Abstract:
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for adjusting lumbosacral area, which corrects misalignment of the vertebrae in the lumbosacral area by applying pressure on the lumbosacral area. The present invention simultaneously applies vertical and horizontal forces to the lumbosacral area where vertebral displacement has occurred to adjust the vertebral displacement in the lumbosacral area and remove stress concentrated on the lumbosacral area. Accordingly, the lumbosacral area where the vertebral displacement has happened can be easily adjusted. Also, when the apparatus is manually operated, there is an effect that muscular strength can be increased while adjusting the lumbosacral area. In addition, stress concentrated on a lumbosacral joint wherein the lumbar vertebrae and the sacral vertebrae meet together is removed, so that a user can enjoy physically and mentally healthy life.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for adjusting lumbosacral area, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for adjusting lumbosacral area, which corrects misalignment of the vertebrae in the lumbosacral area by applying pressure on the lumbosacral area. To be specific, the present invention relieves pressure on nerves between the fifth lumbar vertebra (hucklebone) and the first sacral vertebra (pelvic bone), thereby enabling users, whether or not they surfer from vertebral displacement to alleviate nerve compression between the lumbar vertebrae and the sacral vertebrae in the lumbosacral area. 
   2. Background of the Related Art 
   In general, the spinal column which is one of the most important parts in the human body is a central bone structure. Therefore, the importance of the vertebrae has been well known and emphasized. An exemplary view of the spinal column is shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     FIG. 8  is a schematic view illustrating the configuration of the spinal column in the human body. 
   Referring to  FIG. 8 , the spinal column consists of a series of 33 irregularly shaped bones, which are called vertebrae. The vertebrae are bilaterally symmetrical as a whole and look gently curved when being seen from a side. That is to say, cervical area  1  and lumbar area  3  are curved forward and thoracic area  2  and sacral area  4  are curved backward. Reference numeral  5  designates coccygeal area. 
   The important function of the spinal column is divided into two categories. One is to support the head and torso and allow the body parts to move. The other is to provide a protective channel for nerves, which project from the brain to each part of the human body. 
   Spinal nerves exit the spinal canal between the vertebrae. The spinal nerves are made up of neurons which are widely distributed within all organs, muscles, blood vessels, ligaments, and skin of the human body. The spinal column and the spinal nerves control all physical functions, such as feeling, movement, position sense, regulation of body temperature, regulation of heart rate, regulation of respiration, regulation of blood glucose, etc. Such nerve systems control every activity done both voluntarily and involuntarily. Therefore, it is of paramount importance in health that the vertebrae for protecting the spinal cord, i.e., the bundle of nerves, are in their correct positions. 
   That is to say, when the vertebrae are in the correct positions, the spinal cord or the spinal nerves function well without any difficulty whereas when the vertebrae are displaced, the spinal nerves exiting the spinal canal between the vertebrae begin to be compressed, thereby causing troubles in many nerve systems. The troubles in the nerve system undermine functions of human organs concerned and immune systems as well, leading to a serious disease. 
   Since a human being walks on two legs, differently from animals which walk on four limbs, he or she suffers an excessive force applied to the waist, especially to a contact point between the lumbar vertebrae (hucklebone) and the sacral vertebrae (pelvic bone), such that he or she is susceptible to vertebral displacement. This is because the sacral vertebrae are curved forward, abnormal stress is applied on him or her due to gravity generated by the large lordosis angle of the sacral vertebrae. Besides, since the lumbar vertebrae are moved in a wide range while the sacral vertebrae are fixed, the lumbosacral vertebrae, pertaining to the lumbar vertebrae and the sacral vertebrae, are susceptible to damage when he or she bends his or her back forward or backward. 
   Therefore, the misalignment of the vertebrae in the lumbosacral area should be corrected by widening the space between the sacral vertebrae and the lumbar vertebrae to remove the stress applied to the lumbosacral area  6 . Even persons who don&#39;t suffer from a lumbago can enjoy vibrant metabolism and better life physically and mentally through the process of removing the stress applied to the lumbosacral area  6 . 
   In general, a vertebrae deformity adjusting apparatus used in physical therapy rooms of hospitals or the like is structured such that it repeatedly pulls a patient&#39;s body in a longitudinal direction for a predetermined time using an elastic force of a spring or a mechanical force to relax the vertebrae and then stops the application of the pulling force to return the patient&#39;s body to its original state, thereby guiding the vertebrae into their correct positions. However, since the vertebrae deformity adjusting apparatus functions to only extend the human body, it has a limitation in vertebral misalignment correction. 
   A more developed type of apparatus than the above vertebrae deformity adjusting apparatus is disclosed in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 93-4383 (registered on Jul. 14, 1993). In a state where a patient&#39;s body is pulled in a longitudinal direction, the lower half of the body is shaken to guide the vertebrae to their correct positions. The apparatus, however, has a drawback in that since the lower half of the body is simply shaken while the body is extended, to stop the application of the pulling force is not of considerable help in correcting the deformity of the vertebrae. 
