Portable system for assisting body movement

A method for reducing groin numbness in a human having a lower body part, who is riding a bicycle, comprising:

• (a) providing a pressure-tight suit worn over all or a portion of one or more body parts of the human consisting of the torso or leg, the pressure-tight suit having:
• (i) at least one opening around the human's torso or leg for accommodating the covered body parts;
• (ii) each opening of the pressure-tight suit having connected adjacent thereto a pressure-tight seal for operative engagement of the body part surface of the human;
• (iii) inlet means in the suit for introduction of at least one source of positive pressure or vacuum to an interior of the suit between the human body parts and the suit to create a differential pressure condition between the positive pressure or vacuum condition inside the suit, and a pressure condition existing outside the suit;
• (b) providing support means extending from the bicycle and connected to the suit for counteracting a downwards force applied to the suit when it is placed under the differential pressure condition;
• (c) providing the at least one source of positive pressure or vacuum to the interior of the suit;
• (d) whereby the differential pressure condition exerts an upwards force upon the lower body to offload a portion of the weight of the body to the support means and bicycle.

A system for assisting the motion of or supporting a body of a mammal having a body weight during a treatment procedure, such system comprising:

• (a) a pressure-tight suit adapted to being worn over all or a portion of the upper body of the mammal consisting of the torso or arm, the pressure-tight suit having at least one opening around the mammal's torso, neck, or arm for accommodation by the pressure-tight suit of the covered body parts;
• (b) each opening of the pressure-tight suit having connected adjacent thereto a pressure-tight seal for operative engagement of the body part surface of the mammal;
• (c) inlet means in the suit for introduction of at least one source of vacuum to an interior of the suit between the mammal body parts and the suit to create a differential pressure condition therein between the vacuum condition inside the suit, and a pressure condition existing outside the suit;
• (d) support means separate from the suit connected to the suit for counteracting a downwards force applied to the suit when it is placed under the differential pressure condition;
• (e) whereby the differential pressure condition exerts an upwards force upon the body to offload a portion of the weight of the body to the support means.