Patent Publication Number: US-2022211531-A1

Title: Apparatus and method for stabilizing a human anatomical joint

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation application of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/216,668, filed Dec. 11, 2018; which was nonprovisional application claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/599,675, filed Dec. 15, 2017, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     This present invention relates to the medical field as exemplified by IPC class A61 and more particularly to apparatus and associated methods for stabilizing, articulating joints of the human body, including devices adapted to facilitate walking. In one aspect, it relates to an apparatus for stabilizing the human knee and the operation of such an apparatus configured and arranged for treating damaged ligaments in the knee. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Orthopedic braces are used to stabilize joints between the limbs of the human anatomy in, cases where the joints or the limbs articulating about them have sustained damage. Braces have been employed to stabilize knees, ankles, elbows and wrists in this way. The brace is applied to reduce strain on the injured limb or joint while permitting the limb or joint to still perform its, function, thereby minimizing the risk of further damage. 
     Several knee brace products have been developed to more specifically protect the ligaments of the knee, including the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), and medial collateral ligament (MCL). These are the ligaments most often damaged in when knees are overstrained, particularly by individuals involved in strenuous sporting activity. The lateral collateral ligament (LCL) may also sometimes become strained. The brace products for protecting these ligaments vary greatly in technology, function, and efficacy. 
     Some products are focused on providing mechanical encapsulation that still allows articulation of the joint. Such products tend to involve rather heavy hinge mechanisms and are generally bulky and not particularly aesthetic. At the other extreme there are several products that assume the form of a garment, different forms of such garments employing different technologies to produce compressive forces in the general vicinity of the knee in an attempt to stabilize it and protect the above ligaments. Some garments fall short in providing enough compression. Others provide adequate overall compression but do not direct the compression to key anatomical areas. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a first aspect, a garment is presented that is arranged for enveloping at least in part an articulating joint of a human body, the garment comprising one or more tension members each disposed longitudinally along a corresponding predetermined curved three-dimensional spatial path within or on a matrix of a garment material, the corresponding predetermined paths spatially relating the one or more tension members to at least one natural ligament of the joint. The one or more tension members may each comprise one or more strands of a substantially longitudinally inextensible material; and the garment material may comprise conduits disposed within or on the garment material and arranged to receive the one or more strands of each tension member. Each conduit may a lower coefficient of friction with respect to the strands than the coefficient of friction of the garment material with respect to the strands. Each conduit may comprise one or more tube of material different from the garment material, the tubes arranged lengthwise along the predetermined three-dimensional spatial path of the corresponding tension member. 
     The garment may further comprise at least one tensioner disposed in line with at least one of the one or more tension members for tensioning the at least one tension member. At least one of the one or more tension members may further comprise at least one tension regulator disposed for balancing tension differences between different strands of the at least one tension member. 
     When the articulating joint is a knee with a patella in a leg of the human body, the path of at least one of the one or more tension members may comprise a lateral segment disposed to extend generally vertically proximate and lateral to the patella and a medial segment disposed to extend generally vertically proximate and medial to the patella. The garment may further comprise at least one portion of inextensible fabric connecting the medial segment of the at least one tension member to the lateral segment of the at least one tension member around the posterior of the leg. 
     The lateral and medial segments of the at least one tension member may further be disposed to cross over each other above and below the knee at respectively upper and lower crossover points. The garment may further comprise at least one of a portion of inextensible fabric connecting the medial segment of the at least one tension member to the lateral segment of the at least one tension member over the anterior of the knee above the upper crossover point and a portion of inextensible fabric connecting the medial segment of the at least one tension member to the lateral segment of the at least one tension member over the anterior of the knee below the lower crossover point. 
     In general, in the case of the articulating joint being a knee, the garment may comprise a portion of inextensible fabric laterally joining two segments of the tension member in tension with respect to each other horizontally over the leg. 
     The garment may further comprise a belt disposed for tightening the garment about a waist of the human body and a stabilizing connector connecting the at least one tension member to the belt, wherein the stabilizing connector is composed of a substantially inextensible material. 
     The three dimensional spatial path of at least one tension member may extend around a limb articulating at the joint. The three-dimensional spatial path of at least one tension member may be arranged so that tension in the at least one tension member produces or exerts a compressive force proximate the joint. The at least one longitudinal portion of the one or more tension members may comprise a length of substantially inextensible fabric. 
     In another aspect, a garment is presented that comprises a closed tensionable loop arranged to freely move along a conduit within or on the garment, wherein the conduit is arranged to cross over itself between a lateral and a medial side on the anterior of a leg of the user at least one of above and below a knee of the leg. In some embodiments, the conduit is arranged to cross over itself between a lateral and a medial side on the anterior of a leg of the user both above and below a knee of the leg. The tensionable loop is disposed in or on the garment for applying pressure to at least one of a lateral collateral ligament and a medial collateral ligament of the user when the garment is worn by the user and the tensionable loop is tensioned. The garment may further comprise a tensioner disposed for tensioning the tensionable loop. The garment may further comprise a belt disposed to fit around the waist of the user and the tensionable loop may be anchored to the belt. The conduit may be arranged along a path that circles the leg at a distal region of a triceps surae of the leg. 
     The garment may further comprise an anchor member and the tension member and anchor member may jointly at least partially, or in major part, encircle the thigh. In other embodiments, the tension member at least partially, or in major part, encircles the thigh. 
     The tensionable loop may comprise a tension member extending along the conduit sandwiched between layers of low friction material. The garment may be fashioned from a garment material and the conduit may be contained within the garment material and be laterally demarcated by stitching. The stitching may comprise a low friction fiber. The tensionable loop may comprise a tension member extending along the conduit and the conduit may comprise a low friction tube, which may be a collated tube. The tensionable loop may comprise a tension member made of a substantially longitudinally inextensible material and the inextensible material may be flexible. 
     In a further aspect, a method is presented for stabilizing a knee of a human user leg, comprising: applying around a knee of the user a wearable garment comprising a garment leg, a garment knee, a tensioner and a closed tensionable loop arranged around the leg of the garment to freely move longitudinally along a conduit within or on the garment, wherein the conduit is arranged to cross over itself between a lateral and, a medial side on the anterior of the garment leg above and below the knee of the garment and the tensioner is disposed and arranged for adjusting a tension the loop; and operating the tensioner to adjust a tension in the loop. 
