US 5,667,484 A · Method for controlling the reflex response of the muscles of a living body joint

Abstract

To control the reflex response of a muscle or muscular group articulating a joint of a living body, the method and device apply an external pressure to the mechano-receptors guiding the natural reflex mechanism of the muscle or muscular group. The mechano-receptors include skin mechano-receptors and deeper joint mechano-receptors. To increase the reflex response of the muscle or muscular group, a light pressure intensity.ltoreq.200 mmHg is applied to stimulate only the skin mechano-receptors and thereby increase the reflex response of the muscle or muscular group. To inhibit the reflex response of the muscle or muscular group, a high pressure intensity.gtoreq.400 mmHg is applied to stimulate the deeper joint mechano-receptors such as the Golgi tendons to thereby increase the reflex response of the muscle or muscular group.

Claims2

Dependent claims

A method of facilitating the reflex response of a muscle or muscular group articulating a wrist joint of a living body, the living body comprising skin mechano-receptors guiding a natural reflex mechanism of said muscle or muscular group, said method comprising the steps of:

mounting a pressure-applying member on the living body directly over the dorsal radiocarpal ligament;
and
lightly applying the pressure-applying member to the living body directly over the dorsal radiocarpal ligament and maintaining the pressure-applying member lightly applied to said body to thereby apply to the skin mechano-receptors an external pressure having an intensity<200 mmHg for facilitating the reflex response of the muscle or muscular group.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for controlling the reflex response of the muscles of a living body joint

Life of this patent

Method for controlling the reflex response of the muscles of a living body joint

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims2