chaise longue type, the user's lower knee part is positioned higher than the heart and takes a neutral posture lying on his back at the same time, 45 Hz to 15 Hz, in particular By giving a vibration stimulus of 30 Hz, an increase in oxygenated hemoglobin by 20% is achieved as compared with the case where no vibration stimulus is given, so that an effect of promoting warming up and recovery from fatigue can be expected. Furthermore, since the weight is distributed almost evenly by the neutral posture and supported on the bed surface, it can be relaxed very comfortably and combined with the effect of inducing sleep and making the parasympathetic nerve significant, making it possible to take nap and relaxation during the day Becomes more effective. At the same time, the neutral posture is a slightly bent forward posture with the waist slightly bent and the abdomen retracted, and the abdomen is psychologically protected and easy to get off the bed (defense posture), so you get a sense of security when you lie down. And psychologically relaxed. In addition, since the weight can be satisfactorily applied to each vibration surface of each vibrator, the massage efficiency is improved. Here, if a tilt mechanism for raising the bed surface is provided, it is easy to get on and off the bed, and the usability can be further improved.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the present invention will be described in detail based on the best mode shown in the drawings.

  1 to 9 show an example of an embodiment in which the massage device of the present invention is applied to a chaise longue type massage device (hereinafter referred to as a massage bed in the present embodiment). This massage bed is mainly composed of a bed portion that supports the user's body and a base portion that includes the tilt mechanism 15 that supports the bed portion and makes the angle of the bed surface 1 variable. The bed portion includes a bed surface 1 including a first region 1a for supporting the upper body of the user, a second region 1b for supporting the upper knee portion of the lower body, and a third region 1c for supporting the lower knee portion of the lower body. The first region 1a and the second region 1b are arranged in a valley shape, the second region 1b and the third region 1c are arranged in a mountain shape, and the third region 1c is in a use state ( The lower part of the user's knee is positioned higher than the heart when the position is in the position), and the back support position 2 of the first region 1a and the support region 4 and the third region of the second region 1b are also supported. A vibrator 6 is provided at the calf support position 5 of 1c, and the vibration surface 7 by the vibrator 6 is inclined at 40 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less with respect to the vertical direction V.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bed surface 1 is configured by placing a tension sheet 8 on a rectangular frame 22, placing a cushion 11 on the tension sheet 8, and covering it with a cover 12. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the frame 22 is provided so as to form a rectangular frame by connecting a plurality of square pipes. In the case of this embodiment, a single square pipe (hereinafter referred to as a straight pipe) 22a that is straight when viewed from above is connected to two L-shaped square pipes (hereinafter referred to as corner pipes) 22b. By connecting two sets of pipes formed in a substantially U shape to each other via a tension mechanism 27, a rectangular frame that can change the lateral width is configured. The shape of the straight pipe 22a viewed from the plane is a straight line as shown in FIG. 8, but the shape viewed from the side is the first region 1a and the second region having different angles as shown in FIG. The three bed surfaces 1 of the region 1b and the third region 1c are bent at two locations in opposite directions. An L-shaped corner pipe 22b can be connected to both ends of the straight pipe 22a by using a bead joint structure or the like. The straight pipe 22 a is provided so as to support both sides of the tension sheet 8 by being passed through a cylindrical pipe passage 8 a formed on both sides of the ten short sheet 8. The pipe threading 8a is easily formed integrally by folding back both side edges of the tension sheet 8, for example. As shown in FIG. 9, both ends 8 in the longitudinal direction of the tension sheet 8 are detachably fixed by a hook-and-loop fastener (trade name: Velcro fastener) 8 c so that the tension sheet 8 can be folded and attached to the back side of the tension sheet 8. . Therefore, after passing the straight pipe 22a through the pipe passages 8a at both ends of the tension sheet 8, the L-shaped pipes 22b are respectively fitted to both ends thereof, and then both ends 8b in the longitudinal (front-rear) direction of the tension sheet 8 are connected to the L-shaped pipes. If it is folded back so as to be wound around 22b and then fixed via the hook-and-loop fastener 8c, the tension sheet 8 is fixed both in the longitudinal direction and in the lateral (width) direction and will not shift.

  Here, a tension mechanism 27 is interposed between the left and right L-shaped pipes 8b. The tension mechanism 27 includes, for example, a bolt 27a that is fixed to one of the L-shaped pipes and a nut 27b that is screwed into the bolt 27a and contacts the end surface of the other L-shaped pipe. By moving in the axial direction, the bolts 27a can be inserted and removed relatively so that the distance S between the two sets of U-shaped pipes can be adjusted. The distance S between the two L-shaped pipes, in other words, the distance between the straight pipes 22a on both sides is changed, and the tension sheet 8 is provided with a displacement in the width direction to give tension. The tension mechanism 27 is supported not only between the L-shaped pipes 22b at both ends, but also in the middle of the straight pipe 22a by a bracket 23 for fixing the straight pipe 22a to the base portion and the tilt mechanism 15 of the base portion. It is arranged between the bracket 26 and is provided so as to be evenly stretched over the entire area of the tension sheet 8 by making the frame width variable at the center and both ends of the frame 22. The bolt 27a is fixed to the bracket 23 side fixed to the straight pipe 22a, and the interval can be changed by sliding a nut 27b that contacts the bracket 26 on the base side. The bracket 23 and the straight pipe frame 22a are connected to each other through a support metal fitting 25.

