JP4542022B2 - Knee-mounted supporter - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a knee-mounting supporter that is suitable for being worn by patients with knee osteoarthritis, and more specifically, for knee-mounting that has an effect of reducing knee pain by suppressing knee joint shaking and compensating for muscle weakness. Regarding supporters.

Osteoarthritis is mainly caused by degeneration and wear of articular cartilage, and its onset and progression are related to weakness, overuse, obesity, etc. of the quadriceps, and joints caused by damage to the ligaments of the knee joint. Symptoms progress further when the base is swaying.
The applicant has previously devised a knee-supporting supporter that can reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee by suppressing the mobility of the knee joint and simultaneously assisting the muscle strength around the weakened knee joint (see below) Patent Document 1). This supporter comprises an upper and lower fixing part, a first auxiliary member covering the front side of the patella, and substantially V-shaped second and third auxiliary members attached to the upper and lower fixing parts. The upper fixing part is wound around the upper part of the knee and fixed, and the lower fixing part is pulled down and the first auxiliary member is tensioned and wound around the lower part of the knee, and then the second and third auxiliary parts are fixed. The member is pulled to the side in order and attached to the upper or lower fixing part.

Japanese Patent No. 3721555

When the knee mounting supporter is mounted, the knee joint is restrained on the front side and its periphery by the second auxiliary member and the third auxiliary member that are under tension, and the patella is at the opening of the second and third auxiliary members. By being restrained, the knee joint is stabilized and the swaying property is suppressed, and the tension of the first to third auxiliary members assists the strength of the quadriceps muscles. Symptoms are reduced. However, this supporter has a slightly complicated structure and requires a slightly troublesome operation as described above. For this reason, there has been a demand for a simple knee mounting supporter that can be mounted more easily with a simpler structure.
In view of this point, the present invention can reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee joint by suppressing the mobility of the knee joint and at the same time assisting the muscular strength around the weakened knee joint. The purpose is to obtain a knee-supporting supporter that can be attached to the body.

  The knee-mounting supporter according to the present invention is disposed on the front side of the knee when the upper fixing portion that is wound around the upper portion of the knee, the lower fixing portion that is wound around the lower portion of the knee, and the upper fixing portion and the lower fixing portion are wound around predetermined positions. A front cover portion, and an opening for fitting a patella in the vicinity of the center, a lower end portion is fixed to the front cover portion, and left and right upper ends are detachable from the upper fixing portion. The opening of the restraining part has a latching part for hooking the patella along the lower edge part, and the upper fixing part, the lower fixing part, the front cover part and the restraining part are all stretchable. .

  Regarding the above knee-mounting supporter, (1) the upper fixing portion and the lower fixing portion are each composed of a pair of belt-like members, and each belt-like member is attached to the left and right of the front cover portion, and (2) the restraining portion. A first pad is attached along the lower edge portion of the opening of the first pad, and the upper edge portion of the first pad constitutes the hook portion; (3) the hook portion hooked to the rough surface of the tibia on the front cover portion; And the position of the latching portion is set at a position substantially the same as or below the position where the lower end portion of the restraining portion is fixed to the front cover portion, and (4) the upper edge of the front cover portion A second pad whose portion is located below the rough surface of the tibia is attached, and the upper edge of the second pad constitutes the hooking portion, (5) the lower back surface of the front cover portion is in close contact with the skin Desirable concrete forms such as being made of material are conceivableThe material that is in close contact with the skin means a material that has a higher coefficient of friction with the skin than the material of other parts of the supporter and is less slippery when in close contact with the skin.

The supporter for knee attachment according to the present invention can reduce the symptoms (pain) of knee osteoarthritis by suppressing the mobility of the knee joint and simultaneously assisting the muscle strength around the weakened knee joint. It is also easy to adjust the tension according to the symptoms. In addition, the structure is simplified, and when mounting, the upper and lower fixing parts are wound around the top and bottom of the knee and fixed, and then the upper and lower ends of the restraining part are lifted upwards and pulled right and left to attach to the upper fixing part. The installation procedure is simple.
Note that the knee-mounting supporter according to the present invention can be applied to applications other than knee osteoarthritis as long as it is necessary to suppress the mobility of the knee joint and assist the muscle strength around the knee joint.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1-5, the supporter for knee mounting which concerns on this invention is demonstrated concretely.
This knee-mounting supporter is attached to the front cover portion 1 that covers the front side of the knee up and down, the upper fixing portion 2 formed of a pair of belt-like members 2a and 2b attached to the upper left and right sides thereof, and the lower left and right sides thereof. It comprises a lower fixing part 3 comprising a pair of belt-like members 3a and 3b, and a substantially inverted triangular restraining part 5 having a lower end fixed to the front cover part 1 and an opening 4 formed substantially in the vicinity of the center. All attachment methods are performed by sewing.

The front cover portion 1, the upper fixing portion 2 (2a, 2b), the lower fixing portion 3 (3a, 3b), and the restraining portion 5 are all stretchable, and elastic tension is generated when pulled. .
The upper fixing part 2 is fixed by being wound around the upper part of the knee, and its back surface is made of a material that adheres to the skin such as a resin foam (for example, polyurethane resin foam) (see FIG. 2). The surface is made of a material to which a surface fastener, such as a pile fabric, is attached (see FIG. 1). When the upper fixing portion 1 is wound, the back surface thereof is in close contact with the skin and does not slide substantially on the skin, and therefore the upper fixing portion 2 is unlikely to be displaced after wearing. A hook-and-loop fastener 6 is attached to the back surface of the belt-like member 2a of the upper fixing portion 2, and when the upper fixing portion 2 is wound around the upper portion of the knee, the hook-and-loop fastener 6 is attached to the surface of the belt-like member 2b.

The lower fixing part 3 is fixed by wrapping around the lower part of the knee, and the back surface (only the belt-like member 3b side in this example) is made of a material that is in close contact with the skin, as with the upper fixing part 2 (see FIG. 2). The surface (only on the belt-like member 3b side) is made of a material to which a surface fastener such as a pile fabric is attached (see FIG. 1). When the lower fixing portion 3 is wound, the back surface thereof is in close contact with the skin and does not substantially slip with respect to the skin. Therefore, the lower fixing portion 3 is less likely to be displaced after being mounted. Further, a hook-and-loop fastener 7 is attached to the back surface of the belt-like member 3a of the lower fixing portion 3. When the lower fixing portion 3 is wound around the lower part of the knee, the hook-and-loop fastener 7 is attached to the surface of the belt-like member 3b.
The upper fixing portion 2 and the lower fixing portion 3 function as anchors that receive the tension of the front cover portion 1 and the restraining portion 5.

A pad (second pad) 8 having higher rigidity than the other parts of the front cover 1 is sewn to the lower portion of the front cover 1 at a position sandwiched between the belt-like members 3a and 3b of the lower fixing portion 3. It has been. The upper end of the pad 8 is curved in a concave shape as a whole. Further, the lower back surface of the front cover portion 1 follows the back surface of the belt-like member 3b of the lower fixing portion 3 and adheres to the skin such as a resin foam (for example, polyurethane resin foam) with substantially the same contour as the pad 8. It is made of a material (see FIG. 2), does not slip on the skin in close contact with the skin, and is less likely to be displaced when worn. The lower part of the front cover part 1 functions as an anchor that receives the tension of the restraint part 5.
The pad 8 has an upper edge portion 8a positioned just below the rough tibial surface, and when the restraint portion 5 is pulled upward to apply tension, the upper edge portion 8a is caught on the rough tibial surface, and the front cover portion 1 It has the effect of preventing displacement of the lower mounting position. That is, in this supporter, the upper edge portion 8a of the pad 8 functions as a hooking portion to the rough surface of the tibia.

