Lower extremity appliance

Abstract

To provide a lower extremity appliance capable of achieving both of stability of inversion correction force, dorsal flexion correction force, and correction force required for improving deformation of the lower extremity and functions, and relaxing of compression or the like in a corrected part or a wearing tool caused in an operation.SOLUTION: A lower extremity appliance comprises: a fabric A1 covering at least a part of a knee and or an under-knee part; a fabric A2 covering a phalanx and / or a metatarsal bone; a fabric A3 having one end coupled to the fabric A1 and the other end coupled to the fabric A2; a woven object B having one end coupled to the fabric A2, crossing so that an inner angle with the fabric A3 becomes 40° to 120°, covering at least a part of a calcaneus and / or an Achilles tendon, and having the other end located at an ankle or an instep part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a lower leg garment. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, various lower limb wear products have been proposed for people who cannot freely move the muscles and joints of their lower limbs by themselves due to a decrease or loss of function of the lower limbs caused by disabilities such as hemiplegia due to stroke, polio, or other disabilities, with the aim of preventing deformations such as equinus and drop foot, improving function, and improving daily movements. Most of the lower limb wear products are hard fixed types made of metal or plastic, and have excellent fixing and correcting power for the affected area.

[0003] Also, lower limb wearable devices using flexible materials have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a foot orthosis that can lift the toes upward without restricting the movement of the foot. Specifically, the brace is made up of a first wearable body that is worn on a person's foot, a second wearable body that is worn on the person's thigh, and an elastic body such as a rubber band that is attached so as to span between the first and second wearable bodies. When the elastic body is worn in a stretched manner, the elastic force of the elastic body acts to bring the first and second wearable bodies closer together, and as a result, the foot is elastically biased toward the front side of the lower leg, and the toes are lifted upward. Also, a technology is disclosed in which the biasing force allows a certain degree of foot movement, and if the function of lowering the toes is not impaired, the toes can be lowered by one's own force against the biasing force.

[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses a lower limb wearable device that can correct any part from the toes to the knees. Specifically, the device has a structure including a first textile belt that covers at least a part of the ankle including the ankle and the knee, a second textile belt that covers the foot, a third textile belt (corrective textile belt) that is arranged so as to be positioned around the ankle and the knee, and an auxiliary textile belt in which one end of the fourth textile belt in the longitudinal direction is connected to the first textile belt and the other end is connected to the second textile belt, and the technology corrects by pulling up any part. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-313553 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2021 / 199648 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, fixed lower limb orthotics made of hard or semi-hard materials such as metal or plastic cause physical and mental pain to patients, such as discomfort when worn due to contact with the skin, pain and poor appearance due to contact with hard parts when moving the body, and the need to increase the size of the shoe on which the lower limb orthotic is worn, which makes it impossible to wear shoes of the same size on both sides. In addition, caregivers have pointed out the poor ease of putting on and taking off. Furthermore, when walking with a fixed lower limb orthotic worn at home, the hard material parts come into contact with and rub against the floor or interior walls, causing scratches on both sides and damage, so many problems have been pointed out, such as not wearing the lower limb orthotics indoors.

[0007] In addition, the lower limb orthosis described in Patent Document 1 operates by bringing two attachment bodies closer together with an elastic body, which has the problem that it is time-consuming to put on the two attachment bodies and the elastic body. In addition, the elastic body is made of an elastically elastic material such as a rubber band, and its biasing force only lifts the toes upward, so it is not possible to guide and hold the foot in its original normal position, and there is a problem that the desired correction effect or function improvement effect cannot be obtained.

[0008] Furthermore, when the lower limb orthodontic device described in Patent Document 2 is used to pull up and correct an arbitrary correction area, if a single woven belt (corrective woven belt) is used from the knee to the toes, sufficient correction force is exerted initially, but the correction force is likely to be excessive, and the correction area may move due to the application of force in one direction, and the correction force may weaken if worn for a long time. In addition, if a woven belt (corrective woven belt) is connected from the knee to the toes, and then a woven belt (auxiliary woven belt) with an elongation rate equal to or lower than that of the woven belt is connected as an auxiliary belt, there is a concern that the load on the auxiliary woven material will be large, weakening the correction force and causing a feeling of pressure, and further improvements were required.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to improve the problems of the conventional technology and provide a lower limb wearable device which combines the inversion correction force, dorsiflexion correction force, and stability of correction force necessary for improving lower limb deformity and function, with the alleviation of pressure on the correction area or in the wearable device that occurs during movement. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration. (1) A lower limb wear device, A woven fabric A1 covering at least a part of the knee and / or lower knee; A fabric A2 covering the phalanges and / or metatarsals; A woven fabric A3, one end of which is connected to the woven fabric A1 and the other end of which is connected to the woven fabric A2; and a woven / knitted fabric B, one end of which is connected to the woven fabric A2, crosses with the woven fabric A3 so that the internal angle is 40° to 120°, covers at least a portion of the calcaneus and / or Achilles tendon, and the other end of which is located on the ankle or instep. (2) The lower limb wearing item according to (1), wherein the woven fabrics A1 to A3 are belt-shaped and at least one of them has an elongation rate of 0.5% to 50% in the short direction and / or the long direction when subjected to a load of 100 N / 5 cm. (3) The lower limb wear device according to (1) or (2), wherein the woven or knitted fabric B is in a belt shape and has an elongation rate of 50% or more in the longitudinal direction when a load of 100 N / 5 cm is applied. (4) The longitudinal elongation rates of the woven fabrics A1 to A3 and the woven / knitted fabric B at a load of 100 N / 5 cm are respectively A1 EX , A2 EX , A3 EX , B EX Then, B EX > A1 EX ≧ A2 EX ≧ A3 EX The lower limb wearing equipment according to any one of (1) to (3), (5) The lower limb garment according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the woven or knitted fabric B has a bending resistance (JIS L 1096 bending resistance method A) of 100 mm or less. (6) The lower limb garment according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein an internal angle between the woven fabric A1 and the woven fabric A3 is 30° to 90°. (7) The lower limb wearing equipment according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the fibers constituting the woven fabrics A1 to A3 and the woven / knitted fabric B include one or more kinds of thermoplastic elastomer fibers. (8) The lower limb wearable device according to any one of (1) to (7) for use in correcting any one of inversion, valgus, clubfoot, and drop foot. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a lower limb wearable device that combines the inversion correction force, dorsiflexion correction force, and stability of correction force necessary for improving lower limb deformity and function, with the alleviation of pressure on the correction area or in the wearable device that occurs during movement.

[0012] The lower limb orthotic according to the present invention can be suitably used for orthotics such as therapeutic and rehabilitative lower limb braces intended to prevent deformation of the foot, improve function, and enhance movements in daily life, but its scope of application is not limited to these. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an embodiment in which each woven fabric, woven / knitted fabric, and member are connected in the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged conceptual diagram of the broken-line circle of the knee part of the lower leg in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an enlarged conceptual diagram of the dashed circle at the toe of the lower leg in FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] The lower limb wear item according to the present invention includes a woven fabric A1 covering at least a portion of the knee and / or lower knee, a woven fabric A2 covering the phalanges and / or metatarsals, a woven fabric A3 connecting woven fabric A1 and A2, and a woven / knitted fabric B having one end connected to woven fabric A2, intersecting with woven fabric A3 at an internal angle of 40° to 120°, covering at least a portion of the calcaneus and / or Achilles tendon, and the other end located at the ankle or instep.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an embodiment in which the textiles are connected in the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the portion indicated by the broken line circle at the knee of the lower leg in FIG. 1. Note that FIG. 1 is an example of the right foot, but the left foot is similar. Also, FIG. 1 shows a lower leg wearer consisting of only textiles A1 to A3 and textile B on a bare foot, but textiles A1 to A3 and textile B may be arranged on legwear to constitute the lower leg wearer. Also, in the present invention, when "textile A" is simply written without any special description, such as "textile A1", it refers to all textiles A1, A2, and A3.

[0016] The textile A1(1) is connected to the textile A3(3) and functions as a fulcrum that maintains the desired corrective force provided by the textile A2(2) and the textile A3(3) when the lower limb garment is worn, without reducing the corrective force due to slippage, tearing, excessive stretching, etc.

[0017] The textile A1(1) covers at least a part of the knee and / or lower knee, and surrounds at least a part of the knee and / or lower knee. This is because the textile A1 surrounds and hooks at least a part of the knee and / or lower knee to prevent the knee from slipping down due to the corrective force of the textile A2(2) and textile A3(3) when worn, and the textile A1(1) functions as a fulcrum to stabilize the corrective force. The knee includes the upper calf to the popliteal fossa and above the knee, and covering at least a part of the lower knee means surrounding at least a part of the tibia. It is preferable that at least one end of the textile A1(1) is openable and closable, so that the size and pressure can be finely adjusted according to the wearer.

[0018] The textile A2(2) covers the foot including the phalanges and / or metatarsals, and usually wraps around the foot including the phalanges and / or metatarsals. The textile A2(2) serves as a fulcrum and a point of application, so it is preferable for the textile A2(2) to cover the foot including the phalanges and metatarsals in order to stabilize the corrective force. At least one end of the textile A2(2) is preferably configured to be easily connected to the textile A3, so that the corrective force, corrective position, size, and pressure can be finely adjusted according to the wearer.

[0019] The woven fabric A3(3) is arranged so that one end is connected to the woven fabric A1 and the other end is connected to the woven fabric A2, and the woven fabric A1 and the woven fabric A2 are connected to each other. The woven fabric A3 may be connected to the woven fabric A2(2) near the fifth metatarsal bone (5), or may extend from the cuboid bone (7) through the sole of the foot toward the first metatarsal bone (4) so ​​as to cover the metatarsal bone on the sole side of the foot, and may be connected to the woven fabric A2(2) near the metatarsal bone on the sole side of the foot. It is preferable that a part of the woven fabric A3 has a length adjustment function that allows fine adjustment according to the desired correction force. The length adjustment function here is not limited to the following, but may be a snap button, a hook and loop fastener, a buckle, a loop, or the like. The number of the woven fabric A3 may be one or more. A2 and the woven fabric A3 may be connected by the above-mentioned length adjustment function, or the woven fabric A2 and the woven fabric A3 may be formed by an integrated woven fabric.

[0020] The woven / knitted fabric B (4) has one end connected to the woven fabric A2, crosses with the woven fabric A3 at an inner angle (14) of 40° to 120°, covers at least a part of the calcaneus and / or Achilles tendon, and is disposed so that the other end of the woven / knitted fabric B is located at the ankle or instep. The method of connecting one end of the woven / knitted fabric B to the woven fabric A2 is not limited, but sewing, hook-and-loop fasteners, snap buttons, etc. may be used. The ankle here refers to the foot including at least a part of the calcaneus (8) and talus (9).

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the woven / knitted fabric B may be arranged to cover the foot including the first metatarsal (5) and to cover the ankle including the calcaneus and / or Achilles tendon from the lateral side to the medial side from the foot to the instep, or may cover the ankle including the calcaneus and / or Achilles tendon from the lateral side to the medial side from the foot to the instep. As an alternative, not shown in FIG. 1, the woven / knitted fabric B may be arranged to cover the foot including the first metatarsal (5) and to extend from the medial side of the sole to the lateral side and to cover the ankle including the calcaneus (8) from the lateral side to the medial side. By arranging in this way, it is possible to suppress the feeling of pressure due to the excessive corrective force of the woven fabric A2 (2) and the woven fabric A3 (3). In particular, the latter arrangement is more preferable in that it is easier to land on the ball of the foot (big toe).

[0022] In the woven / knitted fabric B, it is important that the other end is positioned at the ankle or instep, in addition to the requirement of the inner angle with the woven fabric A3 described later. By positioning it at the ankle or instep, the woven fabric A3(2) is prevented from being stretched in a straight line and floating from the wearer, and the woven fabric A3 is more firmly pressed down, stable dorsiflexion corrective force and inversion corrective force are exerted, and the ease of fitting to the shape of the shoe is improved. Furthermore, by wrapping it around the ankle, the feeling of pressure on the entire foot is small, and wearing comfort is excellent. When positioning the other end of the woven / knitted fabric B at the ankle or instep, in the case of a lower limb wear tool composed only of the woven fabrics A1 to A3 and the woven / knitted fabric B as shown in FIG. 1, the other end may be fixed to the woven / knitted fabric B itself. In addition, in the case of a lower limb wear tool in which the woven fabrics A1 to A3 and the woven / knitted fabric B are arranged on the legwear, the other end of the woven / knitted fabric B may be fixed to the ankle or instep of the legwear using a hook-and-loop fastener or the like.

