Device and method for reducing lumbar lordosis while supine and supporting the lumbar curve when seated

A dual purpose pillow for reversing the lordotic curve of a patient by acting on the base of the spine and comprises two wedges that act complimentary to each other. A larger wedge of the pillow is higher at the foot end and lower at the head end of the patient and acts to place the pelvis into posterior tilt. The sacrum is carried along with the pelvis into posterior pelvic tilt. The smaller wedge of the pillow is also higher at the foot end and lower at the head end of the patient and further increases the posterior tilt of the sacrum, thus acting to reduce the disc wedge angle above the sacrum. This pillow may be used to support the lumbar spine and musculature while the patient is sitting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a device and method for reducing lumbar lordosis 
while supine and supporting the lumbar curve when seated. 
Backaches in the lumbar region of the spine are common in today's society 
and are usually attributed to bad posture or excess weight in the stomach 
area. 
The normal curvature of the lumbar spine is lordotic. By lordotic it is 
meant that, when observing the human body from the side, the lumbar curve 
has a convexity toward the anterior of the body. Increased lumbar 
lordosis, i. e., hyperlordosis, may be described as a lordotic curve that 
is increased beyond normal physiological homeostasis and results in an 
imbalance of the structure. Joint irritation, ligamentous stress, muscle 
spasm, and pain may all be associated with hyperlordosis. 
Low backaches can be relieved by reducing the degree of lumbar lordosis. 
This can be done by manipulating the sacral area to restore the lumbar 
region of the spine and the sacrum to their proper attitudes and 
positions. Normally, such manipulation is done by trained therapists or 
practitioners. 
The purpose of the invention is to relieve hyperlordosis and/or support the 
lumbar curve while sitting. 
The pillow disclosed and claimed herein reverses the lordotic curve by 
acting on the base of the spine and provides two wedges that act 
complimentary to each other. The larger wedge of the pillow is higher at 
the foot end and lower at the head end of the patient and acts to place 
the pelvis into posterior tilt. The sacrum is carried along with the 
pelvis into posterior pelvic tilt. The smaller wedge of the pillow is also 
higher at the foot end and lower at the head end and further increases the 
posterior tilt of the sacrum, thus acting to reduce the disc wedge angle 
above the sacrum. The disc wedge angles throughout the lumbar spine are 
similarly affected. The lordotic curve is reduced to a point past normal 
lordosis so that, when the device is removed, some correction is 
maintained. 
The lumbar spine and musculature that exhibits weakness and/or pain may 
find relief when a support is placed between the lumbar curve and the 
seat. The more the support conforms to the shape of the lumbar spine and 
musculature, the greater will be the relief obtained because pressure will 
be distributed more evenly. Because the vertebrae of the spine form the 
basis of the support structure of the back, a device that supplies support 
directly to the vertebrae, as well as directly to the musculature of the 
back, will provide greater support than one that supplies support directly 
to the musculature only, and indirectly to the vertebrae. 
Lumbar support pillows currently available are designed to curve as close 
as possible to the lumbar curve but give direct support primarily to the 
musculature. 
The difficulty in supporting the lumbar vertebrae and the musculature 
simultaneously and equally arises from the fact that the vertebrae may be 
deeply anterior to the muscular portion of the lumbar area of the back, 
especially on well muscled individuals. The supporting device must be able 
to conform itself in such a manner that it will fill the longitudinal 
depression that is formed by the vertebrae in the center of the back. 
Inflatable lumbar supports exist that attempt to fill this need but they 
do not completely or adequately fill the longitudinal depression formed by 
the vertebrae of the patient. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,329 discloses a device for reducing lumbar lordosis 
that is shaped to fit the sacral area of a supine patient to provide 
support for the apex of the sacrum without providing support for the base 
of the patient's sacrum. The body weight of such a supine patient will 
bias the sacrum to reduce lumbar lordosis and thereby alleviate low 
backache. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the invention claimed, a new and improved object is 
disclosed which effectively reduces lumbar lordosis in the supine position 
and supports the lumbar curve when in the seated position. 
This object, i. e. pillow, simultaneously supports the lumbar musculature 
and the vertebrae of the patient and comprises two wedges. A smaller wedge 
is formed on top of the center of a larger wedge. The pillow is placed 
behind the lumbar curve with its narrow end toward the head of the patient 
and the smaller wedge facing the back of the patient. The larger wedge 
conforms to the shape of the lumbar musculature and supplies support to 
the musculature. The smaller wedge fits into the longitudinal depression 
of the back made by the vertebrae and gives additional support to the 
boney structure of the back. 
It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide a new and 
improved pillow shaped to provide support for the sacrum of a user when in 
a supine position and employing the body weight of the patient to reduce 
lumbar lordosis. 
Another object of this invention is to provide an air inflatable pillow 
having a base surface for supporting the pelvis of a user when supine on a 
supporting surface and an upper wedge shaped surface for supporting the 
sacrum during use. 
A still further object of this invention is to provide a new method of 
reducing lumbar lordosis in a patient. 
A still further object of this invention is to provide a new pillow and 
method of use for supporting the lumbar spine and musculature while the 
user is sitting. 
Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as 
the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which 
characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the 
claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring more particularly to the drawings by characters of reference, 
FIGS. 1-3 disclose a wedge shaped device or pillow 10 which may be formed 
of a non pervious material and air inflatable through a suitable valve 11 
or filled with a suitable soft resilient rubber or plastic foam or any 
other suitable resilient fiber, rubber or plastic material. 
The pillow as shown in FIGS. 1-3 comprises a first wedge shaped base 
portion 12 which is positioned against a horizontal supporting surface 13, 
shown in FIG. 4, and extends upwardly and outwardly therefrom. The wedge 
shaped base portion 12 of the pillow is higher at one end and lower at the 
other end and is intended to support the patient's pelvis. 
As noted from FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, pillow 10 is provided with a 
second wedge shaped portion 15 which extends outward and longitudinally 
from the top surface 14 of the pillow at substantially its center with the 
high portion of the second wedge shaped portion formed at a common end of 
the pillow with the high portion of the first wedge shaped portion of the 
pillow. This second wedge shaped portion 15 is intended to place pressure 
in the cavity at the base of the back on the vertebrae of the spine. 
FIG. 4 illustrates a patient 16 resting in a supine position on surface 13 
and exhibiting a sufficient degree of lumbar lordosis to produce 
distressing low backache. 
FIG. 5 shows a view similar to that shown in FIG. 4 wherein patient 16 is 
resting on pillow 10 in accordance with the teaching of this invention for 
reducing lumbar lordosis. 
It will be noted when comparing FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings that the apex 
18 of sacrum 17 exhibits substantially a different angle relative to 
resting surface 13 in FIG. 4 than it does in FIG. 5. This while 
exaggerated, demonstrates the manner in which pillow 10 has pivotally 
displaced sacrum 17 of patient 16 to move the base of the sacrum in the 
posterior direction while moving apex 18 of the sacrum in the anterior 
direction. This causes lumbar region 19 to straighten until it is 
virtually linear and parallel to the resting surface 13 as shown in FIG. 
5. 
It must be appreciated that the second wedge shaped portion 15 of the 
pillow rests essentially against the sacrum of the patient while the first 
wedge shaped portion of the pillow rests essentially against the pelvis. 
The function of the second wedge shaped portion of the pillow causes, more 
effectively than the prior art, the lumbar region to straighten out. 
It should be noted that in FIG. 4 the lordosis condition has been 
exaggerated as has the reduction in lumbar lordosis in FIG. 5. This has 
been done to clearly demonstrate the problem and the manner in which 
pillow 10 can eliminate or alleviate the problem. 
It has been found by experiments as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,329 
which is incorporated herein by reference, that one-degree of reduction in 
the lumbosacral angle generally reduces lumbar lordosis sufficiently to 
alleviate low backache in an average patient. 
FIGS. 1-3 and 5 illustrate that pillow 10 is shaped to fit the sacral area 
of a supine patient between the rear pelvic area of patient 16 and a 
surface 13 on which the patient is resting in a supine condition. The 
pillow forms a first wedge shaped portion 12 engaging essentially the 
pelvis and buttocks of the patient with a second wedge shaped portion 15 
fitting the sacrum between the buttocks. 
FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the use of pillow 10 in a seated position on a 
chair 20 with the pillow placed between the lower back of the patient and 
the back 21 of chair 20. As noted the wider position of the first and 
second wedges are at the base of the spine of the patient. 
Pillow 10 when expanded may comprise a first wedge shaped portion having a 
rectangular base of approximately 14 inches in length and a width of 
approximately 12 inches with the second wedge shaped portion extending 
longitudinal of the base along its axis and being narrower in width than 
the first wedge shaped portion. The second wedge shaped portion may extend 
approximately 21/2 inches above the higher end of the wedge forming the 
base of the pillow and having a width of approximately 2 inches at the 
lower end and 3/4 inch at the higher end of the pillow. 
The top of the first wedge shaped portion is creased longitundinally of the 
pillow and the top of the second wedge shaped portion may be flat or 
conical, as desired. 
The prior art as represented by U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,329 heretofore referred 
to provides "support for the apex of the patient's sacrum without 
providing support for the base of the patient's sacrum. 
Because the claimed pillow conforms to the user's sacrum, it effectively 
cradles the sacrum. This cradling effect allows the pillow to grip the 
sacral base area and traction the sacrum footward as the user's weight is 
displaced headward by the effect of the pillow's wedge shape. 
At the same time, the pillow displaces the sacral apex anteriorly. The net 
effect is a rotation of the sacrum about an axis perpendicular to its 
length and at its approximate center of gravity, while causing a footward 
tractioning effect on the sacrum at the same time. This is different than 
the prior art in that the prior art does not contact the base area of the 
sacrum. 
Also, the claimed invention provides support for the base of the sacrum 
whereas the prior art does not. In addition, to the traction effect above 
described, contact at the sacral base helps prevent excess jamming of the 
sacroiliac articulations. Although much more pressure is placed at the 
apex of the sacrum that effectively rotates and pushes the sacrum into the 
two iliac bones by the claimed pillow, a small amount of cushion is placed 
at the sacral base to prevent excess jamming of the sacroiliac 
articulations. 
Although but one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, 
it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and 
modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the 
invention or from the scope of the appended claims.