Brace for preventing symptoms of femoral acetabular impingement

Tension members anchored to a wearer's body to resist femoral acetabular impingement (FAI)-causing movements. A first tension member is anchored to the body of a subject, and produces a force on the subject's body to primarily limit the ability of the subject's thigh to internally rotate and the ability of the subject's knee to adduct. Thus, this first tension member resists the tendency of the subject's leg to twist inward or deflect inward, each of which may contribute to FAI. A second tension member is anchored to the subject's body, and provides a force to the subject's body to primarily limit the ability of the subject's hip joint to move in flexion. Thus, the second tension member resists the tendency of the subject's leg to raise too high, which may also contribute to FAI.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Femoral acetabular impingement (FAI) is a condition affecting the ball and socket of a hip joint and surrounding soft tissues. Because FAI can lead to painful cartilage injuries, labral tears, and arthritis, methods of treatment or prevention are highly desirable.

FAI occurs when the femoral head rubs abnormally against or within the acetabular socket. Two principle types of FAI are recognized. Cam impingement occurs when one or more cam lesions on the femoral neck impinge on the acetabular rim during motion of the hip. Pincer impingement occurs when one or more pincer lesions on the acetabular rim produce an overcoverage of the acetabulum which repeatedly hits the femoral neck during motion of the hip. In many cases, both cam and pincer impingement are present.

Three primary motion types determine the orientation of the femoral neck to the acetabular rim and consequently affect the degree of femoral acetabular impingement experienced by a person during physical activity. As shown inFIG. 1A, these motions types are flexion101, internal rotation102, and adduction103. Flexion101refers to the degree to which the leg is raised by the hip111. Internal rotation102refers to the rotation of the thigh112toward the sagittal plane and the opposite thigh122. Adduction refers to the lateral translation of the knee113toward the sagittal plane and the opposite knee123. Any of these motions independently or the combination of these three movements occurring together can result in the femoral head contacting the acetabular rim at an anterior (either inward or outward) portion of the rim. Repeated contact can cause breakdown of the soft tissues and result in symptomatic femoral acetabular impingement.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A pair of compression shorts are disclosed for treating symptoms of femoral acetabular impingement and/or preventing the motions which cause the condition. The shorts have a number of connected yet distinguishable components or regions. A first garment leg is adapted to fit tightly to a first thigh of a wearer and to move with the first thigh when worn by the wearer during physical activity. The shorts also have a second garment leg, a waistline portion, and a buttocks portion connecting the first and second garment legs to the waistline on a posterior side of the shorts. Furthermore, the shorts include a groin portion connecting the first and second garment legs to the waistline on an anterior side of the shorts, wherein the groin portion extends around each hip of the wearer to meet the buttocks portion of the shorts. A first tension member comprising an elastic band is anchored to the first garment leg at a point corresponding to the lower inner first thigh of the wearer adjacent the wearer's knee. This first tension member extends diagonally around the anterior and lateral sides of the wearer's first thigh and is anchored to the buttocks portion of the garment. A second tension member comprising an elastic band is anchored to the first garment leg on the posterior side at a point below the buttocks. This second tension member extends along the posterior side of the garment and is anchored to a top portion of the buttocks portion of the garment.

The first tension member and the second tension member may be elastic bands. Each tension member may have a first end fixed to the garment and a second end detachably connectable to the garment. The second end may also be detachable from an initial point where the second end of the tension member is initially attached to the garment and reattachable to that initial point or to an alternate point to adjust at least one of the direction or magnitude of the tension in the tension member. The first tension member may also be attachable to the second tension member. The shorts may also be configured so that at least one end of the first tension member is detachably connectable to a same point on the garment as at least one end of the second tension member.

The shorts may also be configured so that the first tension member and the second tension member are made of material configured to stretch unidirectionally in a certain stretch direction. The shorts are designed so that the stretch direction is aligned to resist, when the garment is worn by a user, at least one of internal rotation of the thigh of the wearer, adduction of the knee of the wearer, or flexion of a hip of the wearer.

In some shorts, the second garment leg is adapted to fit tightly to a second thigh of a wearer and to move with the second thigh when worn by the wearer during physical activity. In these embodiments, the shorts have a third tension member, such as an elastic band, anchored to the second garment leg at a point corresponding to the lower inner second thigh of the wearer adjacent the wearer's second knee. The third tension member extends diagonally around the anterior and lateral sides of the wearer's second thigh and is anchored to the buttocks portion of the garment. A fourth tension member, such as an elastic band, is anchored to the second garment leg on the posterior side at a point below the buttocks. The fourth tension member extends along the posterior side of the garment and is anchored to a top portion of the buttocks portion of the garment.

