Patent Document

This application is the U.S. national phase of International PCT Application No. PCT/EP99/08073, filed Oct. 26, 1999, which designated the United States. PCT/EP99/08073 claims priority of German Patent Application No. 29819060.5, filed Oct. 26, 1998. The entire contents of these applications are herein incorporated by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The device relates to a rehabilitation device for straightening a hump back and/or to stretch and straighten the front shoulder part. 
   Back and shoulder stretching devices have already become known, such as from DE 298 18 369 A1, that are used to be able to perform self treatment when there are back pains caused by strain. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   But such training devices are not suitable for use if a so-called hump-back or drooping shoulders are to be treated. 
   Thus the object of the invention is to provide a rehabilitation device with which it is possible again to straighten a dorsal spine curved due to illness. The same also applies if drooping shoulders are to be treated. 
   The object is achieved according to the invention according to the features indicated in claim  1 . Advantageous configurations of the invention are indicated in the subclaims. 
   The invention proposes a rehabilitation device that is designed relatively simply and with which the patient also can do exercises on his own to slowly, increasingly straighten his more or less greatly curved dorsal spine (hump back) and/or drooping shoulders. 
   The rehabilitation device is thus built like a rocker that can be swiveled around a support that can be put on the back, and the support or the swivel axis formed by it lies crosswise to the longitudinal direction of the body. Pulling elements can be provided or made in various ways at the top end of the rehabilitation device so that, in conjunction with a counter-support, they press on the upper front part of the drooping shoulder part. For example, the patient himself can raise the pressure on the shoulder part by lower actuation or pulling elements so that the drooping shoulder is straightened relative to the support placed on the back. 
   The rehabilitation device can be designed in many ways. 
   In a simple embodiment, the pulling elements that act on the shoulder part can consist of loops. But also possible are designs using rods, straps, etc., that are guided to the front over the shoulder from the back side of the base section of the rehabilitation device and on whose ends are placed the mentioned counter-supports acting on the shoulder. 
   The strap design here can consist of several adjustable individual straps to be able to optimally adjust the support in height and relative position according to individual needs. 
   As an actuation device, for example, actuation rods passing by the side of the body going forward can be connected with the rehabilitation device&#39;s base section, which includes the rear support. A slight pulling can then appropriately raise and lower the corresponding pressure on the forward-drooping shoulder part to straighten the back. Likewise, cords, for example, can be put on these actuations sections, and they are fastened for example to corresponding hooks on a wall so that a slight rearward movement automatically places tension on the actuation elements and thus the desired pressure is raised on the left and right drooping shoulder area as well as on the hump back. 
   The rehabilitation device according to the invention is distinguished, inter alia, for example in preferred embodiments, by the following characteristics or features:
         The rehabilitation device can consist of a double arc, both of whose individual arc sections are stabilized with one another by cross struts. Padding can preferably be attached, in particular on the inner side of the curve in each case, at the intersections of the two.   The double arcs consisting of two individual arcs can exhibit a narrow semicircle curve and a broad semicircle curve, and both arc sections can run at least approximately parallel and be open toward one side (namely toward the front).   The arc sections can have one or more holes to which, for example, the mentioned cross struts and/or the padding can be attached in various positions to arcs or struts.   To brace it on the shoulder area and/or on the back, the padding can be supported in each case by a lath. The padding, in particular the part lying against the chest, can be fitted to the chest part. The padding that can be put crosswise over the back and act as a rocker support can, with the struts running lengthwise and designed as a semicircular curve, be attached facing inward (i.e., facing the back) on the side struts and thus span the overall crosswise distance between the side struts or double arcs. Preferably here also a support base is used that supports the rocker-like support.   On the lower end of the lateral struts, in particular of the struts describing large curves, loops or rings can be made or attached, to which pulling devices can be attached.   The individual parts mentioned, in particular the lateral struts also in the shape of arcs, and the one or more cross struts, can consist of metal, plastic, or wood. They can be solid or be equipped like pipes or the like. The mentioned padding preferably comprises an elastic core and can be covered with fabric, leather, plastic, or the like.       

