KR20230109964A - System and method for joint movement rehabilitation using transcutaneous interferential-current nerve inhibition - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device and a method for joint exercise and rehabilitation treatment. According to the present invention, for example, in electrical therapy devices and methods such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and interferential current therapy (ICT), to solve the problems of the prior art TENS and ICT, which had limitations such as pain occurring during muscle stretching due to the sensory nerves being inhibited but the motor nerves not being inhibited, and the effectiveness of muscle stretching being reduced due to the stretch reflex, provided are a system and a method for joint exercise rehabilitation using electrical nerve conduction inhibition, which is configured to reduce pain during muscle stretching by inhibiting sensory nerves, while maximizing the effect of muscle stretching by inhibiting stretch reflexes and reducing muscle tension by inhibiting motor nerves by combining transcutaneous interferential-current nerve inhibition (TINI) technology with joint rehabilitation exercise equipment (continuous passive motion (CPM)) and configuring it to inhibit both sensory and motor nerves.

Description

Joint movement rehabilitation system and method using electrical nerve conduction inhibition {System and method for joint movement rehabilitation using transcutaneous interferential-current nerve inhibition}

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for joint exercise and rehabilitation treatment, and more particularly, in the treatment of spasticity that causes movement disorders due to increased muscle tone due to muscle shortening caused by pain and muscle weakness caused by surgery or injury and excessive stretch reflex during static posture or dynamic action, in the case of invasive treatments such as surgery, injection, and procedure, the spasticity relieving effect is high, but the risk due to side effects is high, and drug treatment In order to solve the problems of the prior art rehabilitation treatment methods, which have a wide range of nerve conduction reduction effects and cause general incapacity, and non-surgical approaches such as physical therapy or braces have the disadvantages that the effect is not immediate and requires a long treatment period, non-surgical and immediate suppression of motor and sensory nerve transmission (Transcutaneous Interferential-current Nerve Inhibition; TINI) technology and joint rehabilitation exercise device (Continuous Passive Motion; CPM) are combined, It is configured to reduce pain during muscle stretching through sensory nerve inhibition and to maximize the stretching effect by reducing muscle tone through motor nerve inhibition, thereby enabling effective rehabilitation treatment in a non-surgical manner through electrical stimulation. It relates to a joint movement rehabilitation system and method using electrical nerve conduction inhibition.

In addition, the present invention is conventional, for example, in the electrical therapy device and method configured to perform rehabilitation treatment in a non-surgical manner by attaching electrodes to body parts such as joints and suppressing sensory nerves or stimulating and contracting muscle fibers by electrical stimulation such as a specific frequency or current, such as Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Interferential Current Therapy (ICT), in which sensory nerves are suppressed but exercise In order to solve the problems of the TENS and ICT technologies of the prior art, which had limitations in that pain occurs during muscle stretching because the nerve is not suppressed and the effect of muscle stretching is reduced due to the stretch reflex, the electrical nerve conduction inhibition (TINI) technology and the joint rehabilitation exercise device (CPM) are combined to suppress both sensory nerves and motor nerves, thereby reducing pain during muscle stretching through sensory nerve suppression, while suppressing stretch reflex through motor nerve suppression and reducing muscle tone. Existing electrotherapy devices and methods It relates to a joint motion rehabilitation system and method using electrical nerve conduction inhibition configured to further increase the muscle stretching effect compared to the above.

In general, muscle shortening (muscle shortening) commonly occurs in normal people as well as musculoskeletal patients due to pain and muscle weakness due to surgery or injury, and thus shortened muscles cause pain and reduce exercise capacity.

In addition, spasticity is a movement disorder in which muscle tone is increased due to excessive stretch reflexes during static posture or dynamic action.

Here, for the treatment of such muscle shortening or spasticity, various treatment methods such as surgery, botulinum (Botox), drug treatment, physical therapy, and orthotics have been proposed. However, in the case of invasive treatment such as surgery, injection, or procedure, the effect of relieving spasticity is obvious, but the risk of side effects is high, and in particular, there is a problem accompanied by deterioration of motor function due to continuous muscle weakness.

In addition, drug treatment has a side effect of general incapacity due to a wide range of nerve conduction reduction effects, and non-surgical approaches such as physical therapy or assistive devices have a disadvantage that the effect is not immediate and requires a long treatment period.

Moreover, modern people often have shortened calf muscles for various reasons, which leads to knee pain as well as hip joint and back pain. Therefore, recently, in order to solve the problems of the existing rehabilitation treatment method as described above, an electrical therapy apparatus and method configured to perform rehabilitation treatment in a non-surgical manner by attaching electrodes to body parts such as joints and suppressing sensory nerves or stimulating and contracting muscle fibers by electrical stimulation such as a specific frequency or current have been proposed and widely used.