The tension members may anchor at various points on the garment. For example, when the garment is worn by the wearer, at least one of the tension members may be anchored at or near the center of the buttocks portion of the garment or at or near the waistline portion of the garment. Alternatively, at least one of the tension members can be integrally formed into the garment.

A compression garment is disclosed having a sheath adapted to fit tightly to a thigh of a wearer and to move with the thigh when worn by the wearer. The garment has a first tension member extending from at least a lower inner thigh position on the sheath to at least an outer upper thigh position on the sheath. When the garment is worn by a wearer, the first tension member provides resistance to at least one of internal rotation of the thigh or adduction of the knee of the wearer. The garment also has a second tension member extending from at least a lower posterior position of the sheath to a higher posterior position of the sheath. When the garment is worn by a wearer, the second tension member provides resistance to flexion of a hip of the wearer. The garment may further have a buttocks portion of the garment, such that when the garment is worn by the wearer, at least one of the tension members extends to at least the buttocks portion of the garment.

A compression garment is also provided having a first garment leg adapted to adhere to a thigh of a wearer when the wearer is engaging in physical activity. The garment also has a first means connected to the first garment leg for limiting flexion of a wearer's hip and a second means connected to the first leg for limiting at least one of internal rotation of the wearer's thigh and adduction of the wearer's knee.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While engaged in exercise or physical activity, many athletes and physically active people tend to adduct and internally rotate their leg while it is raised as part of their gait or stride. As described above, the combination of these repeated motions of adduction, internal rotation, and flexion can bring the femoral neck and acetabular rim closer together. When a person has the anatomy of cam or pincer impingement, then these motions may result in breakdown of the soft tissues, essentially symptomatic FAI. The disclosure herein thus provides various garments, braces, and methods to dispose or bias the leg of a person against these motions while the person is engaged in activities, such as running, basketball, or other sports.

As shown inFIG. 1B, embodiments herein provide a first tension member anchored to the body150of a subject, and which produces a force140on the subject's body150to primarily limit the ability of the subject's thigh112to internally rotate102and the ability of the subject's knee113to adduct103. Thus, this first tension member resists the tendency of the subject's leg to twist inward or deflect inward, each of which may contribute to FAI. Embodiments herein also provide a second tension member anchored to the subject's body150, and which provides a force141to the subject's body150to primarily limit the ability of the subject's hip joint111to move in flexion101. Thus, this second tension member resists the tendency of the subject's leg to raise too high, which may also contribute to FAI. The first and second tension members can each be used independent of the other, but embodiments utilize both on a single user so as to provide maximum protection for FAI.

Various embodiments for suitable tension members are available. In many embodiments, the tension member is a strip of stretchable material which resists stretching when expanded from an original length. The material may further exhibit a memory by which it returns toward its original length as the force applied to achieve the stretching subsides, with the material ultimately returning to its original length when the force has completely subsided. In such embodiments, when the tension member is properly anchored to the subject's body, the material's resistance to stretching provides the necessary force (e.g.140and/or141) in the tension member to resist the subject's FAI-causing movements, i.e., as shown inFIG. 1A, at least one of internal rotation102of the thigh112, adduction103of the knee113, or flexion101at the hip111. The memory causes the tension member to return toward its original orientation as the FAI-causing movement subsides. This places the tension member in a ready position to subsequently stretch and apply a force to resist FAI-causing movement of the subject's body when the subject next engages in such a subsequent FAI-causing movement. In this way, the tension member may cause resistance to the motions of the subject's body which are known to cause FAI without impeding the subject's overall ability to engage in physical activity. Put another way, the capability of the tension member to resist stretching to resist FAI-causing movement and return toward its original orientation as the FAI-causing movement subsides may correspond to the tension member or garment as a whole resisting movements in one direction or set of directions to a greater degree than the tension member or garment as a whole resists movement in an opposite direction or set of directions (e.g., the garment as a whole or part may resist internal rotation of the thigh of the wearer, adduction of the knee of the wearer, and flexion of the hip of the wearer to a greater degree than the garment as a whole or part resists external rotation of the thigh of the wearer, abduction of the knee of the wearer, and extension of the hip of the wearer). Elastic is one such material which exhibits these characteristics of stretchability and memory, and which would be suitable for constructing tension members of various embodiments. Unidirectional materials such as leno weave material, also known as gauze or doup weave, could also be used as tension members. This material stretches primarily in one direction, but allows very limited stretching in another. However, tension members need not be limited to the materials listed but may be made of any suitable material or combination of materials which may be configured to resist, when the tension member is anchored to a subject during physical activity, at least one of internal rotation102of the thigh112, adduction103of the knee113, or flexion101at the hip111of the subject150.