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be described in more detail below based on embodiments. There are shown in: 
     The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1 , a first embodiment according to the invention of a rehabilitation device in a diagrammatic perspective representation; 
       FIG. 2 , a corresponding representation with the rehabilitation device shown in  FIG. 1  placed on a patient; 
       FIG. 3 , an embodiment modified relative to  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4 , the rehabilitation device shown in  FIG. 3  placed on a patient; 
       FIG. 5 , another modified embodiment; and 
       FIG. 6 , the rehabilitation device shown in  FIG. 5  placed on a patient. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   As can be seen from  FIG. 1 , the rehabilitation device according to the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 and 2  consists of a base section  1  that essentially comprises a support  3 . In the embodiment shown, support  3  is placed crosswise to the longitudinal axis or lengthwise dimension  5  of the rehabilitation device. When placed on a patient, longitudinal axis or lengthwise dimension  5  runs parallel to the lengthwise dimension of the body, i.e., generally parallel to the vertical direction. 
   Support  3  can be provided with a continuous, crosswise support surface  3 ′ that has a convex, light padding in the vertical cross section. But likewise it can also consist of at least two individual padded elements placed offset in the crosswise direction or, for example, of several individual padded elements  3  placed next to one another in the crosswise direction. 
   In the embodiment shown, the soft or elastic support is supported and braced by a base plate  4 . 
   A support  3  designed this way is held and fastened by a suitable supporting structure, in the embodiment shown by a connecting strut  7  located on the inner side or on the rearward back side of support  3  or base plate  4  and attached to actuation struts  9  lying opposite one another essentially in the longitudinal direction and running parallel to one another. 
   In the embodiment shown according to  FIG. 1 , both actuation struts  9 , placed laterally offset to one another, are designed the same way and exhibit a stirrup-like, i.e., curved shape. Connecting strut  7  mentioned in support  3  can be fixed by a suitable detachable and attachable adjusting mechanism  11  in various positions along actuation struts  9 , to be able to adapt to individual needs. 
   For this purpose, holes  10 , for example, can be made in the longitudinal arcs or in actuation struts  9  and/or in mentioned cross strut  7 , holes through which the screw-shaped fixed means can be inserted and fastened. In this way, the relative position of cross struts  7  can be variably adjusted in a different position in the longitudinal direction of actuation struts  9  and/or the spacing distance between both lateral actuation struts  9  can be variably adjusted by bringing corresponding holes  10  in the cross strut or holes  10 ′ in the longitudinal struts into the desired relative position in corresponding alignment and by inserting the fixing device, preferably consisting of screw bolts, and securing them from the rear side by nuts. 
   It can be seen from  FIG. 1  that actuation struts  9  are shaped in a narrower arc section  12  on top and in a broader arc section  14  on the bottom. In the embodiment shown, actuation struts  9  go toward the front in an arc shape on their top end. There, counter-supports  13  are made or provided, and in the embodiment shown they can consist of a pressure or support base  15  opposite which corresponding padded elements  17  are located in padded support surface  3 ′ of support  3 . 
   Counter-supports  13  can also be adjusted by suitable adjusting and fixing devices  19  in a variable relative position relative to actuation struts  9  to make it possible to adapt to individuals. 
   To secure both actuation struts  9 , in addition to mentioned connecting strut  7  one or more additional connecting struts can be provided at suitable points, for example, in the embodiment shown according to  FIG. 1 , in the front end area of arc-shaped actuation struts  9 , and specifically here, for example, at the height of counter-supports  13 . This makes it possible for counter-supports  13  to be attached, for example, not necessarily to actuation struts  9  directly but, e.g., to an ancillary strut  21  attached to them by mentioned adjustment and fixing device  19 , so that counter-supports  13  can be attached by their adjustment and fixing device  19  at varying lateral distance from one another and fixed to connecting strut  21  and, for example, connecting strut  21  can be attached by another adjustment and fixing device in varying longitudinal position to actuation struts  9 . The mentioned fixing device also consists here, like, e.g., the device that fastens cross strut  7  to lateral, arc-shaped longitudinal struts  9 , of numerous holes  20  in both longitudinal struts and holes  20 ′ that are made in connecting strut  21  at a lateral interval from one another. In this way also, the lateral separation between both actuation struts  9  and the relative position of connecting strut  21  can be adjusted and fixed in varying longitudinal direction relative to lateral actuation struts  9  and, further, mentioned shoulder padding  13  can also be adjusted and fixed in varying relative position. 
     FIG. 2  shows the rehabilitation device being worn. It can be seen from it that padded support  3  comes to lie on back  25  of a patient and there a swivel axis (articulation) running crosswise to the longitudinal direction of the body, i.e., generally in the standing position in the horizontal direction, forms the fulcrum and both upward-going, arc-shaped sections of actuation struts  9  run over the shoulders so that mentioned counter-supports  13  lie in each case on the left and right in the front shoulder area. By grasping release sections  27 , which project on the bottom beyond support  3  downward and to the front, the rehabilitation device can be tipped around its horizontal swivel axis  29 , formed by support  3 , so that function unit  31  made above support  3  tilts associated counter-supports  13  according to arrows  33  toward the back. Likewise, for example, pull cords  35  can be attached to release sections  27  (for example to rings  28  that are made on the end of actuation struts  9 ) and be fastened at their other end for example to hooks  37  on a stationary wall  38  or the like, so that when the person in question moves backward slightly, the forward and/or upward swiveling motion of release sections  27  thus produced exerts the corresponding tipping movement and thus the pressure of counter-supports  13  on the front shoulder area and the hump back in the desired way. 
   This procedure thus presses padded elements  17  against the front right and left shoulder part and stretches the front chest and straightens the lateral (i.e., left and right) front shoulder part and simultaneously the hump back. 
   A modification of the rehabilitation device is shown in FIG.  3 . 
   It can be seen from the embodiment according to  FIG. 3  that both laterally offset actuation struts  9  are not necessarily arc-shaped but, for example, can be constructed also only with one or more narrow arc sections or sharp curves. In this case, function unit  31  located above support  3  can exhibit not arc-shaped, but rather straight end sections of actuation struts  9 . Actuation struts  9  can, in the rear area, thus be made vertical and straight. For further stabilization, two connecting struts  21  are provided above support  3 , offset in the vertical direction and running crosswise, and they can also be fastened in their height position by suitable adjustment or fixing devices  23  in various relative positions (i.e., in the longitudinal direction of actuation struts  9  and/or with varying lateral displacement of both actuation struts). Attachment or fixing devices  23  can also consist of numerous correspondingly offset holes through which the corresponding screw and fixing means are inserted, as was explained based on the attachment of cross strut  7  with reference to FIG.  1 . 
   Used as counter-supports  13  in this embodiment are shoulder straps that can be made as loops, belts, etc. Such a loop-shaped counter-support  13 , made for example of textiles or leather, therefore does not need to be provided with any further padding elements  17 . But of course, especially in the inner area of the loop, further padding can naturally be provided. When worn, the arms thus go through these loops and, by corresponding height adjustment of both crosswise-running connecting struts  21  and end sections  39  of the loops attached to them, the position of the loops can be adjusted optimally by varying height adjustment and fixing of cross struts  21  not only in the lateral distance to one another (by adjusting their fixing elements on connecting struts  21 ) but also in the desired height position relative to support  3 . 
   Corresponding action on release sections  27  by grasping or pivoting or by the mentioned use, for example, of release cords  35  in turn produces the desired rocking and swiveling movement while generating the desired pressure to straighten the shoulder part and the hump back  30 , and support  3  lies against the hump back to be treated, forming swivel axis  29 . 
   Yet other additional particularities can be drawn from  FIGS. 3 and 4 , which will be discussed briefly below. 
   Reference symbol  52  in  FIGS. 3 and 4  reflects a semicircular rear side of support  3  that makes it possible for this support to be used without the frame shown even during floor exercises, so that support  3  can be used as a tipping element for treatment while lying on the floor or even on a separate couch. 
