System for spinal and posture examination and treatment

• US 20020169376A1
• Filed: 10/16/2001
• Published: 11/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pettibon System Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Burl Pettibon
• Inventors: Pettibon, Burl
• Granted Patent: US 6,788,968 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/427
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4533 Ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4561 Evaluating static posture, e.g. undesirable back curvature A61B5/1116 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0292 for the spinal column A61H1/0218 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/065 worn on user's body

Abstract

A method is provided for spinal examination and treatment that includes obtaining a first image of one or more areas of a patient'"'"'s skeletal system; determining areas of abnormal condition of the patient'"'"'s skeletal system; weighting the patient'"'"'s skeletal system to correct the areas of abnormal condition; and obtaining further images of the patient'"'"'s skeletal system, redetermining the presence of areas of abnormal condition of the patient'"'"'s skeletal system, and adjusting the weighting of the patient'"'"'s skeletal system until a final weighting is reached where the patient'"'"'s areas of abnormal condition of the skeletal system are no longer abnormal. Ideally, weighting the patient'"'"'s skeletal system includes attaching at least one weight externally to the patient'"'"'s body with at least one removable external weight holder. The patient'"'"'s body should remain weighted with a final weight for at least two to three times daily for a predetermined period of time to achieve the natural spinal alignment and a reduction or elimination of pain due to subluxations in the patient'"'"'s skeletal system.

Claims

1. A method for spinal examination and treatment, comprising:

obtaining a first image of a patient'"'"'s spine and head;

determining the location of the center of the patient'"'"'s head relative to the anterior one-third of the C4/C5 disc;

weighting the front of the patient'"'"'s head; and

obtaining a further image of the patient'"'"'s spine and head, redetermining the location of the center of the patient'"'"'s head relative to the anterior one-third of the C4/C5 disc, and adjusting the weight on the front of the patient'"'"'s head repeatedly until a final weighting is reached where the center of the patient'"'"'s head is substantially aligned over the anterior one-third of the C4/C5 disc.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising weighting the patient'"'"'s head with the final weight daily for a predetermined period of time.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein weighting the patient'"'"'s head comprises maintaining the patient'"'"'s head in an upright position when weighted.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined period of time comprises about twenty minutes.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the patient'"'"'s head is weighted with the final weight at least two to three times daily for the predetermined period of time.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein weighting the patient'"'"'s head comprises attaching a removable external weight on the front of the patient'"'"'s head.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein obtaining a first image and obtaining further images comprises obtaining neutral lateral cervical X-ray images.

8. A method for spinal examination and treatment, comprising:

obtaining a first image of a patient'"'"'s spine and head;

measuring a lateral distance between the center of the head and the front of the C4/C5 disc;

measuring the lordotic curvature of the spine;

weighting the patient'"'"'s head in an upright position;

obtaining further images of the patient'"'"'s spine and head, remeasuring the lateral distance and the lordotic curvature, and adjusting the weighting of the patient'"'"'s head repeatedly to obtain a final weight where the lateral distance between the center of the patient'"'"'s head and the front of the C4/C5 disc is within a predetermined range.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising weighting the patient'"'"'s head with a final weight daily for a predetermined period of time.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising weighting the patient'"'"'s head at least two to three times daily for the predetermined period of time.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein weighting the patient'"'"'s head comprises attaching a weight to the front of the patient'"'"'s head with an external removable weight holder.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein obtaining a first image and obtaining further images comprises obtaining A-P skull-cervical-upper-thoracic X-ray images.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein measuring the lordotic curvature comprises erecting a Jackson'"'"'s stress line on the back of the C2 and the C7 vertebrae and extending the lines until they intersect;

measuring the acute angle wherein the C2 and the C7 Jackson'"'"'s stress lines intersect.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein weighting the patient'"'"'s head comprises weighting the patient'"'"'s head immediately after arising in the morning.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein determining if the spine is compensated by a low shoulder comprises examining the first image of the patient'"'"'s spine.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein weighting the low shoulder comprises attaching a weight to the low shoulder with an external adjustable weight holder, and further adjusting the weighting comprises adjusting the position and the amount of weight on the patient'"'"'s low shoulder.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein obtaining a first image and obtaining further images comprises obtaining A-P full spine X-ray images.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein weighting the patient'"'"'s hip comprises removably attaching an external weight to a location on the patient'"'"'s hip that is rotated forward, and further wherein adjusting the weighting comprises adjusting one or more of the locations and amount of weight.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein obtaining a first image and obtaining further images comprises obtaining X-ray images of the patient'"'"'s pelvic and lower lumbar area.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising weighting the patient'"'"'s hip that is rotated forward with a removable external weight daily for a predetermined period of time.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein weighting the patient'"'"'s skeletal system comprises attaching at least one weight externally to the patient'"'"'s body with at least one removable external weight holder.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising weighting the patient'"'"'s skeletal system with the final weight daily for a predetermined period of time.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein determining areas of abnormal condition of the patient'"'"'s skeletal system comprises measuring the first image to determine skeletal misalignment.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein adjusting the weighting comprises adjusting one or more of the position and the amount of the weight.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein obtaining a first image and obtaining further images comprises obtaining X-ray images.

30. The system of claim 29, further comprising padding attached to an exterior surface of the second wall to bear against a patient'"'"'s head.

15. A method for spinal examination and treatment, comprising:

obtaining a first image of a patient'"'"'s spine;

determining if the spine is compensated by a low shoulder;

weighting the low shoulder of the patient;

obtaining further images of the patient'"'"'s spine, determining spinal compensation, and adjusting the weighting of the patient'"'"'s shoulder repeated until a final weighting is reached where the spine is substantially in alignment with itself.

19. A method for spinal examination and treatment, comprising:

obtaining a first image of a patient'"'"'s pelvic and lower lumbar area;

determining if the patient'"'"'s hip is rotated forward;

weighting the patient'"'"'s hip; and

obtaining further images of the patient'"'"'s pelvic and lower lumbar area, redetermining if the patient'"'"'s hip is rotated forward and adjusting the weighting on the patient'"'"'s hip until a final weighting is reached where the hip is no longer rotated forward.

23. A method for examining and treating a patient'"'"'s skeletal system, comprising:

obtaining a first image of one or more areas of a patient'"'"'s skeletal system;

determining areas of abnormal condition of the patient'"'"'s skeletal system;

weighting the patient'"'"'s skeletal system to correct the areas of abnormal condition; and

obtaining further images of the patient'"'"'s skeletal system, redetermining the presence of areas of abnormal condition of the patient'"'"'s skeletal system, and adjusting the weighting of the patient'"'"'s skeletal system until a final weighting is reached where the patient'"'"'s areas of abnormal condition of the skeletal system are no longer abnormal.

29. A system for weighting of a patient'"'"'s skeletal system, comprising:

a plurality of weights;

a headpiece having first and second walls stitched together with stitching along a bottom side and the length of a first and second end to form a cavity, and pocket stitching between the bottom side and a top side to divide the cavity into a plurality of pockets, each pocket sized and shaped to hold at least one weight;

a first adjustable strap having one end attached by the stitching to the first end of the headpiece, and a second end attached by the stitching in the second end of the headpiece;

a second adjustable strap having a first end attached by the pocket stitching to the top side of the headpiece adjacent the first end of the headpiece, and a second end attached by the pocket stitching to the top side of the headpiece adjacent to the second end; and

a third adjustable strap having a first end attached by the pocket stitching that forms a pair of front pockets at the top side of the headpiece and configured to loop around the second adjustable strap and attach to itself.