  The tension sheet 8 can exhibit elasticity in a state where tension is applied, and in this embodiment, a tension sheet 8 woven with elastic yarn (elastomer yarn) made of polyester is used. As such a tension sheet 8, for example, a woven fabric of polyester yarn and elastomeric polyester yarn, specifically, a polyester elastomer manufactured by DuPont (trade name: Dimetrole (registered trademark) or Hytrel (registered trademark)) may be used. Is possible. Since this polyester elastomer sheet has little sag and has good elasticity and breathability, it is possible to obtain a comfortable body support surface (bed surface 1) that is comfortable to sleep. It is also possible to use a sheet material made of an elastomer material reinforced with fibers or fabrics. A suitable fiber reinforced sheet is a sheet material made of polyester elastomer and having a thickness of about 1 mm, and its back surface is reinforced with a reinforcing fabric such as 120 to 240 denier nylon or polyester taffeta. Is mentioned. By reinforcing the sheet material with the reinforcing fabric, even a sheet material having a thickness of about 1 mm can support the load with sufficient elasticity. However, the tension sheet 8 is not particularly limited to those made of the above-described polyester elastomer or fiber-reinforced elastomer material, and is given a constant and sufficient tension as a member for supporting the body. Any material or structure that exhibits elasticity in the state can be used.

  The vibrator 6 is located at the back support position 2 of the first area 1a, the waist support position 3 of the first area 1a, the thigh support position 4 of the second area 1b, and the calf support position 5 of the third area 1c. Is provided. In the present embodiment, one vibrator 6 is provided on each of the support positions 2 to 5 on the left and right sides. The vibrator 6 on the right side of the back support position 2 and the vibrator 6 on the right side of the waist support position 3 are attached to the same diaphragm 9, and the vibrator 6 on the left side of the back support position 2 and the vibrator on the left side of the waist support position 3 are attached. 6 is attached to the same diaphragm 9. Similarly, the vibrator 6 on the right side of the thigh support position 4 and the vibrator 6 on the right side of the calf support position 5 are attached to the same diaphragm 9, and the vibrator 6 on the left side of the thigh support position 4 and the calf support position 5 are attached. The left vibrator 6 is attached to the same diaphragm 9. In this way, the left and right vibrators 6 are not attached to the same diaphragm 9 for each of the support positions 2 to 5, but the left and right vibrators 6 are combined with the back, waist, and calf, and the same diaphragm 9. It is attached to.

  Here, the vibration can be satisfactorily transmitted to the place where the diaphragm 9 is present, but the vibration cannot be satisfactorily transmitted to the place where the diaphragm 9 is not present. For this reason, if the left and right vibrators 6 are attached to the same diaphragm 9 at each position 2 to 5, only the positions 2 to 5 are massaged locally. On the other hand, when the left and right vibrators 6 are combined with the back, waist, and base calf and attached to the same diaphragm 9 as in the present embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the range of vibration in the axial direction of the body The diaphragm 9 is suitable for whole body massage, and the vibration plate 9 allows the vibration of the vibrator 6 at the back support position 2 and the waist support position 3, and the vibrator at the thigh support position 4 and the calf support position 5. Since the edge of 6 is not cut, the vibration strength of the middle part of the diaphragm 9 without the vibrator 6 can be secured to some extent. In addition, since the left and right vibrators 6 are combined with the back, waist, and calf, and attached to the same diaphragm 9, the back, waist, thigh, and calf are all vibrated in the same way for each left and right vibrator 6. Compared to the case of attaching to the plate 9, the shape of the diaphragm 9 can be made simple. For this reason, the process of the diaphragm 9 becomes easy and the raise of manufacturing cost can be suppressed. As described above, in the present embodiment, it is possible to achieve a high level of both response to whole body massage and suppression of manufacturing costs. However, as in the present embodiment, the left and right vibrators 6 are not limited to being combined with the back, waist, and calf and attached to the same diaphragm 9, and for example, left and right vibrations at each position 2-5. The child 6 may be attached to the same diaphragm 9. In this case, it is suitable for performing a local massage. For example, the back, waist, thigh, and calf may be attached to the same diaphragm 9 for each of the left and right vibrators 6. In this case, the range of vibration can be further expanded in the axial direction of the body, which is more suitable for whole body massage.

  The vibrator 6 is attached to the diaphragm 9 with screws or the like. By providing an appropriate space between the left and right diaphragms 9, the bending and deformation of the tension sheet 8 in the lateral direction is not disturbed, and the diaphragm 9 hits the center of the user's body, that is, the spine, or hits the vicinity of the spine. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the body support surface in the region where it is assumed to be hard. The diaphragm 9 is preferably made of polypropylene which is difficult to break, but ABS resin or other resins can also be used. As the vibrator 6, for example, Reratech Element DU-2506 manufactured by Onkyo Rib Co., Ltd. can be used.

  The vibrator 6 operates by receiving power from a power source (not shown), for example. In addition, the vibrator 6 can be switched between ON / OFF operation and vibration intensity by a switch (not shown), for example. Based on the experimental results of the present inventors, the frequency given by the vibrator is 45 Hz or less, which is a frequency at which many users can get a comfortable experience without being greatly affected by the vibration intensity. Here, it is more preferably a range of 15 Hz to 30 Hz, most preferably 30 Hz. In addition, it was found that if the intensity of vibration is too strong, it is uncomfortable regardless of the frequency, and if it is too weak, it is not felt strong as a stimulus, so the range of vibration intensity adopted by general massage equipment It is desirable to set with. Furthermore, it is preferable to be able to switch to several patterns, for example, about four stages so that it can be selected appropriately according to the user's preference.