Here, as an example of the prior art for an electrical treatment device and method for enabling rehabilitation treatment in a non-surgical manner using electrical stimulation as described above, first, for example, there is a "bone conduction device having a TENS treatment function" as suggested in Korean Patent Registration No. 10-2194266.

More specifically, the above Korean Patent Registration No. 10-2194266 discloses a decoding unit for decoding audio data; a digital-to-analog converter that converts the decoded audio data into an analog signal and outputs an analog audio signal; a bone conduction unit converting an analog audio signal into a bone conduction signal and outputting the converted bone conduction signal; a metal electrode installed on the outside of the housing accommodating the bone conduction unit to come into contact with a user's skin; a frequency generator generating a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) signal; and a TENS signal amplifying unit for amplifying the TENS signal and applying the TENS signal to the metal electrode. The present invention relates to a bone conduction device having a TENS treatment function configured to provide a combination of music appreciation or music therapy and TENS treatment in daily life by installing a metal electrode on the outside of a housing accommodating a bone conduction unit and applying a TENS signal to the metal electrode.

In addition, as described above, another example of the prior art for an electrical treatment apparatus and method for enabling rehabilitation treatment in a non-surgical manner using electrical stimulation is, for example, Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1169007. There is a "low-frequency treatment device using interference wave current" as presented.

More specifically, Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1169007 discloses a micro control unit (MCU) for generating a control signal for adjusting the strength, amplification and phase of an interference wave frequency for each channel for one or more channels; FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) outputting a digital signal for generating an interference wave frequency for each channel according to the control signal of the MCU; A D/A (Digital/Analog) conversion unit that receives a digital signal generated from an FPGA and converts and outputs a low-frequency analog signal; a signal control unit that receives an analog signal from the D/A conversion unit and increases or decreases the frequency of the signal; an amplifying unit receiving an analog signal from the signal conditioning unit and amplifying the signal; a frequency output unit for amplifying and outputting the low-frequency analog signal generated by the amplification unit according to the level control signal; Including a conductor that is in contact with the human body and transmits a low-frequency analog signal of a frequency output unit to the human body, by using an interfering current, the penetration rate of the deep part can be increased to increase the treatment effect, and a signal control unit is provided to gently control the interfering current.

As described above, various electrotherapy devices and methods have been proposed to enable rehabilitation treatment in a non-surgical manner using electrical stimulation, but the contents of the prior art as described above have the following limitations.

More specifically, if the patient continues to perform muscle stretching, it is expected that it will help in motor ability and functional recovery, enabling smooth daily life.

However, the prior art transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and interference wave therapy (ICT) methods as described above use low frequencies or interference waves to inhibit sensory nerves and stimulate muscle fibers to contract. Generally, when both TENS and ICT are used, sensory nerves are suppressed, but motor nerves are not suppressed.

That is, in the prior art electrical therapy devices and methods such as the TENS and ICT described above, sensory nerves are suppressed but motor nerves are not, so pain and a stretch reflex occur during stretching, which makes it difficult for the patient to perform voluntarily, and increases muscle tone, resulting in a problem in that the effect of muscle stretching is also reduced.

Therefore, in order to solve the limitations of the prior art electrical therapy devices and methods such as TENS and ICT as described above, it is desirable to propose a non-surgical rehabilitation treatment device and method using electrical stimulation of a new configuration that can reduce pain during muscle stretching through sensory nerve suppression and at the same time reduce muscle tone through motor nerve suppression to maximize the stretching effect.

Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 10-2194266 (2020.12.22.) Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 10-1169007 (2012.07.30.)

