Functional shoulder support brace with cabling system
The present invention relates to a shoulder brace for the rehabilitation of patients that suffer from shoulder instability. The shoulder brace uses a novel elevation and compression cabling system to stabilize and approximate the humerus to glenoid fossa. More specifically, the present invention allows an individual that suffers from shoulder instability to easily put on and, while wearing the device, adjust all forces that approximate their shoulder without the assistance of another individual. The design will also allow the individual the ability to have functional movement. This will give someone who has become dependent on others to regain a greater degree of independence.
1. A shoulder brace, comprising:
a sleeve having a portion adapted for wearing over a user's glenohumeral joint, and having another portion adapted for wearing over the user's humerus;
a first reel or dial mounted on said sleeve at a location over the portion of the sleeve adapted for wearing over the user's glenohumeral joint;
a first series of anchor points located on said sleeve at locations adapted to be positioned above and below the user's glenohumeral joint;
an elevation cable passing through said first series of anchor points such that said elevation cable is able to be constricted by operation of said first reel or dial;
a second reel or dial mounted on the portion of said sleeve adapted for wearing over the user's humerus;
a second series of anchor points located on the portion of said sleeve adapted for wearing over the user's humerus; and
a compression cable passing through said second series of anchor points and able to be tightened by said second reel or dial such that said compression cable is able to be constricted by said second reel or dial to compress said sleeve such that also operating said first reel or dial is adapted to elevate the user's humerus toward the user's glenohumeral joint,
wherein the first reel or dial and the second reel or dial are positioned on a front of the shoulder brace as to allow for self-adjustment by the user, without assistance of another person,
wherein the first reel or dial allows for independent adjustment of the elevation cable, and
wherein the second reel or dial allows for independent adjustment of the compression cable.
2. The shoulder brace of claim 1 , wherein said first series of anchor points are situated along said sleeve in such a way that when said elevation cable is constricted by said first reel or dial, said sleeve of the shoulder brace is elevated.
3. The shoulder brace of claim 1 , wherein said second series of anchor points are located about said sleeve in such a way that when said compression cable is constricted by said second reel or dial, the sleeve is adapted to be compressed about a user's arm, enabling said sleeve to be lifted by said elevation cable without slipping from the user's arm.
4. The shoulder brace of claim 1 , wherein said compression cable is laced through said second series of anchor points in a crisscross fashion.
5. The shoulder brace of claim 1 , wherein said second series of anchor points, said second reel or dial, and said compression cable are located on an anterior portion of said sleeve.
6. A shoulder brace, comprising:
a sleeve having a portion adapted for wearing over a user's glenohumeral joint and having another portion adapted for wearing over the user's humerus;
a first reel or dial mounted on said sleeve at a location over the portion of the sleeve adapted for wearing over the user's glenohumeral joint;
a first series of anchor points located on said sleeve at locations adapted to be positioned above and below the user's glenohumeral joint;
a cable passing through said first series of anchor points such that said cable is able to be constricted by operation of said first reel or dial;
a second reel or dial mounted on the portion of said sleeve adapted for wearing over the user's humerus; and
a second series of anchor points located on the portion of said sleeve adapted for wearing over the user's humerus;
wherein operating said first reel or dial is adapted to elevate the user's humerus toward the user's glenohumeral joint,
wherein the first reel or dial and the second reel or dial are positioned on a front of the shoulder brace as to allow for self-adjustment by the user, without assistance of another person.