Treatment of chronic back pain using a three-dimensional monofilament mattress overlay
A method of treating the back pain of a patient which can include the steps of weighing the patient, selecting a firmness of a mattress based on the patient's weight, and disposing a three-dimensional fabric overlay over the mattress for use by the patient. To select the mattress, it can be determined if the weight of the patient corresponds to a value and if the weight is less than or equal to the value, a firm mattress is selected, and selecting a soft mattress if the weight is greater than the value. Further, the overlay can have a plurality air spaces provided between an upper layer, a lower layer and a plurality of monofilaments in the overlay. The plurality of air spaces can be allowed to partially collapse under the weight of the patient.
1. A method of treating at least one of sub-chronic or chronic lower back pain of a patient, using a mattress and a three-dimensional fabric overlay having an upper layer, a lower layer, a plurality of monofilaments disposed between the upper layer and the lower layer, and a plurality pores in the upper layer, comprising the steps of:
first, weighing the patient;
second, selecting a firmness of a mattress based on the patient's weight and an area density of the three-dimensional fabric overlay based on the plurality of monofilaments, comprising the steps of:
determining if the weight of the patient corresponds to a value;
if the weight is less than or equal to the value, then selecting a mattress with a first firmness;
and if the weight is greater than the value, then selecting a mattress with a second firmness;
wherein the first firmness is more firm than the second firmness; and
third, disposing the three-dimensional fabric overlay over the mattress for use by the patient, wherein the method of treatment results in approximately 50% reduction in pain when used over the course of a month.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the value is approximately 80 Kg.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
selecting the three-dimensional fabric overlay to comprise at least one of an area density of approximately 525 g/m 2 and a thickness of about 8 mm to about 15 mm.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of allowing moisture to travel through the pores from the upper layer to the lower layer, away from the patient.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
providing a plurality air spaces between the upper layer, the lower layer and the plurality of monofilaments; and
allowing the plurality of air spaces to partially collapse under the weight of the patient.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
preventing the plurality of air spaces from fully collapsing.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the preventing step comprises:
providing rigid monofilaments.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the monofilaments have a length of approximately 8 mm to 14 mm.
9. The method the claim 8 , wherein the length is approximately 9 mm.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional fabric overlay has a weight of about 800 g to about 850 g.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional fabric overlay is removably disposed over the mattress.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional fabric overlay is disposed only over a top of the mattress.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the three-dimensional fabric overlay is disposed over approximately an entire portion of the top of the mattress.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
selecting the plurality of monofilaments from the group comprising:
wherein the plurality of monofilaments are polyethersulfone, or
wherein the plurality of monofilaments comprise a monofilament diameter between about 0.10 mm to about 0.14 mm.