     The applying may comprise: arranging the garment on the user to position a first portion of the loop against a distal region of a triceps surae of the user leg; positioning a second portion of the loop on or above a thigh of the user leg; and positioning on the medial and lateral sides of a patella of the user leg proximate two collateral ligaments of the user knee third and fourth portions of the loop located on the loop between the first and second portions. The positioning of the second portion of the loop may comprise positioning the second portion of the loop against a posterior of the thigh of the user leg. 
     In a further aspect, a method is provided for manufacturing a wearable garment for stabilizing a knee of a user, the method comprising: forming a garment covering at, least in part at least a knee, an, adjoining triceps surae, and a distal portion of an adjoining thigh; establishing at least one of in and on the garment a conduit for receiving a tensionable loop, the conduit arranged to cross over itself between a lateral and a medial side on the anterior of the garment at least one of above and below the garment knee; threading along a path through the conduit a tensionable member; establishing one of in and on the loop a tensioner for adjusting a tension the loop. 
     Threading the tensionable member may comprise threading a tensionable member that is substantially inextensible. Threading the tensionable member may comprise threading a tensionable member that is flexible and substantially inextensible. Threading the tensionable member may comprise threading a tensionable member made from one or more of PTFE, stainless steel; Nylon®; Kevlar®; one or more ultra high molecular weight polyethylene based fiber, a fiber with a diamond weave. Threading a tensionable member made from the fiber with a diamond weave may comprise threading a tensionable member made from one of cotton, polyester, polypropylene, and Technora®. 
     Establishing the conduit may comprise arranging the conduit to cross over itself above and below the knee. Forming the garment may comprise extending the garment to a waist of the user, forming a belt around the waist. Establishing the tensioner may comprise establishing the tensioner on the belt. Establishing the tensioner in or on the loop may comprise establishing the tensioner on a thigh of the garment. 
     In a further embodiment, a wearable garment is presented for stabilizing a knee of a user comprising: a closed tensionable loop arranged to freely move along a conduit disposed within or on the garment, the conduit extending along a conduit path having relative to the knee a lateral portion and a medial portion; and an adjustable tensioner in or on the loop for adjusting a tension in the loop; wherein the lateral and medial portions of the conduit path pass a patella of the user knee proximate the lateral and medial collateral ligaments of the user knee respectively and in which the lateral and medial portions of the conduit path closely approach each other at least one point, the at least one point being, at least one of below and above the user knee. 
     The lateral and medial portions of the conduit path may closely approach each other at a first point below the user knee and at a second point above the user knee. The tensionable loop may be disposed for applying pressure to at least one of the lateral collateral ligament and a medial collateral ligament of the user when the garment is worn by the user and the tensionable loop is tensioned. The conduit may be arranged along a path that substantially circles the leg at a distal region of a triceps surae of the leg. The tensionable loop may comprise a tension member extending along the conduit. The tensioner may be disposed on the thigh of the user. The tension member may be made of a substantially longitudinally inextensible material and the material may be flexible. The conduit may comprise a low friction tube and the tube may be collated. 
     In a further aspect a method is presented for manufacturing a wearable garment for stabilizing a knee of a user, the method comprising: forming a garment covering at least in part at least a knee, an adjoining triceps surae, and a distal portion of an adjoining thigh; establishing at least one of in and on the garment a conduit for receiving a tensionable loop, the conduit extending along a conduit path having relative to the knee a lateral portion and a medial portion, the lateral and medial portions of the conduit path closely approaching each other at least one point, the at least one point being at least one of below and above the user knee; threading along a path through the conduit a tensionable member; establishing one of in and on the loop a tensioner for adjusting a tension the loop. 
     Threading the tensionable member may comprise threading a tensionable member that is substantially inextensible. Threading the tensionable member may comprise threading a tensionable member that is flexible and substantially inextensible. Threading the tensionable member may comprise threading a tensionable member made from one or more of PTFE, stainless steel, Nylon®; Kevlar®; one or more ultra high molecular weight polyethylene based fiber, a fiber with a diamond weave. 
     Threading a tensionable member made from the fiber with a diamond weave may comprise threading a tensionable member made from one of cotton, polyester, polypropylene, and Technora®. Establishing the conduit may comprise arranging the conduit to have the lateral and medial portions of the conduit path closely approaching each other below and above the user knee. Forming the garment may comprise extending the garment to a waist of the user, forming a belt around the waist, in which establishing the tensioner comprises establishing the tensioner on the belt. Establishing the tensioner in or on the loop may comprise establishing the tensioner on a thigh of the garment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a drawing showing the general structure of the human left knee with the patella and its adhesions deleted for the sake of clarity. 
         FIG. 2  is a drawing of a first embodiment of a bracing garment for bracing the human left knee. 
         FIG. 3  is a drawing of another embodiment of a bracing garment for bracing the human left knee. 
         FIG. 4  is a drawing of another embodiment of a bracing garment for bracing the human left knee 
         FIG. 5  shows the thigh portion of  FIG. 2  enlarged and with more detail. 
         FIG. 6A  shows an arrangement of a tension member and conduit in one embodiment 
         FIG. 6B  shows an arrangement of tension members and conduits in another embodiment. 
         FIG. 6C  shows an arrangement of a tension member and conduit in another embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart diagram of a method for stabilizing a knee of a human leg. 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart diagram of a method of manufacturing a bracing garment for bracing the human knee. 
         FIG. 9  is a drawing of a further embodiment of a bracing garment for bracing the human left knee. 
         FIG. 10  is a flow chart diagram of another method of manufacturing a bracing garment for bracing the human knee. 
         FIG. 11  is a drawing of another embodiment of a bracing garment for bracing the human left knee. 
         FIG. 12  is a drawing showing an embodiment of a tension regulator for use with the tension member of  FIG. 6B . 
         FIG. 13  is a drawing showing an embodiment of a tension regulator for use in regulating the tension at the two ends of the tension member of  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present invention. The flow charts and screen shots are also representative in nature, and actual embodiments of the invention may include further features or steps not shown in the drawings. The exemplification set out herein illustrates an embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to the precise form disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings. 
     The present invention relates to a garment incorporating a brace arrangement for an articulating joint of a human body. The brace comprises tension members each disposed longitudinally along a corresponding predetermined curved three-dimensional spatial path within or on, a matrix of the garment material, the corresponding predetermined paths spatially relating the one or more tension members to at least one natural ligament of the joint. In order to describe the garment and brace, we consider first the human knee as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 1  shows internal knee portion  100  of a human left leg as viewed from front or anterior, but with the patella or knee cap and its various adhesions removed for the sake of clarity of the internal structure of this particular joint. Major bones of the leg are shown as femur  110 , tibia  120  and fibula  130 . The portions of these bones that contact one another during articulation are provided with articular cartilage  140 , the two portions of the cartilage on tibia  120  being medial meniscus  144  and lateral meniscus  146 . The bones are stabilized with respect to one another by strategically placed ligaments that hold them together. These include posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)  150  and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)  160  binding together the interacting faces of femur  110  and tibia  120 , and medial collateral ligament (MCL)  170  and lateral collateral ligament (LCL)  180  binding respectively tibia  120  and fibula  130  to respectively the medial and lateral portions of the head of femur  110 . 
