Myofascial 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

Fascia massage machine

[0001] The present invention relates to a fascial massage machine for massaging the fascia, and more particularly to a fascial massage machine that can automatically massage the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles while maintaining an effective posture.

[0002] A large number of massage machines with various ingenious features have been used in the past, and massage machines with a wide variety of structures have been developed and used. Here, fascial massage, which massages the fascia, is a massage technique that removes adhesions between muscles and fascia.

[0003] All muscles are covered by a thin membrane called fascia, which supports the muscles. When deep muscles become fatigued or severely damaged, adhesions form between the muscle and fascia, or between fascia and fascia, preventing the muscles from moving smoothly. This manifests as stiffness, numbness, and pain.

[0004] Fascia massage is a type of massage that applies pressure to the fascia and muscles from the outside while moving the muscles inside, thereby removing adhesions, relieving stiffness and pain, and allowing the joints to move freely.A fascia massage machine makes it possible to perform this massage automatically.

[0005] An example of technology related to such massage machines is Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-169604. This publication discloses technology related to a device that stimulates the muscles around the spine and related muscles to effectively treat pain and muscle spasms throughout the body, and it discloses a structure related to a hydraulic massage device that includes a tank for holding liquid, a flexible sheet that is stretched watertight and on which the person to be massaged lies, a nozzle that sprays liquid toward the underside of the sheet, a pump that pressurizes 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 perform effective treatments that increase the massage effect of the gluteus maximus and medius muscles by performing treatment while moving the legs, and it was an insufficient technology from the perspective of treatment.

[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 for a fascia massage machine that could automatically massage the muscles while performing these movements.

[0008] JP 2017-169604 A

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

[0010] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the fascia massage machine of the present invention is a fascia massage machine for massaging the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles, and comprises a backrest that can be tilted and fixed freely, a seat on which the user sits, a footrest on which the user places both legs, a base that supports the backrest and the seat, and massage means that contact the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles to massage them, the footrests comprise a right footrest and a left footrest, each of which has a base on which the user's legs are placed and a lifting means that moves the base up and down, and is configured to lift and lower the user's left and right legs up and down independently of each other with the user's left and right legs placed on the bases, and the massage means is configured to massage the left and right legs alternately or simultaneously depending on the stage of the treatment.

[0011] The lifting means includes a bag that can inject and retain air, and an injecting / discharging means for injecting / discharging air into / from the bag, and the lifting / discharging operation of the placing part is performed by injecting / discharging air into / from the bag. The massaging means includes a treatment element that performs a massage action by pressurizing / decompressing the affected part of the user.

[0012] The massaging means comprises a covering portion provided on the seat portion that covers the user's buttocks so as to be able to freely pressurize and depressurize them, and the covering portion has a plurality of protrusions for massaging the buttocks on the surface that comes into contact with the user's buttocks. The covering portion comprises a bag-like member into which air can be injected and discharged, and is configured to cover the user's buttocks so as to be able to freely pressurize and depressurize them by injecting and discharging air into and from the bag-like member. The covering portion is also configured to have an infrared heater in the portion located at the center of the user's buttocks.

[0013] The present invention has the configuration described above in detail, and therefore has the following advantages: 1. Because the structure includes a right leg rest and a left leg rest, it is possible to perform treatment by moving the left and right legs independently or alternately, making it possible to perform a highly effective massage. 2. Because the lifting means is configured to inject and retain air in a bag, it is possible to achieve gentle lifting and lowering of the legs using air, and it is possible to provide a fascia massage machine with a configuration that is less prone to malfunction.

[0014] 3. Because the treatment is performed using the treatment element, it is possible to apply pressure or pressure to the affected area of ​​the user appropriately. 4. Because the massage means is configured to have a covering portion that can freely cover the user's buttocks and apply pressure or pressure to the user's buttocks, it is possible to perform treatment while enveloping and compressing the user's buttocks, making it possible to perform a more effective massage.

[0015] 5. The encasing part is made of a bag-shaped material that can inject and expel air, allowing for gentle pressure application by air and making it possible to provide a fascia massager with a configuration that is less prone to malfunctions. 6. The encasing part is configured with an infrared heater, making it possible to perform treatment while warming the affected area, resulting in a more effective massage.

[0016] The fascia massager according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. Figures 1a and 1b are side views of the fascia massager according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is a diagram showing the foot rest of the fascia massager. Figure 3 is a side view showing the covering part.

[0017] As shown in Figures 1a and 1b, the fascia massage machine 1 of the present invention comprises a base 10, a backrest 100, a seat 200, a footrest 300, and massage means 400, and is a fascia massage machine that can automatically massage the fascia by maintaining and changing the patient's posture optimally in order to massage the gluteus maximus and medius muscles.

[0018] The backrest 100 is a member for supporting the back of the user seated on the fascia massage machine 1, and is installed so as to be able to tilt or be fixed as shown in Figures 1a and 1b. The seat 200 is a member for supporting the area from the buttocks to the thighs of the user seated on the fascia massage machine 1, and the user sits on this member.

[0019] 1a and 1b, the leg rest 300 is a member that supports the area below the knees of a user seated on the fascia massage machine 1, and as shown in Fig. 1a and 1b, the leg rest 300 is placed on the user's legs when seated on the seat 200. In this embodiment, the leg rest 300 is configured to be installed separately and independently from the backrest 100 and the seat 200, but is not limited to this configuration and may also be configured to be installed connected to the backrest 100 and the seat 200.

[0020] The base 10 is a member that forms the base of the fascia massage machine 1, and as shown in Figures 1a and 1b, in this embodiment, it is configured to support a backrest 100 and a seat 200.

[0021] The massage means 400 is a member for contacting the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles to massage them. In this embodiment, the massage means 400 is configured to be installed in pairs on the left and right at positions that contact the user's left and right gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles, and is used to massage the left and right gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles.

[0022] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, the leg rest 300 is configured to include a right leg rest 300R and a left leg rest 300L. The right leg rest 300R and the left leg rest 300L are members on which the user's left and right legs are placed during treatment, and each comprises a base 310R / 310L and an elevation mechanism 320R / 320L. The base 310R / 310L is a member on which the user's legs are placed, and the base 310R is installed on the right leg rest 300R, and the base 310L is installed on the left leg rest 300L.

[0023] The lifting means 320R and 320L are members for moving the support portions 310R and 310L up and down to move the user's left and right legs up and down, and the lifting means 320R is installed on the right leg support portion 300R, and the lifting means 320L is installed on the left leg support portion 300L.

[0024] With this configuration, the user's left and right legs can be moved up and down independently of each other while placed on the support sections 310R and 310L.

[0025] The massage means 400 is configured to perform massage operations alternately on the left and right or simultaneously on the left and right depending on the stage of treatment. The massage means 400 is configured to have protrusions that press against the affected area, but it can also be configured to vibrate during the massage to stimulate the affected area.

[0026] With the above configuration, it is possible to perform treatment using the massage means 400 while bending and straightening the user's legs by moving the user's left and right legs independently, alternately, or simultaneously, thereby making it possible to perform a highly effective massage.

[0027] In this embodiment, the lifting / lowering means 320R / 320L are configured to include bags 322R / 322L and injection / discharge means 324R / 324L. The bags 322R / 322L are bag-shaped members that can inject and hold air. The injection / discharge means 324R / 324L are members for injecting and discharging air into the bags 322R / 322L. The injection / discharge means 324R / 324L inject and discharge air into and from the bags 322R / 322L, thereby lifting and lowering the mounting sections 310R / 310L.

[0028] The bag 322R and the injecting / discharging means 324R are provided on the lifting / lowering means 320R, and the injecting / discharging means 324R injects / discharges air into / from the bag 322R. The bag 322L and the injecting / discharge means 324L are provided on the lifting / lowering means 320L, and the injecting / discharge means 324L injects / discharges air into / from the bag 322L.

[0029] As another example of the lifting means 320R, 320L, instead of the pneumatic type, it is also possible to use a drive device (not shown) such as a motor for vertical movement. That is, the rotational force of the drive device such as a motor is converted into vertical movement to move the placement units 310R, 310L up and down, thereby moving the user's left and right legs up and down. This allows the legs to bend and straighten quickly and precisely.

[0030] In this embodiment, the massage means 400 can be configured to include treatment elements 410. The treatment elements 410 are members that perform a massage action to apply pressure or depressurize the affected area of ​​the user. In this embodiment, the treatment elements 410 are protruding members that pressurize the affected area to perform the massage. The treatment elements 410 may also be configured to vibrate during the massage to stimulate the affected area.

[0031] In an embodiment of the fascia massage machine according to the present invention, the massage means 400 can be configured to include a covering portion 420, as shown in Fig. 3. The covering portion 420 is provided on the seat portion 200 and is a member that covers the buttocks of the user while the user is seated so as to be able to freely apply pressure or depressurize the user's buttocks, and is configured to include a plurality of protrusions 422.

[0032] The protrusions 422 are installed on the surface that comes into contact with the user's buttocks, and the protrusions massage the buttocks. Since multiple protrusions 422 are installed, the multiple protrusions 422 pressurize and massage the user's buttocks. There is no limit to the number of protrusions 422 that can be installed. This makes it possible to perform treatment by enveloping and compressing the user's buttocks while bending and stretching the legs, thereby enabling 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 discharged. By injecting and discharging air into the covering portion 420, which is configured as a bag-shaped member, the user's buttocks are enclosed 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 strong, medium, or 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-pressure 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 fascial massage using the fascial 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 to the subcutaneous fascia. It consists of three layers: the epimysium, the perimysium, and the endomysium, and it wraps around each muscle, playing a role in smooth muscle movement. Fascial massage primarily focuses on massaging the deep fascia; for example, applying pressure to the origin and insertion of muscles increases the range of motion of the joints and allows each muscle to stretch and contract smoothly.

[0036] In fascial massage, simply applying pressure to the fascia itself is insufficient; instead, it is possible to use hands or elbows to compress the patient's fascia while 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 lumbar vertebrae 3, 4, and 5 are often compressed, causing tension in the erector spinae muscles and pain around the lumbar vertebrae. This is often caused by the gluteus maximus muscles surrounding the pelvis, particularly adhesions between parts of the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius fascia, or muscle stiffness, which causes the pelvis to tilt and arch the lower back, compressing the lumbar vertebrae 3, 4, and 5, 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 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, 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 more effective fascial massage 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 massaged with strong stimulation. 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 conditions such as sudden lower back pain and chronic lower back pain are more likely to be unilateral rather than central or simultaneous pain, 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 encasement 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 fascial adhesions 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. Then, the lifting means 320R and 320L operate to raise the leg rest 300, lifting the user's legs. Then, 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 involves applying continuous pressure for a certain period of time, followed by a repeated release. The compression time is gradually increased. In some cases, the user's affected area may be heated with an infrared heater 424 during the massage.

[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 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.

[0044] FIG. 1 is a side view of a fascia massager according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of a fascia massager. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a foot rest of the fascia massager. FIG. 4 is a side view of a cover.

[0045] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fascia massage machine 10 Base 100 Backrest 200 Seat 300 Foot rest 300R Right foot rest 300L Left foot rest 310R Placement 310L Placement 320R Lifting means 320L Lifting means 322R Bag 322L Bag 324R Injection / discharge means 324L Injection / discharge means 400 Massage means 410 Treatment element 420 Cover 422 Projection 424 Infrared heater

Claims

1. A fascia massage machine (1) for massaging the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles, comprising a backrest (100) that can be tilted and fixed freely, a seat (200) on which a user sits, a footrest (300) on which the user places both legs, a base (10) that supports the backrest (100) and the seat (200), and massage means (400) that contacts the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles to massage them, The leg rest section (300) is composed of a right leg rest section (300R) and a left leg rest section (300L), and the right leg rest section (300R) and the left leg rest section (300L) each include a rest section (310R / 310L) on which the user's legs are placed and a lifting means (320R / 320L) for moving the rest section up and down, and are configured to lift and lower the user's left and right legs independently in the up and down direction with the user's left and right legs placed on the rest sections (310R / 310L), and the massage means (400) massages the left and right legs alternately or simultaneously depending on the stage of treatment. This is a fascia massage machine.

2. The fascia massage machine of claim 1, characterized in that the lifting means (320R, 320L) comprises a bag body (322R, 322L) into which air can be injected and retained, and an injection and discharge means (324R, 324L) for injecting and discharging air into the bag body, and the lifting and lowering operation of the placement portion (310R, 310L) is performed by injecting and discharging air into the bag body (322R, 322L).

3. A fascia massage machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the massage means (400) comprises a treatment element (410) which performs a massage action by applying pressure and pressure to the affected part of the user.

4. The fascia massage machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the massage means (400) comprises a covering part (420) provided in the seat part for covering the user's buttocks in a manner that allows pressure and pressure to be freely applied, and the covering part (420) has a plurality of protrusions (422) for massaging the user's buttocks provided on the surface that comes into contact with the user's buttocks.

5. The fascia massage machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the covering portion (420) is made of a bag-shaped member into which air can be injected and discharged, and by injecting and discharging air into the bag-shaped member, the user's buttocks can be freely pressurized and depressurized.

6. The fascia massage machine according to claim 5, wherein the covering portion (420) is provided with an infrared heater (424) in a portion located in the center of the user's buttocks.

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