The present invention is intended to solve the problems of the prior art as described above. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to treat spasticity that causes movement disorders due to increased muscle tone due to muscle shortening caused by pain and muscle weakness caused by surgery or injury and excessive stretch reflex during static posture or dynamic behavior. In order to solve the problems of the prior art rehabilitation treatment methods, which have a wide range of nerve conduction reduction effects, resulting in general incapacity, and non-surgical approaches such as physical therapy or braces have the disadvantage of requiring a long treatment period and the effect is not immediate, Combination of Transcutaneous Interferential-current Nerve Inhibition (TINI) technology and Joint Rehabilitation Exercise Equipment (Continuous Passive Motion; CPM) Therefore, it is configured to reduce pain during muscle stretching through sensory nerve suppression and maximize the stretching effect by reducing muscle tone through motor nerve suppression, thereby enabling effective rehabilitation treatment in a non-surgical manner through electrical stimulation. It is intended to propose a joint motion rehabilitation system and method using electrical nerve conduction suppression.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to attach electrodes to body parts such as joints and suppress sensory nerves or stimulate and contract muscle fibers by electrical stimulation such as a specific frequency or current, conventionally, for example, such as Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Interferential Current Therapy (ICT). In order to solve the problems of the TENS and ICT technologies of the prior art, which had limitations in that pain occurs during muscle stretching but the effect of muscle stretching is reduced due to the inhibition of the motor nerve, and the effect of muscle stretching is reduced due to the suppression of the motor nerve, it is configured to suppress both sensory nerves and motor nerves by combining the electrical nerve conduction inhibition (TINI) technology and the joint rehabilitation exercise device (CPM), thereby reducing pain during muscle stretching through sensory nerve suppression, while suppressing the stretch reflex through motor nerve suppression and reducing muscle tone. It is intended to suggest a joint motion rehabilitation system and method using electrical nerve conduction inhibition that is configured to further increase the muscle stretching effect compared to methods and methods.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in the joint motion rehabilitation system using Transcutaneous Interferential-current Nerve Inhibition (TINI), a main body forming a space for performing rehabilitation treatment; a motion application unit installed in the main body to apply a predetermined rehabilitation exercise to a specific body part of the user; And there is provided a joint motion rehabilitation system using electrical nerve conduction inhibition, characterized in that configured to include an electrical stimulation applying unit installed on one side or outside of the main body in order to apply a predetermined electrical stimulation to a specific body part of the user.

Here, the rehabilitation system includes an output unit installed on one side or outside of the main body to display the process and treatment result of the rehabilitation treatment progressed through the exercise application unit and the electrical stimulation application unit; and a control unit configured to perform processing for controlling the overall operation of the rehabilitation system.

In addition, the main body is characterized in that it is configured to be formed in the form of a chair on which the user can sit or a bed on which the user can lie down.

In addition, the motion applying unit is characterized in that it is configured using a joint rehabilitation exercise (Continuous Passive Motion; CPM) device made to apply a predetermined rehabilitation exercise including stretching to the user's joint.

Furthermore, the electrical stimulation applying unit is characterized in that it is configured using a TINI device configured to suppress both sensory nerves and motor nerves by applying electrical stimulation through an interferential-current around the user's joints, including a plurality of electrodes attached to the user's body and a frequency generator configured to generate a signal of a predetermined specific frequency.

Here, the electrical stimulation applying unit is characterized in that it is configured to suppress both sensory nerves and motor nerves by applying a stimulus by forming an interference wave with a 2-channel (+, -) signal around the user's joint using an available frequency of 1 kHz to 3 kHz and a carrier wave of 20 kHz to 30 kHz.

In addition, the electrical stimulation applying unit is characterized in that it is configured to further include an ultrasound scanner for checking the user's nerve position to determine the attachment position of the electrode.

In addition, the rehabilitation system checks the location of the tibal nerve in the user's joint using the ultrasound scanner, attaches a plurality of electrical stimulation pads centered on the location where the nerve passes, and when the user is positioned on the main body to hold a posture and finishes preparation, electrical stimulation is applied to the user at an optimal frequency and intensity through the electrical stimulation applicator based on preset data, and then a predetermined exercise is applied through the exercise applier, and data about a point at which the user's range of motion is maximized is stored and corresponding It is set as the user's motion value, and the rehabilitation exercise is periodically repeated according to a predetermined setting based on the set motion value and the process of accumulating and recording the result is configured to be performed. By confirming the position of the nerve through the electrical stimulation applying unit and applying the interfering wave stimulation before performing the joint exercise and rehabilitation treatment through the motion applying unit, both sensory nerves and motor nerves in the corresponding area are suppressed, thereby reducing pain and muscle tension during exercise and rehabilitation treatment, and both sensory and motor nerves are suppressed to reduce pain and muscle tone , Compared to the case of using only the CPM device alone or the existing Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Interferential Current Therapy (ICT) methods, it is characterized by being configured to further increase the effect of exercise and rehabilitation treatment.

Furthermore, the output unit is characterized in that it is configured to include a display means including a display for displaying the process and treatment results of the rehabilitation treatment progressed through the exercise application unit and the electrical stimulation application unit.

Here, the output unit is characterized in that it is configured to further include a sound output means including a speaker, so that a process for conveying the overall operation of the rehabilitation system through visual and auditory signals is performed.

