Engineers developed a vest from back pain
Last reviewed: 23.11.2021
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Pain in the spine, in one or another of its departments is a common and important problem for many patients. Doctors come across such symptoms regularly.
Currently, more than 50% of adults worldwide suffer from periodic or systematic back pain, for various reasons. For example, according to statistics, back pain of varying intensity is worried about 80% of Americans.
Specialists are oppressed not only by the massive spread of the problem, but also by its "rejuvenation": if earlier such pains were characteristic only of middle-aged and elderly people, now even teenagers may have problems with the spine. As noted by American physicians, for sixteen years the number of those who applied for back pain increased by no less than 10%.
The same statistics leads to other indicators: up to 40% of patients complain that pain hinders them in everyday life, 37% because of pain, sleep is disturbed, and 38% of patients refused to exercise due to pain.
Engineers representatives of the University of Vanderbildt invented a unique waistcoat, the main function of which is to hold the spine while lifting weights and active movements. The invention was first presented at the last Australian congress of the International Biomechanical Society in Brisbane.
"We are annoyed by television characters, who are equipped with special costumes, giving their heroes superpower. A huge number of people require for themselves such elements of clothing. But our task is not to empower a person with super strength, but to get rid of suffering and to not be able to carry out everyday tasks - for example, many complain that they can not take their own baby, "Karl Zelik, a leading engineer, jokes about this.
A unique development is a two-piece vest, one part of which holds the thoracic area, and the other is fixed in the upper part of the legs, connecting with the thoracic part with the help of rubber straps. Straps can be relaxed, pulling only before physical activity begins.
When the straps are fixed, the waistcoat holds the waist region and prevents excessive load when the torso is tilted. Specialists conducted clinical experiments with the participation of volunteers, which allowed to prove: the waistcoat "unloads" the back musculature by 45%.
"Many patients are in a hurry to get rid of serious back problems with funds that are scientifically unjustified and not approved, often - of their own making. I had to see many patients who, because of persistent pain, can not work or serve themselves in everyday life. Our invention - a unique waistcoat - is obliged to solve the problems of such people for a long time, and without unpleasant consequences, "says Aron Young, who specializes in spine pathologies at the Medical Center at Vanderbildt University.
To date, only the presentation of this invention has taken place. Information on the production of vests on the flow, the start of the sale and the estimated price of the device has not yet been received.