Fascia massage machine

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a myofascial massage machine capable of automatically massaging the gluteus maximus and medius while keeping an effective posture. [Solution] A myofascial massage machine for massaging the gluteus maximus and medius is provided, comprising: a tiltable and fixable backrest part; a seat part on which a user sits; a leg placement part for placing the user's legs; a base part that supports the backrest part and the seat part; and a massage means for abutting and massaging the gluteus maximus and medius. The leg placement part includes a right leg placement part and a left leg placement part. The right leg placement part and the left leg placement part each include a placement portion on which the user's leg is placed and a lifting means for moving the placement portion up and down. The right leg placement part and the left leg placement part are configured to ascend and descend in the up-down direction independently of each other with the user's left and right legs placed on the placement portions. The massage means is configured to perform a massage operation on the left and right areas alternately or simultaneously depending on the stage of the treatment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fascia massager for massaging fascia, and particularly to a fascia massager that enables automatic massage while maintaining an effective posture for massaging the major and middle gluteal muscles.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, many massagers with various devices have been used, and massagers with various structures have been developed and used. Here, fascia massage, which massages the fascia, is a massage technique for removing adhesions between muscles and fascia.

[0003] All muscles are covered with a thin membrane called fascia, and this membrane plays a role in supporting the muscles. When deep muscles become fatigued or severely damaged, adhesions occur between the muscles and fascia, or between the fascia and fascia, and the muscles cannot move smoothly. This appears as stiffness, numbness, and pain.

[0004] Fascia massage is a massage that removes adhesions, relieves stiffness and pain, and enables the joints to move sufficiently by applying pressure from the outside to the fascia and muscles while moving the internal muscles. A fascia massager enables this massage to be performed automatically.

[0005] As a technique related to such a massager, for example, there is JP-A-2017-169604. Here, as a technique related to an apparatus for stimulating the muscles around the spine and the muscles related thereto and effectively treating general pain and muscle spasms, there is disclosed a structure related to a hydraulic massage apparatus having a tank for containing a liquid, a flexible sheet that is stretched in a watertight manner and on which the person to be massaged lies horizontally, a nozzle for injecting the liquid toward the lower surface of the sheet, a pump for pumping the liquid to the nozzle, and control means for moving the nozzle in the longitudinal and lateral directions of the tank.

[0006] This technology certainly makes it possible to stimulate specific areas such as the gluteus maximus, and effectively treat areas with pain or muscle spasms, or areas that cause them. However, the structure of this technology makes it impossible to effectively perform treatment while moving the legs, which would increase the massage effect of the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius, and it was therefore an insufficient technology from a treatment perspective.

[0007] It is known that the effectiveness of massaging the gluteus maximus and medius muscles can be enhanced by gradually moving the legs, warming them, and applying pressure during the massage. Therefore, there was a need to develop a fascia massage machine that could automatically massage the muscles while performing these movements. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-169604 A DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a fascia massage machine for massaging the fascia, and in particular, a fascia massage machine that can automatically massage the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles while maintaining an effective posture. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, the fascia massager according to the present invention is a fascia massager for massaging the erector spinae muscles and middle erector spinae muscles, and includes a backrest portion that can be tilted and fixed, a seat portion on which the user sits, a footrest portion on which the user's both legs are placed, a base portion that supports the backrest portion and the seat portion, and massage means that contacts the erector spinae muscles and middle erector spinae muscles to perform massage. The footrest portion includes a right footrest portion and a left footrest portion. The right footrest portion and the left footrest portion each include a placement portion on which the user's foot is placed and lifting means for moving the placement portion up and down. In a state where the user's left and right feet are placed on the placement portion, they are configured to move up and down independently in the vertical direction. The massage means is configured to perform a massage operation alternately or simultaneously on the left and right according to the stage of treatment.

[0011] Further, the lifting means includes a bag body that can hold air injected therein and injection / discharge means for injecting and discharging air into and from the bag body. By injecting and discharging air into and from the bag body, the placement portion is configured to move up and down. Further, the massage means is configured to include a shiatsu ball that performs a massage operation of pressurizing and depressurizing the affected part of the user.

[0012] Further, the massage means includes a covering portion that covers the user's buttocks provided on the seat portion in a manner that can be pressurized and depressurized. The covering portion is configured to have a plurality of protrusions for massaging the buttocks on the surface that contacts the user's buttocks. Further, the covering portion is formed of a bag-shaped member into which air can be injected and discharged. By injecting and discharging air into and from the bag-shaped member, the covering portion is configured to cover the user's buttocks in a manner that can be pressurized and depressurized. Further, the covering portion is configured to include an infrared heater at a portion located at the center of the user's buttocks.

