This invention is an implement for (1) preventing injuries to human knees by absorbing and spreading an external blow and (2) orthopedic procedures for therapy and rehabilitation. The concept is a (A) floating rocker connection axis beside the leg joint, which connects to (B) substantially rigid tongues encased in (C) substantially rigid sleeves fitted to the limbs above and below the rocker connection, appropriately padded for comfortable fit and wrapped with conventional taping. As the leg bends the tongues slide randomly in respective sleeves and the rocker connection adjusts to the pulls and pushes of the tongues, floating with the limb joint's natural hinge. One embodiment employs multiple narrow tongues for differential sliding inside the sleeves for easier more flexible motion in non-contact service. The single wide tongues of a second embodiment, more rigid and restrictive, are for therapeutic locking of desired positions of limbs, and for contact sports where units on both sides of a joint are securely wrapped for impact and twists. The rocker connection and tongues component is used for all applications; the sleeve with curved outside surfaces is (A) directly fitted to arm limbs or (B) attached to a fitted curved wrap plate for leg applications. Reversing one side's direction of bend for units on each side of a limb joint locks the entire limb straight, in effect an "open air" cast. A simple adjustment in the rocker connection enables locking of the bent limb in any position up to 90 degrees. Hyper-extension limb injuries can be prevented and excessive limb twisting is controlled, by the one-way bend limitation of each unit. For simplicity and brevity hereinafter, discussion will focus on the knee only, elbow references being implied.
展开▼
