Contoured therapeutic spinal support

A rounded, pliable, resilient spinal support with straddling contours and defining slopes which gives direct, firm-felt support and massaging therapy to the spine. The round flexing pivot (10) fits between a backrest and the recesses of the user's back, anchored in place by sacral stabilizer (12) and the sacrum. Stabilizer (12) is thin for comfort and allows defining slope (14) to push downward against the sacrum, while the thicker lumbar arch support (16) pushes in against the lumbar region of the back, and defining slope (18) pushes upward against the lower thoracic region of the back. The thin, tapered thoracic stabilizer (20) allows the shoulders to push against the backrest and to anchor my support in place at the upper end. This interrelated pushing encourages the "S"-shape curvature of the spine desired for good posture. As the defining slopes are pushing and the two end stabilizers are being pushed, the straddling contours of spinous process stabilizer (26) and transverse process stabilizers (22) are fitted snugly against the vertebrae. This provides a firm feeling of security so that the muscles can relax, relieving any spasm. It also allows decompression of the vertebral column by giving direct, underneath support. My support also massages the spine. Each unforgiving bone makes a dimple in the three process stabilizers causing a bulging of the support material into the gaps between the bones. This bulging fills the gaps and massages the softer tissue between and among the bones as the user makes any movement.

BACKGROUND--FIELD OF INVENTION 
This invention relates to medical instruments, specifically to physical 
therapy. 
BACKGROUND--DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
According to medical authorities the vast majority of backaches are often 
called "non-specific" because they have no obvious cause. There are also 
no obvious, easy cures. Most non-specific backaches are probably due to a 
sprained ligament or vertebral joint that causes surrounding muscles to go 
into painful spasm. In other cases pain is due to straining a muscle or 
Joint or to emotional tension reflected in the knotting up of back 
muscles. 
These authorities usually recommend lying flat on your back for as long as 
you can on a bed with a fairly hard orthopedic mattress. This 
recommendation is generally accepted as the most appropriate treatment. 
Since this therapy does not always work, we need to look beyond the 
obvious treatment. 
Non-specific backaches are specifically located within the spinal column's 
vertebrae where they need specific care even when the pain is 
non-specific. Bed rest doesn't give specific support to the spinal column, 
because of the placement of the spinal column deep within the back, with 
the back's surfaces concaving inward toward the spinal column. This 
concaved placement gives added strength to the back. It also makes it very 
difficult to get support directly to the vertebral column for relief of 
pain within the column. Because the outer surfaces of the back make first 
body-weight contact on either side of the concaved, recessed placement of 
the vertebral column with the surface of the bed, the support that the 
vertebral column gets from the bed is from either side of the vertebral 
column, not from directly underneath, where the support should be. 
Treatment of disorders or injuries with physical methods or agents usually 
includes one or more of the following: massage, heat treatment (including 
ultrasound treatment and short-wave diathermy), and exercise. Exercise may 
be passive. 
Physical therapy is used to prevent or reduce joint stiffness and to 
restore muscle strength in the treatment of arthritis or after a fracture 
has healed. It is also used to reduce pain, inflammation, and muscle 
spasm, and to retrain joints and muscles after stroke or nerve injury. 
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
The primary object of my contoured therapeutic spinal support is to provide 
a means of support directly to the spine for the purpose of relieving pain 
in the back brought on by injury, tension, or other causes. It is also 
designed to help prevent back injuries by promoting better posture and 
keeping the muscles around the spine supple by the massaging effect of the 
support. 
The following are among the many advantages of my spinal support. 
(a) It is lightweight. 
(b) It is easy to use, requiring very little effort to place it against 
one's back. 
(c) It is convenient to use, because it fits between the back and any 
surface which would normally support the back. 
(d) Its smooth surface is designed not to damage anything with which it 
comes in contact, including clothing or upholstery. 
(e) The support directly to the spinal column increases as the body relaxes 
against the contours of my support. 
(f) The massaging effect of my spinal support occurs with each normal body 
movement as one sits or lies against the support. For example, the muscles 
surrounding the spine are massaged by my support as the body picks up a 
glass to take a drink, writes a letter, turns the pages of a book, crosses 
the legs, or shifts gears. 
(g) It provides support directly to the spinal column instead of to the 
outer (that is, lateral) surfaces of the back. 
(h) It provides therapy without having to leave one's home. 
(i) It can also provide therapy while traveling, in either a sitting or 
reclining position. 
(j) The stabilizer section of my spinal support is designed to hold the 
support in place against the backrest of any seat, even if the user leans 
forward. 
Other objects and advantages of my contoured therapeutic spinal support may 
be seen from the following drawings and description of the operation of 
the support.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 
10 flexing pivot 
12 sacral stabilizer 
14 defining slope to lumbar arch support 
16 lumbar arch support 
18 defining slope to thoracic stabilizer 
20 thoracic stabilizer 
22 transverse process stabilizer 
24 transverse process stabilizer tapers 
26 spinous process stabilizer 
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS--FIGS. 1 TO 5 
FIG. 1 shows a side view of my contoured therapeutic spinal support, 1 
comprising an elongated cylindrical member the left edge of the drawing 
being the lower end of the support and right edge being the upper end. The 
long, smooth surface at the top of FIG. 2 is a rounded, flexing pivot 10. 
