The invention relates to an apparatus for back rehabilitation, the apparatus comprising a frame and inside the frame elements rotating about a transverse shaft of the frame, whereat the person desiring back rehabilitation moves him/herself, with back down, back and forth on the rotating elements.

A considerable part of back troubles is the result of two or more successive spinal vertebrae stiff¬ ening, owing to muscular tension, as though into one stiff whole. Consequently i.a. the nutrient metabolism of the intervertebral disks is disturbed and as a result the disks get sore. Correspondingly the nutrient meta- bolism and function of the muscles in continuous state of tension is disturbed and the muscles get sore. Be¬ cause such a stiffened whole does not move naturally in a normal manner, the consequence is that greater mobil¬ ity than before is required of its adjacent vertebrae and muscles in order to maintain the total mobility of the back. Consequently the position and action of the vertebrae requiring wider than normal motive space be¬ comes unstable, if they are in such a hyper-mobile state for a longer period. Both above facts cause the ability of the back to endure exertion to decrease and addition¬ ally different pains and troubles to increase. From the point of view of the condition of the back it is neces¬ sary to regain normal function to the stiffened part of the back as soon as possible. Different cures have been applied to the treat¬ ment of back troubles and vertebral motive restrictions, of which different exercises, massage and different methods of treatment directed to the vertebrae proper are typical. In addition to these, different thermo-

therapies and electric therapies are often used either separately or in connection with other forms of therapy. German Offenlegungsschrift 3,602,755 discloses an apparatus for training back muscles. The apparatus of said publication comprises a plurality of balls, coupled to successive transverse shafts longitudinally to the back so that the balls of adjacent shafts over¬ lap. Further the shafts of the balls are rigidly fixed to a shape claimed anatomical. In the solution the re- habilitation of back muscles is performed by the person to be rehabilitated lying on his/her back on the balls and moving him/herself back and forth thereon. The solu¬ tion presented in the publication is incapable of af¬ fecting the back and the spine and may on the contrary aggravate back troubles as the position of the balls does in no way take into consideration the specific characteristics of the spine nor its position relative to the rest of the back. Neither has the spine or its characteristics been taken into consideration separately in any way in the publication, which is mainly directed to general treatment of muscles.

It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for rehabilitation of the human back, whereby back rehabilitation may be effected simply, reliably and safely. A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus whereby a person suffering from back troubles may easily perform the rehabilitation by him/- herself by taking into consideration the above facts.

The apparatus of the invention is characterized in that two spring supports are attached to the frame longitudinally thereto, that the rotating elements are treatment rollers positioned between the spring sup¬ ports, that the roller shafts of the treatment rollers are arranged to be supported by the spring supports, and that between the spring supports and the frame, along

at least part of the length of the spring supports, support springs are positioned upwardly inclined from the spring supports toward the frame so as to support the spring supports against the load of the person lying on the rollers.

It is an essential idea of the invention that the apparatus comprises rollers, mounted transversally to the back on the longitudinal flexible elements of the apparatus so that their position may take the shape of the back of a person lying on the rollers. It is a fur¬ ther essential idea of the invention that the flexible elements are attached to the frame of the apparatus by elements, laterally flexible along at least the main part of their length, such as springs, which tend to pull the flexible elements and thereby the rollers against the back of the person on the apparatus also when the person is moving back and forth along the rollers. It is another further essential idea of the invention that the rollers comprise most preferably a globular bulge in the middle, on the sides of which the roller is thinner and thickens towards its ends so that the roller most suitably settles in accordance with the human back. It is still a further essential idea of a preferable embodiment of the invention that the bulge of at least a part of the rollers comprises a groove, which settles at the spine so that the edges of the groove direct their action to the vertebrae on both sides of the spine and thus contribute to the movement of the vertebrae during treatment. An advantage of the apparatus of the invention is that the apparatus is quite simple and easy to build. Further, the use of the apparatus is easy and a person suffering from back troubles may use it by him/herself in a manner that feels comfortable without any risk of the back being damaged or the like.

The invention will be described in the accom¬ panying drawings, where

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of the appar¬ atus of the invention, Figure 2 is a schematic top view of the appar¬ atus of the invention,

Figure 3 schematically shows a cross section of the structure of the apparatus of the invention taken on line A-A of Figure 2, and Figures 4a and 4b schematically show some roller forms suited for implementing the apparatus of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a base 1 of an apparatus, where¬ to a frame 2 has been attached. In all Figures the same numerals are used for the same parts and components un¬ less a different type of numbering is necessary for functional reasons or for reasons due to alternative implementations. The frame 2 is rotatably attached to the base 1 about a horizontal shaft 3. At its other end the frame 2 leans against the base by means of a support 4 adjustable in length, so that the frame 2 may be ad¬ justed at a desired angle relative to the horizontal plane. The frame 2 further comprises a foot rest 5, where the feet are positioned when the apparatus is used and by pushing which with the feet the back may be moved relative to the frame 2. The foot rest 5 is also rotat¬ ably mounted about a horizontal shaft 6, so that the angle of the foot rest relative to the frame 2 may be adjusted by a support member 7 connected thereto. In the Figure spring supports 8 are attached to the frame 2 on the lower side of the frame 2 by way of an example, said supports supporting the actual therapeutical structure. Figure 2 is a schematic top view of the appar¬ atus of the invention. The apparatus comprises inside the frame a treatment bed, against which the person

treating his/her back moves him/herself with back down. The treatment bed comprises spring supports 8 and treat¬ ment rollers 10 mounted on the supports by means of transverse roller shafts 9. The spring supports 8 are attached to the frame 2 in its longitudinal direction and the transverse roller shafts 9 are arranged thereon. The treatment rollers 10 are arranged to rotate relative to the roller shafts 9, which comprise, at their ends, end balls 11, which hold the roller shafts 9 in place relative to the spring supports 8 so that they cannot move in their longitudinal direction and thus come loose. Inside the frame in its upper and lower ends are cushions 12, padded in order for the person using the apparatus not to bruise him/herself against the frame. The spring supports 8 are along the main part of their length attached transversely to the frame, i.e. in the direction of the roller shafts 9, by means of separate support springs 13, which, in a manner shown more clearly in Figure 3, support the spring supports 8 both laterally and vertically so that the spring supports sinking downward by the action of the weight of the per¬ son on the apparatus adjust to the shape of the back of the person and thus the treatment rollers have an effect on the whole length of the back. The support springs 13 are surrounded by support balls 14, which cover the sup¬ port springs so that the hands or other parts of the body of the person on the apparatus are not accidentally caught between the spirals of the support springs 13. At the same time the person using the apparatus may use them as an aid in moving him/herself on the treatment rollers. The foot rest 5 comprises pegs or the like 5a so that according to the preference and size of the person using the apparatus a suitable position and a support suitably situated is always found for the feet.

Figure 3 schematically shows a cross section of the apparatus taken on line A-A of Figure 2. As Fig¬ ure 3 shows, the roller shafts 9 are located in the lower portion of the spiral of the spring supports 8. To prevent the roller shafts from being shifted from their place, inside the spring support 8 is arranged an inner spring 15 having its spirals closer together than the spring supports and which locks the roller shafts in place transversely to the spring supports 8 while si- multaneously serving the spring support 8, whereat they together support the person on the apparatus. Figure 3 further shows that the support springs 13 are located upwardly inclined from the spring supports between the spring support 8 and the frame 2 forming a flexible structure that pulls the spring supports 8 upward.

Figures 4a and 4b show some suitable treatment rollers for the apparatus of the invention. Figure 4a shows a treatment roller 10a comprising a globular por¬ tion in the middle and on both its sides outward from the globular portion a conically widening edge portion. Figure 4b shows a treatment roller 10b otherwise corres¬ ponding to that of Figure 4a, except that it comprises a groove 10' in the middle so that the highest portion of the spine may be placed in the groove while the treatment roller is in contact with the back on both sides of the spine. The treatment rollers and the above- mentioned end and support balls may most preferably be made of wood or the like while the treatment rollers 10, 10a and 10b should be covered with a thin, soft mater- ial, such as leather or the like, for a more comfortable feeling in the back of the person using the apparatus.

When using the apparatus the person suffering from back trouble places him/herself on the apparatus on the treatment rollers back down, having first adjust- ed the foot rest 5 and the frame 2 at suitable angles.

For treatment the person pushes him/herself up in the apparatus and correspondingly lets him/herself roll down along the treatment rollers, whereat the treatment rollers massage the back muscles at the spine and on both its sides and thus relax the back muscles and force the vertebrae to move relative to each other. In this manner an individual person may easily treat small back damages, muscular tenseness and vertebral immobility or stiffness safely and simply whenever required.