In addition, according to the present invention, in the joint motion rehabilitation method configured to perform joint motion and rehabilitation treatment using the joint motion rehabilitation system using electrical nerve conduction inhibition described above, using an ultrasound scanner of the joint motion rehabilitation system, confirming the location of the tibal nerve at the user's joint and attaching a plurality of electrical stimulation pads around the location where the nerve passes; Applying electrical stimulation at an optimal frequency and intensity to the user based on data previously set through an electrical stimulation application unit of the joint motion rehabilitation system when the user is positioned on the main body of the joint motion rehabilitation system, takes a posture, and prepares; Applying a predetermined exercise through the motion applying unit of the joint motion rehabilitation system, and setting and storing data for a point at which a range of motion is maximized as a motion value of the corresponding user is performed; and periodically repeating the rehabilitation exercise according to a predetermined setting based on the set exercise value and cumulatively recording the result.

As described above, according to the present invention, by combining the electrical nerve conduction inhibition (TINI) technology and the joint rehabilitation exercise device (CPM) that non-surgically and immediately suppress movement and sensory nerve transmission, pain during muscle stretching is reduced through sensory nerve suppression, and at the same time, the joint movement rehabilitation system and method using electrical nerve conduction suppression are provided, which are configured to further increase the muscle stretching effect compared to conventional electrical treatment devices and methods by suppressing the stretch reflex and reducing muscle tone through motor nerve suppression, joints, etc. In the prior art electrical therapy apparatus and method configured to perform rehabilitation treatment in a non-surgical manner by attaching electrodes to body parts and suppressing sensory nerves by electrical stimulation such as a specific frequency or current or stimulating and contracting muscle fibers, the sensory nerves are suppressed, but the motor nerves are not suppressed, so pain occurs during muscle stretching and the effect of muscle stretching is reduced due to the stretch reflex.

In addition, according to the present invention, as described above, a joint motor rehabilitation system and method using electrical nerve conduction inhibition are provided, which are configured to maximize the stretching effect by reducing pain during muscle stretching through sensory nerve suppression and reducing muscle tone through motor nerve suppression by combining the electrical nerve conduction inhibition (TINI) technology and the joint rehabilitation exercise device (CPM) that suppress motor and sensory nerve transmission non-surgically and immediately, as described above, thereby reducing muscle shortening and static caused by pain and muscle weakness due to surgery or injury. In the treatment of spasticity that causes movement disorders due to increased muscle tone due to excessive stretch reflexes during posture or dynamic action, invasive treatments such as surgery, injection, and procedure have a high spasticity relief effect, but have a high risk of side effects, and drug treatment has a wide range of nerve conduction reduction effects, resulting in generalized incapacity, and non-surgical approaches such as physical therapy or orthoses can solve the problems of prior art rehabilitation treatment methods that have the disadvantages of not being immediate and requiring a long treatment period.

1 is a diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of a joint motion rehabilitation system using electrical nerve conduction inhibition according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a conceptual diagram showing characteristics and differences of existing TENS and ICT technologies and TINI applied to the present invention, respectively.
3 is a table showing the characteristics and differences of existing TENS and ICT technologies and TINI applied to the present invention, respectively.
FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing an example of an actual configuration of a joint motion rehabilitation system using electrical nerve conduction inhibition according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 .
5 is a view showing a case in which a total of four electrical stimulation pads are attached, two on each side of the user's back knee, where a nerve passes.
6 is a diagram schematically showing how joint motion and rehabilitation treatment is performed using the joint motion rehabilitation system using electrical nerve conduction inhibition according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a view showing the results of performing joint motion and rehabilitation treatment using the joint motion rehabilitation system using electrical nerve conduction inhibition according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a graph showing the results of joint motion and rehabilitation treatment using the joint motion rehabilitation system using electrical nerve conduction inhibition according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of a joint motion rehabilitation system and method using electrical nerve conduction inhibition according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Here, it should be noted that the contents described below are only one embodiment for carrying out the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the contents of the embodiments described below.

In addition, in the following description of the embodiments of the present invention, for parts that are identical or similar to the contents of the prior art or are determined to be easily understood and implemented at the level of those skilled in the art, the detailed description is omitted for simplicity. It should be noted that.

That is, the present invention, as will be described later, in the treatment of muscle shortening caused by pain and muscle weakness caused by surgery or injury and spasticity that causes movement disorders due to increased muscle tone due to excessive stretch reflex during static posture or dynamic behavior, in the case of invasive treatments such as surgery, injection, and procedure, the spasticity relief effect is high, but the risk of side effects is high, and drug treatment has a wide range of nerve conduction reducing effects In order to solve the problems of the prior art rehabilitation treatment methods, which have the disadvantage of requiring a long treatment period and non-surgical approaches such as physical therapy or braces, the effect is not immediate and requires a long treatment period, non-surgical and immediate suppression of motor and sensory nerve transmission (Transcutaneous Interferential-current Nerve Inhibition; TINI) technology and joint rehabilitation exercise device (Continuous Passive Motion; CPM) are combined to reduce pain during muscle stretching through sensory nerve suppression. It relates to a joint motion rehabilitation system and method using electrical nerve conduction inhibition, which is configured to maximize the stretching effect by reducing muscle tone through motor nerve inhibition, thereby enabling effective rehabilitation treatment in a non-surgical manner through electrical stimulation.

