| Apparatus for stretching hip adductor -> Monitor Keywords |
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Apparatus for stretching hip adductorApparatus for stretching hip adductor description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070287604, Apparatus for stretching hip adductor. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001]1. Field of the Invention [0002]The present invention relates to an apparatus for stretching a hip adductor by which stretching treatment and practice can be performed to treat a patient having a hip adductor tightness or joint contracture and the stretched position can be maintained without continuous input of manpower. [0003]2. Description of the Related Art [0004]Some conditions such as cerebral palsy and spinal cord injuries are accompanied with muscle tightness or joint contracture. To treat such tightness or contracture, at least one therapist stretches the contractured joint and keeps the stretched position with hands. In particular, to stretch a hip adductor or hip adductors, a treatment is carried out to stretch a patient to a posture as shown in FIG. 7. [0005]The hip adductor is one of inner thigh muscles, which may interfere walking or disable normal walking when become tight. As shown in FIG. 7, to treat the hip adductor, that is, the inner thigh muscle, therapist draws both legs to spread to a stretched position and maintain the stretched position for a while in order to stretch tight muscles or treat joint contracture. [0006]However, this is a treatment method that requires the therapists to participate with during the entire treatment time for the patient. This treatment is a physically arduous task for the therapists and requires the input of manpower thereby raising treatment costs. Furthermore, it is difficult to correctly estimate the degree of stretching (e.g., stretching time and amount of muscles) and thus data can be rarely objectified. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007]The present invention has been made to solve the foregoing problems of the prior art and therefore an object of certain embodiments of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for stretching a hip adductor in which the stretched position can be maintained without continuous input of manpower during stretching treatment on a hip adductor. [0008]Another object of certain embodiments of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for stretching a hip adductor by which treatment data such as stretching time and amount can be objectively managed to enable a quantified treatment and continuous input of a therapist can be omitted to reduce physical burdens and manpower wastes. [0009]According to an aspect of the invention for realizing the object, the invention provides a stretching apparatus for a hip adductor. The stretching apparatus includes a pair of support members for supporting inner portions of both legs; a connecting member for connecting the support members together to stretch the both legs to a predetermined angle and maintain the legs in the stretched position; and joint units each attached to a corresponding one of the support members, the joint unit connected to a terminal end of the connecting member to join the connecting member to the support members. [0010]Preferably, the support members may be configured to support the legs from malleolus to thigh. In addition, each of the joint units may include a first support, which is protruded toward another one of the support members and has a globe-shaped inner space, and a second support having a globe-shaped portion at one end to be inserted into the inner space of the first support and a space formed at an opposite portion to receive the connecting member. [0011]Preferably, each of the joint units may include a support wall having a pair of protrusions protruded toward another one of the support members and a support bar for connecting the protrusions, wherein the connecting member is terminated with a bent hook, wherein the bent hook is caught by the support bar to joining the connecting member to the corresponding support member. Here, the hook of the joint unit may be bent to form a substantially closed curve, and wherein the support bar is inserted into the hook so that the hook joins the connecting member with the corresponding support member. [0012]Preferably, at least two of the joint units may be provided in upper and lower positions of one of the support members and at least another two of the joint units may be provided in corresponding positions of the other one of the support members. In addition, the connecting member may include a length-adjusting unit arranged in an intermediate portion of the connecting member, the length-adjusting unit capable of adjusting a length of the connecting member to adjust a stretching angle. Here, the length-adjusting unit may comprise a turn buckle having inner threads of opposite directions, wherein the connecting member is divided into two sections, each of the connecting member sections having a thread formed at an end facing away from the joint unit, wherein the thread conforms to one of the inner threads of the turn buckle to couple the connecting member section with the turn buckle. [0013]Alternatively, the length-adjusting unit may comprise a length-adjusting pipe which has a hollow inner space for receiving the connecting member sections and a plurality of through holes, wherein the connecting member is divided into two sections, each of the connecting member sections having a protrusion arranged at an end facing away from the joint unit, the protrusion capable of elastically protruding from the connecting member section to be inserted into a corresponding one of the through holes of the length-adjusting pipe to adjust the length of the connecting member. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014]The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a stretching apparatus according to the invention; [0016]FIG. 2 is a detailed view illustrating joint units shown in FIG. 1; [0017]FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the joint units according to the invention; [0018]FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of support members of the stretching apparatus according to the invention; [0019]FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating further another embodiment of the support member of the stretching apparatus according to the invention; [0020]FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a usage of the stretching apparatus according to the invention; and [0021]FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional stretching treatment. 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