[0023] The woven or knitted fabric B must cross the woven or knitted fabric A3 such that the inner angle between the woven or knitted fabric A3 and the woven or knitted fabric B is 40° to 120°. The inner angle (15) between the woven or knitted fabric B and the woven or knitted fabric A3 refers to the angle between the center line of the woven or knitted fabric B (4) and the center line of the woven or knitted fabric A3 (3) when the lower limb orthotic is worn on one leg that needs correction. The center line is shown by a dashed line in FIG. 3.

[0024] If the inner angle is less than 40°, the woven fabric A3 and the woven / knitted fabric B will intersect near the shin, and the floating of the woven fabric A3 at the ankle will not be sufficiently suppressed, resulting in insufficient dorsiflexion corrective force, inversion corrective force, and stability of the corrective force. It is more preferable that the inner angle is greater than 60°. On the other hand, if the inner angle is greater than 120°, the woven fabric A3 and the woven / knitted fabric B will intersect at the toe side, and the floating of the woven fabric A3 at the ankle will not be sufficiently suppressed, resulting in insufficient dorsiflexion corrective force, inversion corrective force, and stability of the corrective force. It is more preferable that the inner angle is less than 90°. Therefore, by setting the inner angle in the above range, the floating of the woven fabric A3 at the ankle can be suppressed, and strong dorsiflexion corrective force and inversion corrective force can be exerted, while the stability of the corrective force can be maintained high. In addition, by suppressing the floating of the woven fabric A3, it is arranged along the shape of the foot, improving the comfort of wearing the shoes when worn.

[0025] The positional relationship at the intersection of the woven fabric A3 and the woven / knitted fabric B may be such that the woven / knitted fabric B is on the instep side of the woven fabric A3, in other words, on the wearer side, or on the opposite side, in other words, the woven / knitted fabric B is on the opposite side of the woven fabric A3 to the wearer. However, if the woven / knitted fabric B is on the wearer side of the woven fabric A3, it is necessary to connect the woven / knitted fabric B to the woven fabric A3 by the method described below, etc., to prevent the woven fabric A3 from floating. In addition, in order to further prevent the reduction in the corrective force due to positional deviation over time, it is preferable to place a guide on the woven fabric A3 or legwear that determines the position of the woven / knitted fabric B at the intersection. This maintains the appropriate corrective position, which can have a good effect on functional recovery and improvement of daily walking movements. In addition, it is preferable that the woven / knitted fabric B has a length adjustment function that allows fine adjustment to the desired corrective force by the woven fabric A3 (3). The length adjustment function here is not limited to the following, but can be a snap button, a hook-and-loop fastener, a buckle, a ring, etc.

[0026] The number of the woven or knitted fabrics B may be one or more.

[0027] The method of connecting the woven fabrics A1 to A3 and the woven / knitted fabric B can be appropriately selected as long as it satisfies the corrective force in the desired direction. Specifically, sewing with a sewing machine, snap buttons, hook-and-loop fasteners, buckles, hooks, etc. are used. Note that when each part is integrally formed as a woven fabric, the above-mentioned separate connecting parts are not necessary.

[0028] The woven fabrics A1 to A3 and the woven / knitted fabric B are preferably in the form of a belt. The woven fabric A and the woven / knitted fabric B preferably have a width of 30 mm or more and 200 mm or less. A width of 30 mm or more improves the strength, and by providing a certain amount of contact area with the body, the woven fabrics A and B are less likely to dig into the body, further reducing the feeling of pressure. A width of 200 mm or less prevents the fabric from becoming stiff, preventing a decrease in comfort, and further improves the corrective force in the desired direction.

[0029] At least one of the woven fabrics A1 to A3 preferably has an elongation rate of 0.5% to 50% in the short direction and / or the long direction at a load of 100N / 5cm. With an elongation rate of 0.5% or more, the part to be corrected can be moderately elongated without excessively fixing the part to be corrected, and the friction between the part to be corrected and the corrective tool can be reduced without excessively restricting the range of motion, and the correction force is stable because the deviation of the correction position can be suppressed to some extent when worn for a long time, and the feeling of pressure can be reduced by moderately elongating when the correction part is moved. An elongation rate of 1% or more is more preferable. On the other hand, with an elongation rate of 50% or less, the elongation stops moderately, and the dorsiflexion correction force can be further improved. An elongation rate of 20% or less is more preferable.

[0030] The woven / knitted fabric B(4) is selected from the viewpoints of ease of placement on the ankle and comfort over time for the wearer, and from the viewpoint of exhibiting a stable and moderate corrective force, the woven / knitted fabric B(4) has an elongation rate of preferably 50% or more in the longitudinal direction at a load of 100N / 5cm, more preferably 100% or more. With an elongation rate of 50% or more, the woven / knitted fabric A2 can be appropriately pressed down, thereby improving the dorsiflexion corrective force, and with an appropriate elongation rate, the feeling of pressure can be further reduced by following the movement of the corrective part when it is moved. Furthermore, with an elongation rate of 100% or more, the stability of the corrective force is maintained even when worn for a long time without impeding the dorsiflexion correction and inversion correction by the woven fabric A. From the above viewpoint, the higher the elongation rate, the better; however, if the elongation rate is extremely high, the woven or knitted fabric will become loose and may not be able to adequately hold down the woven fabric A3, reducing the inversion and dorsiflexion corrective powers. Also, the strong snapback caused by elongation in the high elongation region may cause tightness in the feet and ultimately pain, so the elongation rate is preferably 500% or less, and more preferably 400% or less.