     In the following description, various embodiments of an inventive garment are shown as disposed on a human from a middle section of the body and down the leg, with the entire lower portion of the body including the feet being covered by the garment. In actual embodiments, the garment may or may not extend all the way up to or past the waist, or completely covering the feet. Such variations in the configuration of a garment in accordance with the present invention may be dictated by style, manufacturing methods, and/or particular configurations for individual situations. Accordingly, the following detailed description of embodiments represents only a small fraction of the possible variations of such garments. 
     We turn now to a first embodiment of a brace garment shown in  FIG. 2 , in which the knee joint of  FIG. 1  is dressed in garment  200  comprising belt  210 , tension member  220 , anchor member  230 , and tensioner  240 . Broken rectangle  100  indicates the region of the left leg shown in  FIG. 1 . Tension member  220  follows a predetermined path related to the disposition of ligaments  150 ,  160 ,  170  and  180  described above. Proceeding from tensioner  240  at point A, the path proceeds to point B where tension member  220  splits in its path to form a single closed loop path. The path proceeds from the left lateral side to pass patella  190  of the left leg on the medial side before curving around again to reach the lateral side of the left leg at point C at the distal portion of the triceps surae (the collection of muscles of the human calf), from where it proceeds around the back of the leg once more (shown in broken line) to the medial side of the left leg at point D. It then proceeds from point D to cross over its own path at point E in order to proceed along a curved path around the lateral side of patella  190 . After crossing over itself at point F, the path curves sharply to the left lateral side to arrive at point B where it rejoins itself. At crossover points E and F, the outgoing and incoming portions of tension member  220  are independent, they do not join each other and are arranged to move as freely from each other as possible. 
     The path of anchor member  230  extends from tensioner  240  at point G around the back of the thigh (shown as a broken line) to point H on the medial side and then to point I where it terminates proximate tension member  220 . The path of tension member  220  makes a sharp curve at point I. The exact way in which anchor member  230  and tension member  220  are arranged at point I is described in more detail below. For the present purposes it suffices to point out that the path of anchor member  230  and the path of tension member  220  jointly form a closed loop around the thigh to anchor brace garment  200  to the thigh. That is, with reference also to further embodiments below, tension member  220  and anchor member  230  together fully encircle the thigh irrespective of how any anchoring function is distributed between tension member  220  and anchor member  230 . The loop from point C to point D to point E formed by the path of tension member  220  at the calf of the leg similarly anchors brace garment  200  to the calf. 
     In operation, tension member  220  may have its tension adjusted by the wearer of garment  200  via tensioner  240 . Similarly, in embodiments in which anchor member  230  extends along its path within a conduit, as addressed in more detail below, anchor member  230  may have its tension adjusted by tensioner  240 . In other embodiments, anchor member  230  may be comprised of a material that is longitudinally inextensible and tensioner  240  may in such embodiments be disposed on the inextensible material so that tensioning tension member  220  also tensions anchor member  230 . 
     Tensioner  240  may be implemented in a variety of embodiments, including without limitation ratchet arrangements and lug screw arrangements. Any arrangement capable of establishing longitudinal tension in tension member  220  and compatible with human operation is suitable. 
     The embodiment of  FIG. 2  specifically shows tension member  220  crossing over itself both above and below the knee. In a more general embodiment it needs only cross over itself either above or below the knee. However, there is merit in the downward and upward portions of the path of tension member  220  approaching each other on the side of the knee opposing that on which the tension member  220  in fact does cross over itself. 
     A second embodiment of a garment according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 3  as garment  200 ′ with belt  210 ′, tension member  220 ′, and tensioner  240 ′. In this embodiment, the schematic path of tension member  220 ′ starts at point A′ at tensioner  240 ′ on the right hip on belt  210 ′. It then proceeds from point A′ around the back of the wearer (shown in a broken line) to point B′, located on the lateral side of the left leg, where tension member  220 ′ splits in its path to form a single closed loop. The loop proceeds from the left lateral side to pass patella  190  of the left leg on the medial side before curving around again to reach the lateral side of the left leg at point C′ at the distal portion of the triceps surae, from where it proceeds around the back of the leg once more (shown in broken line) to the medial side of the left leg at point D′. It then proceeds from point D′, to cross over its own path at point E′, in, order to proceed along a curved path around the lateral side of patella  190  before again crossing over its own path at point F. The path then curves sharply to the left lateral side to arrive at the point B′, where it rejoins itself. At crossover points E′ and F′ the outgoing and incoming portions of tension member  220  are independent, they do not join each other and are arranged to move as freely from each other as possible. 
     In this arrangement, tension member  220 ′, by virtue of circling the leg, not only produces or exerts a stabilizing compressive force on knee region  100  but also produces or exerts forces on the leg and garment that allow the tension member to clamp the leg in region C′-D′-E′ around the calf. Tension member  220 ′ therefore serves as its own distal anchor to the leg and is anchored at the top in belt  210 ′ and by the fact that tension member  220 ′ completes at least a partial portion, perhaps a major portion, of a circle about the body. In operation, tension member  220 ′ may have its tension adjusted by the wearer of garment  200 ′ via tensioner  240 ′. In other embodiments, the tensioner may be located further around the anterior of the torso so that tension member  220 ′ completes a circle around the thigh as seen from the top down along the leg. In this disclosure, the phrase “fully encircles the thigh” is used to describe this latter situation, even though the actual path may be in the nature of a spiral. The segment of tension member  220 ′ extending from point A′ to point B′ in  FIG. 3  may also be viewed as an anchor member, as it fulfills the same role as anchor member  230  in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
     The embodiment of  FIG. 3  specifically shows tension member  220 ′ crossing over itself both above and below the knee. In a more general embodiment it needs only cross over itself either above or below the knee. However, there is merit in the downward and upward portions of the path of tension member  220 ′ approaching each other on the side of the knee opposing that on which tension member  220 ′ in fact does cross over itself. 
     A further embodiment of the garment is shown in  FIG. 4  as garment  200 ″ with belt  210 ″, tension member  220 ″, and tensioner  240 ″. In this embodiment, the schematic path of tension member  220 ″ starts at point A″ at tensioner  240 ″. It then proceeds from point A″ to pass patella  190  of the left leg on the medial side before curving around again to reach the lateral side of the left leg at point C″ at the distal portion of the triceps surae, from where it proceeds around the back of the leg (shown in broken line) to the medial side of the left leg at point D″. It then proceeds from point D″, to cross over its own path at point E″, in order to proceed along a curved path around the lateral side of patella  190  before again crossing over its own path at point F″. It curves around the medial side of the thigh at point G″ and proceeds around the back of the thigh over the posterior of the thigh (shown in broken lines) to tensioner  240 ″ at point H″. At crossover points E″ and F″ the outgoing and incoming portions of tension member  220 ″ do not join each other and are arranged to move as freely from each other as possible. 
     In this arrangement, tension member  220 ″, by virtue of circling the leg, not only produces or exerts a stabilizing compressive force on knee region  100  but also produces or exerts forces on the leg and garment that allow the tension member to clamp the leg in region C″-D″-E″ around the calf. Tension member  220 ″ therefore serves as its own distal anchor to the leg. Similarly, by virtue of circling the leg about the thigh it anchors the garment to the thigh. In operation, the tension member may have its tension adjusted by the wearer of garment  200 ″ via tensioner  240 ″. 
     The embodiment of  FIG. 4  specifically shows tension member  220 ″ crossing over itself both above and below the knee. In a more general embodiment it needs only cross over itself either above or below the knee. However, there is merit in the downward and upward portions of the path of tension member  220 ″ approaching each other on the side of the knee opposing that on which tension member  220 ″ in fact does cross over itself. 
     In the embodiments of  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , tension member  220 ,  220 ′,  220 ″ in each case describes a tensionable loop, even if the tensionable loop, is not circular and despite tensioner  240 ,  240 ′,  240 ″ being in the loop in some cases. Furthermore, in the various embodiments, tension member  220 ,  220 ′,  220 ″ and anchor member  230  separately or jointly either wholly, in major part, or at least partially encircle the thigh. 
     In the embodiments shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 , the garment need not assume the form of a complete lower body garment and need only cover the relevant portion of the leg being stabilized. The anchoring arrangements of  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4  obviate belt  210 ,  210 ″. It is therefore possible for the embodiments shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4  to be implemented in the form of a hose for the affected leg, the hose extending from the upper thigh to below the calf. Wearers may prefer to employ a more extensive garment for aesthetic reasons. Even, if it assumes the general aspect of a complete lower body garment, the self-anchoring aspect of tension member  220 ,  220 ″ makes it possible for the garment not to have to extend to or over the feet. Garment  200 ,  200 ′, or  200 ″ may envelope the knee wholly, or only in part. For example, the posterior of the knee or the patella may in principle remain uncovered by garment  200 ,  200 ′ or  200 ″. 
     The choice of the exact path of tension member  220 ,  220 ′,  220 ″ is dictated by the forces required for stabilizing the knee, which in turn is dictated by the support and compression desired for the four ligaments in the knee discussed above at the hand of  FIG. 1 . In this respect it will be noted that tension member  220 ,  220 ′,  220 ″ passes proximate the two lateral ligaments MCL and LCL to compress the knee in those areas. The path of tension member  220 ,  220 °,  220 ″ is therefore predetermined by the location of the ligaments. In  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , a single tension member is employed disposed longitudinally along a predetermined path. That is, the tension is directed longitudinally along the path. The garment may in general comprise one or more tension members each disposed longitudinally along a corresponding predetermined curved three-dimensional spatial path within or on a matrix of a garment material, the corresponding predetermined paths spatially relating the one or more tension members to at least one natural ligament of the anatomical joint. 
     We turn now to the nature of tension member  220 ,  220 ′,  220 ″ and its interaction with, the matrix of the material from which garment  200 ,  200 ′,  200 ″ is fashioned.  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  schematically show the paths of tension members  220 ,  220 ′,  220 ″, but not how tension member  220 ,  220 ′,  220 ″ is housed or retained in or on garment  200 ,  200 ′,  200 ″. Tension members  220 ,  220 ′,  220 ″ have to be free to move within garment  200 ,  200 ′,  200 ″ without crumpling or significantly distorting the garment. To achieve this, tension members  220 ,  220 ′,  220 ″ are routed along their paths within conduits in the matrix of the material from which garment  200 ,  200 ′,  200 ″ is fashioned. The conduits may comprise natural passages within the weave of the material of the garment. In other embodiments, the conduits may be tubular in nature and may be disposed within or external to but attached to the material matrix of garment  200 ,  200 ′,  200 ″. In yet further embodiments, the conduits may comprise segments of tubing, also described in the present disclosure by the term “collated tubing”. The use of collated tubing allows the degree of friction between tension member  220 ,  220 ′,  220 ″ and the matrix material of garment  200 ,  200 ′,  200 ″ to be modified. In yet further embodiments, the conduits may be fashioned from a clothing material different from that of the matrix of garment  200 ,  200 ′,  200 ″. In yet further embodiments, the conduits may be fashioned by a stitching pattern that demarcates the tension member path either side of tension member  220 ,  220 ′,  220 ″. A special case of such a stitched arrangement is one in which the material of the garments is stitched together in a seam, and tension member  220 ,  220 ′,  220 ″ extends longitudinally within the seam. 