The constraining part 5 has a substantially inverted triangular outline as a whole, and has an opening 4 into which the patella fits at a substantially central part thereof. The periphery of the opening 4 is sewn with a cloth folded and sewn, and is somewhat thick and rigid. It is high. A substantially crescent-shaped pad (first pad) 9 having higher rigidity than other portions of the restraining portion 5 is sewn along the lower edge portion of the opening 4. The upper edge portion 9a of the pad 9 is sewn into the lower edge portion of the opening 4, and the rigidity of this portion is increased accordingly. When tension is applied by pulling the restraint portion 5 upward, the upper edge portion 9a has an action of being caught by the patella and pulling it up. That is, in this supporter, the upper edge portion 9a of the pad 9 functions as a hook portion of the patella.
A lower end portion (curved in an arc shape) of the restraining portion 5 is fixed to the front cover portion 1. At the fixed portion, the upper edge portion 8a of the pad 8 is sewn into the cloth of the front cover portion 1, and the rigidity of this portion is increased accordingly. In this supporter, the position of the fixed portion and the upper edge portion 8a of the pad 8 are matched, but this is not essential for the upper edge portion 8a to function as a latching portion. You may set the position of the part 8a to the position below the said fixed location. The hook-and-loop fasteners 10 and 11 are attached to the upper left and right back surfaces of the restraint portion 5.

  In this supporter, the pad 8 is sewn to the front cover part 1 and the pad 9 is sewn to the restraint part 5 to constitute a latching part for catching the rough surface of the tibial bone and the patella. If the stop portion can be configured, the pads 8 and 9 are not essential. It suffices to form something that gets caught at a predetermined location on the front cover 1 (corresponding to the upper edge portion 8a of the pad 8) and a predetermined location on the restraint portion 5 (lower edge portion of the opening 4). For example, even if a seam is formed along the part, a cloth is folded and sewn, or another member (cloth or the like) is sewn, the rigidity of that part is increased and the part functions as a latching part. Can do.

The knee supporter is mounted as follows.
(1) As shown in FIG. 5, the knee is in a slightly bent position, the front cover 1 is positioned vertically on the front side of the patella, and the upper fixing portion 2 and the lower fixing portion 3 are located above and below the knee. Wrap with tension. At this time, the upper edge portion 8a of the pad 8 is positioned below the rough tibial surface.
(2) Hold the left and right upper ends of the restraint portion 5 and pull upward to attach the surface fasteners 10 and 11 to the left and right belt-like members 2 a and 2 b of the upper fixing portion 2. The amount of tension at this time, that is, the tension is adjusted as appropriate. As a result, the patella fits in the opening 4, and the upper edge portion 9 a of the pad 9 is supported under the patella, the upper edge portion 8 a of the pad 8 is supported under the rough surface of the tibia, and a force for pulling upward acts. In addition, at the same time that the upper left and right ends of the restraining portion 5 are pulled upward, it can be appropriately pulled left and right as necessary.

  When the knee-supporting supporter is mounted in this manner, the upper fixing portion 2 and the lower fixing portion 3 are made of a material whose back surface is in close contact with the skin, such as a polyurethane resin foam. (Does not slip on the wrapped skin) and is fixed in place. The lower back surface of the front cover portion 1 is also pressed against and closely contacts the skin by the tension applied by the lower fixing portion 3, and is not displaced from that position (does not slip on the skin) and is fixed at that position. When the position of the lower portion of the front cover portion 1 is fixed, this functions as an anchor that receives the tension of the restraining portion 5, and the additional force due to the pulling of the restraining portion 5 can act more effectively.

  Specifically, the patella is hooked around the opening 4 and restrained, and from below, it is hooked by the upper edge portion 9a of the pad 9 (the lower edge portion of the opening 4). 5 is pulled upward, and in effect forms a shape that supports the strength of the quadriceps, the knee joint is stabilized and the swaying property is suppressed. By pulling the left and right upper ends of the restraint portion 5 upward, the tension indicated by the arrow a in FIG. 5 acts and pulls to the right and left as appropriate (adjustment such as pulling one side strongly and loosely pulling the other side depending on the symptom). Thus, the tension in the direction of the arrow b and / or the arrow c acts.