   Besides, Korean Utility Model Publication No. 99-5079 (published on Feb. 5, 1999) discloses an apparatus which adjusts the vertebrae by instantly applying a pressure to the vertebrae. The apparatus of Korean Utility Model Publication No. 99-5079 is superior in adjustment effect to the aforesaid apparatuses which simply extend or shake the patient&#39;s body. The apparatus of Korean Utility Model Publication No. 99-5079, however, has a disadvantage in that it can be applied only to a case where the degree of misalignment is not serious and it is not so useful to correct vertebral misalignment in the lumbosacral joint region. The apparatus has another disadvantage in that it cannot basically solve stress concentration on the lumbosacral joint region where the lumbar vertebrae and the sacral vertebrae meet together. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for adjusting lumbosacral area that corrects severe displacement of the vertebrae, especially, the vertebrae in a lumbosacral joint where the fifth lumbar vertebra and the first sacral vertebra meet together. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for adjusting lumbosacral area that solves a concentration problem of stress applied on a lumbosacral joint where the lumbar vertebrae and the sacral vertebrae meet together. 
   To achieve these objects in an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for adjusting lumbosacral area, comprising: a post-shaped contact member contacting the lumbosacral area and including an inclined surface formed at one end thereof; a vertical force applying member adapted to apply load to the lumbosacral area, and including a case which is open on the upper portion thereof for allowing weighty articles to be put therein to control the weight of the vertical force applying member, and a contact member attaching/detaching unit disposed on the lower end of the case for attaching or detaching the contact member to or from the case; a horizontal force applying member for moving the contact member in a longitudinal direction of a patient to apply a horizontal force to the lumbosacral area of the patient; a lifting member for lifting the contact member and the vertical force applying member to secure a space required for the patient to lie down below the contact member; a frame adapted to allow the contact member, the vertical force applying member, the horizontal force applying member and the lifting member to be mounted thereon, and including a safety plate located under the contact member and the vertical force applying member for preventing the contact member and the vertical force applying member from falling to the patient; and a bed disposed beneath the frame for allowing the patient to lie thereon to be treated. 
   The horizontal force applying member includes: two rails laid on the bed in a longitudinal direction of the bed in such a manner that the two rails are spaced apart from each other by a lateral extent of the frame; a plurality of wheels mounted to the lower ends of the frame for helping the frame to be moved along the rails laid on the bed in forward and rearward directions; a movable handle located on the front portion of the bed; a wire connected to the movable handle at one end thereof and connected to the rear side of the frame to which the wheels are mounted at the other end thereof in such a manner that the wire is passed through the bottom surface of the bed for moving the frame along the rails laid on the bed in the rearward direction when the movable handle is pulled toward the patient&#39;s body; and a plurality of rollers for helping the wire to be moved smoothly. 
   The horizontal force applying member includes: two rails laid on the bed in a longitudinal direction of the bed in such a manner that the two rails are spaced from each other by a lateral extent of the frame; a plurality of wheels mounted to the lower ends of the frame for helping the frame to be moved along the rails laid on the bed in forward and rearward directions; an electric motor for pulling the frame to which the wheels are mounted to move the same in the rearward direction; an electric motor controller electrically connected to the electric motor for driving the electric motor in a state where the patient lies on the bed; a wire connected to the rear side of the frame at one end thereof and connected to the electric motor at the other end thereof for moving the frame along the rails laid on the bed in the rearward direction; and a plurality of rollers for helping the wire to be moved smoothly. 
   The horizontal force applying member includes: a frame fixing unit for fixing the frame to the bed; and a fixed handle mounted on the front portion of the bed such that the patent holds the fixed handle and pulls his or her body lying on the bed in the forward direction with arm strength to apply a horizontal force to the lumbosacral area due to interaction between the lumbosacral area and the contact member. 
   To achieve those objectives in another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for adjusting lumbosacral area comprising the steps of: positioning the inclined surface of the contact member of claim  1  to conform to the contour of the lumbosacral area in which vertebral displacement has occurred; applying a vertical force to the lumbosacral area; and applying a horizontal force to the lumbosacral area by moving the contact member toward the hips of the patient while applying the vertical force. 
   The horizontal force applying step is carried out manually or by means of an electric motor. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an apparatus for adjusting lumbosacral area according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the lumbosacral area adjusting apparatus according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the lumbosacral area adjusting apparatus of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the lumbosacral area adjusting apparatus of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of an apparatus for adjusting lumbosacral area according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an apparatus for adjusting lumbosacral area according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of the lumbosacral area adjusting apparatus of  FIG. 6 ; and 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic view illustrating the configuration of the spinal column in the human body. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an apparatus for adjusting lumbosacral area according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the lumbosacral area adjusting apparatus according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 3  is a front view of the lumbosacral area adjusting apparatus of  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 4  is a side view of the lumbosacral area adjusting apparatus of  FIG. 2 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , an apparatus  100  for adjusting lumbosacral area according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a rectangular post-shaped contact member  110  contacting the lumbosacral area and including an inclined surface  111  formed at one end thereof; a vertical force applying member  120  adapted to apply load to the lumbosacral area, and including a case  121  which is open on the upper portion thereof for allowing weighty articles to be put therein to control the weight thereof, and a contact member attaching/detaching unit disposed on the lower end of the case  121  for attaching or detaching the contact member  110  to or from the case  121 ; a horizontal force applying member  130  for moving the contact member  110  in a longitudinal direction of a patient to apply a horizontal force to the lumbosacral area of the patient; a lifting member  140  for lifting the contact member  110  and the vertical force applying member  120  to secure a space required for the patient to lie down below the contact member  110 ; a frame  150  adapted to allow the contact member  110 , the vertical force applying member  120 , the horizontal force applying member  130  and the lifting member  140  to be mounted thereon, and including a safety plate  151  located under the contact member  110  and the vertical force applying member  120  for preventing the contact member  110  and the vertical force applying member  120  from falling to the patient; and a bed  160  disposed beneath the frame  150  for allowing the patient to lie thereon to be treated. 
   The contact member  110  is a portion in direct contact with the lumbosacral area in which vertebral displacement has occurred due to biped walking of the patient. The contact member  110  is of a rectangular post shape having the inclined surface  111  formed at the one end thereof. 
   The inclined surface may be a flat surface or a curved surface. Further, the inclination of the inclined surface is variable according to the degree of displacement. Also, the contact member  110  is structured to be attachable to or detachable from the vertical force applying member  120 , so that the vertebral displacement adjustment is carried out using a contact member with optimal inclination in consideration of the degree of displacement. That is to say, a contact member with a steep slope is used in case of severe vertebral displacement whereas a contact member with a gentle slope is used in case of slight vertebral displacement. 
   The vertical force applying member  120  includes the case  121  which is open on the upper portion thereof. The vertical force applying member  120  applies a vertical force to the lumbosacral area using the weight of the weighty articles put in the case. For example, a user can adjust the weight of the vertical force applying member  120  by putting articles, such as various metals, stones or the like, in the case. Thus, the weight of the vertical force applying member  120  can be adjusted according to the user&#39;s age, condition of health and the degree of vertebral displacement. 
   The vertical force applying member  120  is lifted by the lifting member  140  which will be described in detail below and lowered due to self-weight and gravity. At this time, to ensure smooth motion and linearity of the vertical force applying member  120 , four guide bars  122  are disposed around the vertical force applying member  120  and sliding holes  133  are mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the vertical force applying member  120  for sliding along the guide bars  122  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the lifting member  140  includes hydraulic cylinders  141  which are manually operated and have pumps embedded therein, a grip  142  for driving the hydraulic cylinders  141 , a relief valve switch (not shown in  FIG. 2 ), and coupling units  143  for coupling the ends of the cylinders  141  to the vertical force applying member  120 . 
   When the grip  142  is moved upwardly and downwardly, rods of the hydraulic cylinders  141  are upwardly moved and at the same time, the contact member  110  mounted to the vertical force applying member  120  is upwardly moved. Accordingly, a space is formed between the contact member  110  and the bed  160  so that a person who wants to adjust his or her lumbosacral area can get into and out of the lumbosacral area adjusting apparatus. At this time, the grip  142  is located at a position where the patient can hold up his or her hands and grasp the same after lying on the bed  160 , so that the user can manipulate the grip without other&#39;s help. 
   After the contact member  110  is sufficiently lifted, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the patient lies on the bed  160  and operates the relief valve to adjust the height of the contact member  110  mechanically connected to the hydraulic cylinders  141  until the contact member  110  is located at a position in which a proper amount of pressure is applied to the lumbosacral area. 
   Thereafter, the contact member  110  is moved toward the hips of the patient by means of the horizontal force applying member  130 . The horizontal force applying member  130  includes: two rails  131  laid on the bed  160  in a longitudinal direction of the bed  160  in such a manner that the two rails  131  are spaced apart from each other by a lateral extent of the frame  150 ; a plurality of wheels  132  mounted to the lower ends of the frame  150  for helping the frame  150  to be moved along the rails  131  laid on the bed  160  in forward and rearward directions; deviation preventing jaws  133  for preventing deviation of the wheels  132 ; a movable handle  134  located on the front portion of the bed  160 ; a wire  135  connected to the movable handle  134  at one end thereof and connected to the rear side of the frame  150  to which the wheels  132  are mounted at the other end thereof in such a manner that the wire  135  is passed through the bottom surface of the bed  160  for moving the frame  150  along the rails  131  laid on the bed  160  in the rearward direction when the movable handle  134  is pulled toward the patient&#39;s body; and a plurality of rollers  136  for helping the wire  135  to be moved smoothly (see  FIG. 4 ). 