  For attachment of the diaphragm 9 to the tension sheet 8, in the case of this embodiment, a band-like elastic elastic attachment member (hereinafter simply referred to as a band member) 10 is used (FIG. 4). Both ends of the band member 10 are fixed to the tension sheet 8 by sewing or the like, and the diaphragm 9 is sandwiched and supported between the center portion and the tension sheet 8. That is, the diaphragm 9 is held in a state where it is suspended by the elastic force of the band member 10 in contact with the back surface of the tension sheet 8. Here, both ends of the band member 10 are fixed to the back surface of the tension sheet 8 by sewing or adhesion. A rubber band is used as the band member 10. For this reason, since the band member 10 extends when the diaphragm 9 is inserted and contracts after the insertion, the holding of the diaphragm 9 can be strengthened and the diaphragm 9 and the tension sheet 8 are brought into close contact with each other. be able to. Since the diaphragm 9 is sandwiched between the tension sheet 8 and the back surface of the tension sheet 8 by the elastic band member 10, the diaphragm 9 is not fixed to the tension sheet 8 and restrains the extension or deformation of the tension sheet 8. Be free. Further, the vibration plate 9 itself is not strongly constrained by the tension sheet 8 within the range in which the band member 10 can expand and contract. Therefore, the tension sheet 8 and the diaphragm 9 are subjected to a certain degree of mutual deformation or the like in response to the force that the band member 10 tends to expand and contract in the range in which the elastic band member 10 can expand and contract (elastic deformation range). Even if it is restricted, it can be deformed independently, and the flexibility of the tension sheet 8 is not significantly impaired, and an original deformation of the diaphragm 9 is allowed. This not only does not cause hardening of the surface of the tension sheet 8 that supports the body, but also reduces damage to the fixing portion between the diaphragm 9 and the tension sheet 8 due to deformation.

  A portion of the bed surface 1 that is vibrated by the vibrator 6 is a vibration surface 7. In this embodiment, the cushion 11 and the cover 12 are provided on the tension sheet 8 as will be described later, and the cover 12 directly contacts the user, so the surface of the cover 12 becomes the vibration surface 7.

  A cushion 11 is provided on the tension sheet 8 (on the front surface side) to further disperse body pressure and improve sleeping comfort. The cushion 11 is preferably made of a low resilience material such as low elasticity urethane. The surface of the cushion 11 is covered with a cover 12.

  A sound absorbing material 13 is provided between the surface of the tension sheet 8 and the cushion 11. As the sound absorbing material 13, it is preferable to use cotton or felt having a thickness and elasticity enough to be crushed when the user's weight is added. For example, a polyester cotton having a thickness of about 10 mm is used. Yes. The sound absorbing material 13 exhibits a function as a sound absorbing material under a situation where the weight of the user is not added, and is of a material or a structure that functions as a material capable of transmitting vibrations at least under a situation where a weight is added. Any material or structure can be used. Note that the tension sheet 8 and the cushion 11 may be bonded in some cases. In this case, chattering noise is not generated between the tension sheet 8 and the cushion 11, so that it is not necessary to arrange the sound absorbing material 13.

  A sound absorbing material 14 is also disposed between the diaphragm 9 and the tension sheet 8, that is, on the back side of the tension sheet 8. The sound absorbing material 14 is the same as the above-described sound absorbing material 13, and is made of, for example, polyester cotton. As the sound absorbing material 14, it is preferable to use cotton or felt having a thickness and elasticity that can be crushed when the user's weight is added. For example, a polyester cotton having a thickness of about 10 mm is used. Yes. If the sound absorbing material 14 is of a material or structure that functions as a sound absorbing material in a situation where the weight of the user is not added, and that can transmit vibrations at least in a situation where a weight is added, Any material or structure can be used.

  Each area | region 1a-1c of the bed surface 1 has a planar shape. However, the regions 1a to 1c do not necessarily have a planar shape, and the regions 1a to 1c may have a curved shape.

  An inclination angle between the first region 1a and the second region 1b (an angle having a narrower inclination than 180 degrees, hereinafter referred to as a valley angle θ1) is, for example, 130 degrees. However, the valley angle θ1 is not limited to 130 degrees. Since there is a relationship of θ1 = θ3 + θ4 between θ1 and θ3 and θ4, θ1 needs to be 80 degrees or more and 180 degrees or less to satisfy the condition of 40 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less with respect to θ3 and θ4. It is. However, if the angle is close to 180 degrees, the first region 1a and the second region 1b are substantially flat, and if the angle is less than 90 degrees, the pressure on the abdomen is increased, so θ1 is 90 degrees or more. 170 degrees or less is preferable. Even more preferably, it is in the range of 120 degrees to 140 degrees. By setting the lower limit value of the valley angle θ1 to 120 degrees, the pressure on the abdomen can be sufficiently weakened. Also, the reason why the upper limit of the valley angle θ1 is 140 degrees is that if it is larger than this angle, it approaches a sleeping posture and it is difficult to take a relaxing posture.

  An inclination angle between the second region 1b and the third region 1c (an angle with a narrower inclination than 180 degrees, hereinafter referred to as a peak angle θ2) is, for example, 135 degrees. However, the peak angle θ2 is not limited to 135 degrees. Since there is a relationship of θ2 = θ4 + θ5 between θ2 and θ4 and θ5, θ2 needs to be 80 degrees or more and 180 degrees or less to satisfy the condition of 40 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less regarding θ4 and θ5. It is. However, if the angle is close to 180 degrees, the second region 1b and the third region 1c are substantially flat, and if the angle is less than 90 degrees, blood circulation deteriorates, so θ2 is 90 degrees or more and 170 degrees. The following is preferred. Even more preferably, it is in the range of 130 degrees to 160 degrees. By setting the lower limit value of the mountain angle θ2 to 130 degrees, good blood circulation can be ensured. The upper limit value of the peak angle θ2 is set to 160 degrees because if it is larger than this angle, it approaches a posture in which the knees are stretched and it is difficult to take a relaxing posture.

