A method and apparatus for affecting wellness in a person's body are provided. More particularly, the apparatus for affecting wellness comprises one, or even two, cylindrical rods comprising minerals and other materials defined, in some embodiments, by high specific heat and low conductivity so that the rods are able transfer heat to a person's body relatively slowly. Methods are disclosed which direct particular applications of such rods, or wands, on the body in order to locally stimulate muscles and circulation to relieve and/or treat various conditions.

A controller for a motion assisting apparatus for a wearer includes circuitry. The circuitry is configured to set switching points in a change in a turning angle of a drive mechanism driven by a drive motor and attached to an ankle joint of the wearer to assist a turning motion of the ankle joint, a ratio of the change in the turning angle being equal to zero at the switching points. The circuitry is configured to set a motion pattern such that the turning angle monotonically increases or monotonically decreases between the switching points. The circuitry is configured to control the drive motor to change the turning angle according to the motion pattern.

A therapeutic wrap includes a flexible member configured to wrap around an affected area. Actuators are operably coupled to the flexible member. Each actuator is operable between a deployed state and a non-deployed state. A first coupling feature is disposed proximate a first edge on a first surface of the flexible member. A second coupling feature is disposed proximate a second edge on a second surface of the flexible member. The first coupling feature is configured to engage the second coupling feature when the flexible member is wrapped around the affected area and when the flexible member is slidably adjusted relative to the affected area. A retaining feature is coupled to at least one end of the flexible member and configured to retain the flexible member in a selected position on the affected area.

Various limb manipulation and evaluation devices are provided. The devices generally include three drives, namely a first drive configured to manipulate a first bone relative to a second bone in a first direction, a second drive configured to manipulate the first bone relative to the second bone in a second direction, a third drive configured to manipulate the first bone relative to the second bone in a second direction. The three directions are different relative to each other and in some embodiments represent three distinct axes. The devices are further configured such that at least one of the drives is mutually decoupled relative to at least one other drive, such that operation of the one drive does not affect the position or movement of the another drive. One or multiple of the drives may be decoupled. A corresponding method of operating such decoupled drives is also provided.

A massage apparatus includes a sheet member attachable to a skin of a body, and a pressure unit that presses the skin from the sheet member. The sheet member is elastic and thermoplastic such that the sheet member is hardened at a temperature of the skin and is softened at a predetermined temperate different from the temperature of the skin. The sheet member has one or more indications indicating an area of the skin to which the sheet member is to be attached. The pressure unit applies a pressure to the skin so as to provide a predetermined pressure distribution in which positions of the pressure distribution are defined with reference to one or more positions on the body in a situation in which the sheet member is attached to the area.

A walking training apparatus includes: a treadmill; a walking assistance apparatus configured to be mounted on a leg part of a user and assist the user's walking; a first pulling means for pulling at least one of the walking assistance apparatus and the leg part of the user upward and frontward; a second pulling means for pulling at least one of the walking assistance apparatus and the leg part of the user upward and rearward; and control means for controlling, while the treadmill is not being operated, pulling forces of the first pulling means and the second pulling means in such a way that the direction of a resultant pulling force, which is a resultant force of the pulling force of the first pulling means and the pulling force of the second pulling means, is changed rearward compared to a case in which the treadmill is being operated.

A powered device augments a joint function of a human during a gait cycle using a powered actuator that supplies an augmentation torque, an impedance, or both to a joint, and a controller that modulates the augmentation torque, the impedance, and a joint equilibrium according to a phase of the gait cycle to provide at least a biomimetic response. Accordingly, the device is capable of normalizing or augmenting human biomechanical function, responsive to a wearer's activity, regardless of speed and terrain.

A compression device has improved cooling capability. The device includes a wicking layer adapted to move moisture. A portion of the wicking layer is exposed from under bladder material defining a bladder. In use, the wicking layer wicks moisture from the patient's limb and the wicked moisture is able to evaporate through the device at the portion of the wicking layer that is exposed.

There are provided a massaging apparatus capable of providing comfortable kneading and massaging effects and reducing damage to a cover covering massaging elements, and a chair massager having the massaging apparatus.

The massaging apparatus comprises horizontally arranged paired massaging members (10,11) having massaging elements (91 to 94) and a massaging mechanism (12) for producing kneading action by operating at least one of the massaging members (10,11) so that the massaging elements (91 to 94) have horizontal approaching-separating movement. The massaging member (10,11) includes an arm member (15,16) extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of approaching-separating movement. The massaging element (91 to 94) is attached to the tip of the arm member (15,16) for rotation about the axis of an extension line (L) extending along the extending direction of the arm member (15,16) and about an axis pointing in a direction substantially perpendicular to the extension line (L).

Massage mechanisms of a massage machine individually include a pair of left and right treatment members provided along a height direction of the massage machine. A first massage mechanism is disposed on a relatively upper side, and a second massage mechanism is disposed on a relatively lower side. A control means that controls operations of the first and second massage mechanisms. The control means controls advancing/retreating drive portions such that the treatment members of the first massage mechanism and the treatment members of the second massage mechanism advance or retreat at speeds different from each other such as with a time lag.