Spine Extension Roller With Grab Bars For Facet Joint Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foam rolling techniques for the spine are limited in loading facet joints effectively, leading to diminished benefits over time due to uneven weight distribution and lack of control in spinal extension.
Innovation Solution
A combination of a cylindrical roller and grab bars allows for dynamic spinal extension, enabling direct loading of facet joints and greater control over spinal mobilization from the base of the occipital to the sacrum, facilitating more effective facet manipulation and range of motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a user lies on a cylindrically-shaped foam roller with the roller oriented to roll lengthwise along the spine, then the user can perform foam rolling of the back, but the user's weight is distributed along the length of the roller which limits the loading of facet joints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specialized apparatus with a cylindrical roller supported by a frame with longitudinal members that act as intermediaries. The longitudinal members provide handholds that serve as mediators between the user's upper body weight and the spinal extension motion, enabling controlled loading of facet joints without requiring the user to manually control the entire movement
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus segments the functions: the cylindrical roller handles the spinal rolling and facet joint loading, while the separate longitudinal frame members handle the control and support functions. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function without compromise
2Productivity
If a user uses feet to assist moving the spine lengthwise over the foam roller, then the user can perform spinal mobilization, but the benefits diminish over time as the body adjusts to the weight distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus is designed to perform preliminary actions of spinal extension and facet joint loading through the controlled mechanical advantage provided by the frame structure. The longitudinal members positioned to allow hand gripping enable the user's upper body weight to preliminarily load the facet joints before the rolling action occurs, enhancing the overall effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus enables dynamic adjustment of the spinal extension degree through the spatial relationship between the roller and longitudinal members. Users can dynamically increase spinal extension by adjusting their hand position and body weight distribution along the longitudinal members, allowing progressive overload and sustained benefits over time
3Adaptability or versatility
If grab bars are added to the foam roller apparatus, then the user can dynamically increase spinal extension and self-achieve greater levels of facet manipulation, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The longitudinal members serve multiple functions: they provide structural support for the cylindrical roller, serve as handholds for control, and act as the mechanism for dynamic adjustment of spinal extension. This multi-functionality achieves enhanced adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the support structure and the control mechanism into a single integrated frame structure with longitudinal members. Rather than adding separate grab bars to a foam roller, the frame and control elements are combined into a unified apparatus where the longitudinal members simultaneously provide structural and functional roles
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is embodied in an apparatus for extending the human back. The preferred apparatus has a frame of transverse and longitudinal members, and a roller 20 rigidly supported from below by a transverse member. The space above the roller and frame is open so that a user can lie face up on the roller and grab the longitudinal members with each hand to extend the back over the top of the roller. The user then lowers his hips to extend the spine as much as desired. The user can roll the spine, vertebrae by vertebrae, from the base of the occipital to the sacrum.