In addition, the present invention, as will be described later, conventionally, for example, for example, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Interferential Current Therapy (ICT), electrodes are attached to body parts such as joints, and electrical stimulation such as a specific frequency or current is used to suppress sensory nerves or stimulate muscle fibers to contract, thereby enabling rehabilitation treatment in a non-surgical manner. In order to solve the problems of the prior art TENS and ICT technologies, which have limitations in that pain occurs during muscle stretching because sensory nerves are inhibited but motor nerves are not inhibited, and the effect of muscle stretching is reduced due to the stretch reflex, it is configured to suppress both sensory nerves and motor nerves by combining electrical nerve conduction inhibition (TINI) technology and joint rehabilitation exercise device (CPM), thereby reducing pain during muscle stretching through sensory nerve suppression, while suppressing stretch reflex through motor nerve suppression and reducing muscle tone. It relates to a joint motion rehabilitation system and method using electrical nerve conduction inhibition configured to further increase muscle stretching effects compared to electrical therapy devices and methods.

Subsequently, with reference to the drawings, details of a joint motion rehabilitation system and method using electrical nerve conduction inhibition according to the present invention will be described.

In more detail, first, referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of a joint motion rehabilitation system 10 using electrical nerve conduction inhibition according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the joint motion rehabilitation system 10 using electrical nerve conduction inhibition according to an embodiment of the present invention is broadly divided into a main body 11 for forming a space for performing rehabilitation treatment for a user, a motion applying unit 12 installed in the main body 11 to apply a predetermined rehabilitation exercise to a specific body part of the user, and electrical stimulation installed on one side or outside of the main body 11 to apply a predetermined electrical stimulus to a specific body part such as a user's joint. It may include an output unit 14 installed on one side or outside of the main body 11 to display the process of rehabilitation treatment progressed through the application unit 13, the exercise application unit 12, and the electrical stimulation application unit 13 and the treatment result, and a control unit 15 configured to perform processing for controlling each unit and the overall operation of the rehabilitation system 10 described above.

Here, the main body 11 may be configured to be formed, for example, in the form of a chair on which the user can sit or a bed on which the user can lie down.

In addition, the motion applying unit 12 may be configured using a continuous passive motion (CPM) device configured to apply a predetermined rehabilitation exercise such as stretching to a user's joint, such as, for example, an ankle.

In addition, the electrical stimulation applying unit 13 may include a plurality of electrodes attached to the user's body and a frequency generator configured to generate a signal of a predetermined specific frequency, and may be configured as a Transcutaneous Interferential-current Nerve Inhibition (TINI) device that suppresses sensory nerves and motor nerves by applying electrical stimulation through interferential-current around the user's joints.

Here, the electrical stimulation applying unit 13 may further include an ultrasound scanner for checking the user's nerve position in order to determine the attachment position of the electrode.

Furthermore, the above-described output unit 14 includes display means such as a display for displaying the process and treatment results of rehabilitation treatment progressed through the exercise application unit 12 and the electrical stimulation application unit 13, and output means such as a speaker, so that the overall operation of the rehabilitation system 10 is transmitted through visual and auditory signals.

Therefore, from the configuration as described above, the user can be located on the main body 11 and perform joint exercise and rehabilitation treatment through the CPM device of the exercise applying unit 12. In this case, by applying the interfering wave stimulation through the TINI device of the electrical stimulation applying unit 13 before exercise or treatment, both sensory nerves and motor nerves in the corresponding area can be suppressed to reduce pain and muscle tone, thereby maximizing the effect of exercise and rehabilitation treatment.

More specifically, conventionally, it has been known that the maximum frequency that physiologically induces an action potential in a nerve is about 600 Hz, and it has been proposed that electrical stimulation with a higher frequency than this can suppress a nerve by forming a barrier at a stimulation site in a nerve to hinder nerve conduction. Therefore, TINI applied to the present invention is a technology that uses two-channel electrodes to suppress nerves through interference waves formed by electrical stimulation of different frequencies emitted from each channel.

