Knee-acl support breeches system and method

Abstract

A system and method of knee-ACL support breeches for supporting the knees against non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, without interfering in desired movement, by resisting anterior translation of the proximal end of the tibia, thereby reducing stress on the ACL and other knee components. A pair of calibrated-elastic bands are attached at one end to a belt about the waist and at the other end to a strap around each lower knee. The calibrated-elastic bands are incorporated into a pair of breeches or pants which hold the bands tightly against the buttocks and backs of the thighs. In use, when the knee is flexed, the resulting bulging of the hamstrings and other muscles, tendons, and ligaments place an added strain on the relevant calibrated-elastic band, thereby tightening the band and dampening and resisting anterior movement of the attached lower-knee strap, in turn dampening and resisting anterior movement of the proximal end of the tibia, thereby reducing strain on the ACL and other knee components. The knee-ACL support breeches also promote the holding of the knee in a rotationally neutral position, and larger knee-flexion-angle positions during deceleration, both of which positions reduce strain placed on the ACL.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A knee-ACL support breeches system for supporting the knees of an athlete against non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, the knee-ACL support breeches comprising:
 (i) a belt adapted to provide an anchor point relative to the hips of the athlete;   (ii) two calibrated-elastic bands, designated left and right, each attached at an upper end to said belt, with a long dimension running generally perpendicular to said belt, adapted in length to closely fit and conform to the buttocks and posterior thigh of the athlete to the location of the posterior portion of the proximal end of the tibia in the posterior lower portion of the knee joint, and adapted in elasticity to exert a slight restraining pressure and a limited amount of stretch in the long dimension;   (iii) two lower-knee straps, designated left and right, each attached to a lower end of a said calibrated-elastic band, adapted to closely encircle the lower portion of the knee joint and the proximal end of the tibia; and   (iv) a pair of breeches attached at an upper end to said belt and attached at each lower end to said left and right lower-knee straps, and in contact with said two calibrated-elastic bands such that said bands are held closely and tightly to the back of the athlete's thighs;   
       where, in use, upon flexion of the athlete's knee, the bulging of the hamstrings and related structures of the thigh place added strain upon said calibrated-elastic band, thereby tightening said calibrated-elastic band, transferring an added strain to said lower-knee strap, and applying an added strain to the lower knee and upper tibia, where said added strain operates to dampen and resist anterior translation of the lower knee and upper tibia, thereby supporting and reducing strain upon the ACL. 
     
     
         2 . The knee-ACL support breeches of  claim 1 , where, in use, said knee-ACL support breeches further promote the holding of the knee in a rotationally neutral position. 
     
     
         3 . The knee-ACL support breeches of  claim 1 , where, in use, said knee-ACL support breeches further promote the holding of the knee in larger knee-flexion-angle positions during deceleration. 
     
     
         4 . The knee-ACL support breeches of  claim 1 , where said calibrated-elastic band further comprises a strip of rubber approximately one-eighth of an inch, or three millimeters, thick, and from two to three inches, or fifty to seventy-five millimeters, wide. 
     
     
         5 . The knee-ACL support breeches of  claim 1 , where said calibrated-elastic band further comprises a length of non-elastic webbed belting joined to a length of elastic material. 
     
     
         6 . The knee-ACL support breeches of  claim 1 , where said belt further comprises a length of non-elastic webbed belting. 
     
     
         7 . The knee-ACL support breeches of  claim 1 , where said lower-knee strap further comprises a length of non-elastic webbed belting. 
     
     
         8 . The knee-ACL support breeches of  claim 1 , where said pair of breeches is further attached to said two calibrated-elastic bands. 
     
     
         9 . The knee-ACL support breeches of  claim 1 , where said pair of breeches is further attached to said two calibrated-elastic bands by stitching. 
     
     
         10 . The knee-ACL support breeches of  claim 1 , where said pair of breeches is further attached to said two calibrated-elastic bands along the entire length of said calibrated-elastic bands. 
     
     
         11 . A knee-ACL support breeches method for supporting the knees of an athlete against non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, the knee-ACL support breeches method comprising:
 (i) providing to the athlete knee-ACL support breeches, comprising:
 (a) a belt adapted to provide an anchor point relative to the hips of the athlete; 
 (b) two calibrated-elastic bands, designated left and right, each attached at an upper end to said belt, with a long dimension running generally perpendicular to said belt, adapted in length to closely fit and conform to the buttocks and posterior thigh of the athlete to the location of the posterior portion of the proximal end of the tibia in the posterior lower portion of the knee joint, and adapted in elasticity to exert a slight restraining pressure and a limited amount of stretch in the long dimension; 
 (c) two lower-knee straps, designated left and right, each attached to a lower end of a said calibrated-elastic band, adapted to closely encircle the lower portion of the knee joint and the proximal end of the tibia; and 
 (d) a pair of breeches attached at an upper end to said belt and attached at each lower end to said left and right lower-knee straps, and in contact with said two calibrated-elastic bands such that said bands are held closely and tightly to the back of the athlete's thighs; 
   where, in use, upon flexion of the athlete's knee, the bulging of the hamstrings and related structures of the thigh place added strain upon said calibrated-elastic band, thereby tightening said calibrated-elastic band, transferring an added strain to said lower-knee strap, and applying an added strain to the lower knee and upper tibia, where said added strain operates to dampen and resist anterior translation of the lower knee and upper tibia, thereby supporting and reducing strain upon the ACL;   (ii) training and conditioning the athlete in proper flexion and neutral rotation of the knee using the added strain applied to the lower knee and upper tibia by said knee-ACL support breeches; and   (iii) preventing injury to the ACL of the athlete by dampening and restraining forces tending toward anterior translation of the lower knee and upper tibia by said knee-ACL support breeches.   
     
     
         12 . The knee-ACL support breeches method of  claim 11 , where, in use, said knee-ACL support breeches further promote the holding of the knee in a rotationally neutral position. 
     
     
         13 . The knee-ACL support breeches method of  claim 11 , where, in use, said knee-ACL support breeches further promote the holding of the knee in larger knee-flexion-angle positions during deceleration. 
     
     
         14 . The knee-ACL support breeches method of  claim 11 , where said calibrated-elastic band further comprises a strip of rubber approximately one-eighth of an inch, or three millimeters, thick, and from two to three inches, or fifty to seventy-five millimeters, wide. 
     
     
         15 . The knee-ACL support breeches method of  claim 11 , where said calibrated-elastic band further comprises a length of non-elastic webbed belting joined to a length of elastic material. 
     
     
         16 . The knee-ACL support breeches method of  claim 11 , where said belt further comprises a length of non-elastic webbed belting. 
     
     
         17 . The knee-ACL support breeches method of  claim 11 , where said lower-knee strap further comprises a length of non-elastic webbed belting. 
     
     
         18 . The knee-ACL support breeches method of  claim 11 , where said pair of breeches is further attached to said two calibrated-elastic bands. 
     
     
         19 . The knee-ACL support breeches method of  claim 11 , where said pair of breeches is further attached to said two calibrated-elastic bands by stitching. 
     
     
         20 . The knee-ACL support breeches method of  claim 11 , where said pair of breeches is further attached to said two calibrated-elastic bands along the entire length of said calibrated-elastic bands.