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Home | Alpha Telephone | Domain Names | Web Hosting | Get Traffic | xrEvidence | xrSoccer United States Patent
Orthopedic device for loosening stiffened shoulder joint An orthopedic device for loosening a stiffened human shoulder joint utilizing a rigid bar member for extending in the plane of the torso from the stiffened shoulder to a firm surface, a support extending outwardly from the bar member in the plane of the torso and above the affected arms, a sling for providing uniform support to the humerus of the affected arm and a flexible member attached at one end to a sling and running through at least one pulley attached to the outwardly extending support and across the body to the unaffected arm for providing a direct and controlled lift to the affected arm in the stiffened joint without twist or strain on other body members.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: What is claimed is: 1. An orthopedic device for exercising a stiffened shoulder joint by the unaffected arm comprising: a rigid bar member for extending from the shoulder of the stiffened joint to a firm surface; a padded member mounted on the inner end of said bar member for resting against said shoulder; a support member mounted on said bar member substantially orthogonal thereto for extending outwardly in the plane of said shoulder; pulley means on the surface of said support member for facing said shoulder; a sling for supporting the upper arm adjacent said stiffened shoulder joint; and a flexible member attached to said sling and guided through said pulley, said flexible member having sufficient length to be reciprocated through said pulley by the unaffected arm without twist on the unaffected arm or other members of the body, whereby a person having a shoulder joint stiffened by disease may exercise the upper arm in the affected joint by merely moving the unaffected arm. 2. The orthopedic device of claim 1, wherein said support member is pivotally mounted on said bar member. 3. The orthopedic device of claim 1, wherein said sling is of flexible material and of sufficient width to support the upper arm uniformly across its length and wherein said orthopedic device also includes handle means attached to said flexible member for being grasped by said unaffected arm. 4. The orthopedic device of claim 1, also including a flat resilient member affixed to the outer end of said bar member for interacting with said firm surface. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to orthopedic devices and particularly to such devices for loosening a shoulder joint stiffened by bursitis, rheumatism, arthritis or the like. A common affliction of the human body is a shoulder stiffened by bursitis, rheumatism or arthritis. Such a stiffened joint is extremely painful to move but one of the required treatments for such an affliction is the continued movement of the joint both to prevent further stiffening and to loosen such stiffening as has already resulted from the disease. It is often not possible for the person to move his own shoulder through the normal lift of the arm and some artificial device must be provided for lifting the arm against the stiffness of the joint. Such devices in the past have been extremely awkward for a person to use without outside assistance and have involved twisting the body in a way that was very painful to the affected joint and often resulted in further difficulties to the patient by twisting or straining other members of the body. Such devices have included wheels and levers requiring the patient to extend the unaffected arm across his body and putting a twist on the body of the patient which strained not only the affected shoulder, but other members of the body. It is therefor an object of this invention to provide an orthopedic device which a person having a shoulder stiffened by arthritis, bursitis or the like may use with little or no outside assistance and without twisting or straining the body to provide a direct lift on the humerus against the stiffness of the affected joint. SUMMARY These and other objects of the invention have been accomplished by utilizing a bar extending from the affected shoulder to a firm surface, the bar having an outwardly extending support in the plane of the affected shoulder and arm, and at least one pulley for receiving a flexible member such as a rope interconnecting a sling for uniformly supporting the upper arm adjoining the affected shoulder and extending across the body of the patient to his unaffected arm whereby the patient can effect a lift to his affected arm without movement of the body except by his unaffected arm. The construction and operation of the device will be better understood by reference to the attached drawings in which: FIG. 1 shows the principal members of the orthopedic device of the invention being utilized by a person with a stiffened shoulder; FIG. 2 is a side view of the orthopedic device of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a front view, partially cut away, of a second embodiment of the orthopedic device of FIG. 1; and FIG. 4 is a front view, partially cut away, of the orthopedic device of FIG. 3 in closed position for storage. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A bar 10 which is preferably hollow and of light-weight material such as plastic, extends from the affected shoulder of the patient between the joint and the neck to a firm surface 11 such as the ceiling, the head of the bed, or a wall. The end 13 of the bar 10 contacting the affected shoulder is preferably padded. A support 12 extends outwardly from the bar 10 in the plane of the torso of the patient and the affected shoulder. At least one pulley or roller 14 is attached to the undersurface 15 of the support 12 for guiding a flexible member, such as a rope 16, which interconnects a sling 18 to a handle member 20 to be used by the unaffected arm of the patient. The sling 18 is preferably of soft but strong material and of sufficient width to support the humerus of the entire upper arm adjoining the affected joint. The length of the support 12 and the positioning of the pulleys 14 should be such that a direct upward lift is made by the flexible member 16 on the upper arm of the patient. The length of the flexible member 16 should be such as to extend across the body of the patient and to the unaffected arm so that the patient can make a direct pull on the rope without any twist on his body otherwise. The outwardly extending support 12 preferably is mounted on the bar 10 by a hinge 22 so that the support can be pivoted back against the bar 10 for storage. A flat pad 24 of resilient, sound-absorbent material, such as rubber, may be attached to the outer end of the bar 10 for interaction with the firm surface 11. The bar 10 may be hollow, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and the support 12 may be inserted into the hollow member 10 through an opening 26 and hinged to an inner surface of the bar. The pulley or roller 14 is mounted on the undersurface of the support 12 and towards its outer end for guiding the flexible member 16 therethrough. An additional pulley 14 may be utilized toward the inner end of the support 12 for guiding the rope 16, if desired. The flexible member 16 may come down through the hollow body of the member 10 and outwardly to the handle 20 to be grasped by the patient. If the support 12 for the sling 18 is hinged or pivoted to the inside of a hollow member 10, the opening 26 should be long enough that the support 12 can be pivoted into the hollow inner area of the bar 10. The length of the bar 10 may be made adjustable by a telescoping member 28 fitting inside the outer end of the main frame member 30. The telescoping member 28 may be a stud 32 affixed to one side thereof and extending through a slot 34 in the main frame member 30. The stud 32 should be threaded and interact with a wing nut 36 for holding the telescoping member 28 in properly adjusted length. The padded member 13 may be arcuate in form for fitting over the shoulder of the patient and slidably mounted in the frame member 30 by shaft 38. A quick release nut 40, as known in the art, provides for easy adjustment of the position of the padded member 13 with respect to the shoulder of the patient. For purposes of storage, the rope 16 may be pulled outwardly to bring the handle 20 against the base of the frame member 30, as shown in FIG. 4, the telescoping member 28 returned to its original position inside the frame member 30 and the support 12 pivoted against an inner wall of the frame member 30. The rope 16 and sling 18 may then be tucked inside the bar member 10 and a door 42 hinged to the frame member 30 closed by a snap lock 44 to provide a device easily stored and handled by the person having the stiffened shoulder. The orthopedic device of the invention can be used for either shoulder and in a horizontal or vertical position. The device also may be hinged to the head of an orthopedic bed where it can be brought into position for use by a patient in the bed with a minimum of effort. From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and without department from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions. For U.S. patent law, rules, and procedures see MPEP. Disclaimer. Information presented on this page while believed to be reliable, is provided "as is" with no warranties of its accuracy or timeliness. For legal advice seek help of a licensed professional. |