Apparatus and method for stabilizing a human anatomical joint

摘要

A garment (200, 200', 200") of the present invention comprises a closed tensionable loop (220, 220', 220") for stabilizing a human knee (100). The loop is arranged to freely move along a conduit (222, 222', 222") within the garment and is provided with a tensioner (240, 240', 240", 940, 290"). The conduit crosses over itself between the lateral and a medial side on the anterior of the leg at least one of above (F, F', F", Y) and below (E, E', E", X) the knee to provide compression on the ligaments of the knee when the loop is tensioned. The conduit circles the lower leg at a distal region of the triceps surae, thereby providing an anchor to the lower leg. An anchor (230) is provided at or above the thigh. A method for stabilizing the knee using the tensionable loop involves positioning the garment so as to ensure that the conduit follows a predetermined path on the leg that places the loop over at least one of the two collateral ligaments of the knee and the tensioner is operated to adjust the compression on the ligaments.