[0031] The longitudinal elongation rates of the woven fabrics A1 to A3 and the woven / knitted fabric B at a load of 100 N / 5 cm are A1 EX , A2 EX , A3 EX , B EX Then, B EX >A1 EX ≧A2 EX ≧A3 EX It is preferable to use A1 because it is efficient in that it can be made from the same fabric. EX =A2 EX =A3 E It is more preferable that the “=” in this case is not strictly the same as B EX >A1 EX will be maintained, but A1 EX , A2 EX , A3 EX This indicates that the difference is generally within 10%.

[0032] By setting the above range, when the wearer wears the lower limb orthodontic device and moves, the force applied by the wearer's foot acts appropriately to return the device to the original corrected position, so that the corrected position is maintained appropriately, which is preferable for functional recovery and improvement of daily walking. In addition, even when the lower limb orthodontic device of the present invention is worn and moves for a long time, it is difficult to lose its shape, and the initial performance can be sustained for a long time, and the moderate fixing force and correcting force are maintained for a long time, so that it can be used continuously, and is more effective for functional recovery and improvement of daily movements.

[0033] The stiffness of the woven or knitted fabric B (JIS L 1096 stiffness A method) is preferably 5 mm or more and 100 mm or less. When the stiffness is 5 mm or more, the woven or knitted fabric B can be prevented from excessively adhering to the body, thereby preventing blood flow and reducing the feeling of pressure. The stiffness is more preferably 10 mm or more. On the other hand, when the stiffness is 100 mm or less, the woven or knitted fabric A can be firmly pressed down because it can be arranged along the shape of the correction part, improving dorsiflexion correction and inversion correction. Furthermore, when the stiffness is 70 mm or less, it can follow the correction part when it is in operation, reducing chafing. Also, by conforming to the shape of the foot, the comfort of wearing the shoe is improved.

[0034] In the lower limb orthodontic device, in order to exert the desired corrective force by the textile A2(2) and textile A3(3) when worn and to guide the ankle joint in the desired direction, the inner angle of the connecting portion between the textile A1(1) and textile A3(3) when worn is preferably 30° to 90°, more preferably 40° to 80°. By setting the inner angle within the above range, the textile A3 can be connected to the textile A2 without being twisted or deformed, and the corrective force can be exerted more stably.

[0035] The inner angle (14) between the textile A1 and textile A3 refers to an angle of 90° or less between the center line of the textile A1 (1) and the center line of the textile A3 (3) when the lower limb orthotic is worn on one leg that needs correction. The center line is shown by a dashed line in Figure 2. If the inner angle is more than 30°, the desired corrective force of the textile B can be fully exerted when worn, and the ankle joint that needs correction can be guided in the desired direction.

[0036] The ankle joint in the above refers to the joint of the ankle, which is made up of the tibia (9), fibula (10), and talus (8) and is reinforced by ligaments in the joint. It is the joint that moves the ankle up and down and to the left and right.

[0037] The fibers constituting the woven fabrics A1 to A3 and the woven / knitted fabric B in the lower limb garment preferably contain one or more types of thermoplastic elastomer fibers.

[0038] Specific examples of the thermoplastic elastomer fibers that can be used include polyurethane elastic fibers and thermoplastic polyester elastomer fibers. Thermoplastic polyester elastomer fibers are preferred because they are easy to obtain dimensional stability and highly elastic stretchability.

[0039] The form of the yarn used in the woven fabric A and the woven / knitted fabric B may be either short fiber or long fiber as long as it satisfies the range specified in the present invention. The material of the yarn is not limited to natural fiber, synthetic fiber, etc. as long as it satisfies the range specified in the present invention, and various fibers can be used.

[0040] Specifically, synthetic fibers such as polyester fibers, polyamide fibers, and thermoplastic elastomer fibers, cellulose fibers such as rayon and cotton, and natural fibers such as wool and silk can be appropriately used. These fibers may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds for the above-mentioned threads.

[0041] The fineness of the fibers used in the woven fabric A is preferably 30 to 1500 decitex, and more preferably 50 to 1000 decitex.

[0042] When the elastic fiber and other fibers (non-elastic fibers) are used, the fineness of the elastic fiber is preferably 50 dtex to 1500 dtex, and more preferably 156 dtex to 1000 dtex. The fineness of the non-elastic fiber, which is the other fiber, is preferably 30 dtex to 1000 dtex, and more preferably 50 dtex to 500 dtex.

[0043] As mentioned above, it is preferable to use elastic fibers as part of the threads used. Specifically, by using elastic fibers as at least part of either the warp threads or the weft threads, or both, it is possible to obtain the dimensional stability of a woven fabric, the stretchability of elastic fibers, and good recovery after stretching, and to appropriately adjust the fixing force, corrective force, dimensional stability, and ability to follow movements in order to guide the ankle joint in the desired direction.

[0044] In the above cases, the proportion of the elastic fiber used is appropriately determined within a range in which the desired characteristics can be obtained, but is preferably about 30% to 70% by weight in the entire warp or weft, or in the entire woven fabric.

[0045] In addition, when other fibers (inelastic yarns) other than the elastic fibers are used in the above-mentioned woven fabric A, the elongation rate can be adjusted by appropriately adjusting the crimp rate. When inelastic fibers are used in either the warp or weft yarns and the crimp rate is set to 5% or more and 30% or less, the desired elongation can be obtained. The crimp rate is preferably 10% or more and 30% or less.

[0046] In addition, when elastic fibers and non-elastic fibers are used in either the warp or weft, the crimp ratio of the non-elastic fibers is preferably 5% or more and 30% or less. This allows the non-elastic fibers to follow the elastic fibers when they elongate according to the crimp ratio, and prevents excessive elongation caused by the elastic fibers. In this case, the crimp ratio of the elastic fibers is appropriately set according to the desired characteristics, but is preferably 0% or more and 5% or less.

[0047] The weave density of the fabric A used in the present invention is preferably 20 threads / inch (2.54 cm) to 150 threads / inch (2.54 cm) in terms of warp density and weft density, and more preferably 30 threads / inch (2.54 cm) to 100 threads / inch (2.54 cm).

[0048] The weave structure of the woven fabric A and the woven / knitted fabric B is not particularly limited as long as it satisfies the range specified in the present invention, but at least one type of weave such as plain weave, twill weave, satin weave, or a double weave that combines these weaves can be appropriately selected depending on the application.