     Tension member  220 ,  220 ′,  220 ″ may comprise a plurality of individual strands extending along individual conduits, the individual strands being joined together before entering tensioner  240 ,  240 ′,  240 ″. Tension member  220 ,  220 ′,  220 ″ may be formed of a material that, is substantially less extensible than the material matrix of the garment. Materials suited for use in tension member  220 ,  220 ′,  220 ″ may be longitudinally inextensible but flexible. Suitable materials for tension member  220 ,  220 ′,  220 ″ include, but are not limited to, stainless steel; Nylon; Kevlar®; Teflon®; ultra high molecular weight polyethylene-based fiber such as Dyneema®; and various fibers with a diamond or basket weave including cotton, polyester and polypropylene, for example without limitation Technora®. (Kevlar is a registered trademark of E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY CORPORATION DELAWARE Chestnut Run Plaza, 974 Centre Road Wilmington Del. 19805; Teflon is a registered trademark of THE CHEMOURS COMPANY FC, LLC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY DELAWARE 1209 ORANGE STREET Wilmington Del. 19801; Dyneema is a registered trademark of DSM IP Assets B.V. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY NETHERLANDS Het Overloon 1 HEERLEN NETHERLANDS NL6411 TE; and Technora is a registered trademark of TEIJIN KABUSHIKI KAISHA (TEIJIN LIMITED) CORPORATION JAPAN 6-7, MINAMIHOMMACHI 1-CHOME CHUO-KU, OSAKA JAPAN) The conduit may be formed of the same material as the matrix material of the garment and be lined internally with a conduit material of lesser friction coefficient with respect to the tension member material so as to allow the tension member  220 ,  220 ′,  220 ″ to move as freely as possible. The conduit material may be in the form of a tube or a collated tube. There is no particular structural limitation on the cross-section of the tube. A collated tube is useful in that it allows a very low friction tube material to be selected even if it is inextensible, because the collation segments may move closer to one another without unduly crumpling the garment  200 ,  200 ′,  200 ″ when tension member  220 ,  220 ′,  220 ″ is put under tension. As shown in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , tensioner  240 ,  240 ′,  240 ″ may be viewed as variously in or on the loop formed by the tension member  220 ,  220 ′,  220 ″. 
     Considering tension members  220 ,  220 ′,  220 ″ as freely moving within their respective conduits, we now return to  FIG. 2  in order to elucidate the matter of the relationship between anchor member  230  and tension member  220  at point I. To this end, the thigh region of  FIG. 2  is shown enlarged and with more detail in  FIG. 5 . In one embodiment, anchor member  230  may extend from point G to point I along conduit  232  similar to conduit  222  of tension member  220 . In order for this latter arrangement to function as an anchor, anchor member  230  is attached to end  234  of conduit  232  proximate point I. It is to be noted that anchor member  230  is not attached to tension member  220  at point I, because tension member  220  needs to remain free to move within conduit  222 . In this arrangement, the portion of tension member  220  extending from point A at tensioner  240  to point I, together with the whole of anchor member  230  form an anchor that extends around the thigh. As tension member  220  needs to be able to move freely past point I, the curvature of the path of tension member  220  at point I has an upper curvature limit dictated by the flexibility of tension member  220 . This favors a materials choice for tension member  220  that requires the material to be substantially longitudinally inextensible, yet highly, flexible. This makes a variety of fibers with a diamond or basket weave including cotton, polyester and polypropylene useful for the particular embodiment in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5 . 
     Any portion  250  of garment  200  between anchor member  230  and tension member  220  may be made from inextensible material to ensure that any tension applied to anchor member  230  by tensioner  240  does not simply stretch portion  250  of garment  200  proximate the region between anchor member  230  and tension member  220 . In other embodiments, the end of anchor member  230  near point I may be shaped into a loop in order to spread the force acting at the end of anchor member  230  over a larger area to avoid pulling or deforming the fabric of garment  200 .  FIG. 5  also shows tension member  220  entering tensioner  240  via tensioner port  242 . 
     There is much freedom in the choice of the matrix material or fabric of the garment  200 ,  200 ′,  200 ″. There is some merit in using a material with considerable elasticity, for example without limitation Spandex or mixes of Spandex with other fibers, including for example without limitation cotton. This allows the garment to be made with an intentionally tight fit. This reduces the possibility of crumpling when tension member  220 ,  220 ′,  220 ″ is put under tension. 
       FIG. 6A ,  FIG. 6B , and  FIG. 6C  show different, implementations of conduits for use with tension members. Using the elements of  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5  as example,  FIG. 6A  shows a seam in garment  200  material matrix created by stitches  224 , with conduit  222  extending along the seam in the form of tube in this embodiment. Tension member  220  extends longitudinally through conduit  222 . The material of conduit  222  is selected to have a low coefficient of friction with tension member  220 . In a more general case, there may be a plurality of seams, each having conduit  222  extending longitudinally along it and each conduit  222  having a strand of tension member  220  extending longitudinally along it. In  FIG. 6A , conduit  222  is shown as circular in cross-section, but in other embodiments it may have any suitable cross-section that allows the strand of tension member  220  to move substantially freely, while simultaneously making conduit  222  compatible with the ergonomic requirements to which the garment is subject. One suitable cross-section is semi-circular, or a smaller segment of a circle with enough curvature to accommodate the strand of tension member  220 , while being flat on one side so as to be easily integrated in garments material  200 . It has already been explained that conduit  222  may be collated, which allows very low friction, but inextensible tubing to be employed. Example materials for the tubing include, but are not, limited to Teflon® and silica. In a related embodiment, the strand of tension member  220  is simply sandwiched between two strips of low fiction material inside a stitched seam. In a further embodiment, seams may be created by joining adjacent material matrices by an adhesive, heat sealing, or other conjoining mechanism, and a conduit formed between suitable spaced-apart seams. Conduits may be similarly implemented in the embodiments of  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6B  shows another embodiment of a way to incorporate tension member  220  within the matrix material of garment  200 . The drawing is an edge-on view of the weave of garment  200 . It shows four rows  260  of stitching or weave either side of every one of three strands of tension member  220  within the matrix material of garment  200 . The three strands of tension member  220 , being  220 A,  220 B, and  220 C, are sandwiched between two longitudinal strips  270  of low friction material held by stitching  260 . In this drawing, the material of garment  200  is shown as being two sheets. This should be considered as presented schematically for the sake of clarity, as the material is in practice woven. The fiber of the stitching may be a low friction material so that tension member  220  slides on all sides against low friction material. In this embodiment, conduits  222 ′ are formed by low friction material strips  270  and low friction material stitching  260 . This embodiment may be implemented at seams in garment  200  or the sandwiching of garment material  200  with low friction material  270  may be implemented over the entire area of tension member  220 . The conduits may be similarly implemented in the embodiments of  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6C  shows an embodiment in which conduit  222 ″ is attached to the surface of garment  200  in the form of collated semi-cylindrical tubes and tension member  220  routed through conduit  222 ″. In some embodiments, the bases of the tubes may be closed or may be lined with a low friction material. In  FIG. 6A ,  FIG. 6B , and  FIG. 6C  tension member  220 ,  220 ′,  220 ″ is shown as circular in profile or cross-section. In a general embodiment, there is no limitation on the profile or cross-section of the tension member  220 ,  220 ′,  220 ″. 
