Patent ID: 7758481

Claim:
A dynamic hip stabilizer for reducing the risk of hip dislocation of a wearer, the stabilizer comprising: a pelvic girdle having an upper portion configured for defining an upper opening for the wearer's waist, a lower portion configured for defining a lower opening for the wearer's hips, and a posterior portion between mid-lateral lines of the pelvic girdle and configured for engaging the wearer's lower back when the pelvic girdle is worn by the wearer; at least one thigh cuff defining lower and upper openings for the wearer's thigh; means for generating an elastic tensile force between the pelvic girdle and the thigh cuff in a longitudinal direction of the dynamic hip stabilizer so as to hold the wearer's thigh to the wearer's pelvis; means for engaging the wearer's shoulders to limit movement of the pelvic girdle toward the thigh cuff caused by the elastic tensile force; and means for stiffening the posterior portion of the pelvic girdle relative to the upper and lower portions of the pelvic girdle, the stiffening means being centrally disposed in the posterior portion between the mid-lateral lines on the pelvic girdle; wherein the only elastic tension applied in the longitudinal direction by the dynamic hip stabilizer is between the pelvic girdle and the at least one thigh cuff so as to hold the wearer's thigh to the wearer's pelvis with sufficient tension to control excessive adduction, flexion or extension, provide hip stability by controlling and modifying hip motions through increasing tension as extremes of the hip motions are approached, and provide hip stability by constantly maintaining elevated abductor tension.