SUSPENSION THERAPY

AHAD HASAN
 Definition
 History
 Principal
 Parts
 Fixed point suspension frame
 Supporting ropes
 Single rope
 Double rope
 Pulley rope

 Sling
 Single
 Double
 Three ring
 head

 Wooden chest
 Dog clip S. Hook
 Storage

 Types
 Uses
 Advantages
DEFINITION
 Treatment of therapeutic exercise given to
patients to increase ROM, increase muscle power
and support body parts by using ropes and slings

 Suspension frees the body from friction of the

material upon which the body components may
be resting and it permits free movements without
resistance
 Suspension apparatus was invented by Mrs.
GUTHRIE SMITH
PRINCIPLES
FRICTION
 It occurs during a particular surface move on
another.
 In suspension friction is less, therefore causes
smooth and easy movement
PENDULUM
 is heavy material suspended by weightless
thread.
 in human body, pendular motion occurs mainly in
shoulder and hip joints, forward leg movements
and arm swings while walking
 In suspension pendular motion is used to
maintain muscle property, increase ROM and
strengthening the muscles.
ELIMINATING GRAVITY MOVEMENT

 the patient should at least have muscle power 2

for suspension therapy exercise
FIXED POINT SUSPENSION FRAME

 It is made of stainless steel or plastic coated

steel.
 In the top presents the 5cm metal mesh, and
remaining sides kept open
SUPPORTING ROPES

 Single rope
 Double rope

 Pulley rope
SINGLE ROPE

 has a ring fixed at one end by which it

is hung up
 the other end of the rope then passes
through one end of the wooden cleat
through the ring of a dog clip and
through the other end of the cleat and
then knotted
PULLEY ROPE

 this has a dog clip attached at one end

of the rope which then passers over
the wheel of a pulley
 the rope then passes through the cleat
and a 2nd dog clip
DOUBLE ROPE

 Consists of two pulleys at upper and

lower attachments
 So here there is a mechanical
advantage of 2
SLINGS
 Single
 Double

 Three ring

 Head
SINGLE SLING
 made of canvas bound with soft
webbing and with a D ring at each
end
 size 68 cm length and 17 cm width

 used for elbow and knee

 Sometime folded in figure of 8

manner to support wrist and ankle
DOUBLE SLING
 Broad slings with D-rings at each
end
 Used to support pelvis, thorax or
thigh together, specially when the
knees are kept straight
 Size 68 cm long and 29 cm wide
THREE RING SLING
 75 cm length 3-4 cm width consist
of 3 D rings.
 2 at both the does of the sling and
one in middle kept moving.
 Used for wrist and ankle region.
HEAD SLING
 This is a short, split sling with its
two halves stitched together at an
angle to create a central slit
 This allows the head to rest
supported at the back under the
lower and upper part of the skull
WOODEN CLEAT
 Its made of wood and is used for altering the length of
the rope
 It has two or three holes for the rope passage. The rope
itself hold the cleat by friction resistance
DOG CLIP HOOKS
 Used to attach the supporting rope with mesh

 To attach the sling with the supporting rope

STORAGE
 Storage of slings and ropes on wall frame is done
with S-shaped hooks
TYPES OF SUSPENSION
 Axial suspension
 Vertical suspension
AXIAL SUSPENSION

 Axis of movement of joint is

taken as point of suspension
 One s hook attached just above joint axis and all
ropes attached to it
 Movement takes place in gravity eliminated
position
 Limb is supported by the slings above the joint

 If movement is initiated, limb will move to both

sides parallel to the floor and perpendicular to
ropes
 Example hip abduction adduction
USES
 Muscle co ordination
 Maintain muscle contraction ability

 Increase blood circulation

 Increase venous and lymphatic drainage

VERTICAL SUSPENSION

 Point of suspension should be

shifted away from the joint axis
 COG of the body part or the body is
taken as point of suspension
 Rope is fixed vertically over COG
 Support from two different points
 Movement across each side of central resting
point
 Used to provide support to body parts of the
patient
 Muscles may be getting resistance while moving
if the axis is shifted opposite to that movement
USES
 Relaxation
 Prevent pressure sore

 Increase the muscle strength

 Increase the muscle endurance

ADVANTAGES OF SUSPENSION THERAPY
 It reduces the burden of the therapist
 Easy to lift the limbs

 Active movement can be performed easily with

minimum friction