     In a further aspect, method [ 700 ] is presented for stabilizing a knee of a human user leg, comprising: applying [ 710 ] around a knee of the user wearable garment  200 ,  200 ′,  200 ″ comprising a garment leg, a garment knee, tensioner  240 ,  240 ′,  240 ″ and closed tensionable loop  220 ,  220 ′,  220 ″ arranged around the leg of garment  220 ,  220 ′,  220 ″ to freely move longitudinally along conduit  222 ,  222 ′,  222 ″ within or on garment  200 ,  200 ′,  200 ″, wherein conduit  222 ,  222 ′,  222 ″ is arranged to cross over itself between a lateral and a medial side on the anterior of the garment leg, at least one of above (point F, F′, F″) and below (point E, E′, E″) the knee of garment  200 ,  200 ′,  200 ″ and tensioner  240 ,  240 ′,  240 ″ is disposed and arranged for adjusting tension of loop  220 ,  220 ′,  220 ″; and operating [ 720 ] tensioner  240 ,  240 ′,  240 ″ to adjust tension in loop  220 ,  220 ′,  220 ″. In some embodiments garment  200 ,  200 ′,  200 ″ may be applied such that conduit  222 ,  222 ′,  222 ″ is arranged to cross over itself between a lateral and a medial side on the anterior of the garment leg both above (point F, F′, F″) and below (point E, E′, E″) the knee of garment  200 ,  200 ′,  200 ″. 
     Applying [ 710 ] may comprise: arranging garment  200 ,  200 ′,  200 ″ on the user to position a first portion of loop (C, C′, C″ to D, D′, D″) against a distal region of a triceps surae of the user leg; positioning a second portion of the loop (the portion at above point F, F′, F″) on or above a thigh of the user leg; and positioning on the medial and lateral sides of a patella of the user leg proximate two collateral ligaments of the user knee third and fourth portions of the loop located on the loop between the first and second portions (both between E, E′, E″ and F, F′, F″). The positioning of the second portion of the loop may comprise positioning the second portion of the loop against the posterior of the thigh of the user leg (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     In a further aspect, described at the hand of the flow chart of  FIG. 8 , method [ 800 ] is presented for manufacturing a wearable garment for stabilizing a knee of a user, the method comprising: forming [ 810 ] a garment covering at least in part at least a knee, an adjoining triceps surae, and a distal portion of an adjoining thigh; establishing [ 820 ] at least one of in and on the garment a conduit for receiving a tensionable loop, the conduit arranged to cross over itself between a lateral and a medial side on the anterior of the garment at least one of above and below the garment knee; threading [ 830 ] along a path through the conduit a tensionable member; establishing [ 840 ] one of in and on the loop a tensioner for adjusting a tension the loop. 
     Threading [ 830 ] the tensionable member may comprise threading a tensionable member that is substantially inextensible. Threading [ 830 ] the tensionable member may comprise threading a tensionable member that is flexible and substantially inextensible. Threading [ 830 ] the tensionable member may comprise threading a tensionable member made from one or more of PTFE, stainless steel, Nylon; Kevlar®; one or more ultra high molecular weight polyethylene based fiber, a fiber with a diamond weave. Threading a tensionable member made from the fiber with a diamond weave may comprise threading a tensionable member made from one of cotton, polyester, polypropylene, and Technora®. 
     Establishing the conduit [ 840 ] may comprise arranging the conduit to cross over itself above and below the knee. Forming the garment [ 810 ] may comprise extending the garment to a waist of the user, forming a belt around the waist. Establishing the tensioner may comprise establishing the tensioner on the belt. Establishing [ 840 ] the tensioner in or on the loop may comprise establishing the tensioner on a thigh of the garment. 
     In a further embodiment, shown in  FIG. 9 , a wearable garment  900  is presented for stabilizing knee  100  of a user comprising: closed tensionable loop  920  arranged to freely move along conduit  930  disposed within or on garment  900 , conduit  930  extending along a conduit path having relative to knee  100  a lateral portion and a medial portion; and adjustable tensioner  940  in or on loop  920  for adjusting a tension in loop  920 , wherein the lateral and medial portions of the conduit path pass patella  190  of user knee  100  proximate lateral  170  and medial  180  collateral ligaments of user knee  100  in  FIG. 1  respectively and in which the lateral and medial portions of the conduit path closely approach each other at one or more than one point, the at least one point being at least one of below (point X) and above (point Y) user knee  100 . Broken lines in  FIG. 9  indicate that the conduit and tensionable loop are on the posterior of the leg. 
     The lateral and medial portions of the conduit path may closely approach each other at both a first point (point X) below user knee  100  and at a second point (point Y) above user knee  100 . It should be noted that, while the actual conduits portions may overlap at point X and point Y, the lateral and medial portions of the tensionable loop inside the conduit are not joined at point Y or point X. Tensionable loop  920  may be disposed for applying pressure to at least one of lateral collateral ligament  170  and medial collateral ligament  180  of the user when garment  900  is worn by the user and the tensionable loop is tensioned by operating tensioner  940 . Conduit  930  may be arranged along a path that substantially circles the leg at a distal region of the triceps surae of the leg, as shown in  FIG. 9 . This anchors garment  900  to the triceps surae. Tensionable loop  920  may comprise a tension member extending along conduit  930 . Tensioner  940  may be disposed on the thigh of the user. The tension member may be made of a substantially longitudinally inextensible material and the material may be flexible. Loop  920  may be arranged in or on the material of garment  900  in the same way as shown in  FIG. 6A ,  FIG. 6B  and  FIG. 6C  and in the text accompanying those drawings. Conduit  930  may comprise a low friction tube and the tube may be collated. As with the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the tensionable loop  920  in  FIG. 9  extends substantially around the thigh, thereby anchoring garment  900  to the thigh. 
     The anchoring arrangements on the thigh of the user employed in the embodiments shown in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4  may also be applied to the embodiment in  FIG. 9 . In order to ensure that the material of garment  900  does not deform and stretch and thereby disrupt the forces applied by the tensionable loop  920 , portions  950  of the garment may be made from suitable inextensible materials. The embodiment of  FIG. 9  may be viewed as a very similar to the case of  FIG. 4 , but without loop  920  overlapping itself. 
     In a further aspect, described at the hand of  FIG. 10 , method [ 1000 ] is presented for manufacturing wearable garment  900  for stabilizing a knee  100  of a user, the method comprising: forming [ 1010 ] garment  900  covering at least in part at least knee  100 , an adjoining triceps surae, and a distal portion of an adjoining thigh; establishing [ 1020 ] at least one of in and on the garment conduit  930  for receiving tensionable loop  920 , conduit  930  extending along a conduit path having relative to knee  100  a lateral portion and a medial portion, the lateral and medial portions of the conduit path closely approaching each other at least one point, the at least one point being at least one of below and above the user knee  100 ; threading [ 1030 ] along a path through conduit  930  a tensionable member; establishing [ 1040 ] one of in and on the loop tensioner  940  for adjusting a tension in loop  920 . 