A defining slope 14 connects a sacral stabilizer 12 (the sacral section), 
shown in detail in FIG. 3, to a lumbar arch support 16 (the lumbar 
section), shown in detail in FIG. 4. Lumbar arch support 16 is connected 
by a defining slope 18 to a thoracic stabilizer 20 (the thoracic section), 
shown in detail in FIG. 5. 
FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 show flexing pivot 10, rounded to allow flexing from side 
to side. These cross sections also show the varying thicknesses of sacral 
stabilizer 12, lumbar arch support 16, and thoracic stabilizer 20. Spinous 
process stabilizer 26 is in the form of an elongated notch and is in the 
center of the side opposite flexing pivot 10. The stabilizer 26 is flanked 
on either side by a transverse process stabilizer 22 in the form of 
opposing ridges, and it is connected to each by a transverse process 
stabilizer taper 24. 
OPERATION--FIGS. 2 TO 5 
My contoured therapeutic spinal support secures the vertebrae by body 
pressure and massages the muscles between the bones. The round structure 
of the support allows it to return to its contoured shape even after being 
distorted by pressure and flexing. The whole of the spinal support's 
integral contoured body is interrelated by mutual actions of compression 
and flexing. With these actions the support becomes an instrument of 
therapy. 
The round unsculptured surface of the instrument as shown in FIG. 2 serves 
as flexing pivot 10. Recessed in the padding of a soft backrest or 
stationed against a hard backrest, position sacral stabilizer 12's flat 
surface against the coccyx and the round surface against the backrest. The 
support pivots with body movement and grabs the muscles with a firm hold 
of security as the user reclines against it. 
Lumbar arch support 16, the thicker section of the support, pushes upward 
against the lumbar section of the back. This produces a more desirable 
"S"-shape curve of the vertebral column as it is when standing and not the 
slightly bowed position when sitting or reclining without my support. 
The slightly bowed position causes the vertebral disks to be compressed, 
hindering the return of a slipped disk to its original position. The push 
upward of the support has removed much of the compression. The compression 
now is against the lower part of the vertebrae, causing a slight pinching 
effect. This pinching effect is similar to the method used by 
orthodontists in positioning the teeth, little by little. 
My contoured therapeutic spinal support allows the user to feel not only 
support from the bed or backrest, but also to feel the firm underneath 
support directly to the vertebral column, especially in the lumbar region. 
The first priority after an injury to the vertebral column is to stabilize 
it. This priority is valid not only after an injury, but with any pain in 
the vertebral column. The strained muscles that are in a spasm will, 
because of unstable movements of the vertebrae, cause a reflex arc stimuli 
which causes contractions and recontractions of the muscles. This causes 
continuation of the spasm. This is the time when the muscles are most 
painful and will remain painful until you can grab these muscles with a 
firm hold of security. Then the muscles will begin to relax, because of 
the feeling of security. Spinous process stabilizer 26 and transverse 
process stabilizers 22 as shown in the cross sections of FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 
provide this firm hold of security. 
Along the length of my support, first body-weight contact is made with 
transverse process stabilizers 22. These fit snugly against either side of 
the vertebrae. As the body feels this support, it relaxes further against 
my spinal support until it makes contact with spinous process stabilizer 
26. At this point each vertebra is surrounded on three sides by my 
support. As pressure from the body pushes the vertebrae further against 
the support and into the stabilizers, the support is felt even more firmly 
allowing the muscles to continue relaxing until the tension is removed 
from these muscles. 
The thickness in thoracic stabilizer 20 has been reduced because of the rib 
cage. The need for uplift here is less, but defining slope 18 does push 
upward against the ribs toward the sternum forcing the shoulders back 
against the backrest or bed. This action helps prevent slumping of the 
shoulders and the bowing that can occur in the upper back. 
CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE OF INVENTION 
Thus, the reader will see that my contoured therapeutic spinal support is a 
means of physical therapy directed to the spinal column. It provides 
comfortable service for persons in their leisure or working hours, 
wherever there is a backrest or a place to recline. 
It stabilizes the vertebrae as it massages the soft tissue surrounding the 
vertebral column. 
The embodiment shown is a complete unit. It is lightweight, portable, 
convenient, and effective. Other embodiments are also possible--my support 
can be incorporated into various articles. It can be used in the backrests 
of any vehicular seat or piece of furniture with a backrest. It could also 
be incorporated into mattresses, mattress pads, stretchers, gurneys, or 
any similar device. It can be incorporated into items which support, 
protect, strengthen, or massage the back. 
My contoured therapeutic spinal support can be made in various sizes. It 
can also be made of various materials of either natural or synthetic base 
having the properties of pliability, elasticity, and resilience. The 
spinous and transverse process stabilizers could also be tubing filled 
with gas or liquid. 
Although the description above contains many specificities, these should 
not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but as merely 
providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of 
this invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by 
the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the 
examples given.