The tension members can be provided in a way which ensures that the subject's body, and not merely the subject's clothing, receives the force applied by the tension members. One way to achieve this goal is to couple the tension members with a garment that fits tightly or snugly to the subject's body so that the garment stays in place relative to the subject's body even when the subject is engaged in physical activity. Such a tightly or snugly fitting garment can be formed, for example, of a garment of stretchable material with legs having relaxed-state cross-sections smaller than the legs of the subject but configured to expand to stretched-state cross-sections which conform and anchor to the legs of the subject when worn. For example, compression shorts, known in the art, may provide such a tightly fitting garment suitable for various embodiments. In accordance with further embodiments, any type of garment can be used that is adaptable to fit tightly to a wearer's body, including but not limited to pants, shorts, girdles, braces, full-body suits, and any variations of these such as crotchless, sleeveless, neckless, etc.

For example, in one embodiment, a pair of compression shorts or pants is provided having (1) a first tension strap that wraps around the wearer's thigh to limit adduction and internal rotation and (2) a second tension strap extending up the back of the wearer's buttocks and upper thigh to limit flexion during the wearer's physical activity. The straps can have ends that are either detachable or fixed to the shorts. The straps can attach to different points of the user's body or can travel over different paths across the body according to different embodiments. For example, one such path could include a first tension member anchoring on the inner knee of a leg, travelling diagonally up across the front of the thigh of the leg, and passing around to anchor somewhere on the buttocks above the back of the leg. As one alternative, a tension member could also achieve the same necessary magnitude and direction of force by an different orientation of the tension member such as attachment to the outer knee of a leg, wrapping diagonally across the backside of the thigh before passing around to the front of the same thigh and running upward to anchor at the hip of the same leg. Thus those skilled in the art may appreciate the diversity of orientations of tension members which may provide the necessary magnitude and direction of force upon the wearer's body.

In further embodiments, a pair of compression shorts is provided. An elastic band extends from a point on the shorts adjacent the knee on the inner thigh of the wearer, wraps diagonally upward across the anterior of the thigh, passes around the outer exterior of the upper thigh, proceeds diagonally up across the buttocks, and anchors to or adjacent to the waistband of the shorts near the wearer's spine. The tension of this band exerts a force on the wearer's leg that biases the leg against adduction of the knee and against internal rotation of the thigh. A second band extends from a point on the shorts adjacent the knee on the posterior of the thigh and proceeds up the back of the thigh and over the buttocks to an anchor point on or adjacent to the waistband of the shorts. The tension of this second band exerts a force on the wearer's leg that biases the leg against raising too high and thus limits the flexion experienced in the hip joint of the wearer. The combination of these exerted forces helps prevent the wearer's leg from the combined motion which leads to FAI, namely, adducting and rotating internally while in flexion.

FIG. 2shows an anterior view of various embodiments wherein unidirectional material is used as the first tension member202. Garment200has a pant leg portion201containing first unidirectional tension member202aligned to stretch unidirectionally in a stretch direction272to resist internal rotation102and adduction103when the garment200is worn by a wearer250during physical activity. By way of example, for additional reference, a hip211, a thigh212, and a knee213of the wearer250are identified inFIG. 2. Preferred unidirectional materials include leno weave material, also known as gauze or doup weave.FIG. 3shows a posterior view of various embodiments wherein unidirectional material is used as the tension members202and203. In addition to first unidirectional tension member202, garment200also has second unidirectional tension member203aligned to stretch unidirectionally in a stretch direction273to resist flexion101and adduction103when the garment200is worn by a wearer250during physical activity.

FIG. 4shows an anterior view of garment400and another embodiment for a first tension member410. In this embodiment, the first tension member410is an elastic band. In the embodiment shown, the first tension member410extends through a point405on the garment400located on the lower inner side of thigh412adjacent knee413, wraps diagonally across the anterior of thigh412, and passes around to the rear of wearer450at a point418on the outer upper side of thigh412. However, the exact location of points405and418on garment400may differ in other embodiments so long as the location results in first tension member410providing resistance to at least one of internal rotation102of thigh412of wearer450, adduction103of knee413of wearer450, and flexion101of hip411of wearer450while wearer450is engaged in physical activity. For example, point405on garment400could be located anywhere up to the middle inner side of thigh412. Alternatively, point405on garment400could also be located at any point across the lower anterior side of thigh412above knee413. Similarly, point418could alternatively be placed anywhere down to the middle outer side of thigh412or up to waistband420.