     Threading [ 1030 ] the tensionable member may comprise threading a tensionable member that is substantially inextensible. Threading [ 1030 ] the tensionable member may comprise threading a tensionable member that is flexible and substantially inextensible. Threading [ 1030 ] the tensionable member may comprise threading a tensionable member made from one or more of PTFE, stainless steel, Nylon Kevlar®; one or more ultra high molecular weight polyethylene based fiber, a fiber with a diamond weave. Threading a tensionable member made from the fiber with a diamond weave may comprise threading a tensionable member made from one of cotton, polyester, polypropylene, and Technora®. Establishing conduit  930  may comprise arranging conduit  930  to have the lateral and medial portions of the conduit path closely approaching each other both below and above user knee  100 . Forming [ 1010 ] garment  900  may comprise extending garment  900  to a waist of the user, forming a belt around the waist, in which establishing tensioner  940  comprises establishing tensioner  940  on the belt. Establishing [ 1040 ] tensioner  940  in or on the loop may comprise establishing the tensioner on a thigh of the garment. 
     In a variant of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , a portion of tension member  220 ″ may comprise a length of substantially longitudinally inextensible fabric incorporated within the fabric of garment  200 ″. In  FIG. 4 , the relevant portion of tension member  220 ″ composed of substantially longitudinally inextensible material may be, for example, segment G″ to H″. The remaining portion of tension member  220 ″ may comprise of inextensible strands within conduits as already described above. The inextensible strands are anchored to the segment G″-H″ at both of its ends. Tensioner  220 ″ may be mounted on or at one end of the segment G″-H″. In this variant of the embodiment in  FIG. 4 , tensioner  220 ″ is mounted at end H″ of segment G″-H″ of substantially longitudinally inextensible material. In the same manner, portions of the tension members  220 ,  220 ′,  920  of the embodiments of  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 9  may be comprised of substantially longitudinally inextensible material. 
     In the present specification, the term “substantially inextensible fabric” is used to describe a fabric extending in two dimensions that is substantially inextensible in at least a first direction. The fabric may or may not have a restriction on extensibility in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. Non-limiting examples of such materials include but are not limited to so-called 2-way-stretch fabrics with blends of materials including Spandex, Nylon, Dyneema®, Kevlar®, polyester, Ingeo®, olefin fibre, Lyocell, and/or cotton which are woven, knitted, or braided in such a fashion to allow stretch in required dimensions. (Ingeo is a registered trademark of NATUREWORKS LLC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY DELAWARE 15305 MINNETONKA BLVD Minnetonka Minn. 55345) The “2-way” stretching refers here to stretching in two opposing directions in a first dimension whilst remaining substantially inextensible in any direction perpendicular to the first direction. Other “substantially inextensible fabrics”, including for example without limitation materials comprising Dyneema® fibers in a two-dimensional mesh embedded in a second fabric or in a sandwich structure, may have substantially no extensibility in any direction. The inextensibility is deemed “substantial” in comparison with the inextensibility of the matrix material of the fabric of garment  200 ″, the garment fabric being stretchable or extensible in comparison with the “substantially inextensible fabric”. 
     A further aspect of the wearable garment for stabilizing knee  100  of the user may be best described at the hand of  FIG. 11 , in which a variant of the garment of  FIG. 4  is shown. The numbering of  FIG. 4  is maintained in  FIG. 11 . Stabilizing connector  280 ″ connecting tension member  220 ″ to belt  210 ″ serves to keep garment  200 ″ from being pulled down as the tension in tension member  220 ″ is adjusted. Stabilizing connector  280 ″ may be implemented in many different ways, all of the implementations sharing the principle of connecting tension member  220 ″ to belt  210 ″. In  FIG. 11  stabilizing connector  280 ″ is implemented as a belt of substantially inextensible fabric exhibiting inextensibility in at least the longitudinal direction in order to, maintain tension in that direction. In  FIG. 11 , stabilizing connector  280 ″ is shown as extending, across the front of garment  200 ″, but it may also extend simultaneously from tension member  220 ″ to belt  210 ″ across the rear of garment  200 ″. In other embodiments, stabilizing connector  280 ″ may comprise a substantially inextensible tensionable member disposed within a conduit and may therefore be of the same construction as tension member  220 ″. 
     In order to help ensure that garment  200 ″ is not unduly deformed or crumpled when the tension in tension member  220 ″ is adjusted, stabilizing portions  250 ″,  260 ″, and or  270 ″ of substantially inextensible fabric are incorporated in the, fabric or matrix material of garment  200 ″ and attached to conduit  222  (sec  FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C ) of tension member  220 ″ or to the garment, material or fabric immediately adjacent to conduit  222 . The substantially inextensible fabric used for stabilizing portions  250 ″,  260 ″, and or  270 ″ is employed with at least the horizontal selected to be the inextensible direction. 
     Stabilizing portion  250 ″ on the anterior of the leg below and proximate crossover point E″ exerts on segments E″-C″ and E″-D″ of tension member  220 ″ forces with major components perpendicular to the paths of tension member  220 ″ along those two segments E″-C″ and E″-D″. Stabilizing portion  250 ″ may be fastened to the conduit bearing tension member  220 ″ along those two segments E″-C″ and E″-D″. In  FIG. 11 , stabilizing portion  250 ″ is shown as extending in a generally triangular shape over most of the anterior of the leg below crossover point E″ between segments E″-C″ and E″-D″. In general, stabilizing portion  250 ″ may extend over any fraction of the anterior of the leg below crossover point E″ between segments E″-C″ and E″-D″ in order to establish a lateral tension below crossover point E″ between segments E″-C″ and E″-D″ over the anterior of the leg. 
     Stabilizing portion  270 ″ may be disposed on the anterior of the leg above and proximate crossover point F″ and exerts on segments F″-A″ and F″-G″ of tension member  220 ″ forces with major components perpendicular to the paths of tension member  220 ″ along those two segments F″-A″ and F″-G″. Stabilizing portion  270 ″ may be fastened to the conduit bearing tension member  220 ″ along those two segments F″-A″ and F″-G″. In  FIG. 11 , stabilizing portion  270 ″ is shown as extending in a generally triangular shape over most of the anterior of the leg above crossover point F″ between segments F″-A″ and F″-G″. In general, stabilizing portion  270 ″ may extend over any fraction of the anterior of the leg above crossover point F″ between segments F″-A″ and F″-G″ in order to establish a lateral tension above crossover point F″ between segments F″-A″ and F″-G″ over the anterior of the leg. 
