Thoracic-Forearm Support Structure for Therapist Shoulder Strain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing manual therapy support apparatuses fail to provide adequate support for manual therapists' arms during bent positions, are anatomically specific and costly, and cause shoulder strain, leading to repetitive stress injuries and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A partial exoskeleton comprising a thoracic support, forearm support, and interconnecting strut that allows therapists to apply pressure through the thoracic support instead of their arms, with adjustable and modular therapeutic tools for various treatment modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the manual therapist applies pressure through their own arm anatomy, then the therapeutic pressure can be delivered effectively, but the therapist is prone to repetitive stress injuries and soft tissue injuries in the arm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an external support apparatus as an intermediary structure between the therapist's body weight and the patient's body. The apparatus includes a rigid support structure with a weight-bearing surface that contacts the patient, allowing the therapist to apply therapeutic pressure through the apparatus rather than directly through their arm anatomy, thereby preventing therapist injury while maintaining effective treatment delivery
2Ease of operation
If the support apparatus is designed to work with bent arm positions, then therapists can maintain natural posture, but the apparatus structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The support apparatus is segmented into distinct functional components: an upper arm support portion, a forearm support portion, and a rigid support structure. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together to support the therapist's bent arm position, reducing overall complexity compared to a single monolithic structure
3Force
If the support apparatus uses a cushion pad in the armpit to transfer weight, then the therapist's body weight can be utilized for pressure, but shoulder strain and discomfort occur during extended use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the weight-bearing function from the therapist's shoulder joint and armpit area by introducing an external rigid support structure that assumes this load. The support apparatus is configured to bear the therapist's body weight independently through its own structural integrity, removing the harmful strain from the shoulder while still enabling effective use of body weight for therapeutic pressure
4Adaptability or versatility
If the support apparatus is custom-designed for each individual therapist, then it provides optimal anatomical fit, but the cost substantially increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support apparatus is designed as a universal device that can accommodate multiple therapists with different anatomical proportions. The apparatus includes adjustable components such as the rigid support structure length and the positioning of support surfaces, allowing it to be adapted to various therapists without requiring custom manufacturing for each individual, thereby reducing cost while maintaining effectiveness
Data Source
AI summary
A support apparatus for manual therapists generally comprising a thoracic support worn on the user’s chest, a therapeutic support worn on the user’s arm or hand, and a strut interconnecting the thoracic support and the therapeutic support. In one embodiment, the therapeutic support comprises a forearm support adapted to allow the user to transfer a portion of the user’s body weight from the thoracic support through the strut to an ulnar therapeutic tool on the forearm support. In another embodiment, the therapeutic support comprises a hand support adapted to transfer a portion of the user’s body weight through the strut to either of a palmar therapeutic tool or a thumb therapeutic tool on the hand support.