   Reference symbol  53  further shows a bracing belt between counter-supports  13  and adjusting harness  45 ;  54  shows an elongated strut  9 ;  55  shows a cross strut for stabilizing elongated strut  54  and  62  shows an adjustable connection point that acts between the laterally offset struts running upward on the back and elongated struts  9  that can be attached to lengthen them, to be able to fix the latter in varying lengths. 
   Elongated struts  54 , optionally with or without cross strut  55 , can also be used, for example, to walk forward slowly toward a door until approximately in the door frame, until the elongated struts strike an upper door lintel. Going slightly forward or rocking also induces the corresponding forces on the front shoulder part and the hump back, to straighten them. 
   Only for the sake of clarity at this point will it be mentioned that the mentioned connecting points between the vertical and horizontal support struts can also exhibit, for example, adjustable connecting points at suitable places to be able to perform a faster alignment and precision adjustment according to individual needs with respect to the width adjustment or the height adjustment of the individual longitudinal struts and cross struts. 
   The embodiment according to  FIGS. 5 and 6  corresponds in its basic design to that according to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In this embodiment, instead of the loop-shaped counter-supports still drawn in dashed lines in  FIG. 5 , the counter-support is made by additional, insertable or connectable supplementary harnesses. In this embodiment, straight actuation struts  9  are provided on their upper end with a corresponding plug junction  41  into which insertable end  42  of attachable strut  43 , running in a large arc over the shoulders toward the front, is shown inserted, on whose front, downward running ends an adjustable harness  45 , U-shaped in top view, is anchored at varying height. This adjustable harness  45  can further be anchored corresponding to arrow  47  in varying relative position so that counter-supports  13  located on its end can be adjusted in varying relative position closer or further in the direction of rearward support  3  by means of a go pressure support base  15  and padded elements  17  usually attached there. This design makes it possible for a patient to more easily put on the device since, because of the distance between attachable struts  43  and adjustable struts  45 , enough open space is left so that the rehabilitation device made this way can be put on over the head. 
   Also the horizontal distance between both attachable struts  43  can, for example, be changed by pivoting them around their insert axes  41 . To make it possible here to adapt to adjustable strut  45 , adjustable strut  45  is divided into two parts and comprises two halves  45 ′ and  45 ″ of a U-shape that are provided on their base section  45   a  with a telescoping adapter section  45   b  that can be inserted into, and pulled out from, one another. 
   Otherwise, adjustable strut  45  and/or attachable strut  43  are provided, in the area of their crossing points  50 , with numerous holes  51  lying offset to one another in the longitudinal direction, which make it possible to fasten adjustable harness  45  and attachable struts  43  onto one another in varying height position and also in varying relative position with respect to arrow  47  according to individual requirements and wishes, for example also by the mentioned adjustment and fixing devices, e.g., consisting of screw bolts and nuts. 
     FIG. 6  here also shows that otherwise the further design and functioning is comparable to the preceding embodiments. 
   The fact that the vertical elongation using longitudinal struts  54  and connecting struts  55  can be provided only as an alternative, but does not have to be provided and can be inserted supplementarily in the other struts or again removed is shown, for example, based on  FIG. 6 , in which, departing from  FIG. 5 , vertical elongation struts  54  with connecting strut  55  are not shown. 
   Only for the sake of completeness is it mentioned that function unit  31  with the corresponding sections of actuation struts  9  or optionally provided attachable struts  43  or one or more adjustable struts  45  can also be designed so that these struts, starting from rear base section  1 , can run not over the upper shoulder area but on the side, on the outside around the shoulder and arm area or even under the shoulder, and on each front shoulder area a corresponding counter-support can be made and/or fixed in various adjustment positions. 
     FIGS. 2 and 4  show that, on the lower end of actuation struts  9 , cords  35  can be attached, for example to a stationary wall or a stationary piece of furniture, to induce the corresponding forces on the shoulder area and hump back by forward and rearward movement. Naturally, corresponding cords can also be attached above rocker-shaped support  3  on the so-called function unit and its free ends can also be attached to a wall or a closet. In this case, the patient need go only forward to induce the rearward-directed forces on the shoulder area to straighten the hump back. In this case, detachable sections  27  are placed above support  3  that forms swivel axis  29 .

Technology Category: 1