That is, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the characteristics and differences of the existing TENS and ICT technologies and TINI applied to the present invention, respectively, and FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, conventional TENS and ICT suppress sensory nerves but not motor nerves, whereas TINI uses an available frequency of 1 kHz to 3 kHz and a carrier wave of 20 kHz to 30 kHz. By forming an interference wave around the stimulation site and applying the stimulus, both sensory nerves and motor nerves can be suppressed.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, TINI uses a relatively high carrier frequency (20 kHz to 30 kHz), so it has high skin permeability, so pain and discomfort are reduced and stimulation can be transmitted to the depths, so it is effective in suppressing the deep nerve.

Since this minimizes the effect of subcutaneous fat and generates a stronger neuroinhibitory effect, it is very effective in stretching muscles by inhibiting both sensory nerves and motor nerves.

In addition, when exercise is performed using CPM alone, pain and stretch reflexes occur and the muscle stretching effect is reduced. However, as described above, pain and stretch reflexes are suppressed during muscle stretching through the convergence rehabilitation system combining TINI and CPM. Since exercise can be performed while reducing muscle tone, the muscle stretching effect can be further increased compared to the existing TENS and ICT methods, and these effects are expected to be the same for musculoskeletal diseases as well as neurological diseases.

Continuously, the actual implementation of the joint motion rehabilitation system 10 using electrical nerve conduction suppression according to an embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, and the treatment effect verified through experiments will be described.

First, referring to FIG. 4, FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the actual configuration of the joint motion rehabilitation system 10 using electrical nerve conduction inhibition according to an embodiment of the present invention configured as described above.

Here, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the case where the joint motion rehabilitation system 10 using electrical nerve conduction inhibition according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured so that a user is seated and performs rehabilitation exercises and treatment for the ankle, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to such a configuration, that is, it should be noted that the present invention can be configured by modifying and changing variously as needed by those skilled in the art in addition to the configurations shown in the embodiments of the present invention without departing from the spirit and essence of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, the present inventors actually implemented the joint motion rehabilitation system 10 to verify the performance of the joint motion rehabilitation system 10 using electrical nerve conduction suppression according to an embodiment of the present invention configured as described above. An experiment was conducted to verify the effect of rehabilitation treatment.

At this time, the above experiment experienced a traffic accident more than 10 years ago and received various rehabilitation treatments, but the effect was insignificant. The effect of tibial nerve suppression through TINI and ankle mobility exercise through CPM on improving the range of motion was evaluated for women in their twenties with shortened calf muscles showing pain and equinefoot walking in addition to muscle shortening.

More specifically, in the joint motion rehabilitation method using the joint motion rehabilitation system 10 using electrical nerve conduction inhibition according to an embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, first, the location of the tibal nerve at the user's joint is confirmed using an ultrasound scanner, and a total of four electrical stimulation pads are attached, for example, two on each side, around the location where the nerve passes.

That is, referring to FIG. 5 , FIG. 5 is a view showing a case in which a total of four electrical stimulation pads are attached, two on each side of the user's back of the knee where the nerve passes.

Subsequently, when the user sits or lies on the main body 11 and finishes preparation, electrical stimulation is applied to the user at an optimal frequency intensity based on preset data, and then exercise is applied through the CPM.

That is, referring to FIG. 6 , FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a state in which joint motion and rehabilitation treatment is performed using the joint motion rehabilitation system 10 using electrical nerve conduction inhibition according to an embodiment of the present invention.

At this time, when the subject presses the stop button at the maximum point of dorsiflexion (the point at which pain is felt in the calf or the heel is lifted), the control unit 15 records the angle at this time and stores and applies the motion angle data for the subject. It may be configured to perform processing.

Subsequently, the muscle stretching exercise is performed using the motion angle value set as described above as an input of the CPM, and the result is accumulated and recorded by periodically repeating the exercise.

That is, referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 , FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams showing results of performing joint motion and rehabilitation treatment using the joint motion rehabilitation system 10 using electrical nerve conduction inhibition according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the stretching effect was insignificant due to pain when only CPM was applied alone, as in the conventional method, but when CPM was applied after applying TINI, the pain was reduced and the range of motion of the ankle effectively increased. It can be confirmed that the range of motion of the ankle gradually improves as the exercise progresses.

Therefore, the joint motion rehabilitation system 10 using electrical nerve conduction inhibition according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied as a new muscle stretching rehabilitation system that can further increase the therapeutic effect compared to existing rehabilitation treatment devices and methods.

As described above, the present inventors combine TINI and CPM to increase the effect of muscle stretching for muscle shortening and stiffness relief at the rehabilitation treatment site, thereby shortening the patient's rehabilitation period and restoring motor function to enable smooth daily life. Suggested a fusion type muscle stretching rehabilitation system and method.

