AN AUTOMATED MASSAGE THERAPY DEVICE FOR BIOMECHANICAL REHABILITATION MASSAGE AND METHOD FOR USE

摘要

An automated massage device for biomechanical rehabilitation massage for useon CP patients comprises at least one inflatable bladder with inflation meansadapted to provide compressive forces against the body to stimulate smoothmuscles in a controlled manner. The device includes a programmable controllerthat is able to receive instructions on a dynamic prescriptive basis from aprofessional therapist and then relay these instructions to a care-giver in ahome situation. The instructions include the placement of the bladder, theduration of the massage and the sequence of body locations to receive massagetherapy. Once the bladder is placed in the required position against the bodythe device will execute the prescribed massage therapy for that location andthen cue the care-giver to move the bladder to the next body location in theprescribed sequence. The prescription is time limited and once expired rendersthe device inoperable to prevent over application of the massage therapy.