The present invention relates to patient cervical curvature restoration, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a neck exercising device or rehabilitation tool and a method of restoring and/or maintaining proper cervical spine curvature.
Cervical curve reversal is a physical condition that is accompanied by forward displacement of the head thereby requiring the muscles of the neck and upper back to contract progressively tighter as cervical kyphosis worsens. This condition is one of the leading causes of patient symptoms and degenerative spinal changes. The increased muscular force required to hold the displaced head increases spinal compression, which leads to advancing disk and joint deterioration. A host of patient symptoms are related, including neck pain, headaches, TMJ pain, radiculopathy, myofacial syndromes, upper back pain and fatigue, occipital neuralgia, balance problems or in-coordination, and emotional stress.
Various devices for exercising and/or supporting the neck are known. For example, see U.S. Pat. No.: 5,498,218 issued to Proctor et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 2,791,999 issued to Bustamante; U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,154 issued to Mattox; D.447,779 S issued to Munger; U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,949 issued to Hathaway; U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,248 issued to Vani; U.S. Pat. No. 5,989,167 issued to Manley et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,219,193 issued to Newman; U.S. Pat. No. 7,189,192 B2 issued to Edgeton; U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,093 issued to Forrest, Sr. et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,027 issued to Robinson; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,713,841 and 5,569,176 issued to Graham; U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,013 issued to Allen; U.S. Pat. No. 6,788,968 B2 issued to Pettibon; U.S. Pat. No. 7,104,926 B2 issued to Carlson; U.S. Pat. No. 6,939,269 B2 issued to Makofsky; U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,747 B1 issued to Kelley; U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,869 issued to Miller; U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,359 issued to Moore; U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,940 issued to Morris et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,719 B2 issued to Meyer. Also see U.S. Patent Application Publications Nos. 2006/0052219 A1 of Roberts et al., 2007/0191187 A1 of Reynolds, and 2007/0021784 of Hurd.
While the neck exercising devices and methods disclosed in the above referenced patents and published applications may function in a satisfactory manner for their intended purpose, there remains a need for an improved neck rehabilitation tool and exercise device for use in correcting lordosis, for restoring proper cervical spine curvature, and for strengthening the muscles of the neck and upper back. The device and method of restoration should enable a patient to achieve permanent and lasting curve correction. Preferably, the device should be affordable, available for daily use, and easy to use.