Accordingly, according to the present invention, it is applicable not only to patients with musculoskeletal disorders and nervous system patients, but also to normal people, and it is expected that the recovery period after surgery can be shortened and movement and functional disorders can be improved through muscle stretching.

In addition, the TINI technology was applied while changing the carrier frequency at 5 kHz intervals for the purpose of searching for an appropriate frequency bandwidth for neural suppression. In addition, the optimal interference wave was formed by searching while increasing the applied frequency at 1 kHz intervals to form the optimal interference wave. Through this, the validation of the TINI technology and the optimal frequency setting were completed.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is a more direct and fundamental spasticity response technology because it suppresses sensory and motor nerves directly in the nervous system, rather than resisting spasticity contraction with physical force like existing orthoses or rehabilitation robots.

In addition, existing rehabilitation treatment devices have limitations in that conservative approaches are difficult when spasticity is severe. However, according to the present invention, a great change in clinical approaches can be expected through the fusion-type TINI technology that enhances the stretching effect through electrical nerve conduction inhibition.

In addition, treatment devices for rehabilitation training, such as, for example, ankle joint CPM, are currently dependent on imported products because there is no domestically developed product due to relatively low demand, and thus, the price is at least twice as high as the local selling price.

Moreover, existing domestic and foreign studies have simply used high-frequency alternating current to suppress nerves, but according to the present invention, it is possible to present a new electrical stimulation technology using high-frequency interference current, thereby preoccupying new rehabilitation treatment technology in which rehabilitation medicine, physiology, and engineering knowledge are converged.

Therefore, as described above, it is possible to implement a system and method for joint movement rehabilitation using electrical nerve conduction inhibition according to an embodiment of the present invention, whereby, according to the present invention, non-surgical and immediate suppression of movement and sensory nerve transmission, combining a joint rehabilitation exercise device (CPM) with electrical nerve conduction inhibition (TINI) technology reduces pain during muscle stretching through sensory nerve suppression, while suppressing stretch reflex through motor nerve suppression and reducing muscle tone, to conventional electrotherapy apparatus and methods By providing a joint motion rehabilitation system and method using electrical nerve conduction inhibition, which is configured to further increase the muscle stretching effect, in the prior art electrical therapy device and method configured to enable rehabilitation treatment in a non-surgical manner by attaching electrodes to body parts such as joints and suppressing sensory nerves or stimulating and contracting muscle fibers by electrical stimulation such as a specific frequency or current, sensory nerves are suppressed but motor nerves are not suppressed, causing pain during muscle stretching and reducing the effect of muscle stretching due to stretch reflexes. It is possible to solve the problems of the prior art transcutaneous nerve electrical stimulation (TENS) and interfering wave physical therapy (ICT) technologies.

In addition, according to the present invention, as described above, a joint motor rehabilitation system and method using electrical nerve conduction inhibition are provided, which are configured to maximize the stretching effect by reducing pain during muscle stretching through sensory nerve suppression and reducing muscle tone through motor nerve suppression by combining the electrical nerve conduction inhibition (TINI) technology and the joint rehabilitation exercise device (CPM) that suppress motor and sensory nerve transmission non-surgically and immediately, as described above, thereby reducing muscle shortening and static caused by pain and muscle weakness due to surgery or injury. In the treatment of spasticity that causes movement disorders due to increased muscle tone due to excessive stretch reflexes during posture or dynamic action, invasive treatments such as surgery, injection, and procedure have a high spasticity relief effect, but have a high risk of side effects, and drug treatment has a wide range of nerve conduction reduction effects, resulting in generalized incapacity, and non-surgical approaches such as physical therapy or orthoses can solve the problems of prior art rehabilitation treatment methods that have the disadvantages of not being immediate and requiring a long treatment period.

In the above, the details of the joint motion rehabilitation system and method using electrical nerve conduction suppression according to the present invention have been described through the embodiments of the present invention as described above, but the present invention is not limited to the contents described in the above embodiments.