[0049] The knitting structure of the woven / knitted fabric B is not particularly limited as long as it satisfies the range specified in the present invention, but is selected from circular knitting, warp knitting, etc., and warp knitting is preferable from the viewpoint of shape stability and moderate elasticity.

[0050] The lower limb garment may be used to correct any of inversion, eversion, equinus, and drop foot.

[0051] Inversion and eversion are conditions in which the toes turn inward (inversion) or outward (eversion) due to contracture of the muscles in the lower limbs, such as the Achilles tendon or triceps surae, or due to abnormal muscle tone.

[0052] Equinus is a type of ankle deformity, in which the ankle is extended as if standing on tiptoe, and cannot return to its original position freely, and the heel does not or has difficulty touching the floor when standing or walking. Regardless of whether the ankle itself is deformed, contracture of the Achilles tendon or contracture of muscles in the lower limbs, such as the triceps surae, may generate a force that points the toes downward, causing the foot to not return to its normal position or to have difficulty returning to its normal position. In this case, the ankle often turns inward, resulting in a so-called inversion state. This is a condition known as equinus varus.

[0053] In the case of foot drop, the muscles in the lower limbs are weakened, causing the foot to lose its ability to dorsiflex, and the toes remain pointing downward. If the symptom of foot drop continues for a long period of time, the symptom may become fixed and develop into a symptom of equinus.

[0054] Symptoms of these conditions, such as equinus or drop foot, can cause inconvenience in daily life, such as being unable or having difficulty touching the heel when standing, being unable or having difficulty landing on the heel when walking with the foot off the ground, landing on the toes or the outside of the foot, or rubbing the toes when walking.

[0055] For such symptoms, the ankle joint can be guided in a desired direction, and the condition and movement of the foot can be corrected to be as close to normal as possible, thereby improving the symptoms, in terms of foot deformations such as inversion, eversion, equinus, drop foot, etc., and the difficulty in movement that causes functional impairment such as walking. For example, in the present invention, when the lower limb garment is worn, the textile A2(2) is arranged to cover the fifth metatarsal or cuboid bone, and the textile A3(3) that is stretched from the foot including the fifth metatarsal or cuboid bone to the lower part of the knee is appropriately arranged, thereby exerting a corrective force that guides the foot to its original normal position against inversion. This corrective force is particularly useful for inversion and eversion, but is also effective for other instabilities in the ankle.

[0056] The lower limb garment of the present invention preferably includes a mechanism that can be opened and closed when worn. The mechanism that can be opened and closed when worn is a mechanism that opens and closes to expand an opening when putting on and taking off the lower limb garment, or makes a non-open area open and close, making it easy to put on and take off. There are no particular limitations on the location where the openable mechanism is provided as long as it does not impair the corrective function and makes it easy to put on and take off, and it can be provided in any of the woven fabric A1, the woven fabric A2, the woven fabric A3, the woven / knitted fabric B, and the connecting parts thereof. The openable mechanism may be provided in one or more locations.

[0057] By providing the mechanism that can be opened and closed when worn, wearers with severe foot deformation or elderly wearers can put on and take off the garment by themselves, and the work of putting on and taking off is reduced for caregivers, so that use is not avoided and can be used continuously. Furthermore, if the lower limb wearer of the present invention can be used continuously, it will be more effective in recovering function and improving daily movements. The mechanism that can be opened and closed is not particularly limited, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose, such as a line fastener, a hook-and-loop fastener, or a button such as a snap button or a tuck button. For example, by providing an opening and closing opening by a fastener on the side of the lower leg, it becomes possible to put on and take off the garment more easily.

[0058] In the lower limb garment of the present invention, the woven fabric A may be integrally formed with legwear covering at least the knee and / or below the knee to the foot as long as the desired characteristics such as corrective power and ease of putting on and taking off are satisfied, or the woven fabric A and woven / knitted fabric B may be partially connected to the legwear, but it is more preferable that the woven fabric A and woven / knitted fabric B are connected to the legwear and formed integrally. In the woven fabric A1, it is preferable to connect at least a part of the part covering the front of the knee such as the kneecap or the front of the ankle to the legwear. In addition, in the woven fabric A3, it is preferable to connect at least a part of the part covering the lower leg including the tibia to the legwear in terms of ease of putting on and taking off. Of course, both of these may be performed.

[0059] In particular, the woven fabric A3 is preferably provided with a length adjustment mechanism. The length adjustment mechanism is preferably a mechanism that can pull the woven fabric A3 upward from the vicinity of the connection between the woven fabric A2 and the woven fabric A3. This makes it possible to set a corrective force according to the wearer's symptoms, such as inversion, valgus, equinus, and drop foot, by adjusting the length of the woven fabric A3. In addition, by adopting a mechanism that pulls the woven fabric A3 upward in the length adjustment mechanism, it is possible to make it easier for hemiplegic patients to wear the garment with one hand. This makes it possible to provide a garment that can be used continuously.

[0060] A common symptom of a hemiplegic patient is that one hand and one foot are paralyzed on one side of the body, and that among the movements of the non-paralyzed hand, pulling is the easiest. Based on this premise, when putting on the lower limb garment of the present invention, while returning the abnormal position of the foot, particularly that of a clubfoot such as a talon, to the normal position, if the length is adjusted while pulling the fabric A3 upward, the corrective force can be adjusted at the same time.

[0061] Specifically, the specifications are not limited to those described below, but examples include a mechanism for adjusting the length when connecting the woven fabric A3 and the woven fabric A2 by placing a loop at the end of the woven fabric A2, passing the woven fabric A3 through it, folding it back, pulling it, and fastening it with a hook-and-loop fastener.

[0062] The woven fabric A and the legwear are connected and integrally formed, so that the woven fabric A and the woven / knitted fabric B can be easily arranged in a desired manner when worn, and the wearer can wear the legwear in the same manner as ordinary clothing without any trouble. This reduces the burden on the wearer and the caregiver, and the legwear of the present invention can be used continuously. As a result, the wearer's function recovery and daily movement improvement are more effectively improved. The above-mentioned connection method is not particularly limited, and can be appropriately selected according to the application, such as sewing or bonding. In addition, when the legwear of the present invention is used as an orthosis, it is preferable to use an orthosis that does not include a metal or hard resin frame, a monocoque, or the like, that is, a so-called soft orthosis, from the viewpoint of continuous use. EXAMPLES

[0063] Examples of the present invention will be described below together with comparative examples.