   Therefore, when the patient pulls the movable handle  134  toward his or her body while he or she lies on the bed  160 , the frame  150  connected to the wire  135  is moved toward the hips of the body such that the contact member  110  applies a horizontal force to the lumbosacral area of the patient, leading to adjustment of the lumbosacral area in which the vertebral displacement has occurred. 
     FIG. 5  is a side view of an apparatus for adjusting lumbosacral area according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   In the first preferred embodiment, the patient who desires to adjust his or her lumbosacral area operates the horizontal force applying member  130  personally. Differently from the first preferred embodiment, in the second preferred embodiment, the horizontal force applying member  130  is operated by means of a power unit, such as an electric motor. The same parts shown the first and second preferred embodiments will have the same reference numerals in order to avoid redundancy. 
   The horizontal force applying member  130  includes: two rails  131  laid on the bed  160  in a longitudinal direction of the bed  160  in such a manner that the two rails  131  are spaced from each other by a lateral extent of the frame  150 ; a plurality of wheels  132  mounted to the lower ends of the frame  150  for helping the frame  150  to be moved along the rails  131  laid on the bed  160  in forward and rearward directions; an electric motor  172  for pulling the frame  150  to which the wheels  132  are mounted to move the same on the bed  160  in the rearward direction; an electric motor controller  174  electrically connected to the electric motor  172  for driving the electric motor  172  in a state where the patient lies on the bed  160 ; a wire  135  connected to the rear side of the frame  150  at one end thereof and connected to the electric motor  172  at the other end thereof for moving the frame  150  along the rails  131  laid on the bed  160  in the rearward direction; and a plurality of rollers  131  for helping the wire  135  to be moved smoothly. 
   That is, in the second preferred embodiment, when the patient operates only the electric motor controller  174 , the wire  135  can be pulled with the help of the electric motor  172 , differently form the first preferred embodiment where the patient directly pulls the wire  135 . In this case, since the wire  135  can be pulled by means of the electric motor  172 , the lumbosacral area adjusting apparatus according to the second preferred embodiment is convenient to use. A series of steps for driving the electric motor  172  by means of the electric motor controller  174  are based on common technology, and therefore, explanation of the steps will be omitted. 
     FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an apparatus for adjusting lumbosacral area according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 7  is a side view of the lumbosacral area adjusting apparatus of  FIG. 6 . 
   The same parts shown in the first, second and third preferred embodiments have the same reference numerals in order to avoid redundancy. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the frame  150  is fixed to the bed  160  by welding or by means of fixing means, such as bolt( 170 ) coupled to the bottom of the bed  160 , and a fixed handle  180  is mounted at the front portion of the bed  160 . 
   That is, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the frame  150  is fixed to the bed  160 . Accordingly, the contact member  10  and the vertical force applying member  120  mounted on the frame  150  for applying a vertical force to the lumbosacral area (see  FIG. 8 ) can be moved vertically but cannot be moved horizontally and laterally. The horizontal force applying member includes a fixed handle  180  mounted on the front portion of the bed  160  such that the patient makes long arms to grasp the fixed handle and folds his or her arms to move his or her body in the forward direction with his or her arm strength to apply a horizontal force to the lumbosacral area due to action-reaction between the contact member  110  and the lumbosacral area (see  FIG. 8 ). The lumbosacral area adjusting apparatus of the third preferred embodiment is simple in structure. 
   It goes without saying that there can be used an apparatus which simultaneously applies horizontal and vertical forces to the lumbosacral area by means of a mechanical device, such as a cylinder to correct the displacement of the vertebrae in the lumbosacral area and remove the stress concentrated on the lumbosacral area. 
   As described above, the apparatus can adjust the lumbosacral area in which the vertebral displacement has occurred using the simple means, thereby easily correcting the vertebral displacement in the lumbosacral area without a separate power source. The lumbosacral area adjusting apparatus can be manually driven, thereby both correcting the displacement and improving the patient&#39;s muscular strength. Further, the lumbosacral area adjusting apparatus can be driven by means of the electric motor as well, thereby conveniently adjusting the displaced lumbosacral area. Besides, the lumbosacral area adjusting apparatus can remove the stress concentrated on the lumbosacral area where the lumbar vertebrae and the sacral vertebrae meet together, thereby enabling users, whether or not they suffer from such a painful condition as lumbago due to vertebral displacement in the lumbosacral area, to enjoy physically and mentally healthy life. 
   The forgoing embodiments are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teachings can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. The description of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.