Systems and methods for providing light therapy traction

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing light therapy traction to a patient. A light therapy device and a traction mechanism provide concurrent, alternating and/or repetitive treatment to a patient. The light therapy device includes one or more light sources configured to deliver light to a patient. The traction mechanism is configured to provide selective separation to a particular location the patient's body, such as a location of the patient's vertebrae. In some embodiments, the light therapy and traction are performed simultaneously. In other embodiments, the light therapy and lumbar traction are performed in treatment cycles to the patient. Embodiments of the present invention embrace the application of light therapy prior to, during, and/or after a cervical and/or lumbar traction treatment.

1 . A method for providing traction to a patient, the method comprising: 
 providing a patient;    delivering light therapy to a treatment area of the patient's body; and    administering traction to the treatment area of the patient's body, wherein said delivering light therapy and said administering traction comprise a treatment cycle.    
   
   
       2 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said delivering light therapy and said administering traction are performed simultaneously.  
   
   
       3 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said delivering light therapy is performed prior to said administering traction.  
   
   
       4 . A method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said administering traction is performed within 60 minutes following said delivering light therapy.  
   
   
       5 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said delivering light therapy is performed after said administering traction.  
   
   
       6 . A method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said delivering light therapy is performed within 60 minutes from said administering traction.  
   
   
       7 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said treatment cycle is repeated on the treatment area.  
   
   
       8 . A method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said treatment cycle is performed multiple times per month.  
   
   
       9 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the treatment area is a precise location of the patent's vertebrae.  
   
   
       10 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the light therapy is for at least one of: 
 (i) chronic pain;    (ii) a tension headache;    (iii) a migraine headache;    (iv) atypical facial pain;    (v) a TMJ disorder;    (vi) fibromyalgia;    (vii) osteoarthritis;    (viii) rheumatoid arthritis;    (ix) pain associated with arthritis;    (x) stiffness associated with arthritis;    (xi) increasing local blood circulation;    (xii) muscle spasm;    (xiii) joint pain;    (xiv) inflammation;    (xv) Raynaud's Syndrome;    (xvi) reflex sympathetic dystrophy;    (xvii) a burn;    (xviii) occipital neuralgia;    (xix) neck-shoulder pain;    (xx) frozen shoulder;    (xxi) medial epicondylitis;    (xxii) lateral epicondylitis;    (xxiii) carpal tunnel syndrome;    (xxiv) costochondritis;    (xxv) spondylitis;    (xxvi) low back strain;    (xxvii) sciatica;    (xxviii) hip arthritis;    (xxix) knee arthritis;    (xxx) an injury;    (xxxi) a post surgical procedure;    (xxxii) a post traumatic procedure;    (xxxiii) achilles tendonitis;    (xxxiv) an ankle sprain;    (xxxv) plantar fasciitis;    (xxxvi) shingles; and    (xxxvii) postherpetic neuralgia.    
   
   
       11 . A light therapy traction system comprising: 
 a patient;    a traction mechanism coupled to the patient and configured to selectively provide traction to the patient; and    a light therapy device in selective communication with the patient to provide light therapy to the patient.    
   
   
       12 . A light therapy traction system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said light therapy device is a hand-held device.  
   
   
       13 . A light therapy traction system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said light therapy device is a pad.  
   
   
       14 . A light therapy traction system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said pad is flexible in a plurality of directions to conform to a contour of a patient's body, said pad comprising a plurality of light sources configured to selectively provide a total light power density as light therapy to the patient's body.  
   
   
       15 . A light therapy traction system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said total light power density is in the range of approximately 2 mW/cm 2  to approximately 30 mW/cm 2 .  
   
   
       16 . A light therapy traction system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said light therapy device comprises a plurality of diodes for delivering light to the patient.  
   
   
       17 . A light therapy apparatus comprising: 
 a surface configured to receive at least a portion of a patient's body and to enable treatment of the patient thereon;    a frame coupled to the surface;    a traction system configured for selective coupling to the patient, the traction system being coupled to the frame; and    a light therapy system configured for selective application on the patient, the light therapy system being coupled to the frame.    
   
   
       18 . A light therapy apparatus as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the traction system is at least one of: 
 (i) a lumbar traction system; and    (ii) a cervical traction system.    
   
   
       19 . A method for providing traction treatment to a patient, the method comprising: 
 coupling a traction system to a patient;    applying light therapy to a treatment region of the patient's body to relax one or more muscles in the region; and    engaging the traction system to perform traction on the treatment region.    
   
   
       20 . A method as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said engaging the traction system to perform traction on the treatment region comprises: 
 using a mechanical device of the traction system to establish a particular angle between a traction line of the traction system and the treatment region; and    providing a force on the traction line to perform traction on a particular portion of the treatment region.    
   
   
       21 . A computer program product for implementing within a system a method for delivering light therapy traction to a patient, the computer program product comprising: 
 a computer readable medium for providing computer program code means utilized to implement the method, wherein the computer program code means is comprised of executable code for implementing the steps for: 
 initiating light therapy to a treatment area of the patient's body; and  
 initiating traction at a particular angle to concentrate the traction on the treatment area of the patient's body, wherein said delivering light therapy and said administering traction comprise a treatment cycle.