[0064] The methods for measuring various properties used in the present examples are as follows.

[0065] (1) Fineness and number of filaments The fineness was measured based on JIS L 1013:2010 8.3.1 Correct fineness (Method A). The number of filaments was measured based on JIS L 1013:2010 8.4.

[0066] (2) Elongation rate at a load of 100N / 5cm Five test pieces measuring 50 mm x 300 mm were taken in each of the warp and weft directions for the fabrics used in Woven Fabric A and Woven / Knit Fabric B. A constant-speed extension tensile tester with an automatic recorder was used, with the grip interval set to 200 mm, and the test pieces were fixed to the grips to remove slack and tension. The test pieces were stretched at a tensile speed of 200 mm / min until they reached a load of 1200 N, and the displacement at 100 N was measured based on the load deformation curve obtained by carrying out the measurement. The elongation rate L (%) was calculated using the following formula and expressed as the average of the five pieces. Elongation rate L(%)=(L1 / L0)×100 L0: Grip spacing (mm) L1: Displacement when extended to 100N (mm).

[0067] (3) Bending resistance The bending resistance was measured based on JIS L 1096:2010 8.3.1 Bending resistance (Method A).

[0068] (4) Method for measuring the internal angle between fabric A1 and fabric A3 When the manufactured lower limb garment was worn on one leg requiring correction, angles of 90° or less were measured among the angles formed by the center line of both tangents of the longitudinal ends of the fabric A1 and the fabric A3.

[0069] (5) Method for measuring the internal angle between woven fabric A3 and woven / knitted fabric B When the manufactured lower limb garment was worn on one leg requiring correction, the angle between the center line formed by the tangents of both ends of the longitudinal direction of fabric A3 and fabric B was measured.

[0070] (6) Wearing evaluation The created lower limb garment was worn on the leg that required correction, and the wearer was asked to walk for one hour, after which five items were evaluated: dorsiflexion correction, inversion correction, correction force, pressure feeling, and chafing. Dorsiflexion correction and inversion correction were evaluated by observing the wearer's walking state, while the stability of the correction force, pressure feeling, and chafing were evaluated by the wearer's sensory evaluation, and the worn sample was relatively rated on a four-point scale of 4, 3, 2, and 1. A. Dorsiflexion correction (4: strong correction, 1: weak correction) B. Inversion correction (4: strong correction, 1: weak correction) C. Stability of correction force (4: high stability, 1: low stability) D. Pressure sensation (4: no pain, 1: pain due to pressure from woven or knitted fabric) E. Chafing (4: not painful, 1: painful due to rubbing of woven or knitted fabrics).

[0071] [Example 1] The legwear was made of tricot knit fabric made by interweaving two types of fibers, 78 decitex nylon fiber and 310 decitex polyurethane fiber as elastic fiber. The fabric A (Fabrics A1 to A3) was made of 2 / 2 twill fabric with 2200 decitex polyester elastomer "Hytrel" (registered trademark) monofilament (thermoplastic elastomer fiber) elastic yarn as warp yarn, 1670 decitex polyester (polyethylene terephthalate) fiber non-elastic yarn as weft yarn, and 220 decitex polyester (polyethylene terephthalate) non-elastic yarn as entangled yarn. The fabric B was made of "Oritouch" (registered trademark) made of nylon and polyurethane material.

[0072] In the woven fabric A1, a portion of the portion covering the knee and / or at least a portion of the lower knee is connected to the legwear by sewing with a sewing machine, and in the woven fabric A3, a portion of the portion covering the front of the lower leg including the tibia is connected to the legwear by sewing with a sewing machine. In the woven fabric A2, the woven fabric is connected to the legwear by sewing with a sewing machine so as to cover the phalanges and metatarsals. The circumferential (longitudinal) ends of the woven fabric A1 and the ends of the woven fabric A3 that are not connected to the woven fabric A1 are backed with hook-and-loop fasteners and the contact surfaces with the legwear are adhered with hook-and-loop fasteners, allowing the desired tightening force to be adjusted.

[0073] The legwear is in the form of a sock covering the foot to the knee of one leg, with the fabric A1 covering the knee including the popliteal fossa so that the circumferential direction of the knee is aligned with the warp direction of the fabric obtained, and the fabric A2 is wrapped around the foot including the phalanges and metatarsal bones. At this time, the fabric A3 is arranged so that the warp direction of the fabric obtained is aligned with the width direction of the foot and along the fifth metatarsal bone. The fabric A3 is connected at one end to the fabric A1 so that the inner angle is 70° with the fabric A1 so that the warp direction of the fabric is the longitudinal direction, and the other end is passed through a can connected to the end of the fabric A2, and then connected to the legwear part. The connecting part of the sock part is connected by arranging the hook surface (A surface) of the hook and loop surface (B surface) of the hook and loop fastener on the legwear side.

[0074] Since the lower limb wearing device can be adjusted to the desired corrective force, the fabric A3 was worn by the wearer so as to provide the desired corrective force, and the length was adjusted so as not to apply excessive stress when the wearer was standing with the heel on the ground.

[0075] The knitted fabric B had one end in the longitudinal direction connected to the woven fabric A2. The connection point was the vicinity of the foot part including the first metatarsal bone of the woven fabric A2. The other end of the knitted fabric B was passed from the inside of the sole to the outside through the dorsum of the foot (top of the foot) and the angle with the woven fabric A3 was adjusted to 75°, and passed from the outside to the inside of the ankle part including the Achilles tendon, and the hook surface (side A) of the hook and loop fastener at the end of the knitted fabric B was connected to the loop surface (side B) of the hook and loop fastener arranged on the back side of the knitted fabric B wrapped around the ankle so as to provide the desired correction force, and the knitted fabric was positioned at the ankle part.

