According to an embodiment, a device for tightening an article includes a housing, a spool rotatably positioned within the housing, a knob operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate within the housing, and a stop mechanism. The device is configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a first direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool within the housing that incrementally tensions a tension member and thereby tightens the article. The device is also configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a second direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool that incrementally loosens the tension member's tension. The stop mechanism is configured to prevent rotation of the spool in the second direction when the tension member's tension achieves or falls below a tension threshold.

An orthopaedic device, a kit comprising said device, and a method. The orthopaedic device comprises a support plate, a piece of fabric. The support plate is malleable into an orthopaedically supporting shape, the support plate having a supporting surface to be arranged towards an object to be supported and an opposite distal surface. The supporting surface of the support plate is adhered to a receiving zone of the piece of fabric, such that the distal surface of the support plate constitutes a part of the distal surface of the device. The piece of fabric is larger than the support plate, providing thus an attachment zone for fastening the orthopaedic device.

An orthopedic brace and method of making the same includes a wrap member having a first and second layer. The first layer includes a first sheet and a second sheet in a laterally spaced apart relationship. Each sheet has an inner side edge and an inner panel portion which extends the length of the corresponding sheet along the corresponding inner side edge. The second layer has first and second side edges, a first overlay portion extending the length of the second layer adjacent the first side edge and overlapping the first sheet's panel portion, a second overlay portion extending the length of the second layer adjacent the second side edge and overlapping the second sheet's panel portion, and a center portion that bridges the overlay portions. The layers are stitched together along spaced apart sets of seams.

A compression garment comprises an elongated stretchable sleeve (1) which is adapted to be worn over a body part and a compression part (2) connected to the elongated stretchable sleeve (1). The garment has at least one closing part (3) for fixing the compression part (2) in a stretched state. Furthermore, the compression part (2) is shaped and sized to be wrapped around the circumference of the elongated stretchable sleeve (1), wherein the compression part (2) is adapted for positioning proximate to an outer surface of the elongated stretchable sleeve (1).

A flexible adhesive kinesiology or physio tape adapted to provide heating as well as cooling in response to an electrical signal. In a general illustrative embodiment, the inventive tape includes a first layer of flexible high quality porous fabric; a pad of electrocaloric polymeric material mounted on the layer of porous fabric; and a controller, mounted on the tape, for electrically actuating the pad of electrocaloric material. In the best mode, plural pads of polarized electrocaloric polymer film are provided with nanotube electrodes mounted therebetween. The first layer of porous fabric includes plural arrangements for retaining the plural pads and providing male and female electrical connections thereto. A bus is mounted on the first layer for providing electrical connection between the controller and the electrical connections to the pads of film. In the best mode, a second layer of porous fabric is included to sandwich the pads between the first layer of porous fabric and the second layer of porous fabric.

A garment for providing orthopedic support or therapy to a human body may include a tubular flexible element and a tension strap. The tubular flexible element may be disposed around at least some portion of a human body and include flexible and a touch fastener portions. The flexible portion may be at an exterior of the tubular flexible element and cover a first portion of the body. The touch fastener portion may be at the exterior of the tubular flexible element and cover a second portion of the body. The tension strap may include first and second ends, where the first end includes a first touch fastener to be coupled with the touch fastener portion at a first location, and the second end includes a second touch fastener to be coupled with the touch fastener portion at a second location, thereby applying tension between the first and second locations.

A method of donning a potentiating support for a hinge joint of a body includes positioning a garment proximate an area of a body; positioning an expandable and recoverable framework in abutment with the area of the body such that the framework spans a hinge joint of the body, the framework defining a plurality of permanent openings extending therethrough regardless of whether the support is donned; applying tension at points of the framework such that the framework is expanded and the framework is tensioned in its abutment with the area of the body, said step of applying tension being performed by pulling on one or more fastening components that are attached at one or more points to said framework; and affixing each of the fastening components to the garment while applying tension to the framework to secure the expanded framework in its forced abutment with the area of the body.

According to the invention, a system for increasing the effectiveness of a mechanical joint brace worn by a user is disclosed. A sleeve may fit around, and to either side, of a user's joint. The sleeve may include a first portion which applies compressive pressure on a proximate side of the joint, a second portion disposed around the joint, and a third portion which applies compressive pressure on a distal side of the joint. A first set of pads may be disposed and compressed between at least a first portion of a mechanical joint brace worn over the sleeve and the proximate side of the joint. A second set of pads may be disposed and compressed between at least a second portion of the mechanical joint brace worn over the sleeve and the distal side of the joint.

Advanced compression garments and their methods of use, including garments with compression applying straps, and associated sensors that are able to sense the compression applied to an underlying body tissue by the straps. Pressure and/or temperature information from the sensors may be conveyed to a wearer of the garment and/or to another party.

The present invention relates to a device suitable for supporting and stabilizing the legs of a user during long trips. In particular, the present invention relates to a device including a dual leg support contoured block to be placed between the legs of a user and straps to be wrapped around the contoured block and the legs of a user to hold the legs in place throughout a duration of the trip.