  The vibration surface 7 of the vibrator 6 provided at the back support position 2 and the vibration surface 7 of the vibrator 6 provided at the waist support position 3 are inclined by 73 degrees, for example, with respect to the vertical direction V. This angle is identified by the symbol θ3. The angle θ3 is an angle at which the lower half side of the vibration surface 7 at the back support position 2 and the waist support position 3 is lifted with respect to the vertical direction V (downward in FIG. 1). However, the angle θ3 is not limited to 73 degrees, and may be an inclination angle of 40 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less.

  Further, the vibration surface 7 of the vibrator 6 provided at the support position 4 is inclined, for example, 57 degrees with respect to the vertical direction V. This angle is identified by the symbol θ4. The angle θ4 is an angle at which the waist side of the vibration surface 7 at the support position 4 is lifted with respect to the vertical direction V (downward in FIG. 1). However, the angle θ4 is not limited to 57 degrees, and may be an inclination angle of 40 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less.

  Further, the vibration surface 7 of the vibrator 6 provided at the calf support position 5 is inclined with respect to the vertical direction V by, for example, 78 degrees. This angle is identified by the symbol θ5. The angle θ5 is an angle at which the toe side of the vibration surface 7 at the calf support position 5 is lifted with respect to the vertical direction V (downward in FIG. 1). However, the angle θ5 is not limited to 78 degrees, and may be an inclination angle of 40 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less.

  In the present embodiment, since the regions 1a to 1c have a planar shape, the inclination angles θ3 to θ5 of the vibration surface 7 are also the inclination angles of the regions 1a to 1c.

  The bed surface 1 of this massage bed may be fixed at the angle shown in FIG. 1, but the angle of the bed surface 1, particularly the second region 1 b, is taken into account for the convenience of the user to get on and off the bed surface 1. It is preferable that it can be changed. Therefore, the massage bed of the present embodiment includes a tilt mechanism 15 that raises an angle without changing the shape of the bed surface 1. FIG. 5 shows the tilt mechanism 15 and FIG. 6 shows a state in which the bed surface 1 is raised. The tilt mechanism 15, for example, swings the bed surface 1 with respect to a base 17 placed on the floor 16. The tilt mechanism 15 has a shaft 18 serving as a central axis of swinging, a pinion gear 19 provided on the shaft 18, and a pinion gear 19. The worm gear 20 rotates the worm gear 20 and the electric motor 21 rotates the worm gear 20. Brackets 23 are fixed to the left and right frames 22, and a shaft 18 is bridged and fixed between the brackets 23. Both ends of the shaft 18 are rotatably attached to support plates 24 provided on the left and right sides of the base 17. Therefore, when the electric motor 21 rotates the worm gear 20, the pinion gear 19 rotates and the shaft 18 rotates, and the entire bed surface 1 oscillates together with the frame 22. Therefore, by raising the bed surface 1 by the tilt mechanism 15, the second area 1b on which the user sits can be leveled and the user can easily get on and off the bed. The electric motor 21 operates by receiving power supplied from a power source (not shown), for example. The electric motor 21 is operated by a switch (not shown). The tilt mechanism 15 can raise the bed surface 1 to a position where the inclination of the second region 1b is, for example, 5 degrees (position in FIG. 6). That is, the tilt angle θ6 of the tilt mechanism 15 is, for example, 28 degrees. In the present embodiment, the angle can be changed as a whole without changing the shape of the bed surface 1, that is, without changing the mutual angles of the first to third regions 1a to 1c. Depending on the structure, the angle with respect to the horizontal plane of only a specific surface, for example, the second region 1b, may be varied as a structure in which the mutual angle of the first to third regions 1a to 1c can be changed.

  Next, the use of the massage bed will be described.

  Since the massage bed of the present embodiment has the bed tilt mechanism 15, when the user gets on and off the bed surface 1, the bed surface 1 is raised by the tilt mechanism 15 so as to be shown in a solid line in FIG. 6. It is convenient to keep it. In the state shown in FIG. 6, the user first sits on the second region 1b to stably support the body, then lifts the leg to twist the body and places it on the third region 1c. Can lie down on the first region 1a. Thereafter, by tilting the entire bed surface 1 by driving the tilt mechanism 15 so as to sink backward, the posture of FIG. 1 can be easily moved without giving anxiety. When the user gets off the bed surface 1, the tilt mechanism 15 is driven to raise the entire bed surface 1 to the posture shown in FIG. As a result, the second region 1b is kept substantially horizontal, and the first region 1a is also raised to raise the upper body, and the third region 1c is lowered to lower the lower part from the knee of the leg. Therefore, on the second area 1b that is kept almost horizontal, the hips and body are changed in direction, the legs are lowered on the floor 16, and the second area 1b is seated, and then the waist is raised and the person stands up. So you can get off the bed easily and safely. These modes of use are shown in FIG.

  During massage, a user lying on his / her back on the bed surface 1 has a buttocks at the bottom of the valley between the first region 1a and the second region 1b, and the back of the knee at the second region 1b and the third region 1c. It will be supported by the top of the mountain, and it will be a relaxed posture with the waist and knees slightly bent. This relaxed posture is a posture in which the weight of the user can be distributed almost evenly and transmitted to the bed surface 1 and is a very comfortable and relaxing posture. In addition, since the third region 1c places the user's lower knee portion higher than the heart, blood circulation is improved and swelling of the foot is eliminated. This is also a relaxing posture. Further, this relaxed posture is a slightly bent forward posture in which the waist is slightly bent and the abdomen is retracted, and is also a posture in which the abdomen is psychologically protected and easy to get off the bed (defense posture). For this reason, a sense of security can be obtained when lying down, and psychologically relaxed.

