An inflatable suspension harness/body jacket and method of use in medical partial weight-bearing therapy. The suspension harness/body jacket is fit onto a patient and has bladders that are inflated sufficiently to achieve a tight conforming fit. Deflating and re-inflating the bladders where necessary to re-achieve the tight conforming fit allows for successful weight-bearing therapy without discontinuing the therapy for an extended period or removing the patient. The suspension harness/body jacket has shoulder straps and jacket portions that may pass through D-rings that, when attached to a frame or other apparatus, provide additional offloading capacity.

Inflatable suspension harness/body jacket

A method of treating a patient having a spinal condition for which traction is recommended which includes: suspending the patient's body to extend generally vertically in a water pool; the suspending including exerting downward pulling on the patient's body, at or below waist level; and the suspending including suspending the patient's body at or above shoulder level, to resist the downward pulling, and thereby create force transmission tending to decompress the patient's spine.

Flotation controlled spinal decompression

An apparatus for effecting spinal traction on a patient includes a tub containing liquid in which a patient, buoyantly supported by a floatation device, can float in a generally upright position in a state of buoyant equilibrium. The level of the liquid in the tub can be varied, which effects a variation on a traction force acting on the patient as the floatation device seeks new positions of buoyant equilibrium in response to the change in liquid level. The traction force may be generated by one or more weighted devices worn on the body of the patient or by a harness attached to the patient and secured within the tub to resist upward movement of the patient when the liquid level rises in the tub. The liquid level within the tub is varied by a liquid level varying apparatus associated with the tub which operates generally by displacing a volume of liquid within the tub to vary the level of the liquid by an amount corresponding to the volume of displaced liquid. A method for effecting spinal traction includes floating a patient in a vessel of water, applying a body-tensioning force to the patient's body, and raising and lowering the level of liquid in the vessel to effect variations in the body-tensioning force as the patient's floating body seeks a new position of buoyant equilibrium.

Apparatus for effecting traction on the spine and method of using the same

A method for producing mild, symmetrical (or asymmetrical) traction on lumbar invertebral discs and sacroiliac joints. A patient is supported in water in a spa for approximately 30 minutes by means of an annular floatation device engaging undersides of the patient's arms a predetermined distance from the patient's armpits, the spa being sufficiently deep that the patient's feet cannot touch the bottom. A submerged, symmetrical weight belt is supported on the patient's hips, the buoyant weight of the belt being in the range from approximately 10-20 pounds. The temperature of water in the spa is maintained in the range from approximately 88-94 degrees F. Preferably, the patient remains relatively motionless in the spa for a warm up/relaxation period of approximately 5-10 minutes, followed by a sequence of slow extension and flexion exercise of the patient's back, following by a plurality of side bends.

Apparatus and method for producing mild, sustained balanced traction on the lower back

A buoyancy-based cervical traction system has a floatation and a head rest supported by the flotation system. The head rest is adapted to support a person's head above the neck and apply traction to the neck when the person is in a body of liquid. The system has a position adjustment system adapted to allow selective adjustment of the position at which the person's head rest will be relative to an upper surface of the liquid when the person and the cervical traction system are in the liquid, the person's head is supported by the head rest, and the cervical traction system and person are floating in the liquid at equilibrium.

Buoyancy-based cervical traction system

An apparatus for the treatment of patients suffering from lumbar back ailments or the like comprises at least one float body suspended from an overhead support, intended for suspending the patient who is partially submersed in water and subjected to loading from weights, preferably at the hip region. The overhead support consists of a suspension means from which, by means of straps, a vest is suspended, adapted to fit closely about the chest region of the patient and thereby supporting the patient. The straps are attached to the overhead support via a yoke or crossbar having a central, vertical journal that is pivotally mounted at the top of the overhead support. The float body may consist of two elongated, substantially boat-shaped floats, and the overhead support may consist of four downwardly-depending legs attached at the lower ends thereof to the floats and rigidly attached at the upper ends thereof to a top piece which is disposed centrally between the floats and from which the crossbar is supported.

Apparatus for the treatment of patients with lumbar back ailments or the like in a water environment

Geraet zur unterwasser-behandlung von kreuzschmerzen.

An apparatus for the treatment of patients suffering trom lumbar back ailments or the like comprises at least one float body (1) suspended from an overhead support (3.4,5,6,7), intended for suspending the patient who is partially submersed in water and subjected to loading from weights (13), preferably at the hip region. The overhead support consists of a suspension means (2) from which, by emans of straps (9), a vest (10) is suspended, adapted to fit closely about the chest region of the patient and thereby supporting the patient. The straps (9) are attached to the overhead support (2) via a yoke or crossbar (8) having a central, vertical journal that is pivotally mounted at the top (7) of the overhead support. The float body may consist of two elongated, substantially boat-shaped floats (1), and the overhead support may consist of four downwardly-depending legs (3,4,5,6) attached at the lower ends thereof to the floats (1) and rigidly attached at the upper ends thereof to a top piece (7) which is disposed centrally between the floats (1) and from which the crossbar is supported.

Kalvaag John Baard

Papers

Apparatus for the treatment of patients with lumbar back ailments or the like in a water environment

Geraet zur unterwasser-behandlung von kreuzschmerzen.

Apparatus for treatment in a water environment of lumbar back ailments