[0076] The woven fabric A has an elongation rate of 2% in the longitudinal direction and 8% in the transverse direction when loaded with 100N / 5cm, and the knitted fabric B has an elongation rate of 124% in the longitudinal direction when loaded with 100N / 5cm. The elongation rates in the longitudinal direction when loaded with 100N / 5cm are A1 EX , A2 EX , A3 EX , B EX Then, B EX > A1 EX = A2 EX = A3 EX It was.

[0077] The stiffness of knitted fabric B was 68 mm, which meant that it was highly flexible and could be positioned to conform to the shape of the foot.

[0078] A test was conducted on the lower limb wearer, and the results were as follows: dorsiflexion correction 4, inversion correction 4, stability of correction force 4, pressure 4, and chafing 4. The lower limb wearer corrected the foot that needed correction to the normal position, and there was no inversion of the ankle joint during the swing phase of walking. When landing, the heel landed first and the wearer kicked back with the toes to move forward, allowing the wearer to walk stably. The wearer was also able to balance the necessary correction force and fixing force to maintain the corrected state of the foot, with the ability to follow the friction, rocking, and pressure between the lower limb and the lower limb wearer that occurred during movement, and was able to recover sufficiently when deformed. The occurrence of pain due to excessive correction force was alleviated by knitted fabric B, so no pain was felt. The lower limb wearer was able to be used continuously, and therefore showed excellent performance. When the wearer wore the lower limb wearer at home, the wearer could wear it comfortably without damaging the floor. In addition, when the wearer put on shoes while wearing the lower limb garment, the wearer was able to wear shoes that were the correct size for the wearer's feet. Furthermore, because it is sock-like, it is easy to put on and take off, and the positions of the woven fabric A1, the woven fabric A2, and the knitted fabric B can be easily adjusted.

[0079] [Example 2] A sock-type lower limb garment was used as in Example 1, except that the elongation of the fabric A at a load of 100 N / 5 cm when the lower limb garment was worn was 21% in the longitudinal direction and 25% in the lateral direction.

[0080] A wearing test was conducted on the manufactured lower limb wear device, and the dorsiflexion correction was 3, the inversion correction was 4, the stability of the correction force was 4, the feeling of pressure was 4, and the chafing was 4. The lower limb wear device corrected the foot that needed correction to the normal position, and during the swing phase of walking, the foot dorsiflexed and the heel and toe touched the ground at the same time when landing, but there was no inversion of the ankle joint.

[0081] [Example 3] A sock-type lower limb wear device was used as in Example 1, except that fabric A used when the lower limb wear device was a polyester PU laminated fabric, and the elongation rate of fabric A at a load of 100 N / 5 cm was 0.3% in the longitudinal direction and 0.2% in the lateral direction.

[0082] A wearing test was conducted on the manufactured lower limb wearable device, and the dorsiflexion correction was scored as 3, the inversion correction as 4, the stability of the correction force as 3, the feeling of pressure as 3, and the chafing as 3. As a lower limb wearable device, the corrected state was strongly maintained, the woven fabric did not change even when force was applied, and a feeling of pressure was felt in the areas covered by woven fabric and knitted fabric B while walking, but not painful, and an uncomfortable feeling of chafing was felt around woven fabric and knitted fabric B while walking, but not painful.

[0083] [Example 4] A sock-type lower limb wearable device was used as in Example 1, except that a polyester fabric was used as the fabric B when the lower limb wearable device was worn, the elongation rate of the fabric B in the longitudinal direction at a load of 100 N / 5 cm was 55%, and the bending resistance (JIS L 1096 bending resistance method A) was 61 mm.

[0084] A wearing test was conducted on the manufactured lower limb wear device, and the results were as follows: dorsiflexion correction was 4, inversion correction was 4, stability of correction force was 3, feeling of pressure was 4, and chafing was 4.

[0085] [Example 5] A sock-type lower limb wearable device was used as in Example 1, except that a polyester fabric was used as the fabric B when the lower limb wearable device was worn, the elongation of the fabric B in the longitudinal direction at a load of 100 N / 5 cm was 15%, and the bending resistance (JIS L 1096 bending resistance method A) was 34 mm.

[0086] A wearing test was conducted on the manufactured lower limb wear device, and the results were 3 for dorsiflexion correction, 4 for inversion correction, 3 for stability of correction force, 3 for feeling of pressure, and 4 for chafing.

[0087] [Example 6] A sock-type lower limb wearable device was used as in Example 1, except that knitted fabric B used for the lower limb wearable device was made of polyester (PET) and polyurethane material, and the elongation of knitted fabric B in the longitudinal direction at a load of 100 N / 5 cm was 113%, and the bending resistance (JIS L 1096 bending resistance method A) was 91 mm.

[0088] A wearing test was conducted on the manufactured lower limb wear device, and the results were as follows: dorsiflexion correction was 4, inversion correction was 4, stability of correction force was 4, feeling of pressure was 4, and chafing was 3.

[0089] [Example 7] A sock-type lower limb wearable device was used as in Example 1, except that knitted fabric B used for the lower limb wearable device was made of polyester (PET) and polyurethane material, the elongation of knitted fabric B in the longitudinal direction at a load of 100 N / 5 cm was 105%, and the bending resistance (JIS L 1096 bending resistance method A) was 115 mm.

[0090] A wearing test was conducted on the manufactured lower limb wear device, and the dorsiflexion correction was 3, the inversion correction was 3, the stability of the correction force was 4, the feeling of pressure was 3, and the chafing was 3. As a lower limb wear device, there was some inversion of the foot while walking, and it was possible to walk so that both the outer and inner edges of the sole touched the ground when landing.

[0091] [Example 8] A sock-type lower limb wearing tool was used in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the inner angle between the woven fabric A1 and the woven fabric A3 when the lower limb wearing tool was worn was adjusted to 90°.

[0092] A wearing test was conducted on the manufactured lower limb wear device, and the results were as follows: dorsiflexion correction was 4, inversion correction was 4, stability of correction force was 3, feeling of pressure was 4, and chafing was 4.

[0093] [Comparative Example 1] A sock-type lower limb wearing tool was used in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the inner angle between the woven fabric A3 and the knitted fabric B when the lower limb wearing tool was worn was adjusted to 35°.

[0094] A wearing test was conducted on the manufactured lower limb wear device, and the results were as follows: dorsiflexion correction was 2, inversion correction was 2, stability of correction force was 2, feeling of pressure was 3, and chafing was 3.

[0095] [Comparative Example 2] A sock-type lower limb wearing tool was used in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the inner angle between the woven fabric A3 and the knitted fabric B when the lower limb wearing tool was worn was adjusted to 130°.

[0096] A wearing test was conducted on the manufactured lower limb wear device, and the results were as follows: dorsiflexion correction was 2, inversion correction was 2, stability of correction force was 2, feeling of pressure was 3, and chafing was 3.

[0097] [Comparative Example 3] A sock-type lower limb wearing device was used in the same manner as in Example 1, except that when the lower limb wearing device was worn, the knitted fabric B was removed, only the woven fabric A (A1 to A3) was used, and the inner angle between the woven fabric A1 and the woven fabric A3 was adjusted to 45°.

[0098] A wearing test was conducted on the manufactured lower limb wear device, and the results were 2 for dorsiflexion correction, 2 for inversion correction, 2 for stability of correction force, 2 for feeling of pressure, and 2 for chafing.

[0099] [Comparative Example 4] When putting on the lower limb wear device, the knitted fabric B and the woven fabric A1 were removed, and only the woven fabrics A2 and A3 were used. The woven fabric A3 was connected to the knee part with a hook-and-loop fastener, but otherwise a sock-type lower limb wear device was used as in Example 1.

[0100] A test was conducted on the manufactured lower limb wear device, and the dorsiflexion correction was 1, the inversion correction was 1, the stability of the correction force was 1, the feeling of pressure was 3, and the chafing was 3. As a lower limb wear device, the foot could not be dorsiflexed during the swing phase of walking, and the toes got caught on the ground when landing, making it impossible to walk smoothly, and the inversion of the foot could not be corrected while walking, so the outer edge of the sole touched the ground when landing, making walking unstable. Furthermore, the correction state was not well maintained, and the correction force decreased over time.

[0101] In conclusion, this lower limb wearable device is unsuitable because there are concerns about the wearer's ability to walk steadily when used continuously, and there is room for improvement in the functions necessary to correct foot deformities and improve walking function.

[0102] [Comparative Example 5] When the lower limb wear device was worn, one longitudinal end of the knitted fabric B was connected to the woven fabric A2, the connection point was near the foot part including the first metatarsal bone of the woven fabric A2, the angle with the woven fabric A3 was adjusted to 35° as it passed from the inside to the outside of the sole, and the other end was connected to the woven fabric A1 so as to cover from the outside of the heel to the inside of the ankle part including the Achilles tendon, and cover from the lower leg part including the tibia to the knee part. The knitted fabric B was made of the same material as the woven fabric A (bending resistance (JIS L 1096 bending resistance A method: 106 mm) and the internal angle between the woven fabric A1 and the woven fabric A3 was adjusted to 45°. A sock-type lower limb wear device was used as in Example 1, except that.

[0103] A wearing test was conducted on the manufactured lower limb wear device, and the results were 2 for dorsiflexion correction, 2 for inversion correction, 2 for stability of correction force, 2 for feeling of pressure, and 2 for chafing.

[0104] [Comparative Example 6] A sock-type lower limb wear device was used as in Comparative Example 5, except that the elongation rate of the woven fabric A at a load of 100 N / 5 cm when the lower limb wear device was worn was 88% in the longitudinal direction and 80% in the transverse direction, and the angle between the woven fabric A3 and the woven / knitted fabric B was 35°.

[0105] A wearing test was conducted on the manufactured lower limb wear device, and the results were as follows: dorsiflexion correction was 1, inversion correction was 1, stability of correction force was 1, feeling of pressure was 1, and chafing was 2.

[0106] [Table 1]

[0107] [Table 2] [Explanation of symbols]

[0108] 1 Fabric A1 2 Fabric A2 3 Fabric A3 4 Woven and knitted fabrics B 5 First metatarsal 6 5th metatarsal 7 cubic bones 8 calcaneus 9 Talus 10 Tibia 11 fibula 12 Lower leg 13 Can 14. Internal angle between fabric A1 and fabric A3 15 Internal angle between woven fabric A2 and woven / knitted fabric B

Claims

1. A lower limb wearable device, A woven fabric A1 covering at least a part of the knee and / or below the knee; A fabric A2 covering the phalanges and / or metatarsals; a woven fabric A3, one end of which is connected to the woven fabric A1 and the other end of which is connected to the woven fabric A2; and a woven / knitted fabric (B) having one end connected to the woven fabric (A2), crossing the woven fabric (A3) at an internal angle of 40° to 120°, covering at least a portion of the calcaneus and / or Achilles tendon, and the other end located on the ankle or instep.

2. 2. The lower limb garment according to claim 1, wherein the woven fabrics A1 to A3 are belt-shaped, and at least one of them has an elongation rate of 0.5% to 50% in the short direction and / or the long direction when loaded with 100 N / 5 cm.

3. 3. The lower limb garment according to claim 1, wherein the woven or knitted fabric (B) is in a belt-like shape and has an elongation rate of 50% or more in the longitudinal direction when subjected to a load of 100 N / 5 cm.

4. The longitudinal elongation rates of the woven fabrics A1 to A3 and the woven / knitted fabric B at a load of 100 N / 5 cm are respectively A1 ＥＸ , A2 ＥＸ , A3 ＥＸ , B ＥＸ When B ＥＸ > A1 ＥＸ ≧ A2 ＥＸ ≧ A3 ＥＸ 3. The lower limb garment according to claim 1 or 2,

5. 3. The lower limb garment according to claim 1, wherein the woven or knitted fabric B has a bending resistance (JIS L 1096 bending resistance method A) of 100 mm or less.

6. 3. The lower limb garment according to claim 1, wherein an internal angle between the woven fabric A1 and the woven fabric A3 is 30° to 90°.

7. 3. The lower limb garment according to claim 1, wherein the woven fabrics A1 to A3 and the woven / knitted fabric B contain one or more types of thermoplastic elastomer fibers as fibers.

8. 3. The lower limb garment according to claim 1, which is used to correct any one of inversion, valgus, equinus, and drop foot.

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