  And since the whole patella is pulled up upwards, when the knee bends and stretches, this acts in the direction in which the knee is stretched, and assists the muscle strength of the quadriceps. Specifically, the tension of the arrow a assists the rectus femoris, the tension of the arrow b assists the inner vastus muscle, and the tension of the arrow c assists the outer vastus muscle. It is calculated that the force of the quadriceps is transmitted to the tibia through the patella with an increase of about 30% compared to the case without the patella. Since this supporter has a structure in which the patella is directly supported and pulled upward, the tension of the restraint portion 5 is effectively transmitted to the tibia and can efficiently assist the quadriceps muscle.

  At the same time, in this supporter, the lower back surface of the front cover portion 1 is in close contact with the skin near the tibial rough surface, and the upper edge portion 8b of the pad 8 is hooked on the rough tibial surface. It is fixed without shifting to the mounting position, and the initially set tension of the restraining portion 5 is stably applied to the tibia via the patella during mounting.

In the above example, the upper portion of the front cover portion 1 (between the belt-like members 2a and 2b of the upper fixing portion 2) is not attached with a cloth of a material that is in close contact with the skin on the back surface, and the belt shape of the lower fixing portion 3 The member 3a is not attached with a cloth of the same material on the back surface thereof, and is not attached with a cloth of a material with a surface fastener attached to the front (front) surface thereof. Therefore, in these parts, the stretchability of the cloth is better, and as a result, the attached supporter can follow the movement of the knee joint well. On the other hand, a cloth made of a material that is in close contact with the skin may be attached to the back surface of the belt-like member 3a of the lower fixing portion 3. In this case, the fixing function of the lower fixing portion 3 can be further enhanced. Further, instead of attaching a cloth of a material that is in close contact with the skin to the back surface of the belt-like member 3b of the lower fixing portion 3, it can be attached to the back surface of the belt-like member 3a.
In the above example, the knee supporter is mounted on the left knee, but the same can be mounted on the right knee.

It is a top view (surface) of the supporter for knee mounting concerning the present invention. It is the bottom view (back surface). It is a top view which shows the part (state except a restraint part). It is a top view which shows the part (only restraint part). It is the front view (a) and side view (b) after mounting.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Front cover part 2 (2a, 2b) Upper fixing part 3 (3a, 3b) Lower fixing part 4 Opening 5 Restraint part 6, 7, 10, 11 Surface fastener
8 Pad (2nd pad)
9 Pad (first pad)

Claims (6)

An upper fixing part wound around the upper part of the knee, a lower fixing part wound around the lower part of the knee, a front cover part arranged on the front side of the knee when the upper fixing part and the lower fixing part are wound around a predetermined position, An opening into which the patella fits is formed, a lower end portion is fixed to the front cover portion, and left and right upper ends are made to be detachable with respect to the upper fixing portion, respectively. A knee-mounting supporter having a hooking portion to be hooked along a lower edge portion, and the upper fixing portion, the lower fixing portion, the front cover portion and the restraining portion are all stretchable. 2. The knee mounting supporter according to claim 1, wherein each of the upper fixing portion and the lower fixing portion includes a pair of belt-like members, and each belt-like member is attached to the left and right of the front cover portion. . The knee according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a first pad is attached along a lower edge portion of the opening of the restraining portion, and an upper edge portion of the first pad constitutes the hooking portion. Supporter for wearing. The front cover part is formed with a latching part that is hooked on the rough tibial surface, and the position of the latching part is set to a position substantially the same as or below the fixed position of the lower end part of the restraint part. The supporter for knee mounting | wearing as described in any one of Claims 1-3. The said front cover part is attached to the 2nd pad which an upper edge part is located under a tibial rough surface, and the upper edge part of this 2nd pad comprises the said latching part. The described knee supporter. The lower back surface of the said front cover part consists of a material closely_contact | adhered to skin, The supporter for knee mounting | wearing described in any one of Claims 1-5 characterized by the above-mentioned.

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