Handheld Extremity Flexibility Treatment Device

Abstract

A handheld tissue stretching device combined with a retractor and release mechanism enables users to independently treat the flexibility of their extremity tissue minimizing need for upper extremity coordination and grip strength during treatment. The distance between prior handheld stretching devices and the extremity supports changes with a high degree of variability during home treatments; whereas, medical professionals monitor stretch intensity visually and manually. Patients performing home-based stretches impart variable intensity that leads to inconsistent tissue treatment resulting in increased tissue stiffness. The present inventors have discovered when the slack is automatically retracted; the distance between the users hands and the extremity support is continuously proportional to the flexibility of the extremity. This “distance matching” between the handheld stretching device and the extremity support provides a reliable, repeatable, and independent tissue treatment.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to extremity tissue treatment. Physical therapists are trained to evaluate and treat a wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions including muscle strain, joint sprain as well as insidious onset of spine and extremity pain. Extremity treatment provided by specialists often includes passive stretching, massage and strengthening exercises. Home-based treatments including passive stretching are prescribed by medical professionals to reduce patients' long term pain. Passive stretching by medical professionals is a common treatment to increase extremity flexibility and relieve lower back pain, patellofemoral syndrome (knee pain), nerve entrapment (sciatica), plantar fasciitis, achilles tendon tightness, and various tendonopathies. Treatment regimens include a stretch intensity, duration, and frequency of each exercise. Patients perform prescribed treatments at home by using a towel, belt, or a strap such as the “stretch-out-s...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]In accordance with the invention, a handheld tissue stretching device combined with a retractor enables users to reliably and independently treat the flexibility of their extremity tissue; thereby, minimizing physical therapist intervention treatment. The present inventors have recognized that combining a handheld tissue stretching device with a retractor provides users with a repeatable and reliable method for stretching tissue.

[0005]Medical professionals carefully monitor treatment intensity by verbal, visual and manual inspections to provide a consistent treatment. Outside of the clinic however, handheld passive stretching devices cannot provide users with a reliable and consistent treatment. The known treatment devices have an extremity support, to engage the extremity to be treated and a link between the extremity and the user's hands. The user changes the intensity of the stretch by pulling the extremity support. Pulling the extremity increases muscle-sinew tissue length of the tissue being treated. The user has to reposition his hands on the devi...

Problems solved by technology

The known handheld tissue stretching devices do not provide a consistent treatment intensity to the user because of the constant repositioning of the stretching apparatus and hands that occurs to change treatment intensity.

Treating tissue with existing handheld devices leaves the user wondering whether or not he has stre...

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