     Stabilizing portion  260 ″ over largely the posterior of the leg above and proximate crossover point F″ exerts on the medial and lateral segments E″-F″ of tension member  220 ″ forces with major components perpendicular to the paths of tension member  220 ″ along those lateral and medial segments E″-F″. Stabilizing portion  260 ″ may be fastened to the conduit bearing tension member  220 ″ along those lateral and medial segments E″-F″. In  FIG. 11 , stabilizing portion  260 ″ is shown as specifically extending in a generally rectangular shape over a portion of the posterior of the leg above crossover point E″ and below patella  190  between the lateral and medial segments E″-F″. In general, stabilizing portion  260 ″ may extend over any portion of the posterior of the leg below crossover point F″ and above crossover point E″ between lateral and medial segments E″-F″ in order to establish a lateral tension below crossover point F″ and above crossover point E″ between lateral and medial segments E″-F″ over the posterior of the leg. Consideration of the need for freedom of articulation of the knee may restrict the region between crossover points E″ and F″ that is covered by stabilizing portion  260 ″, leading to the example arrangement shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     In a general embodiment, stabilizing portions  250 ″,  260 ″, and or  270 ″ are comprised of fabric that is substantially inextensible in a generally horizontal direction and stabilizing portions  250 ″,  260 ″, and or  270 ″ are disposed to extend between horizontally opposing medial and lateral portions of tension member  220 ″, the lateral and medial portions of tension member  220 ″ exhibiting lateral tension with respect to each other in the garment when tension member  220 ″ is placed under longitudinal tension by operating tensioner  240 ″. As may be understood from  FIG. 11 , the lateral tension is induced around the posterior of the leg between crossover points E″ and F″ in the general area of patella  190 , while below and above crossover points E″ and F″ the lateral tension is induced over the anterior of the leg. In the general case, garment  200 ″ may comprise a portion of inextensible fabric laterally joining two segments of tension member  220 ″ in tension with respect to each other horizontally over the leg. 
     In a further aspect, described at the hand of  FIG. 12  with reference to  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 6B , garment  200 ″ may comprise tension regulator  290 ″ to balance the tension between at least two strands within tension member  220 ″. By way of example we may consider tension member  220 ″ as comprising of a plurality of strands  220 A,  220 B, and  220 C as in  FIG. 6B . In  FIG. 12  we show one end of tension member  220 ″, and thereby one end of strands  220 A,  220 B, and  220 C. By way of non-limiting example, the end of tension member  220 ″ shown in  FIG. 12  may be proximate tension regulator  290 ″ (see  FIG. 11 ) disposed, at the distal end of tension member  220 ″. When the garment is worn by the user and the legs move, tension member  220 ″ flexes and, in the absence of regulator  290 ″, may lead to significant differences in tension in different strands of tension member  220 ″. The presence of regulator  290 ″ allows tension member  220 ″ to flex without inducing unbalanced tensions that might disturb the functioning of garment  200 ″ and the comfort of the user by warping tension member  220 ″. 
     In  FIG. 11 , tension regulator  290 ″ is shown as disposed on the lateral side of the left leg at point C″ and comprises two ends of tension member  220 ″. In alternative embodiments, regulator  290 ″ may be placed elsewhere in tension member  220 ″, such as, for example, above point F″. Within, regulator  290 ″ as shown in more detail in  FIG. 12 , two outer strands  220   a  and  220   c  may be joined in order to form a single strand arranged to move freely on pulley  292 ″. For the sake of clarity, some of the numbering used in  FIG. 6  has been removed in  FIG. 12  and only one end of tension member  220 ″ is shown, the other end being identical but rotated by 180 degrees with respect to the one shown. Pulley  292 ″ may rotate about pulley axis  294 ″. Tension regulator  290 ″ may be disposed on base  296 ″ of substantially inextensible fabric with an inextensible direction parallel to strands  220 A,  220 B, and  220 C of tension member  220 ″. When tension member  220 ″ comprises an odd number of strands, as in  FIG. 12 , the unpaired central strand may be terminated proximate or in tension regulator  290 ″. Various ways are contemplated for terminating central strand  220 B, and in  FIG. 12  this is shown as general termination  298 ″.  FIG. 13  shows how both ends of tension member  220 ″ may be terminated within tension regulator  290 ″, with two pulleys  292 ″ arranged head to head to balance the tension between strands  220 A and  220 C at the two ends of tension member  220 ″. While a tension regulator at one end of tension member  220 ″ may have the only one pulley  292 ″, the fact that the tension regulator  292 ″ of  FIG. 11  has to regulate tension at two ends of tension member  220 ″, implies that tension regulator  292 ″ of  FIG. 11  has the two-pulley arrangement of the tension regulator  292 ″ of  FIG. 13 . 
       FIGS. 6B and 12  show only one pair of joined strands within tension member  220 ″, but in general there may be a plurality of pairs of strands joined in this fashion. Such strands may be arranged in the generally symmetrical fashion shown in  FIG. 12 , each pair with a suitable pulley to balance the tension between the two joined strands in each pair.  FIG. 12  shows on odd number of strands, namely three. In other embodiments the total number of strands in tension member  220 ″ may be even, so that there are only joined pairs of strands. In general, the strands in the pairs are arranged to be joined such that the pairs are generally substantially mirror symmetrically disposed about the center line of the overall tension member. Each pair balances its tension between its two constituent strands by moving around a suitable pulley as described above. 
     In other embodiments, the regulator may have any other mechanical arrangement that allows the tension in two strands in a pair roughly equidistant from the center line, of tension member  220 ″ to be balanced. This includes, by way of non-limiting example, a curved tube (not shown) that allows the joined strands to slide freely within the curved tube. 
     In other embodiments, tension regulator  290 ″ may be disposed proximate tensioner  240 ″. In yet further embodiments, tension regulator  290 ″ may be integrated into tensioner  240 ″. In such an embodiment, the two pulley arrangements of  FIG. 13  may be employed with the following modification. The regulating function is maintained by the rotation of the strands about the pulleys, while the tension may, by way of non-limiting example, be adjusted by moving the two pulley axes  294 ″ toward or away from each other to respectively increase and decrease the tension. This allows the arrangement of  FIG. 13  to function as an integrated combination of a tensioner and a tension regulator. 
     While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.