  In addition, a posture that is turned upside down while bending the waist and knees by about 90 degrees is sometimes referred to as a neutral posture, and this neutral posture is said to be a posture that can minimize the gravitational force when the rocket is launched. Similarly, in the massage bed of the present invention, when the user lies on his / her back, the posture of bending the waist and knees is obtained, so that the gravity applied to the body can be distributed almost evenly. On the other hand, in the relaxed posture according to the massage bed of the present invention, the angle between the user's waist and knee is greater than 90 degrees, and the posture is to relax the body, so it is excellent as a posture to relax on the bed.

  After the user lies down on the bed surface 1, when the vibrator 6 is vibrated at a frequency of 45 Hz or less, preferably 15 to 30 Hz, and most preferably 30 Hz, the vibration surface 7 of each region 1a to 1c is vibrated, The user can be massaged. Here, the stronger the user's weight is applied to the vibration surface 7, the better the vibration is transmitted to the body, so the efficiency of the massage is improved. In the relaxed posture, the weight of the user is distributed almost evenly, so that the weight can be satisfactorily applied to each vibration surface 7. For this reason, the efficiency of massage becomes good.

  In addition, since each vibration surface 7 is inclined in the range of 40 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less with respect to the vertical direction V, the weight of the user can be improved with respect to each vibration surface 7 without breaking a relaxed posture. Can be hung. That is, the weight of the user applied to the vibration surface 7 decreases as the inclination of the vibration surface 7 approaches 0 degrees, and conversely increases as it approaches 90 degrees. By setting the inclination (θ3 to θ5) of the vibration surface 7 with respect to the vertical direction V to 40 degrees or more, the weight of the user can be applied to the vibration surface 7 to the extent that at least a sufficient massage effect can be obtained. On the other hand, when the vibration surface 7 provided in the first region 1a is inclined more than 90 degrees with respect to the vertical direction V (θ3> 90), the inclination of the upper body of the user is reversed and the head is lower than the waist. Become. In such a posture, the user becomes anxious and cannot relax. Similarly, when the vibration surface 7 provided in the third region 1c is inclined by more than 90 degrees with respect to the vertical direction V (θ5> 90), the inclination of the user's lower knee is reversed, and the tip of the toe is higher than the knee. Becomes higher. In such a posture, the user becomes anxious and cannot relax. Since the third region 1c places the user's lower knee portion higher than the heart, the vibration surface 7 provided in the second region 1b is inclined more than 90 degrees with respect to the vertical direction V. There is no lower knee than the waist. In the present invention, since the inclination of each vibration surface 7 with respect to the vertical direction V is 90 degrees or less, the posture does not cause the user to feel uneasy and can be relaxed.

  In this way, the posture of the user lying on the bed surface 1 becomes a relaxed posture, and the weight of each vibration surface 7 can be satisfactorily applied, so that the massage efficiency is also improved. That is, it is possible to perform a good massage while relaxing the user.

  The above-described embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above description, tension is applied to the tension sheet 8 by incorporating the tension mechanism 27 in the frame 22 so that the width of the frame 22 itself can be adjusted. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to this. Absent. As shown in FIG. 10, a taper frame 22 ′ having a gradually narrowing width toward one end, for example, the foot side, is used, and the tubular tension sheet 8 is spread over the frame 22 ′ so as to apply tension. May be. In this case, the tension can be obtained with a simple structure in which the taper-shaped frame 22 'is covered with a tension sheet formed in a cylindrical shape from one side and pulled toward the opposite side having a wide width. In addition, the design can be changed by using a tapered frame, and the frame 22 'can be wrapped thickly by the tension sheet 8, so that a high-class feeling with a profound feeling can be provided. In the case of this frame structure, in order to prevent the displacement of the tension sheet 8, the end 8b of the tension sheet folded back at the widest upper end can be fixed using the back surface of the tension sheet 8 and the hook-and-loop fastener 8c. The tension sheet 8 is preferably provided so as not to fall off. Further, it is more preferable that both sides of the tension sheet 8 are fixed to the frame 22 ′ by using fasteners 28 on both sides of the frame 22 ′. Of course, the cross-sectional shape of the pipe may be either a corner or a circle, and the cross-sectional shape is not particularly limited.

  In the present embodiment, the tilt angle θ6 of the tilt mechanism 15 is, for example, 28 degrees, but the tilt angle θ6 is not limited to 28 degrees. It is also possible to fix the angle of the bed surface 1 by omitting the tilt mechanism 15.

  In the above description, the tilt mechanism 15 is electrically driven. However, a manual tilt mechanism using an operation handle and a gear train may be employed. For example, the spring may be biased in the direction in which the bed is raised, and when the user sleeps on the bed, the bed may fall against the biasing force of the spring by its weight. Alternatively, a fixing means for fixing the bed at a predetermined tilt angle may be provided.

  In the above description, the vibrator 6 is provided on each of the left and right positions 2 to 5, but the number of vibrators 6 is not limited to this. For example, two left and right vibrators 6 may be provided for each position 2 to 5. In this case, two vibrators 6 may be arranged in the vertical direction (longitudinal direction of the bed surface 1) as shown in FIG. 7A, and the two vibrators 6 are arranged in the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. You may arrange in (the left-right direction of the bed surface 1).

  Furthermore, in the above description, the massage is performed in the state of FIG. 1 and the tilt mechanism 15 is operated when the user gets on and off the bed surface 1, but the tilt of the bed surface 1 when performing massage is the tilt mechanism. 15 may be adjusted.