FIG. 5shows a posterior view of garment400and a possible configuration of the first tension member410and second tension member510. In the embodiment shown, first tension member410at point418passes around to the rear of the wearer450and attaches to garment400at point516. Second tension member510extends through a point514on the garment400adjacent knee413on the rear of thigh412and proceeds up the back of thigh412and over buttocks504to attach to the garment400at point512.

However, the exact placement of point516on garment400also (like point418, discussed above) may differ in other embodiments so long as the placement results in first tension member410providing resistance to at least one of internal rotation102of thigh412of wearer450, adduction103of knee413of wearer450, and flexion101of hip411of wearer450while wearer450is engaged in physical activity. For example, as shown inFIG. 5, point516may be located at approximately the center of buttocks504. Alternatively, point516could also be located anywhere else on buttocks504, anywhere on buttocks505, or anywhere elsewhere on the posterior side of garment400, including on waistband420.

Similarly, the exact placement of points512and514on garment400may differ in other embodiments so long as the placement results in second tension member510providing resistance to at least one of internal rotation102of thigh412of wearer450, adduction103of knee413of wearer450, and flexion101of hip411of wearer450while wearer450is engaged in physical activity. For example, point514could be located anywhere between the posterior of knee413and the bottom of buttocks504. Similarly, point512could be located anywhere up to a point on waistband420or down to a point on the rear of thigh412just below the bottom of buttocks504. Points512and514could also be on opposite sides of the posterior of garment400; for example, if point514were on the rear side of thigh412below buttocks504and point512were attached to waistband420above buttocks505.

FIG. 6shows a posterior view of garment400and an alternate possible configuration of first tension member410and second tension member510. In the embodiment shown, first tension member410attaches to garment400by a hook and loop fastener strip630which is affixed to the back of second tension member510. First tension member410may thus be detached from garment400at point516on hook and loop fastener loop strip630and reattached to garment400at point516or at alternate point516′ on hook and loop fastener strip630. Generally, tension members410and510may be detachable and attachable to garment400by any means known in the art including, but not limited to, a hook and loop fastener system (such as that sold under the trade name VELCRO), snaps, hooks, and buttons. Such detachability may improve ease of donning garment400. Another benefit of such detachability may be that it provides a means to adjust the tension applied by either of tension members410and510or both.

Alternatively, tension members410and510may instead be fixed to garment400. Such fixation may provide easier fabrication of garment400or improved calibration of tension provided by tension members410and510.

Additionally, tension members410and510may be configured to have at least one point fixed to garment400and at least one other point which is detachable and reattachable to garment400. For example, in one such embodiment, first tension member410would be fixed to garment400at point405and detachable and reattachable from garment400at point516while second tension member510would be detachable and reattachable at both points512and514. Regardless of whether fixed, detachable and reattachable, or some combination thereof, tension members410and510may also have alternative means of adjusting the length and/or tension of the tension member. Tension members410and510may also be detachable and attachable to each other.

Tension members410and510may also attach to the same point on garment400. For example, points512and516may correspond to the same or different points on garment412.

Embodiments may also be applied independently to each leg or may be utilized in a combined garment which acts on both legs simultaneously. Embodiments may provide tension members to both legs or to only one leg. Furthermore, embodiments can provide differing levels of tension to each leg. The garment style also need not be the same for both legs. For example, a garment with one leg extending to the ankle of the subject and the other leg extending only midway down the thigh of the subject would not depart from providing many of the advantageous functions described herein.

The tension members may also be integrated into the garment as shown inFIG. 2-3, or the tension members may be of a separate piece from the garment as shown inFIG. 4-6. For example, inFIG. 4, tension member410is of a separate piece from the garment400.

The following brief clarification of terms may assist the reader. As used herein, the term “Inner” indicates a relative location medial or proximate to the sagittal plane, as opposed to “outer,” which instead indicates a relative location lateral or distal to the sagittal plane. If an object is “adjacent” to a thing, at least some part of the object is within a 10 inch radius of at least some part of the thing. The “middle” of an object refers to a region having a radius of approximately 10 inches emanating from the midpoint between the two extremes of the object.