Methods for treatment and prevention of disorders resulting from hypertension of neck and shoulder muscles

• US 20030149379A1
• Filed: 10/09/2002
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tensor Corporation (Catalina Lighting Inc.), Smartsense BV
• Original Assignee: Tensor Corporation (Catalina Lighting Inc.)
• Inventors: Krullaards, Robert Leonard
• Granted Patent: US 7,074,198 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/587
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/225 of the fingers, e.g. by monitoring hand-grip force
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices

Abstract

Methods for treatment and prevention of disorders resulting from hypertension of neck and shoulder muscles, in particular hypertension of the scalenius muscles, comprise administering a training regime to a subject suffering from the disorders, whereby the training regime comprises manipulating an object while maintaining a pinch-grip force exerted by the fingers on the object below a given threshold value. The object preferably has a pressure sensor that generates a signal when the pinch-grip force exceeds the threshold value. The object may be a writing instrument whereby the training may comprise writing exercises.

Claims

1. A method for treating a patient having or at risk of having hypertension of the scalenius muscles, said method comprising:

providing an object held by pinch-grip force by the patient, said object generating a signal when the pinch-grip force exceeds a first threshold value; and

providing instructions to the patient to manipulate the object with a pinch-grip force below the threshold value, wherein compliance is monitored based on the signal.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the threshold value is 150-175 grams.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the object generates a second signal when the time measured from the moment when the first threshold value is exceeded, exceeds a second threshold value.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the first threshold value is 150-175 grams.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the second threshold value for the measured time is 2.5 seconds.

6. A method according to claim 3, wherein only the second signal is generated.

7. A method according to claim 3, wherein the first and second signals are generated by fed to a collective signaling device on the object.

8. A method according to claim 1, whereby the exercise is continued until the hypertension of the scalenius muscles is reduced or released.

9. A method according to claim 8, whereby the release or reduction of hypertension of the scalenius muscles is measured by an increase in blood flow velocity in the artery radialis or artery subclavia.

10. A method according to claim 9, whereby the blood flow velocity is measured by ultrasound or optical Doppler velocimetry.

11. A method according to claim 9, whereby the exercise is continued until the mean blood flow velocity in the artery radialis or artery subclavia is increased by at least 10%.

12. A method according to claim 8, whereby the release or reduction of hypertension of the scalenius muscles is measured by an increase in the rotation angle of the Cervical Range of Motion as determined by the muscular resistance.

13. A method according to claim 12, whereby the exercise is continued until the rotation angle of the Cervical Range of Motion is increased by at least 10 degrees.

14. A method according to claim 8, whereby the exercise is continued for at least 1 minute.

15. A method according to claim 1, whereby the training regime comprises performing the exercise at least once per day.

16. A method according to claim 1, whereby the object is a writing instrument, a mouse or similar computer input device, a stroke-making element for use in sport, an element for playing a musical instrument, or a tool.

17. A method according to claim 16, whereby the writing instrument is a sensorpen that generates at least one signal when at least one of the first, second or third threshold value is exceeded, whereby at least one of the first, second or third threshold value of the equivalent sensorpen is set or adjusted to a value that does not differ by more than 75% from the corresponding average value as set in the sensorpen.

18. A method according to claim 16 or 17, whereby the writing instrument is an instrument that comprises a sensor that generates a fourth signal when the pressure exerted on the writing surface exceeds a fourth threshold value.

19. A method according to claim 18, whereby the fourth threshold value is at least 60-70 grams.

20. A method according to claim 16, whereby the exercise is a writing exercise.

21. A method according to claim 1, whereby the hypertension results from a disorder is selected from the group of disorders consisting of repetitive strain injury, acute and chronic post-whiplash syndromes, arthrose and pre-arthrose, discopathy, including narrowing of the discs or herniated discs coinciding with pressure on the nerve roots and associated motor control deficiencies and sensory disorders, reflex dystrophy in the upper extremities and other vegetative disorders, including dizziness and tinnitis, resulting from hypertension in the neck area, tendinitidis, venous obstruction or reduced venous blood flow, coordination disorders during writing, writingcramp in children, frozen shoulders and shoulders arthritis or capsulitis resulting from immobilization or trauma, headaches, and carpal tunnel syndromes resulting from venous obstruction or reduced venous blood flow.

22. A method according to claim 1, whereby the training regime is administering to the subject through a telecommunication interface.

23. A method according to claim 22, whereby the telecommunication interface is a computer connected to a computer network.

24. A method according to claim 1, for improving the blood flow velocity through the artery subclavia in preparation of chest surgery, including open-heart surgery.

25. A method according to claim 1, for the treatment of mental stress.

26. A method according to claim 1, for the treatment of compulsive behaviour as a result of an addiction to alcohol, nicotine, drugs or gambling.

27. A method for treating a patient having or at risk of having hypertension of the scalenius muscles, said method comprising:

providing the patient with a questionnaire to assess the extent of the hypertension or risk of hypertension;

determining from answers to the questionnaire the condition of the patient;

selecting a program of pinch grip exercises for the patient based on the determined condition; and

providing instructions to the patient for performing the selected pinch grip exercises.

28. A method as in claim 27, wherein the providing steps are performed over a telecommunications interface to and from a server.

29. A method as in claim 28, wherein the selected pinch grip exercises comprise manipulating an object with a pinch grip signal generator which generates a signal when the pinch grip applied by the patient exceeds a threshold value.

30. A method as in claim 29, wherein the program of pinch grip exercises comprises the patient performing particular manipulative patterns while counting the number of times the patient'"'"'s grip exceeds the threshold value and providing the number back to a server over the telecommunication interface.

31. A method as in claim 30, further comprising instructing the patient to monitor at least one condition parameter.

32. A method as in claim 31, wherein the at least one condition parameter is selected from the group consisting of CROM, blood flow, exercise difficulty, loss of strength, perception of hindrance, restriction of movement, and general well-being.

33. A method as in claim 30, wherein the program comprises a series of exercises to be performed successively over time, wherein the individual exercises vary in at least one of difficulty, complexity, and duration.