Abstract:
A device for controlling the reflex response of a muscle or muscular group articulating a living body joint by applying a specific mechanical stimulation (SMS) to the external area of the joint which corresponds to the mechano-receptors guiding a natural reflex of the muscle or muscular group. The embodiments of the device include a support member adapted to be mounted to the wrist ankle or lumbar spine joint, a pressure-applying member and a resilient portion interposed between the support member and the pressure-applying member to continuously apply a required pressure intensity during articulation movements of the joint. The mechano-receptors include skin mechano-receptors and deeper joint mechano-receptors. The reflex response of muscles articulating a joint is facilitated by a low external SMS pressure intensity and inhibited by a high external SMS pressure intensity.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally, the present invention relates to a device using specific mechanical stimulation (external pressure) to control the reflex response of a muscle or muscular group articulating a living body joint. More specifically, the present Invention relates to such a device for continuously applying an external pressure to, in particular but not exclusively, the wrist, ankle or lumbar spine joints during articulating movements of these joints to thereby continuously facilitate or inhibit the reflex response of their associated muscles. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Often individuals having one or many joints or muscles which are over solicited suffer from repetition motion syndromes A method and a device using a specific mechanical stimulation (SMS) at an articulated body joint to facilitate or to inhibit the reflex response of the associated muscles, thus preventing these muscles from being over solicited or enabling them to relax is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,810 granted to Brossard on Jun. 23, 1998. 
     The prior art teaches that the natural reflex mechanism of muscles associated with articulating joints such as the wrist, ankle and lumbar spine is guided by the respective mechano-receptors of these muscles. It was described that a light SMS pressure intensity (≲200 mmHg) stimulates only skin mechano-receptors (such as the Pacinian corpuscles) of the wrist ankle and lumbar spine joints, hence facilitating the reflex response of the muscles associated with these joints, improving the efficiency thereof On the contrary, a high SMS pressure intensity (≳400 mmHg) stimulates the above mentioned skin mechano-receptors and deeper joint mechano-receptors (such as Golgi tendons) of the wrist, ankle and lumbar spine joints to Inhibit the reflex response (reduction of the reflex response) of the respective muscles, thereby relaxing these muscles. Furthermore, it was observed that a medium pressure intensity (&gt;200 mmHg but &lt;400 mmHg) has substantially no effect. The information from the mechano-receptors is transmitted to many levels of the central nervous system. Mainly, the information from the mechano-receptors is transmitted to the spinal cord and brain. As the information is transmitted to the spinal cord, it influences the motor reflexes. Being transmitted to the brain it also influences central control of the joint movements. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,810 describes generally hemispherical pressure-applying protuberances for applyying either a low or high SMS pressure to specific external areas of the wrist, ankle and lumbar spine joints. These specific external areas correspond to the mechano-receptors, These pressure-applying members are mounted to support members adapted to be mounted to the wrist, ankle and lumbar spine joints. 
     The limitation with the prior art is that there are variations in distance between the body joint and the respective support member during certain articulating movements. These articulating movements further cause movements of the pressure-applying protuberance, causing variations in the SMS pressure intensity applied to the stimulated area(s). The disadvantages are that these variations sometimes fall within the middle pressure intensity (&gt;200 mmHg but &lt;400 mmHg) or that the protuberance Is no longer engaging the stimulated area, nullifying the effect of the prior art device. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The general object of the present invention is to obviate the above-mentioned disadvantages 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a device capable of continuously applying specific mechanical stimulation (SMS) to an articulated body joint during articulating movements of this joint. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a pressure-applying device comprising a pressure-applying body that can be mounted or integrated to a variety of support members adapted to be mounted to the wrist, ankle and lumbar spine joints. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     More particularly, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a device for controlling the reflex response of a muscle or muscular group articulating a joint of a living body, the living body having mechano-receptors guiding a natural reflex mechanism of the muscle or muscular group. This device comprising: 
     a support member mounted to the joint of the living body; 
     a pressure-applying member mounted on the support member for applying pressure to an external area of the joint which corresponds to the mechano-receptors, submitting the mechano-receptors to a pressure intensity adequate to facilitate or inhibit the reflex response of the muscle or muscular group; and 
     a resilient member interposed between the support member and the pressure-applying member. This resilient member is deformable to compensate for variations of a distance between the support member and the external area during articulation movements of the joint and thereby enable the pressure-applying member to continuously submit the mechano-receptors to the pressure intensity. 