(Experience experiment of comfort and vibration strength)
1. Experimental purpose The combination of the frequency and intensity of the massage bed of the present embodiment shown in FIGS. This experiment was requested to Nagano Nursing University and approved by the Nagano Nursing University Ethics Committee (examination number: # 18).
2. experimental method
(1) Subjects After explaining the experimental methods to 5 healthy adult males and females with no obvious disease and gaining a sufficient understanding, they were conducted.
(2) Outline of Experiment The test subject was laid on the massage bed of the present embodiment, and vibrations of various conditions were given at intervals of 2 minutes for 20 seconds. During vibration, we evaluated how we felt about vibration using a self-assessment evaluation paper called Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
(3) Vibration conditions (combination of frequency and intensity)
The following conditions:
Experiment combination Frequency 15 30 60 90 115 Hz 5 patterns Vibration strength 2 4 6 8 10 5 patterns Note that the strength here refers to the digital display value of the controller that controls the vibration, and relative It is indicated by strength (2, 4, 6, 8, 10). The larger the value, the stronger the vibration generated by the machine.
In the case of the above combination of frequency and vibration strength, it is necessary to conduct 25 kinds of experiments in all combinations, but since there were 5 subjects in this experiment, 25 kinds of experiments were conducted alone. It was impossible to do. Therefore, in order to cancel the influence of the experiment order, the Latin square method was applied at random and 10 combinations were experienced by one person. Therefore, the experiment was performed 50 times by 5 people × 10 ways. Exactly, 25 combinations were performed twice.
(4) Evaluation item and evaluation method Both the strength and comfort of vibration were filled in with the VAS to describe how to feel during vibration stimulation. Regarding strength, “weak” was set to −50, “neither” was set to 0, and “strong” was set to +50. Regarding comfort, “very uncomfortable” was set to −50, “neither” was set to 0, and “very comfortable” was set to +50.
3. Experimental Results The experimental results were organized by frequency and the relevance with VAS was examined (shown in FIGS. 12 and 13). Comparing the respective average values, the “comfort” of vibration was most comfortable at 15 Hz and 30 Hz, and “comfort” tended to decrease as the frequency was higher. At 30 Hz, most subjects felt “comfortable”, but at 60 Hz, half of the people felt “comfortable” and half felt “uncomfortable”. In the “subjective strength”, the average value was the highest score at 30 Hz and 60 Hz. Here, the number of spheres in the experiment results shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 represents “number of experiments”, not “number of people”. In addition, the size of the sphere does not “specify the experienced person” but, as described above, specifies “vibration strength = digital display value of the controller”. For example, in FIGS. 12 and 13, the X-axis is taken as the frequency, so at the same frequency, there are two large spheres, two medium spheres, two small spheres, and two spheres of the same size. There will be 10 (a total of 10) (25 combinations are performed twice). There are parts on the graph where the spheres overlap and cannot be seen.
4. Consideration Within the combined range of frequency and intensity, there is little discomfort if the frequency is 30 Hz or less, but if it is 60 Hz or more, there is a high probability of being uncomfortable even if the intensity is weak. It was. In addition, at 30 Hz, the most comfortable ratio was obtained. That is, the average value of VAS at each frequency (VAS is a measure of subjective evaluation (uncomfortable-comfortable)) having the highest value, 30 Hz can be said to be a comfortable frequency.
The inventors of the present invention generally assumed that if the vibration intensity is weak, a person cannot say either “comfort” or feel comfortable. That is, at least, it was speculated that it would not feel uncomfortable that the vibration was weak. However, the experimental results show that some people feel uncomfortable even if the vibration intensity is weak, that is, even if the vibration is not strong. Furthermore, it has been found that at 60 Hz or more, the number of people who feel uncomfortable even in this “state where vibration is not strong” (people who make negative evaluations) tends to increase. However, this is a tendency and not an absolute one, and even at 60 Hz or higher, there were some people who could feel either when the vibration was weak or feel comfortable.

(Massage effect confirmation experiment)
1. Experimental purpose The effect of the massage device applied to the “vibrating massage bed” of this embodiment on the human mind and body was experimentally clarified. This experiment was to measure the physiological and psychological effects of the bed on the mind and body by changing the vibration conditions. In this experiment, a frequency of 30 Hz determined to be preferable from the viewpoint of comfort described above was used, and the intensity was increased step by step from 5 to 8 in increments of 2 minutes, resulting in a continuous stimulus of 8 minutes in total. The experiment time was about 1 hour at a time, and the experiment was performed twice with a date of 3 days or more.
2 Experimental method
(1) Subjects Ten healthy adult males and females (V01 to V10) with no obvious disease were performed in the same manner as the above-mentioned experience experiment of comfort and vibration intensity.
(2) Outline of the experimental method By comparing the two conditions of vibration stimulus “Yes” and “No”, we examined changes in physiological indices and subjective feelings before and after the stimulus.
(3) Experimental conditions
Condition 1: (Control condition) Rest (5 minutes) → Vibration stimulus (8 minutes) → Rest (20 minutes)
Condition 2: (Vibration condition) Rest (5 minutes) → Rest (8 minutes) → Rest (20 minutes)
Here, the control condition is a state in which the subject lies on the massage bed in the posture shown in FIG. 1 and is in a neutral posture in which the user's lower knee portion is placed higher than the heart (state indicated by the phantom line in FIG. 11). This is a condition where vibration is not added. On the other hand, the vibration condition is a condition in which a vibration having a combination of the above-described frequency and vibration intensity is applied in the above-described control condition.
(4) Measurement items
1) Changes in local tissue hemodynamics Muscle oxygen dynamics and hemodynamics were measured on the right lower gastrocnemius muscle and upper left trapezius muscle fibers using a near-infrared oxygen monitor. In addition, as an index, oxygenated hemoglobin (O ₂ Hb: indicates the amount of hemoglobin bound to oxygen), reduced hemoglobin (HHb: indicates the amount of hemoglobin released from oxygen), tissue oxygenation index (TOI: oxygen saturation in the tissue) The tissue hemoglobin index (THI: blood volume) was used.
2) Systemic changes were determined from the following parameters.
Central nervous system: EEG of frontal and occipital areas showing arousal level
Total power value
Spectral slope of frequency
Band power composition ratio (δ, θ, α, β bands)
Autonomic nervous system: LF / HF components of heart rate and heart rate variability (indicating sympathetic / parasympathetic activity)
(5) Consideration of physical and psychological risks to subjects
1) All measuring instruments used in this study were relatively non-invasive, and the restraint time was limited to about 2 hours including preparations.
2) Use a disposable electrode for the electrocardiogram, carefully pre-treat the electrode, carefully observe the wiping site, and if skin symptoms such as redness appear, just wipe off with tap water. did.
3) During the experiment, if you want to go to the toilet, you can stop and go to the toilet.
4) At the time of the experiment, two or more researchers were present and, as a general rule, the same person took care of the subjects directly.
5) During the experiment, stickers were used to restrict the entrance of others and the privacy of the subjects was protected using partitions.

3.Experimental results

(1) Muscle tissue oxygen dynamics and circulatory dynamics with near-infrared oxygen monitor Oxyhemoglobin (O ₂ Hb) in the right gastrocnemius muscle showed a prominent increase over time in the control condition, but further exceeded the control condition in the vibration condition There was an increase (FIG. 14). On the other hand, reduced hemoglobin (HHb) showed a slightly decreasing tendency under the control condition, but the decreasing tendency was weak under the vibration condition and was almost level with time (FIG. 15). When the temporal change of O ₂ Hb and HHb is expressed by “slope”, the slope from the end of vibration to the end of rest of O ₂ Hb is about 4.3 in the control, while about 2 in the vibration condition. It was as large as 6.2, which was a statistically significant difference (t = 2.501899, P = 0.0368, FIG. 16). For HHb, the slope from the end of vibration to the end of rest was about -0.29 for the control and about -0.28 for the vibration condition (Fig. 16).
The tissue oxygenation index (TOI) indicating the ratio of O ₂ Hb to HHb was maintained at about 70% in both conditions, and there was no significant difference between the two. Moreover, although both conditions showed a slightly increasing tendency with the passage of time, the amount of change was slight (FIG. 17A). The tissue hemoglobin index (nTHI), like O ² Hb, showed a greater increase in the vibration condition than in the control condition, but did not reach a significant difference (FIG. 17B).

(2) Heart rate variability The high-frequency component (HF) in the heart rate variability shows a tendency to increase with time in both conditions, and in `` rest 6 '' immediately before the end of the experiment, the control condition is about 150% at the start and the vibration condition is about The increase was 190%. Although there was no statistically significant difference between the two, the rate of increase was larger in the vibration condition as a whole (FIG. 18 (A)). In addition, the low frequency component (LF / HF) showed a large increase of about 160% in the “vibration 2” and “rest 1” under the control condition, but such a large increase was not observed under the vibration condition. (FIG. 18B).

(3) EEG The total power value and spectral gradient of EEG derived from the frontal region (Fz) and occipital region (Pz) both increased monotonically with time, but no significant difference was observed between the two conditions (FIG. 19). ). In addition, when the frequency is divided into 4 bands of δ, θ, α, and β and the respective composition ratios (%) are shown, the power in the α band decreases with time, and the power in the δ region tends to increase instead. It was. There was no significant difference between the two conditions (FIG. 20).

4.Consideration
(1) Changes in tissue circulatory dynamics The greatest knowledge obtained in this experiment is changes in circulatory dynamics in muscle tissue measured using a near-infrared oxygen monitor. Even under control conditions without vibration stimulation, the amount of oxygenated hemoglobin showed a significant increase over time and the amount of reduced hemoglobin slightly decreased even when sleeping on the massage bed of the present invention. In addition, total hemoglobin (oxygenated hemoglobin + reduced hemoglobin) and tissue hemoglobin index have also increased, so fresh arterial blood gradually increases and venous blood slightly decreases with the start of the experiment. It can be seen that the blood volume increases as a whole while the blood is changed. This is thought to be because the gastrocnemius muscle that had been contracted and maintained the standing position or sitting position relaxed when it lay on the bed at the start of the experiment, and the blood vessels in the muscle tissue dilated and arterial blood flowed in. be able to. Further, since the posture in which the lower limbs are raised to the height of the heart is maintained, venous return from the periphery of the lower limbs toward the heart is promoted, and it is assumed that blood circulation in the gastrocnemius muscle is further promoted.

In addition, when a vibration stimulus was applied, a marked increase in the amount of oxyhemoglobin was observed. This change was statistically significant compared to the control conditions, which strongly suggests that vibration stimulation is effective in promoting vasodilation in muscle tissue for some reason and injecting fresh arterial blood. The The reasons why vibration stimulation exerts such effects are the direct action on the blood vessels in the muscle tissue and the nerves that control the walls of the blood vessels, the effects through the autonomic nervous system due to relaxation, the increase in metabolism due to muscle contraction and the muscle There are several reasons such as the effect of the pump action. In this experiment, we also analyzed fluctuations in EEG and heart rate, and examined systemic effects via the central nervous system and autonomic nervous system. As a result, it was confirmed that the EEG does not show a significant effect due to vibration at the frequency and intensity used in the experiment, and that the autonomic nervous system is slightly suppressed by the vibration, but not so pronounced. . From these facts, vasodilatory action through suppression of the sympathetic nervous system is considered systemically, but it is not considered to be the main effect. Regarding muscle contraction, other previous research reports have elucidated the mechanism of muscle contraction due to tension vibration reflex. In this experiment, it was confirmed that the reduced hemoglobin does not decrease compared to the control under the vibration condition, and the possibility that new reduced hemoglobin is generated by muscle contraction cannot be denied, but the reduced hemoglobin increased. This is not a significant change as shown, so this is also not the main effect, but the contribution rate seems to be low.
From the above, it is considered that the promotion of intramuscular circulation by the vibration stimulation obtained this time is mainly the direct action of vibration stimulation on the blood vessels in the muscle tissue.