Advantages of the Invention

[0013] Since the present invention has the configuration as described in detail above, it has the following effects. 1. Since it has a structure with a right foot placement part and a left foot placement part, it is possible to perform the treatment while moving the left and right legs independently or alternately, enabling a highly effective massage. 2. Since the lifting and lowering means is configured to inject and hold air in the bag body, it is possible to realize a gentle lifting and lowering of the legs by air and to provide a fascia massager with a low-failure configuration.

[0014] 3. Since the treatment is performed by the treatment elements, it is possible to appropriately apply pressure and release pressure to the affected part of the user. 4. Since it is configured to provide a covering part that can freely apply pressure and release pressure to the user's buttocks as a massage means, it is possible to perform the treatment while wrapping and compressing the user's buttocks, enabling a more effective massage.

[0015] 5. Since the covering part is made of a bag-shaped member capable of injecting and discharging air inside, it is possible to realize a gentle pressurization by air and to provide a fascia massager with a low-failure configuration. 6. Since the covering part is configured to be provided with an infrared heater, it is possible to perform the treatment while warming the affected part, enabling a more effective massage.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] Hereinafter, the fascia massager according to the present invention will be described in detail based on the embodiments shown in the drawings. FIGS. 1a and 1b are side views of the fascia massager according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view showing the leg placement part of the fascia massager, and FIG. 3 is a side view showing the covering part.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, the fascia massager 1 of the present invention includes a base 10, a backrest part 100, a seat part 200, a leg placement part 300, and a massage means 400, and is a fascia massager that enables automatic massage of the fascia while optimally maintaining and changing the posture of the patient in order to massage the gluteus maximus and medius muscles.

[0018] The backrest part 100 is a member for supporting the back of a user sitting on the fascia massager 1, and as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, it is installed so as to be tiltable and fixable. Further, the seat part 200 is a member for supporting from the buttocks to the thighs of a user sitting on the fascia massager 1, and the user sits on this member.

[0019] The footrest part 300 is a member for supporting the lower legs of a user sitting on the fascia massager 1, and as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, it places both legs of the user sitting on the seat part 200. In this embodiment, the footrest part 300 is configured to be installed separately and independently from the backrest part 100 and the seat part 200, but it is not limited to this configuration, and it may be configured to be connected to the backrest part 100 and the seat part 200 for installation.

[0020] The base part 10 is a member constituting the base of the fascia massager 1, and as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, in this embodiment, it is configured to support the backrest part 100 and the seat part 200.

[0021] The massage means 400 is a member for performing massage by contacting the gluteus maximus muscle and the gluteus medius muscle. In this embodiment, it is configured to be provided in a pair on the left and right at positions contacting the left and right gluteus maximus muscles and gluteus medius muscles of the user, and is used for massaging the left and right gluteus maximus muscles and gluteus medius muscles.

[0022] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the footrest part 300 is composed of a right footrest part 300R and a left footrest part 300L. The right footrest part 300R and the left footrest part 300L are members for placing the left and right legs of the user during treatment, and are configured to each include a placement part 310R·310L and a lifting means 320R·320L. The placement parts 310R·310L are members for placing the legs of the user, and the placement part 310R is installed on the right footrest part 300R, and the placement part 310L is installed on the left footrest part 300L.

[0023] In addition, the elevating means 320R and 320L are members for moving the placing parts 310R and 310L up and down to move the user's left and right legs up and down. The elevating means 320R is installed in the right leg placing part 300R, and the elevating means 320L is installed in the left leg placing part 300L.

[0024] With this configuration, when the user's left and right legs are placed on the placing parts 310R and 310L, they can move up and down independently in the vertical direction.

[0025] The massage means 400 is configured to perform a massage operation alternately or simultaneously on the left and right according to the stage of the treatment. The massage means 400 is in a protrusion shape, and the protrusion presses the affected part. However, it is also possible to configure it to vibrate during the massage to give a stimulus to the affected part.

[0026] With the above configuration, it is possible to move the user's left and right legs independently, alternately or simultaneously, and perform treatment by the massage means 400 while bending and stretching the user's legs, enabling an effective massage.

[0027] In this embodiment, the elevating means 320R and 320L are configured to include bag bodies 322R and 322L, and injection / discharge means 324R and 324L. The bag bodies 322R and 322L are bag-shaped members capable of injecting and holding air. The injection / discharge means 324R and 324L are members for injecting and discharging air into and from the bag bodies 322R and 322L. By injecting and discharging air into and from the bag bodies 322R and 322L by the injection / discharge means 324R and 324L, the elevating operation of the placing parts 310R and 310L is performed.

[0028] Note that the bag body 322R and the injection / discharge means 324R are provided in the elevating means 320R, and the injection / discharge means 324R injects and discharges air into and from the bag body 322R. The bag body 322L and the injection / discharge means 324L are provided in the elevating means 320L, and the injection / discharge means 324L injects and discharges air into and from the bag body 322L.

[0029] As another embodiment of the lifting means 320R and 320L, instead of the above pneumatic type, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the lifting is performed by a driving device (not shown) such as a motor. That is, the rotational force of a driving device such as a motor is changed into vertical movement to move the mounting portions 310R and 310L vertically, thereby moving the user's left and right legs up and down. As a result, it is possible to quickly and finely move the legs up and down to bend and stretch the legs.

[0030] In this embodiment, the massage means 400 can be configured to include a treatment element 410. The treatment element 410 is a member that performs a massage operation so as to pressurize and depressurize the affected part of the user. In this embodiment, the treatment element 410 is a protruding member, and massage is performed by the protrusion pressing the affected part. The treatment element 410 may be configured to vibrate during massage to give a stimulus to the affected part.

[0031] As an embodiment of the fascia massager according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the massage means 400 can be configured to include an enclosing portion 420. The enclosing portion 420 is provided in the seat portion 200 and is a member that encloses the user's buttocks so as to be able to pressurize and depressurize the buttocks when the user is seated, and is configured to include a plurality of protrusions 422.

[0032] The protrusions 422 are provided on the surface in contact with the user's buttocks, and the protrusions massage the buttocks. Since a plurality of protrusions 422 are provided, a plurality of protrusions 422 are configured to press and massage the user's buttocks. Note that the number of the protrusions 422 to be installed is not limited. As a result, it is possible to perform the treatment by bending and stretching the legs while wrapping and pressing the user's buttocks, and it is possible to perform a more effective massage.

[0033] In this embodiment, the covering portion 420 is configured as a bag-shaped member into which air can be injected and released. By injecting and releasing air into the covering portion 420, which is configured as a bag-shaped member, the user's buttocks are covered so that pressure can be freely increased or decreased. For example, the pressure applied to the user's buttocks by the covering portion 420 can be configured to be adjustable between strong, medium, and weak. This pressure is adjusted by the amount of air injected into the covering portion 420. With this configuration, air pressure is applied to the entire user's buttocks, achieving an air-pressurized massage and making it possible to provide a fascia massager with a configuration that is less prone to malfunction.

[0034] The covering part 420 can further be configured to include an infrared heater 424 in the area located in the center of the user's buttocks. With this configuration, it becomes possible to perform treatment while warming the affected area of the user, making it possible to perform a more effective massage.

[0035] Next, a fascia massage using the fascia massage machine 1 according to the present invention will be described. The thin fascia that covers the muscles includes the subcutaneous fascia and the deep fascia. The subcutaneous fascia is located within the subcutaneous tissue, while the deep fascia exists directly below and deep within the subcutaneous fascia. It consists of three layers: epimysium, perimysium, and endomysium, and it wraps around each muscle, allowing them to move smoothly. Fascial massage focuses on massaging the deep fascia; for example, by applying pressure to the origin and insertion of muscles, the range of motion of the joints increases and individual muscles can stretch and contract smoothly.

[0036] In myofascial massage, simply applying pressure to the fascia itself is insufficient; instead, it involves using hands or elbows to compress the patient's fascia while also using external force to move the muscles underneath the fascia. For example, in cases of sudden lower back pain (acute lumbar myofasciosis) and chronic lower back pain, the muscles surrounding the third, fourth, and fifth lumbar vertebrae are often compressed, causing tension in the erector spinae muscles and pain around the lumbar vertebrae. This is often caused by the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles, which are adhesions that surround the pelvis, particularly adhesions between parts of the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius fascia, or muscle stiffness that causes the pelvis to tilt and arch the lower back, compressing the third, fourth, and fifth lumbar vertebrae and resulting in pain. By loosening the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles, which are the cause of the pain, the fascial adhesions are resolved, the erector spinae muscles are relaxed, and pressure on the lumbar vertebrae is relieved, eliminating pain.

[0037] The fascial massage machine 1 according to the present invention can be used to not only loosen muscles but also restore adhesions and deformations of the fascia to a normal state. In particular, when massaging the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles, it is necessary to move the hip joint (bending and straightening the knee) while applying pressure to the muscles. By applying pressure and moving the muscles, the adhered fascia is released and the muscles also relax. Furthermore, a greater effect can be achieved by massaging the gluteus muscles one at a time, rather than compressing and moving both gluteus muscles together.

[0038] Muscles have a characteristic of relaxing when strongly stimulated during massage. Therefore, it has been found that alternating between left and right massages results in a stronger muscle response and a more effective massage than simultaneous left and right massages. Furthermore, since pain on one side of the body is more likely to occur with sudden lower back pain and chronic lower back pain than pain in the center of the spine or pain on both sides simultaneously, it is necessary to focus on massaging the affected side. Therefore, the fascial massage machine 1 of the present invention primarily uses the treatment elements 410 arranged on the left and right sides and the protrusions 422 of the encapsulation part 420 to alternately massage the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles.

[0039] In addition, to eliminate fascial adhesions and muscle stiffness, it is effective to apply pressure and massage while moving the muscles, which releases the fascia and allows the muscles to return to normal movement. When massaging the gluteus maximus and medius muscles with the fascia massager 1, bending and straightening the knees moves the gluteus maximus and medius muscles, so that adhesions of the fascia and muscle stiffness can be eliminated by externally contacting the treatment element 410 or the protrusion 422 of the covering part 420 and tapping or massaging them.

[0040] More specifically, first, the user sits on the seat 200 of the fascia massage machine 1. Then, the backrest 100 slowly tilts. After that, the lifting means 320R and 320L operate to raise the leg rest 300, and the user's legs are raised. After that, the right leg rest 300R and the left leg rest 300L move up and down simultaneously or alternately to bend and straighten the legs, while the massaging means 400 applies pressure massage to the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles of the user alternately on the left and right.

[0041] When massaging with the covering portion 420, intermittent pressure is applied first, followed by continuous pressure. Continuous pressure is applied for a certain period of time, followed by a repeated release. The compression time is gradually increased. In some cases, the treatment may be performed while the affected area of the user is heated with an infrared heater 424.

[0042] The legs can be massaged in a variety of positions, such as moving only one leg, alternating between the left and right, or moving both legs together.

[0043] With the above configuration, it is now possible to provide a fascia massage machine that can maintain the patient's posture optimally and automatically massage the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles while gently moving both legs individually. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0044]

Fig. 1a

Fig. 1b

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Explanation of symbols

[0045] 1 Fascia massager 10 Base 100 Backrest part 200 Seat part 300 Leg placement part 300R Right leg placement part 300L Left leg placement part 310R Placement part 310L Placement part 320R Lifting means 320L Lifting means 322R Bag body 322L Bag body 324R Injection and discharge means 324L Injection and discharge means 400 Massage means 410 Treatment head 420 Covered part 422 Protrusion 424 Infrared heater

Claims

1. A fascia massager (1) for massaging the erector spinae muscles and the middle erector spinae muscles, comprises a backrest part (100) that can be tilted and fixed, a seat part (200) on which the user sits, a footrest part (300) on which the user places both feet, a base part (10) that supports the backrest part (100) and the seat part (200), and a massage means (400) that contacts the erector spinae muscles and the middle erector spinae muscles to perform massage, the footrest part (300) consists of a right footrest part (300R) and a left footrest part (300L), and the right footrest part (300R) and the left footrest part (300L) each include a placement part (310R, 310L) for placing the user's feet and a lifting means (320R, 320L) for moving the placement part up and down, and are configured to perform independent lifting and lowering operations in the vertical direction with the user's left and right feet placed on the placement parts (310R, 310L), the massage means (400) is characterized in that it performs a massage operation alternately or simultaneously on the left and right according to the stage of treatment. A fascia massager.

2. The lifting means (320R, 320L) includes a bag body (322R, 322L) that can hold injected air and an injection / discharge means (324R, 324L) for injecting and discharging air into and from the bag body, and the lifting and lowering operation of the placement part (310R, 310L) is performed by injecting and discharging air into and from the bag body (322R, 322L). The fascia massager according to Claim 1.

3. The massage means (400) is characterized in that it consists of a treatment head (410) that performs a massage operation of pressurizing and depressurizing the affected part of the user. The fascia massager according to Claim 1 or Claim 2.

4. The massage means (400) consists of an enclosing part (420) that encloses the user's buttocks provided on the seat part in a manner that allows pressurization and depressurization, the enclosing part (420) is characterized in that a plurality of protrusions (422) for massaging the buttocks are provided on the surface in contact with the user's buttocks. The fascia massager according to Claim 1 or Claim 2.

5. The enclosing part (420) consists of a bag-shaped member into which air can be injected and discharged, and the user's buttocks can be enclosed in a manner that allows pressurization and depressurization by injecting and discharging air into and from the bag-shaped member. The fascia massager according to Claim 4.

6. The fascia massager according to claim 5, characterized in that the wrapped part (420) is provided with an infrared heater (424) at a portion located at the center of the user's buttocks.

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