Back therapy apparatus

Back therapy apparatus operable to apply vertebral massage to a person's back, the apparatus comprising:

• a support frame;
• a plurality of first manipulating elements movably mounted with respect to the support frame and each one of the plurality of first manipulating elements having a respective first engagement member thereon;
• a plurality of second manipulating elements movably mounted with respect to the support frame and each one of the plurality of second manipulating elements having a respective second engagement member thereon;
• a controller operable to control actuators coupled to the first and second manipulating elements to effect individual displacement of the first manipulating elements independent of the second manipulating elements with respect to the support frame, wherein the first and second engagement members are each moveable from a direction substantially perpendicular to the person's back to a direction that is substantially parallel to the person's back by a respective first and second guide;
• wherein the first and second engagement members are arranged such that, in use, they are arranged and distributed along the length of the vertebral column, wherein the first engagement members are situated on one side of the vertebral column and the second engagement members are situated on an opposite side of the vertebral column wherein the first and second manipulating elements are arranged in pairs, wherein each first manipulating element is associated with a corresponding second manipulating element;
• wherein each first engagement member is operable to contact and manipulate a first vertebral area between spinous and transverse processes from one side of the vertebral column and each second engagement member is operable to contact and manipulate a second vertebral area between spinous and transverse processes from the opposite side of the vertebral column, wherein the first manipulating elements facilitate movement of one or more of the first engagement members into and out of contact with the vertebral area between the spinous and transverse processes separate from movement of a corresponding adjacent one or more of the second engagement members thereby manipulating displacement of the vertebral column, wherein the controller is operable to control amplitude of displacement of the first and second engagement members and wherein the controller is operable to control each of the first and second manipulating elements individually or in banks of two or more wherein the controller is operable to control and/or program a sequence of movements of the first and second manipulating elements, to create movement of the spine towards both sides, by controlling the first and second engagement members to at least partially engage the area of the spine between the spinous and transverse processes, by applying force towards the base of the area from each one of their sides and then create a first movement by applying forces towards one side first and then towards the opposite side, to compensate the first movement, wherein the apparatus is adaptable to shapes and contours of a person's vertebral anatomy and arranged to apply a force simultaneously along the length of the spine thereby to provide therapy along the full length of the spine.