Method and apparatus for treating and preventing sacroiliac joint injuries
OwnerLeslie C. Lundberginventor
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Abstract
A system for preventing and treating most lower back disorders provides an upwardly and forwardly directed compressive force exerted against the sacroiliac joint of the human body. Particularly, an inventive back brace is disclosed as including a support dimensioned to extend along the backside of the body generally from the lumbar region of the spine downwardly at least to the ischial tuberosity of each of the pelvic bones. A pair of adjustable leg straps and a flexible wrap dimensioned to extend around the lower torso are operatively connected to the support for tightening the support against the buttocks of the wearer so as to provide the desired compressive force against the sacroiliac joint.
Claims36
A device for supporting the sacroiliac joint, said device comprising:
- a flexible support dimensioned to overlie the sacroiliac joint along the backside of a user such that the support extends generally from the lumbar region of the spine to at least the ischial tuberosities of the user when the support is tightened against the body,
- said support being formed of a material that permits generally unrestricted flexing thereof so that the support is configured to generally conform to the shape of the underlying portion of the body when the support is tightened against the body;
- and
- an adjustable tightener operatively connected to the support for causing the support to generally conform to the shape of the underlying portion of the body and exert an adjustable force against the sacroiliac joint in a generally upward and forward direction,
- said tightener including a pair of leg straps projecting from the support and being configured for passage adjacent the user's crotch,
- said tightener further including a pair of strap connectors spaced above the crotch when the support is tightened against the body and associated with respective ones of the leg straps to permit selective tightening of the straps and consequent tightening of the support into sacroiliac joint-supporting engagement with the body, whereby the support exerts an upwardly and forwardly directed force against the sacroiliac joint when the leg straps are tightened.
A back brace comprising:
- a flexible wrap dimensioned to extend around the lower torso of a wearer;
- a flexible sacroiliac joint support projecting from the flexible wrap to generally overlie the buttocks and extend downwardly to the crotch of the wearer when the brace is worn;
- said support being formed of a material that permits generally unrestricted flexing thereof so that the support is configured to generally conform to the shape of the underlying portion of the body when the support is tightened against the body;
- a pair of adjustable leg straps operatively connected to the support and being configured for passage adjacent the user's crotch;
- and
- a pair of strap connectors spaced above the crotch when the brace is worn and associated with respective ones of the leg straps for permitting selective tightening of the straps, whereby the support generally conforms to the shape of the buttocks and exerts an adjustable force against the sacroiliac joint in a generally upward and forward direction.
A method for treating and preventing injury to the sacroiliac joint comprising the steps of:
- (a) placing a flexible support against the backside of the body to extend generally from the lumbar region of the spine downwardly at least to the ischial tuberosity of each of the pelvic bones of the user;
- and
- (b) tightening the support against the body so that the support conforms generally to the shape of the underlying portion of the body and exerts an upwardly and forwardly directed force against the sacroiliac joint,
- step (b) including the steps of wrapping a pair of leg straps projecting from the support under the crotch of the user, adjustable coupling each of the straps to a connector spaced above the crotch, and using the connectors to tighten the straps.
A device for supporting the sacroiliac joint, said device consisting essentially of:
- a support dimensioned to overlie the sacroiliac joint along the backside of a user;
- and
- an adjustable tightener operatively connected to the support for causing the support to exert an adjustable force against the sacroiliac joint in a generally upward and forward direction,
- said tightener including a wrap dimensioned to extend around the lower torso, with the support depending from the wrap and being configured to extend towards the user's crotch to overlie a portion of the user's buttocks,
- said tightener further including a pair of elongated straps projecting from a lower margin of the support and being configured for passage adjacent the user's crotch and forwardly about a leg of the user, and a connector for each strap located above the lower margin of the support,
- said connectors permitting tightening of the straps and consequent pulling of the support into sacroiliac joint-supporting engagement with the user's buttocks, whereby the support exerts an adjustable force against the sacroiliac joint in a generally upward and forward direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.