     In accordance with preferred embodiments: 
     the resilient member comprises a platform and an arm extending therefrom, the arm has a free end carrying the pressure applying member and the platform, the arm and the pressure-applying member are made of a single piece of resilient material; 
     the resilient member comprises a receptacle including resilient material, and the pressure-applying member comprises an arm mounted in the receptacle, the resilient material being deformable to bias the arm away from the receptacle; 
     the receptacle is substantially resilient and the arm is substantially rigid and the receptacle and arm have respective mutually mating arm-receiving and receptacle-engaging portions for preventing the arm from being disassociated from the receptacle; 
     the resilient member comprises a receptacle with a hole therein, the pressure-applying member is mounted to a first end of an arm, the arm is slidably mounted in the hole of the receptacle for longitudinal movement therein, a spring carried by the arm, between the receptacle and the pressure-applying member, to spring-bias the arm and the pressure-applying member away from the receptacle, a stopper is carried by a second end of the arm and the stopper abuts against the receptacle to prevent the arm from being disassociated from the receptacle; and 
     the pressure-applying member is a generally spherical-shaped protuberance. 
     In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention: 
     the mechano receptors comprise skin mechano-receptors and the support and resilient members comprise means for applying the pressure-applying member to the external area to submit the mechano-receptors to a light pressure intensity ≲200 mmHg for stimulating only the skin mechano-receptors and thereby increasing the reflex response of the muscle or muscular group; and 
     the mechano-receptors comprise deeper joint mechano-receptors including at least one Golgi tendon, and the support and resilient members comprising means for applying the pressure-applying member to the area to submit the mechano-receptors to a high pressure intensity ≳400 mmHg for stimulating the joint mechano-receptors and thereby inhibiting the reflex response of the muscle or muscular group. 
     When the joint of the living body is a wrist joint the support member may comprise a wrist band with the pressure-applying and resilient members mounted thereto to apply pressure to the area of the dorsal radiocarpal ligament. Preferably, the wrist band comprises a main body and a fastener portion. The main body has one side facing the external area of the dorsal radiocarpal ligament, and the pressure applying and resilient members are enclosed within the main body with the pressure-applying member directed towards the side of the main body facing the external area. 
     When the joint of the living body is an ankle joint, the support member may comprise an ankle band or footwear with the pressure-applying and resilient members mounted thereon or in the latter case integrated thereto to apply pressure to the external area of the calcaneofibular ligament, lateral talocalcaneal ligament, and interosseous talocalcaneal ligament. Preferably, the ankle band comprises a main body and a fastener portion. The main body having one side facing the area of the calcaneofibular ligament, lateral talocalcaneal ligament, and interosseous talocalcaneal ligament, and the pressure-applying and resilient members being enclosed within the main body with the pressure-applying member directed towards the side of the main body facing the external area. 
     When the joint of the living body is a lumbar spine, the support may comprise a pair of shorts formed with an insert-receiving pocket, and a generally flat pressure-applying insert mounted in the pocket of the shorts, the pressure-applying insert comprising a plurality of sets of pressure-applying members to apply pressure to the external area of the intraspinalis muscles, intraspinalis ligaments, intratransverse muscles, intratransverse ligaments, semispinalis muscles, semispinalis ligaments, sacrospinalis muscles, sacrospinalis ligaments, iliopsoas muscles, iliopsoas ligaments, piriformis muscles, and piriformis ligaments. 
     The objects, advantages and other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non restrictive description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the appended drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the pressure-applying assembly according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 Is a side sectional view of a human foot wearing an ice skate; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a human wrist and hand wearing an elastic wrist band; 
     FIGS. 4 and 4 a  are a bottom plan view and a side elevational view respectively of an insert forming part of the elastic wrist band of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of the ligaments of the dorsal aspect of the left wrist; 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of the ligaments of a human ankle joint; 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a human ankle wearing a sock-like elastic ankle band; 
     FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of extensible cyclist shorts having a rear pocket to receive an insert comprising a flat body formed on one side with numerous pressure-applying assemblies; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the pressure-applying assembly according to the present invention; and 
     FIG. 10 is a lateral elevational cross sectional view of a further preferred embodiment of the pressure-applying assembly according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a plurality of pressure-applying assemblies  1  according to the present invention. The assemblies  1  can be attached such as in a series  10  or in another type of attachment or sliced off from series  10  to be used alone or to be reassembled depending on the requirement of the intended application. Each assembly  1  comprises a resilient member in the form of a platform  12 , an arm  14  extending from one side of the platform  12 . The arm  14  carries on its top free end  15  a pressure-applying member  16  preferably being a generally spherical or hemispherical protuberance. Platform  12 , arm  14  and protuberance  16  are preferably made of a one piece unit made from the same resilient material. Alternately, platform  12 , arm  14  and protuberance  16  can be distinct pieces connected together for operative use with either platform  12  and arm  14  or platform  12  alone being made from resilient material. 
     Also, the complete series  10  of pressure apllying assemblies  1  can be made of a single piece of resilient material such as for example rubber or plastic foam material. Obviously, the use of other types of materials can be contemplated. 
     The pressure-applying assemblies  1  of FIG.  1  and variations thereof such as assemblies  2  and  3  of FIGS. 9 and 10 are utilized to apply a specific mechanical stimulation (SMS) to the external areas of an articulated joint such as the writ, ankle and lumbar spine joints of a living body, preferably a living human body, which correspond to the mechano-receptors of the muscle or muscular groups associated with this joint in the manner disclosed In U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,810. Hence, the pressure-applying assemblies of the present invention are adapted and constructed so as to either continuously apply a light intensity external SMS pressure (≲200 mmHg), which stimulates the skin mechano-receptors and facilitates the reflex response of the muscle or muscular groups, or a high intensity SMS pressure (≳400 mmHg), which stimulates the deeper joint mechano-receptors and inhibits the reflex response of the muscle or muscular group. Pressure-applying assemblies  1 ,  2  and  3  are mounted or integrated to a variety of support members such as, without limitation, various wrist and ankle bands, various casual and sports footwear, shorts and the like. 
     FIG. 3 shows a non-limiting example of a wrist band  18 , made at least in part of substantially elastic material, for example the foamy elastic fabric material for which are made the dry and wet suits currently used in water sports. The wrist band  18  is placed around a user&#39;s wrist joint  20  and fastened thereon. For example, the wrist band  18  comprises two end sections  22  attached together by superposing strips of VELCRO™ loop material (not shown). The wrist band  18  is formed with a main body  24  including an additional layer of material such as fabric or leather secured to the material of the band  18  to define a pocket  23 , between these two sewed layers of material. A flat and generally elongate insert  26  (FIG. 4 a ) inserted in pocket  23 . The insert  25  has a rectangular end  28  and a generally semicircular end  28  to conform with the shape of the pocket  23  formed by the main body  24 . The flat insert body  25  carries pressure-applying assemblies  1  in the region of the semicircular end  28 . 
     The muscular composition of wrist  20  is shown in FIG. 5 revealing area  32  corresponding to the mechano-receptors of the dorsal radial carpal ligament. Insert  26  carries pressure-applying assemblies  1  on one side  34  (FIG. 4 a ), in region  30  of the main body  24  which is superposed to area  32 . The pressure-applying membes  16  face the wrist joint  20  so as to apply an external SMS pressure on area  32 . Platform  12  can be either attached to insert  25  by a glue substance or any other means apparent to one skilled in the art or be integrated into flat insert  26 . 
     A non-limiting example of an ankle band  36  is illustrated in FIG.  7 . The elastic ankle band is formed with an opening  38  for the user&#39;s heel  30 , an opening  40  for the user&#39;s foot  41 , an opening  42  for the user&#39;s leg  43  and an opening  44  for each malleolus  45  of the user. The ankle band  36  may be made for example of the foamy substantially elastic fabric material of which are made the dry or wet suits currently used in water sports. In this example, the sock-like ankle band  36  is formed with a pocket  48  to receive an insert  48  carrying a group of pressure-applying assemblies  1 . Pocket  48  may be formed by securing an additional layer of material such as fabric or leather to the material of the sock-like ankle band  36 . Again, the pressure-applying members  16  face the ankle joint so as to apply the external SMS pressure. 
     The muscular composition of the ankle joint  50  is illustrated in FIG. 6 which reveals areas  52  corresponding to the mechano-receptors of the calcaneofibular ligament, the lateral talocalcaneal ligament, and the interosseous talocalcaneal ligament. Again, like in the example of wrist band  18 , the pressure-applying assemblies  1  are placed on the side of the insert  48  which faces the ankle  50  and in the regions of the insert  48  corresponding to areas  52 . 
     It should be noted that inserts  25  and  48  may comprise a plurality of protuberances smaller than and replacing those Illustrated in FIG. 4 a,  it should be understood that such smaller protuberances would cover a larger surface than those illustrated herein. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 8, the same concept can be applied to the lumbar spine. In that particular case, extensible cyclist shorts  54  are provided with a rear pocket  56  to receive a flat insert  58 . Pocket  56  is formed by sewing an additional inside layer of extensible fabric material to the extensible shorts  54 . 
