Apparatus and method for exercising and monitoring the performance of the upper flexor muscles of the neck

Abstract

An apparatus that preferably takes the form of a collar for exercising or assessing the upper cervical flexor muscles to assist with headaches. The apparatus includes a resiliently compressible cushion that fits under the mandible of the user but not extending as far as the chin. The user bends their head against the cushion to achieve an elevated pressure and preferably maintains the pressure for a period of time. The absence of sensory feedback of pressure against the chin inhibits the drive to use muscles ofther than the upper cervical flexor muscles. The cushion may be an inflatable bladder so that the pressure against which the head works can be varied. The cushion preferably includes pressure measuring means to measure changes in pressure within the cushion to monitor the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles.

1 . An appartus for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck of a user, the apparatus including a resiliently compressible cushion dimensioned to fit beneath the mandible of the user but not extending a far as the chin, the mandible of a user bears against and compresses the cushion without the cushion engaging the chin, to thereby exercise the upper cervical flexor muscles whilst discouraging the exercising of other muscle, the cushion also including pressure measuring means for measuring changes in pressure within the cushion to monitor the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles.  
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck of a user as in  claim 1  wherein the compressible cushion includes one or more inflated chambers.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck of a user as in  claim 2  wherein the inflated chamber is a sealed air filled chamber.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck of a user as in  claim 2  wherein the compressible cushion includes an inflatable chamber connected to or being capable of connection to an inflation means for inflating and deflating the chamber.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck of a user as in either one of claims  2  or  4  wherein the compressible cushion includes a foam layer underneath which is positioned the inflated or inflatable chamber.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck of a user as in  claim 5  being a foam collar wherein the inflated or inflatable chamber is inserted therein and said collar which fits around the neck of the user.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck of a user as in  claim 4  wherein the inflatable cushion may be formed from two opposed thermoplastic sheets sealed at their perimeter at least in part by heat welding, one of said thermoplastic sheets aligned to be positioned adjacent to the neck of the user and said inflatable cushion including at least two side by side vertically extending spaced welds positioned within the perimeter to thereby limit the ballooning of the inflatable cushion.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck of a user as in  claim 7  wherein there is provided a further weld laterally aligned to the at least two welds and spaced upwardly thereof to form together with the adjacent perimeter an upper chamber for positioning directly under the mandible of the user.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck of a user as in  claim 4  wherein the chamber is part of a collar that can be positioned around the users neck, with the inflatable chamber positioned beneath the mandible.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck of a user as in  claim 9  wherein the inflatable chamber extend all of the way around the neck to form a wholy inflatable collar.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck of a user as in  claim 9  wherein the inflatable chamber extends through an anterior portion of the collar only.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck of a user as in  claim 9  wherein the cushion is an integral part of the collar.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck of a user as in  claim 9  wherein the collar is provided with a cushion fastening means located, in use, under the mandible, and the cushion having a corresponding fastening means, so that the cushion is separately fastened to the collar.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck of a user as in  claim 1  also including a separate rear cushion which is positioned adjacent the back of the neck to exert pressure thereto during use.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck of a user as in  claim 14  wherein the rear cushion is attached to a rear pressure monitoring means to monitor changes in pressure in the rear cushion as the head flexion exercise is performed.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck of a user as in  claim 14  wherein the apparatus includes a collar that extends around the back of the neck and the rear cushion is positioned between the neck and the collar so that compression of the rear cushion occurs by reason of the rear of the neck bearing against the cushion which is held in place by the collar.  
     
     
         17 . A method for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck, the method comprising the steps of: 
 positioning a resilient compressible cushion beneath the mandible of a user,    ensuring that the cushion does not bear against the chin,    the user bending their head forward on their neck to bear against and compress the cushion to thereby increase the pressure within the cushion,    and monitoring the performance of the exercise by monitoring the increase in pressure in the cushion.    
     
     
         18 . A method for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck as in  claim 17  including maintaining the increase in pressure for a duration of time.  
     
     
         19 . A method for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck as in  claim 17  said pressure increased by about 10 mm Hg.  
     
     
         20 . A method for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck as in  claim 17  wherein the method is used to monitor the performance of the user.  
     
     
         21 . A method for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck as in  claim 20 , whereby the performance of a user is diagnosed by the capacity to hold a head flexion that increases pressure in the cushion by about 10 mm Hg for 10 repetitions of 10 seconds or more  
     
     
         22 . A method for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck as in  claim 17 , whereby the user exercises by performing one or more head flexions that increase pressure in the cushion by 5 and 15 mm Hg for about 10 seconds.  
     
     
         23 . A method for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck as in  claim 22 , whereby the user exercises by performing one or more head flexions that increase pressure in the cushion by about 10 mm Hg for about 10 seconds.  
     
     
         24 . A method for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck as in  claim 17 , whereby the user exercised by performing one or more head flexions that increase pressure in cushion by about 10 mm Hg for 10 repetitions per day of 10 seconds.  
     
     
         25 . A method for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck as in  claim 17 , whereby additionally a rear pressure is applied to the back of the neck so as to provide feedback to the user that a flattening of lordosis occurs when the users head is bent forwards.  
     
     
         26 . A method for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck as in  claim 17  wherein the method includes monitoring for an increase in pressure at the back of the neck.  
     
     
         27 . A method for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck as in  claim 17  wherein the cushion is fitted snugly under the mandible of the user.  
     
     
         28 . A method for exercising and/or monitoring the performance of the upper cervical flexor muscles of the neck as in claim  29  wherein the cushion is fitted such that, in the upright position a plane of the face is upright, for commencement of exercising, or monitoring.