Apparatus for treating back ailments

An apparatus for treatment of back ailments of a patient, comprising:

• a support means (10) for supporting a patient in a horizontal, lying position;
• a first tension force take-up means (26), arranged to pass around the pelvis of the patient;
• a second tension force take-up means (19), arranged to pass around the chest of the patient;
• pulling or tension means (17) connected to one of the two tension force take-up means (26) and arranged to move the same relative to the support means (10);
• a readily moveable carriage means (14) for movement relative to the support means (10), with but slight friction, for carrying either the pelvis or chest of the patient and exhibiting a high degree of friction against the associated tension force take-up means (26);
• and a moveable means (13) for supporting the small of the patient's back, and wherein the readily moveable carriage means (14) comprises means for executing, independently of translatory movement of said carriage means (14) relative to the support means (10), rotary movement substantially in the horizontal plane and a skewing movement about an axis extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the carriage means (14), in accordance with a predetermined program.