     The flat insert  58  comprises a flat body  60  on one side of which ax formed numerous pressure-applying assemblies  1  to apply a pressure (SMS) in the region of the intraspinalis muscles, intraspinalis ligaments, intratransverse muscles, intratransverse ligaments, semispinalis muscles, semispinalis ligaments, sacrospinalis muscles, sacrospinalis ligaments, iliopsoas muscles, iliopsoas ligaments, piriformis muscles, piriformis ligaments. 
     The pressure-applying assemblies  1  may also be mounted to casual or athletic footwear such as, without limitation, various sorts of running shoes, ski-boots, roller skates, roller blades or ice skates an example of which is illustrated in FIG.  2 . In this example, pressure-applying assemblies  1  have been integrated to the skate  62  in region  64  which is superposed to the area of the ankle corresponding to the mechano-receptors to apply a pressure (SMS) thereto. The pressure-applying assemblies  1  can be mounted to an insert which in turn is enclosed within skate  62  or directly integrated to skate  62  in any suitable manner. 
     Other types of wrist and ankle bands, shorts and footwear and means of operatively connecting the pressure-applying assemblies  1 ,  2 , and  3  (FIGS. 1,  9  and  10 ) to such support members in accordance with the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art. 
     With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 4 a  the resilient portion of the pressure-applying assembly, platform  12  and arm  14 , Is interposed between the pressure applying member and support member (such as wrist  18  and ankle  34  bands, shorts  54  and athletic footwear  62 ) so as to bias pressure-applying member  16  away from the support member and toward the external area of the body joint corresponding to the mechano-receptors of the muscle associated with that joint. Therefore, in all of the above-described embodiments, when the wrist, ankle or lumbar spine joint is articulated the distance between the support member and the stimulated external area (such as areas  32  and  52  of FIGS. 5 and 6 respectively), may vary and the resilient portion (platform  12  and arm  14 ) will compensate for that variation of distance by deforming to continuously apply the pressure-applying member  16  to the stimulated area, to thereby apply the SMS pressure during articulation movements of the joints. Furthermore, platform  12  and arm  14  are sufficiently flexible to allow the user to comfortably articulate a given joint without resistance during articulation movements while applying required SMS pressure intensity. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 9 the pressure-applying assembly  2  comprises a block-like receptacle  66  which receives an arm  68  carrying at a first end  70  a pressure-applying member  16  formed by a substantially spherical protuberance. The receptacle  66  is preferably made of substantially resilient material to form a resilient member. At least the inner back wall  72  of the receptacle  66  is made of substantially resilient material. Preferably, arm  68  is substantially rigid and forms a one piece unit with pressure-applying member  16 . Arm  68  engages at its other free end  74  the resilient inner back wall  72  which is deformable such that it biases arm  68  and pressure-applying member  16  away from receptacle  66 . The arm flares outwardly in the direction of the end  74  to define a receptacle-engaging portion  76  mating with a complementary arm-receiving portion  78  of receptacle  86 . This arm-receiving portion  78  comprises a bottom formed by the inner back wall  72 . The receptacle-engaging portion and arm receiving portion  78  prevents the arm  68  from disengaging the receptacle  66 . 
     Again the same concept applies in this particular embodiment. The resilient wall  72  deforms when the body joint is articulated to compensate for the variation of distance between the stimulated external area of the body joint and the support member. In this manner, a SMS pressure is continuously applied to the stimulated external area. 
     In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 10 the pressure-applying assembly  3  comprises an arm  79  carrying a pressure-applying member  16  at one end  80 . The arm  79  is slidably mounted in an arm-receiving hole  86  of a receptacle  84 . The Arm  79  has a threaded second end  88  protruding on the side  90  of the receptacle  84  opposite to pressure-applying member  16 . A conical stopper  92  has an internally threaded portion  94  screwed on second end  88 . The conical stopper  92  abuts the back face  90  of the receptacle  84  to prevent the arm  79  and pressure-applying member to disengage that receptacle  84 , Male  86  has smaller and larger diameter portions  85  and  87  forming a shoulder  98 . Larger diameter portion  87  has a diameter sufficiently wide to receive both the arm  79  and a spring  96 , smaller portion  85  has a diameter wide enough to receive arm  79  only. Spring  98  extends along the length of arm  79  and is compressed between shoulder  98  and pressure-applying member  16 . Accordingly, spring  96  rests at one and on the shoulder  98  and at the other end on the pressure-applying member  16 . That spring  96  defines a resilient member and biases pressure-applying member  18  away from receptacle  84 . 
     When assembly  3  is mounted to a support member, itself mounted to a body joint, articulation of that joint will cause variations of distance between the support and the external area of the joint to be stimulated. Spring  96  will deform to compensate for this variation in distance hence, member  16  will continuously apply the required SMS pressure intensity during articulation movements. 
     Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of preferred embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims.