According to the invention the massage apparatus is intended in particular for treatment of or normalisation of the consequences of hypomobility, i. e. arising from too little movement of the smaller or larger parts of the spine. Thus, the massage apparatus may be used for the treatment of joints and/or treatment of softer tissues such as muscles.

When we sit bent in a fixed position over a prolonged period of time, such as over a desk, during potato or vegetable picking or bent over a spade, or the like, the consequences will be that the back becomes more and more bent. This bending may be focussed on larger or smaller parts of the spine. Each part of the curvature can comprise of a given number of vertebrae which contribute to this bending. It is individually from one to more vertebrae.

Each vertebra has two curved joints and in the part of the spine which is called the thorax, each level will also include 4 rib joints. Consequently, for example, each throracic vertebra level consists of 6 small joints. In addition, there will be intervertebral disc joints above

and below. This means therefore, 8 joints per level. For the lumbar region we subtract 4 rib joints, and are left with 2 curved joints and 2 intervertebral disc joint connections. This means that a mobility training (movement exercise) should affect the individual sections of the spine differently.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for treatment of joints and muscles, in particular intended for treatment of or normalisation of the consequences of too little movement (hypomobility) in the spine.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a new method for construction of a massage apparatus of the above mentioned kind.

The massage apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that it consists of a core of a solid material such as rubber or plastic, or of a number of rope strands which are mutually entwined to form a thicker core and that the core is surrounded by plaits of fibres/rope strands to form the elevations referred to. The preferred embodiments of the massage apparatus are described in claims 2-7.

The method according to the invention is characterised by the features characteristic of claim 8, while the preferred embodiments are defined in claims 9-15.

The invention will now be explained further with references to the enclosed figures, wherein; Figure 1 shows schematically an initial step in the construction of the massage apparatus according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows an end view of the result of the first knotting step to form a first end seat 30 for placing of the end 42 of the core 40, for subsequently to start the entwining of the fibres around the core as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3 shows schematically how the core is placed in relation to the end seat 30.

Figures 4a-f show in six stages how a number of 6 fibres or rope strands are entwined around a core of an ordinary twisted rope.

Figure 5 shows schematically how the massage roll according to the invention looks when it is completed.

Figure 1 shows as an example an initial construction step where a number of fibres 10,12,14,16,18,20, of sufficient length, such as with a thickness of 3.3 cm are mutually lined up in parallel and bound by a tightening cord 22 to avoid separation of the individual fibres/rope strands 10- 20. The fibres are of sufficient length to continuously construct the product shown in Figure 5.

Figure 2 shows a entwining pattern for the fibres 10-20 during an initial entwining step. The fibres are initially placed such that each fibre is slung over an adjacent fibre, a fibre hoop is made through which an adjacent fibre is pulled. Thereby a seat is made which has a somewhat larger cross-section, i. e. a larger diameter, in relation to the cross-section of the fibre bunch as shown in Figure 1, such that the end part 42 of the core 40 according to Figure 3 fits exactly into the seat and also that the fibres have the correct position in relation to the following axially directed placement along the core surface.

Figure 3 shows on the left the seat 30 of this initial end unit, and which is now being used, and where the loose fibres 10-20 are used to surround the core 40 which with its end 42 is inserted between the initially spreaded fibres 10-20 to the end part of this entwining. It can be seen that the core 40 is comprised of a number of thicker fibres of the same length which are twisted together to form a firmer core which is partly elastic and flexible. At each end, a tightening cord 44 and 46 respectively, is bound to prevent the fibres splitting and separating during the subsequent construction, or during the actual application of the massage apparatus. Core 40 can also be constructed from alternative solid materials such as rubber, or plastic, or a rope material which is entwined to form a thicker core and which has basically the same characteristics as the illustrated entwined core 40.

Furthermore, it is preferred that the core has a basically circular cross-section but it may also have other cross- section shapes, such as partially oval or many-sided for example octagonal, even if these are less preferred than the round shape.

When the core 40 is placed inside the unit 30 in between the fibres 10-20 as shown in Figure 3, the special entwining of the 6 fibres (rope strands) 10-20 starts, as shown in Figures 4a-f. As mentioned above, it is an aim to attain a relatively coarse surface pattern for the outer periphery of the treatment roll/apparatus according to the invention, comprising of a series of rounded and protruding so-called knuckles In the figures 4a-f it is shown how each of the 6 fibres in turn are placed in a first entwining sequence around the core 40, i. e. snugly and close to the core surface. The entwining takes place as shown with a left turn (anti- clockwise) and out from the paper plane, and is gradually building up along the core 40 surface. Figure 4a shows the starting point for the entwining. Each fibre lies

underneath its adjacent fibre on its left such that none of the fibres can come loose from the core in this position.

The direction of entwining, here towards the left, is given by the illustration shown in Figure 4a.

Fig. 4a: The first fibre which is used is no. 10. The fibre 10 is placed toward the left, over fibre number 12, and is placed in toward the core surface.

Fig. 4b: Next fibre, no. 12, is then placed over no. 10 and over no. 14 and is placed in toward the core surface.

Fig. 4c: Next fibre, no. 14, is then placed over no. 12 and over no. 16 and is placed in toward the core surface.

Fig. 4d: Next fibre, no. 16, is then placed over no. 14 and over no. 18 and is placed in toward the core surface.

Fig. 4e: Next fibre, no. 18, is then placed over no. 16 and over no. 20 and is placed in toward the core surface.

Fig. 4f: Next fibre, no. 20, is then placed over no. 18 but is led underneath the first fibre, no. 10 with which the process started and placed in toward the core surface.

One sequence of the entwining is now finished, and by placing the last fibre 20 underneath the first fibre 10, a "locked"system is established and the fibre system can not be disentangled.

Thereafter a new identical entwining sequence is started and which is carried out in the same manner.

Generally this can be described by: The first fibre is placed over the adjacent fibre in the entwining direction, the next fibres, continuing to the last fibre, are placed over the next two in the entwining direction, while the

last fibre is placed underneath the first fibre in the sequence.

In this way, the fibres will spiral around, and along the core surface to the opposite end of the core.

When the entwining has reached the opposite end of the core, the fibres are placed again such that each fibre is slung over an adjacent fibre, a fibre hoop is formed through which the adjacent fibre is pulled. Thus a corresponding seat around the core's other end part is made with the larger cross-section, i. e. the larger diameter, such that this other end part fits exactly into the seat.

Finally, the 6 fibres are placed close to each other in the form of a bunch, placed parallel with the core, the fibre bunch then being tightened such that the core is stabilised inside the plaiting network. At last, a seat is made for the core end as described above and the fibre bunch end is bound whereupon the bunch end is cut a short distance above the binding site. The cut bunch end is ruffled such that an attractive rounded end bristle 60 is formed, similar to the end bristle 62 which is formed at the other end, according to Figure 3.

Moreover, the fibres can be entwined in many ways to attain the same surface of elevations/nodules 64 which are described in the above example.

According to an alternative solution, the steps 4a-4f, as mentioned above, are used initially after the seat for one core end has been formed, but modified such that step 4a must first be carried out and thereafter the fibres are placed along the core surface in a spiral shaped pattern according to step 4b until the core is covered all the way to its end, and where the entwining is completed as described in step 4f. Finally, a seat is made for the core

end and the cutting of the ends are completed as described above.

For the entwining of the fibres (the rope strands) (10-20) along the core, this means that a first fibre is placed over an adjacent fibre in the actual entwining direction, that the fibres are then in turn placed over the next two in the entwining direction forming a spiral shaped pattern up to the opposite end of the core, where a last fibre in the sequence is placed underneath the first fibre in the sequence such that the core is covered by a entwining network which forms said number of elevations 64 on the body surface.

When making the plaits according to the above mentioned methods, one ensures that the fibres lie sufficiently loose to achieve the"knuckle"shape which is shown in Figure 1, and such that these knuckles during joint treatment will yield only to a limited extent during the"rubbing" movement. That is, the entwining must be neither too loose nor too tight around the core.

In Figure 5 the finished product is shown with the core now being surrounded by the plaiting network of fibres. The figure shows the end bristles 60 and 62, the tightening cords 22,23 and how arch shaped elevations 64, or nodules 64 are formed around the whole circumference of the massage apparatus.

The making of the product is now complete and it is ready for application as a massage instrument for joints and muscles.

The product according to the invention, as it is shown in Figure 5, may give two types of movements in and around joints. One way to do this is to place the massage equipment on the floor. The person lies down flat on the floor with his back on the massage apparatus. If he now

bends his back backwards and combines it with bending to one side, the massage apparatus will bend as one unit in relation to this back movement. The massage apparatus has a given flexibility and elasticity which enables it to form into the same curvature as that of the back but with the opposite orientation. The massage apparatus exerts the same pressure, twist and rotation as pressure response to the movements of the back, as the back is pressed against the massage apparatus.

Thereby, the person may himself decide how much exertion he wishes. If the joints and muscles are sore and tender, one generally wants less exertion.

The possibilities for variation in the use of the massage apparatus are shown by if, for example, thoracic vertebrae nos. 3,6,7 have greater stiffness than nos. 4,5. The nodules which are formed by the special entwining have such a shape that they easily will"hit"curved joints and rib joints. The spinosus which protrude from the rear all backs can slip down between these nodules such that they get as near as possible into the rib joints and curved joints.

Thus one gets very close joint contact even before the movement starts. With this total movement as mentioned above, the nodules will exert individual resistance effects on individual joints at a specific level. Thoracic vertebrae nos. 4 and 5 will glide well, and the nodules will meet little resistance toward the movement. Thereby nos. 4 and 5 will glide the whole extent the total movement will allow. Nos. 3,6 and 7, however, will hang back and resist their individual movement which is important for a good total movement. The nodules meet resistance while the total movement continues toward its stop limit. This limit is as a rule decided by how much pain level 3,6 and 7 give rise to because of their reduced functioning. The nodules which hit nos. 3,6 and 7 will exert greater pressure toward specific levels and thus help to promote movement for these levels.

For example, the reduced functioning of level no. 3 may be mainly localised along the left side. The more tender it is, the more the pressure can be reduced. As the condition improves the pressure on the left side can be increased.

The massage apparatus may be used in many other ways and for example for specific treatment of intervertebrae disc joints, curved joints and rib joints. Or one can use a combination of movements to treat several groups or levels of such joints simultaneously.

A combination of slight movements in contact with a small area, will also be able to massage the muscles in this area. This will have both a chemical and a circulatory effect. A suitable movement and treatment can give relaxation in the muscle tissue.

Reduced mobility of a given vertebra level is often accompanied by the ligaments being shortened around this level. If the treatment position is maintained over prolonged periods with the massage apparatus according to the invention, this will lead to a stretching effect on these ligaments and the muscle tissue.

The described massage apparatus for treatment of joint and/or muscles, characterised by an elongated rounded, core element which is covered by a entwined layer of fibres/rope strands such that a number of elevations/nodules are formed on the surface and largely distributed evenly along the surface of the element, represents a major advance regarding treatment of or normalisation of the consequences of hypomobility disclosed in this application.