Portable device for unloading lower back while sitting

Abstract

A portable harness that wraps around the rib cage and thoracic spine is disclosed. Unlike other harnesses, the present invention has an extension allowing it to be suspended above the user's ribcage to apply an upward pull. This suspension strap provides a distracting / unloading force on the lower back by holding the upper torso in place while the weight of a patient's lower body creates traction on the lumbar spine. The harness can be used with any chair back, including office chairs, or vehicle seats. This allows people with lower back pain to sit more comfortably while sitting in a regular chair, driving a car, or flying in a plane. This will decrease low back pain since sitting for long periods will no longer compress the lumbar spine, it will actually be therapeutic by allowing a person to sit in an unloaded position.

Description

[0001]This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 298,019, filed Jan. 25, 2010 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 374,908, filed Aug. 18, 2010, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Lower back pain is one of the most common ailments among Americans. In fact, 8 out of 10 people will suffer from lower back pain (LBP) at some point in their life. At any point in time, over 30 million Americans suffer from lower back pain.[0003]To cope with this pain, a myriad of treatments have been devised. Physical therapists and chiropractors have long used traction (also referred to as unloading and decompression) to help treat patients with low back pain.[0004]One particular example uses a compound mechanical bed, where the head and foot ends move in opposite directions while the patient is secured to the moving parts. However, such beds are expensive.[0005]Another ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]A portable harness that wraps around the rib cage and thoracic spine is disclosed. Unlike other harnesses, the present invention has an extension allowing it to be suspended above the user's ribcage to apply an upward pull. This suspension strap provides a distracting / unloading force on the lower back by holding the upper torso in place while the weight of a patient's lower body creates traction on the lumbar spine. The harness can be used with any chair back, including office chairs, or vehicle seats. In the case of an office chair, the harness also includes a hanger, which wraps around the chair back and provides a mechanism to support the suspension strap. This allows people with lower back pain to sit more comfortably while sitting in a regular chair. In other embodiments, the suspension strap can fit over the head rest of a vehicle's seat. This allows people to sit more comfortably while driving a car, or flying in a plane. This harness will decrease low back pain since sitting for long periods will no longer compress the lumbar spine, it will actually be therapeutic by allowing a person to sit in an unloaded position.

Problems solved by technology

However, such beds are expensive.

Unfortunately, a major complaint of many people with LBP is the pain associated with sitting for extended periods of time.

Compression of a disc causes irritation to disc bulges and herniations.

However, there are few systems that relieve lower back pain while the person is in the seated position.

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