Posture Correction Pad

Abstract

To provide a posture correction pad which uses a physiologic action which is somatic reflex provided on a human body for promoting unconscious and spontaneous contraction of specific muscles thereby stabilizing a balance of a body posture, the posture correction pad capable of being easily worn and detached, having no pressure feeling and capable of being produced at low cost and extremely easily.SOLUTION: There is provided a posture correction pad formed of: a resin plate material which has a pair of lateral arm parts and a downward vertical part, and is formed in a substantially Y-shape and has flexibility. In a state of bringing the pair of lateral arm parts into contact with back surfaces of both shoulders of a user, the vertical part contacts a back surface of an upper part of the dorsal vertebra of the user, and in a state of bringing the pair of lateral arm parts into contact with both sides of a back surface of the dorsal vertebra lower end of the user, the vertical part contacts a back surface of the sacral spine upper end part from the lumbar spine of the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a posture correction pad that can be attached to either the back of the upper thoracic vertebrae or the back of the area from the lumbar vertebrae to the top of the sacrum. More specifically, the pad's contact with the back of the spine induces a somatic reflex, thereby promoting unconscious contraction of specific muscles (the back muscles and the iliopsoas muscle), thereby stabilizing body posture. For example, when using a backpack-style bag with shoulder straps, such as a rucksack or school bag, the pad can be attached to the back of the upper thoracic vertebrae to unconsciously activate the back muscles and prevent instability of body posture due to the weight of the bag. Furthermore, by attaching the pad to the back of the area from the lumbar vertebrae to the top of the sacrum, the pad can unconsciously activate the iliopsoas muscle, thereby stabilizing the pelvis, particularly when sitting in a chair. [Background technology]

[0002] The school bags used by children are becoming heavier due to the diversification of educational materials, and the bags used by adults are also shifting from handbags to backpack-style bags, increasing the number of opportunities to travel with a heavy load on one's back.

[0003] The body maintains its posture through a balance between the actions of the flexor muscles on the front of the body and the back muscles on the back. The flexor muscles on the front of the body include the pectoralis major and rectus abdominis, while the back muscles on the back of the body include the trapezius and erector spinae muscles shown in Figure 1. When the weight of a load carried on the back of the body is applied, the body naturally leans forward in order to maintain balance, with the head and face positioned forward. When this happens, only the flexor muscles on the front of the body are unconsciously used, and the back muscles are hardly used at all.

[0004] In recent years, the use of backpack-style bags has become more common, especially among the elderly, as they allow them to walk hands-free. At first glance, this may seem safe in the event of a fall, as both hands are free. However, for elderly people with declining muscle strength, the balance between the flexor and back muscles is not as good, resulting in low physical stability. Therefore, if someone bumps into the backpack or something gets caught on it, causing an imbalance in the load, it can easily lead to a fall. This is also true when children, whose muscles are not yet fully developed, carry heavy school backpacks.

[0005] The orientation of the pelvis is also important when it comes to maintaining body posture, stabilizing walking, and reducing fatigue. It is known that an unnatural forward or backward tilt of the pelvis destabilizes the overall body posture and makes muscles in various parts of the body more susceptible to fatigue. Modern people tend to have a posterior pelvic tilt due to long periods of sitting with their backs hunched. Conversely, when fatigued from standing upright or walking for long periods of time, they tend to unconsciously push out their stomachs and tilt their pelvis forward. In either case, the overall body posture becomes unstable, making people more susceptible to falls and accumulating fatigue. The iliopsoas muscle, commonly known as the inner muscle (deep muscle), plays an important role in stabilizing the pelvis. However, as mentioned above, modern people spend long periods of time sitting, which makes the iliopsoas muscle less effective and more susceptible to weakening.

[0006] The iliopsoas is the collective term for the psoas major and iliacus muscles shown in Figure 2. The psoas major connects the lumbar vertebrae to the hip joint, and the iliacus connects the pelvis to the hip joint. They are the only muscle groups that connect the upper and lower body and resist gravity. In addition to maintaining the S-shape of the spine and maintaining an upright standing position, the iliopsoas also lifts the feet and knees (hip flexion) when walking or running, and also works to raise the trunk when the lower body is immobilized. It also stabilizes the hip joint, so it is a muscle that balances the trunk. However, unlike superficial muscles that are easy to consciously move, the iliopsoas is a deep muscle that is difficult to consciously work or train.

[0007] Numerous prior arts have been proposed to correct trunk posture and stabilize the body. For example, the "posture improvement support garment" disclosed in Patent Document 1 consists of a main body that covers the upper body and a belt-like tightening portion that extends from the thoracic vertebrae to the center of the lower abdomen and has a stronger tightening force than the main body. The belt-like tightening portion tightens the body, increasing abdominal pressure and stabilizing the pelvis. Also, the "rib correction belt" disclosed in Patent Document 2 corrects hunched back posture by using a belt that encircles the ribs to press a back support portion against the fifth thoracic vertebra and push it forward, thereby improving body posture. [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-26118 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2018-64652 A

[0008] However, these prior arts forcibly correct posture by applying mechanical pressure or compression to specific parts of the body, and do not activate the necessary muscles spontaneously to achieve the inherent function of stabilizing body balance. Therefore, even if they are effective when worn, the effect does not last long when not worn, and no fundamental corrective effect can be expected. Furthermore, since working components such as tightening parts and belts are fixed to the body, there are problems such as the inconvenience of putting on and taking off, and the strong feeling of pressure, which is a heavy burden on the user. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] The present invention aims to stabilize and balance body posture with a fundamentally different concept from the prior art mentioned above, which is to encourage the unconscious and spontaneous contraction of specific muscles by utilizing the physiological action of the human body known as somatic reflexes, and aims to provide an extremely simple and low-cost posture correction pad that is easy to put on and take off and does not feel oppressive.

[0010] In order to solve the above problem, the posture correction pad of claim 1 of the present invention is characterized in that it consists of an elastic resin plate material having an approximately Y-shape and a pair of lateral arms and a downward-facing vertical portion, and when the pair of lateral arms are abutted against the back of the user's shoulders, the vertical portion abuts against the back of the user's upper thoracic vertebrae, and when the pair of lateral arms are abutted against both sides of the back of the user's lower thoracic vertebrae, the vertical portion abuts against the back of the user's lumbar vertebrae to the upper end of the sacrum.

[0011] In the posture correction pad's configuration, the vertical part abuts against the back of the upper thoracic vertebrae or the area from the lumbar vertebrae to the upper end of the sacrum, acting as the active part that induces a somatic reflex in the human body, and the pair of lateral arm parts act as holding parts that hold the vertical part by being sandwiched between the shoulder and the shoulder strap of a backpack-type bag when applied to the back of the lower end of the thoracic vertebrae of the upper body, or by being hooked onto the back of the waist circumference of trousers or a skirt when applied to the lower body.

[0012] The human body is equipped with a variety of reflexes (physiological reflexes), which can be broadly divided into visceral reflexes (autonomic reflexes) that contract visceral muscles and promote glandular secretion via the autonomic nervous system, and somatic reflexes that contract skeletal muscles. The patellar tendon reflex, which causes the lower leg to jump up when the patellar tendon is struck with a mallet, is a typical somatic reflex, but the reaction in which the muscles contract to move the stimulated area away from the stimulus when the skin or muscle receives a certain stimulus is also a somatic reflex.

[0013] The stimulus that triggers a somatic reflex is not a strong pressure stimulus, such as pressing on an acupressure point, but a weak stimulus, such as simply a foreign object touching the skin. When the sensory receptors (mechanoreceptors) in the skin and muscles detect the contact of a foreign object, the muscles controlled by the nerves directly below that point are activated and contract unconsciously.

[0014] When the posture correction pad is applied to the upper body, the vertical part comes into contact with the back of the upper thoracic vertebrae (roughly T1 to T5). This is the area where the longissimus cervix and longissimus thoracis muscles originate, which play a particularly important role in maintaining posture among the erector spinae muscles that extend the trunk and maintain the S-curve of the spine. The nerves that control these muscles are the spinal nerves that run from the cervical vertebrae (C1 to C7) to the upper thoracic vertebrae (C1 to T5).

[0015] Therefore, when the vertical part contacts the skin in this area, a somatic reflex is triggered, causing the erector spinae muscles to unconsciously contract. This balances the force of the anterior flexor muscles, which contract excessively to counter the weight of the backpack-style bag, improving trunk posture stability. Furthermore, the upper thoracic vertebrae are the origin of the middle fibers of the trapezius muscle, which exerts the greatest force and inserts at the acromion and scapular spine. The somatic reflex triggered by the vertical part's contact with this area unconsciously activates the trapezius muscle. This prevents the shoulder blades from sagging due to the weight of the backpack-style bag's shoulder straps and balances the force of the pectoralis major, which unconsciously contracts to counter the force of the shoulder strap pulling backward, thereby improving trunk posture stability.

[0016] On the other hand, when the posture correction pad is applied to the lower body, the vertical part comes into contact with the back of the lumbar vertebrae (L1-L5) and upper sacrum. This part is directly above the branches of the lumbar plexus (L1-L4) that control the psoas major muscle and the branches of the lumbar plexus (L2-L4) that control the iliacus muscle. When the vertical part comes into contact with the skin in this area, a somatic reflex is triggered, causing inner muscles such as the psoas major and iliacus muscles to unconsciously contract, improving pelvic stability.

[0017] The invention according to claim 2 is the posture correcting pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the pair of lateral arm portions are each provided inclined upward at an angle of 30 to 40 degrees.

[0018] As mentioned above, the side arm portion is a holding portion for holding the vertical portion by sandwiching it between the shoulder and the shoulder strap of the backpack-type bag when the posture correction pad is applied to the upper body, or by hooking it behind the waist circumference of pants or a skirt when applied to the lower body. The position of the shoulder strap of the backpack-type bag and the shape of the clothing vary, but by slanting the side arm portion upward, it becomes easier to align it with the position of the shoulder strap, and when a vertical object is inserted behind the waist circumference of pants or a skirt, it becomes easier to hook the side arm portion onto the upper end of the back of the waist circumference.

[0019] The invention of claim 3 is a posture correction pad as described in either claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the approximately Y-shaped resin plate material is made of EVA (Ethylen-Vinyl Acetate: ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin).

[0020] The material of the posture correction pad is not particularly limited as long as it is a flexible resin plate. However, since it is desirable for the vertical portion to be in close contact with the body directly, or at most through thin underwear, to induce somatic reflexes, a flexible, resilient, and warm thermoplastic resin foam is suitable. EVA material is flexible and resilient, and does not harden even at low temperatures. The foam is extremely lightweight and easy to process. It is also highly resistant to moisture, especially sweat, and does not contain harmful substances, making it safe even if small children ingest it. Furthermore, since it does not contain chlorine, it does not produce dioxins when incinerated, and is easily recyclable, making it particularly suitable. [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] The posture correction pad of the present invention, when applied to the upper body when carrying a heavy backpack-style bag, can prevent or reduce instability in the body's posture caused by the load, thereby reducing the number of falls, especially among elderly people and children carrying school bags.

[0022] Furthermore, when applied to the lower body, it unconsciously activates the inner muscles and promotes pelvic stability, preventing or alleviating physical discomfort caused by forward or backward tilt of the pelvis, and in particular reducing fatigue caused by sitting in a chair for long periods of time. Moreover, the corrective pad of the present invention is simple, lightweight, low-cost, and extremely easy to put on and take off, making it easy to spread.

[0023] In particular, the posture correction pad of the present invention does not require any special attachment or fastening means such as belts or slings as in conventional technology, and can be worn simply by inserting it over or between clothing, thereby minimizing the burden on the user associated with posture correction. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0024] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 4 shows one embodiment of a posture correction pad 1 according to the present invention, with the left side being a side view and the right side being a front view, and the back side being symmetrical to the front side. The posture correction pad 1 is made of EVA foam molded into a roughly Y-shape with a pair of lateral arms 10 and a downward-facing vertical portion 11, and the edges are rounded. Each of the pair of lateral arms 10 is inclined upward at an angle of 30°.

[0025] The size of the posture correction pad 1 can be set arbitrarily according to the user's physique. The thickness can also be set arbitrarily according to the hardness of the material, but when using a general foam EVA material, a thickness of about 10 mm is suitable.

[0026] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the position where the posture correction pad 1 is worn. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the posture correction pad 1 worn on the upper body, and Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the posture correction pad 1 worn on the lower body.

[0027] When carrying a backpack-type bag containing heavy luggage, the posture correction pad 1 of the present invention is worn with the lateral arm portion 10 sandwiched between the back and shoulder straps, with the vertical portion 11 abutting against the back of the upper thoracic vertebrae, as shown in Fig. 6. In this case, before putting on the backpack-type bag, the posture correction pad 1 can be inserted into the back side of the collar of the jacket, with the vertical portion 11 abutting against the back of the upper thoracic vertebrae directly or through underwear, and then the backpack-type bag can be put on. However, it is easier to insert the vertical portion 11 between the main body of the backpack-type bag and the back after putting on the backpack-type bag, and then insert the lateral arm portion 10 between the shoulder straps and the jacket, as the posture correction pad 1 is fixed in place by the weight of the shoulder straps.

[0028] In addition, one side of the posture correction pad 1 is provided with an adhesive layer (not shown) made of an adhesive that can be attached and removed without damaging clothing, and before putting on the backpack-type bag, the posture correction pad 1 can be attached to a designated location on top of the jacket if the jacket is thin, or on top of the underwear if the jacket is thick.This is convenient because it eliminates the need to reattach the posture correction pad 1 every time the backpack-type bag is put on again after being taken off.

[0029] When wearing the posture correction pad 1 on the lower body, insert the vertical part 11 directly into the back of the waist of pants or a skirt until the horizontal arm part 10 abuts the upper end of the back of the waist, as shown in Figure 7. The posture correction pad 1 is fixed in place when the horizontal arm part 10 hooks onto the upper end of the back of the waist, and to remove it, simply grasp the horizontal arm part 10 and pull it out.

[0030] The above describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to the above-described configuration, and can be modified and implemented as appropriate within the scope of achieving the object of the present invention and having the effects thereof. As long as they fall within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention, they also fall within the technical scope of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0031] The posture correction pad according to the present invention is particularly effective in preventing falls in elderly people with weakened muscles and underdeveloped children, but can also be used as a daily posture correction tool for general adults. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0032] [Figure 1] Human body diagram showing trapezius and erector spinae muscles [Figure 2] Diagram of the human body showing the psoas major and iliacus muscles [Figure 3] Human skeleton rear view [Figure 4] Side and surface views of a posture correction pad according to an embodiment [Figure 5] Diagram showing where to wear the posture correction pad [Figure 6] A diagram illustrating the posture correction pad worn on the upper body. [Figure 7] A diagram illustrating the posture correction pad worn on the lower body. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1 Posture Corrector Pad 10 Lateral arm 11 Vertical section

Claims

1. A posture correction pad made of a flexible resin plate material having a substantially Y-shape with a pair of horizontal arms and a downward vertical portion, When the pair of lateral arms are in contact with the back of the user's shoulders, the vertical portion is in contact with the back of the user's upper thoracic vertebrae, When the pair of lateral arms are in contact with both sides of the back surface of the lower end of the thoracic vertebrae of the user, the vertical portion is configured to contact the back surface of the lumbar vertebrae to the upper end of the sacrum of the user. Posture correction pad.

2. 2. The posture correcting pad according to claim 1, wherein the pair of lateral arms are each inclined upward at an angle of 30 to 40 degrees.

3. The substantially Y-shaped resin plate is made of EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate: ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin). The posture correction pad according to claim 1 or 2.

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