(2) Effects on EEG and heart rate variability The total power value and spectral gradient of EEG monotonically increased with time, and the power in the α band decreased with time, and the power in the δ region tended to increase instead. From these results, it was suggested that the arousal level gradually decreased under both conditions, and the sleep tendency became stronger. However, since there was no difference between the two conditions, this was mainly an effect lying on the bed, and the effect of vibration stimulation was not recognized under the present stimulation conditions.
Among the heart rate variability components, the high frequency component (HF), which is an index of parasympathetic nerves, increased with time, so by lying down on the bed again, the parasympathetic nervous system becomes dominant and relaxed and relaxed. Was confirmed. The effect of vibration stimulation was that HF increased from the control near the end of the experiment, but the effect was not so obvious. Since no clear arousal effect by vibration stimulation was observed on the electroencephalogram, the awakening effect by vibration is considered to be weak under the present stimulation conditions. Furthermore, the low frequency component (LF / HF), which is an index of the sympathetic nervous system, was somewhat suppressed under vibration conditions. However, this is not a big change, and when considered as a whole, the influence of the vibration stimulus on the autonomic nervous system can be considered as a weak inhibitory action on the sympathetic nervous system.

  In summary, it was shown that the 30 Hz vibration mainly works directly on the blood vessels in the muscle tissue to promote the circulation of the muscle tissue, and has a weak sympathetic nerve suppression effect. The promotion of muscle tissue circulation may be used to enhance performance as a warming-up by applying vibration before exercise, and may be applied to promote fatigue recovery if used after exercise . In addition, it promotes blood circulation in affected areas for those with stiff shoulders and low back pain, promotes recovery of the affected area, promotes blood circulation in the lower limbs of bedridden patients, and recovers fatigue after work on feet that are tired from standing work, etc. It seems that it can be applied. The effect of suppressing sympathetic nerve by vibration can be expected to be applied as one of daytime nap and relaxation methods by using it together with the effect of inducing sleep by lying on the bed and the effect of making the parasympathetic nerve significant. . In particular, it is possible to promote arousal or reverse sleep by effectively using a combination of stimulation frequency and stimulation intensity step by step as in this case. Application as a nap capsule can be considered.

It is a side view which shows the massage bed of this invention. It is a top view which shows the same massage bed. It is sectional drawing which shows the relationship between the cushion of the same massage bed, a tension sheet | seat, a diaphragm, and the sound-absorbing material arrange | positioned among these. It is the figure which looked at the diaphragm which shows a mode that the vibrator was attached to the tension sheet from the bottom. It is a front view which shows the tilt mechanism of the massage bed. It is a side view of the state which raised the massage bed. The other embodiment of the attachment of a vibrator is shown, (a) is a view of a diaphragm showing a state in which two vibrators are vertically arranged and attached, and (b) is a view of two vibrators laterally. It is the figure which looked at the diaphragm which shows a mode that it mounted in a line from the bottom. It is a top view of the massage bed, and shows a frame structure etc. by omitting illustration of a tension sheet. It is a top view of the tension sheet of the massage bed. It is a top view of the frame and tension sheet which show other embodiments which do not require the tension mechanism of the massage bed. It is explanatory drawing which shows the use condition of the massage bed, and shows the state at the time of getting on and off with a solid line, and the state at the time of massage with a virtual line, respectively. It is a graph which shows the experimental result which calculated | required the relationship between a vibration frequency and comfort in the experience experiment of comfort and vibration intensity. It is a graph which shows the experimental result which calculated | required the relationship between a vibration frequency and subjective strength in the bodily sensation experiment of comfort and vibration intensity. In a confirmation experiment of a massage effect, it is a graph which shows change of oxyhemoglobin with control conditions and vibration conditions. It is a graph which shows the change of the reduced hemoglobin of control conditions and vibration conditions in the confirmation experiment of a massage effect. In the confirmation experiment of a massage effect, it is a graph which shows the increase rate of the oxygenated hemoglobin and the decrease rate of a reduced hemoglobin with a control condition and a vibration condition. It is a graph which shows the change of the tissue oxygenation parameter | index and the tissue hemoglobin parameter | index in the control conditions and vibration conditions of a right gastrocnemius in the confirmation experiment of a massage effect. In the confirmation experiment of a massage effect, it is a graph which shows the HF component and LF / HF component NO change in the heart rate variability on control conditions and vibration conditions. It is a graph which shows the change of the power of an electroencephalogram and fluctuation gradient in the confirmation experiment of a massage effect. It is a graph which shows the change of the power value according to an electroencephalogram frequency band in the confirmation experiment of a massage effect.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bed surface 1a 1st area | region 1b 2nd area | region 1c 3rd area | region 2 Back support position 3 Waist support position 4 Thigh support position 5 Calf support position 6 Vibrator 7 Vibration surface 15 Tilt mechanism V Vertical direction

Claims (2)

  A massage device for applying vibration generated from a vibrator to a body, wherein a frequency given by the vibrator is in a range of 15 Hz to 45 Hz.   The massage device constitutes a chaise longue, and a bed surface in contact with the body supports a first region supporting the upper body of the user, a second region supporting the upper knee portion of the lower body and a lower knee portion of the lower body. 3, the first region and the second region are arranged in a valley shape, the second region and the third region are arranged in a mountain shape, and the third region In the region, the lower knee part of the user is positioned higher than the heart, and the back support position and the waist support position of the first region, the thigh support position of the second region, and the calf support position of the third region. The massage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vibrator is provided, and a vibration surface of the vibrator is inclined in a range of 40 degrees to 90 degrees with respect to a vertical direction.