Back traction and muscle stretching bench

Abstract

The back traction and muscle stretching bench has an inclined bench panel to support the thigh area of a user in a prone position on the bench, and a bench panel for supporting the user's torso in a horizontal to downwardly inclined position. Traction is applied to the spine of a user lying prone on the bench. The torso supporting bench panel is adjustable to vary the degree of traction applied. A leg supporting assembly provides padded rollers that may be used to place an additional downward force on the users legs while in the prone position, thereby increasing the degree of traction applied to the spine. The leg supporting assembly is adjustable to place the padded rollers in a higher or lower vertical position, thereby varying the degree of traction imparted by the rollers.

1 . A back traction and muscle stretching bench, comprising: 
 a base frame having a front end and a rear end;    a thigh support panel disposed on top of said base frame, the thigh support panel being downwardly inclined toward the rear end of said base frame;    a torso support member pivotally connected to said base frame;    an adjustable support member disposed between said base frame and said torso support member, the adjustable support member allowing inclination of said torso support member to be varied; and    a footrest assembly attached to and extending rearward from the rear end of said base frame, the footrest assembly being adjustable in height relative to said thigh support panel.    
   
   
       2 . The back traction and muscle stretching bench according to  claim 1 , further comprising an armrest assembly adjustably extending forward from the front end of said base frame.  
   
   
       3 . The back traction and muscle stretching bench according to  claim 1 , further comprising a neck rest assembly adjustably extending forward from said torso support member.  
   
   
       4 . The back traction and muscle stretching bench according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one body-securing belt disposed on said torso support member.  
   
   
       5 . The back traction and muscle stretching bench according to  claim 4 , further comprising a belt tensioning device disposed on said torso support member, at least one of said body-securing belts being in connection with, and tensionable by, said belt tensioning device.  
   
   
       6 . The back traction and muscle stretching bench according to  claim 1 , wherein said footrest assembly comprises: 
 an elongated support arm having first and second ends, the first end being pivotally attached to said base frame and being pivotal in a vertical plane;    a pair of footrests disposed on said elongated support arm; and    at least a pair of roller pads disposed on said elongated support arm.    
   
   
       7 . The back traction and muscle stretching bench according to  claim 6 , wherein said footrests further comprise a clamp member slidable on and selectively clamped to said elongated support arm, whereby said footrests are adjustable in position along the length of said elongated support arm.  
   
   
       8 . The back traction and muscle stretching bench according to  claim 6 , wherein said roller pads further comprise a clamp member slidable on and selectively clamped to said elongated support arm, whereby said roller pads are adjustable in position along the length of said elongated support arm.  
   
   
       9 . The back traction and muscle stretching bench according to  claim 6 , wherein said roller pads are located between said footrests and said first end.  
   
   
       10 . The back traction and muscle stretching bench according to  claim 1 , wherein said torso support member comprises a torso support panel.  
   
   
       11 . The back traction and muscle stretching bench according to  claim 10 , wherein said torso support member comprises a frame, the frame being pivotally connected to said base frame, said torso support panel being disposed on said frame.  
   
   
       12 . The back traction and muscle stretching bench according to  claim 10 , wherein said torso support panel is pivotal from side to side of said base frame.