10. Joint movement rehabilitation system using electrical nerve conduction inhibition
11. Main body 12. Exercise application unit
13. Electrical stimulation application unit 14. Output unit
15. Controls

Claims (11)

In the joint motion rehabilitation system using Transcutaneous Interferential-current Nerve Inhibition (TINI),
A main body forming a space for performing rehabilitation treatment;
a motion application unit installed in the main body to apply a predetermined rehabilitation exercise to a specific body part of the user; and
A joint motion rehabilitation system using electrical nerve conduction inhibition, characterized in that it comprises an electrical stimulation application unit installed on one side or outside of the main body in order to apply a predetermined electrical stimulation to a specific body part of the user.
According to claim 1,
The rehabilitation system,
an output unit installed on one side or outside of the main body to display a process and treatment result of rehabilitation treatment progressed through the motion application unit and the electrical stimulation application unit; and
The joint motion rehabilitation system using electrical nerve conduction inhibition, characterized in that it is configured to further include a control unit configured to perform processing for controlling the overall operation of the rehabilitation system.
According to claim 1,
the body,
A joint motion rehabilitation system using electrical nerve conduction inhibition, characterized in that it is configured to be formed in the form of a chair on which the user can sit or a bed on which the user can lie down.
According to claim 1,
The exercise approval department,
A joint motion rehabilitation system using electrical nerve conduction inhibition, characterized in that it is configured using a continuous passive motion (CPM) device configured to apply a predetermined rehabilitation motion including stretching to a user's joint.
According to claim 1,
The electrical stimulation applying unit,
A joint motion rehabilitation system using electrical nerve conduction suppression, characterized in that it is configured using a TINI device configured to suppress both sensory nerves and motor nerves by applying electrical stimulation through interferential-current around the user's joints, including a plurality of electrodes attached to the user's body and a frequency generator configured to generate signals of a predetermined specific frequency.
According to claim 5,
The electrical stimulation applying unit,
Using an available frequency of 1 kHz to 3 kHz and a carrier wave of 20 kHz to 30 kHz, an interference wave is formed with a 2-channel (+, -) signal around the user's joint area to apply a stimulus, thereby suppressing both sensory nerves and motor nerves. Joint motion rehabilitation system using electrical nerve conduction suppression, characterized in that it is configured.
According to claim 6,
The electrical stimulation applying unit,
A joint motion rehabilitation system using electrical nerve conduction inhibition, characterized in that it further comprises an ultrasound scanner for checking the user's nerve position in order to determine the attachment position of the electrode.
According to claim 7,
The rehabilitation system,
The ultrasound scanner is used to determine the location of the tibal nerve in the user's joint area, and a plurality of electrical stimulation pads are attached around the location where the nerve passes,
When the user is positioned on the main body, takes a posture, and prepares, electrical stimulation is applied to the user at an optimal frequency and intensity through the electric stimulation applying unit based on preset data, and then a predetermined exercise is applied through the exercise applying unit,
The data about the point where the user's range of motion is maximized is stored and set as the user's exercise value.
By being configured to perform a process of accumulating and recording the results by periodically repeating the rehabilitation exercise according to a predetermined setting based on the set exercise value,
Before performing exercise and rehabilitation of the joint through the exercise applying unit, by confirming the position of the nerve through the electrical stimulation applying unit and applying interference wave stimulation, both sensory nerves and motor nerves in the corresponding area are suppressed, thereby reducing pain and muscle tension during exercise and rehabilitation treatment.
By suppressing both sensory nerves and motor nerves to reduce pain and muscle tone, a joint motion rehabilitation system using electrical nerve conduction suppression characterized in that it is configured to further increase the effect of exercise and rehabilitation treatment compared to the case of using only the CPM device or the conventional Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Interferential Current Therapy (ICT) methods.
According to claim 2,
the output unit,
Joint motion rehabilitation system using electrical nerve conduction inhibition, characterized in that it comprises a display means including a display for displaying the process and treatment results of the rehabilitation treatment progressed through the motion applying unit and the electrical stimulation applying unit.
According to claim 9,
the output unit,
A joint motion rehabilitation system using electrical nerve conduction inhibition, characterized in that it is configured to further include a voice output means including a speaker, so that a process for conveying the overall operation of the rehabilitation system through visual and auditory signals is performed.
In the joint motion rehabilitation method configured to perform joint motion and rehabilitation treatment using the joint motion rehabilitation system using electrical nerve conduction inhibition according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
Checking the position of the tibal nerve of the user's joint using an ultrasound scanner of the joint motion rehabilitation system, and attaching a plurality of electrical stimulation pads around the nerve passing position;
Applying electrical stimulation at an optimal frequency and intensity to the user based on data previously set through an electrical stimulation application unit of the joint motion rehabilitation system when the user is positioned on the main body of the joint motion rehabilitation system, takes a posture, and prepares;
Applying a predetermined exercise through the motion applying unit of the joint motion rehabilitation system, and setting and storing data for a point at which a range of motion is maximized as a motion value of the corresponding user is performed; and
A joint motion rehabilitation method comprising the step of periodically repeating a rehabilitation exercise according to a predetermined setting based on a set motion value and cumulatively recording the result.