Wrist brace and method for alleviating and preventing wrist pain

Abstract

A wrist brace includes a flexible main body having one or more pressure transmitting members disposed thereon designed to impart focused pressure on a tendon of interest.

1 . A wrist brace, comprising:
 a flexible main body having an outer surface and an inner surface, the main body being adapted to be worn on the hand of the wearer with the inner surface in contact with the hand;   a pressure transmitting member disposed on the main body and adapted to apply focused pressure to the flexor digitorum superficialis tendons and flexor digitorium profundus tendons of the wrist in the region of the transverse carpal ligament.   
   
   
       2 . The wrist brace of  claim 1 , further including another pressure transmitting member disposed on the flexible main body and adapted to apply focused pressure to the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon of the wrist in the region of the transverse carpal ligament. 
   
   
       3 . The wrist brace of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure transmitting member also applies focused pressure to the palaris longus tendon of the wrist in the region of the transverse carpal ligament. 
   
   
       4 . The wrist brace of  claim 1 , further including a pressure transmitting member disposed on the flexible main body and adapted to apply focused pressure to the flexor carpi radialis tendon of the wrist in the region of the transverse carpal ligament. 
   
   
       5 . The wrist brace of  claim 2 , further including a pressure transmitting member disposed on the flexible main body and adapted to apply focused pressure to the flexor carpi radialis tendon of the wrist in the region of the transverse carpal ligament. 
   
   
       6 . The wrist brace of  claim 5 , further including a pressure transmitting member disposed on the flexible main body and adapted to apply focused pressure to the flexor carpi radialis tendon of the wrist in the region of the transverse carpal ligament. 
   
   
       7 . The wrist brace of  claim 1 , further including a pressure transmitting member disposed on the flexible main body and adapted to apply focused pressure to the extensor digitorum tendons and extensor indicis tendon of the wrist in the region of the extensor retinaculum. 
   
   
       8 . The wrist brace of  claim 2 , further including a pressure transmitting member disposed on the flexible main body and adapted to apply focused pressure to the extensor digitorum tendons and extensor indicis tendon of the wrist in the region of the extensor retinaculum. 
   
   
       9 . The wrist brace of  claim 5 , further including a pressure transmitting member disposed on the flexible main body and adapted to apply focused pressure to the extensor digitorum tendons and extensor indicis tendon of the wrist in the region of the extensor retinaculum. 
   
   
       10 . The wrist brace of  claim 6 , further including a pressure transmitting member disposed on the flexible main body and adapted to apply focused pressure to the extensor digitorum tendons and extensor indicis tendon of the wrist in the region of the extensor retinaculum. 
   
   
       11 . The wrist brace of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible, main body is made from an elastic material. 
   
   
       12 . The wrist brace of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible, main body is designed to be worn on either the left hand or the right hand. 
   
   
       13 . The wrist brace of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible, main body is a glove. 
   
   
       14 . The wrist brace of  claim 11 , further including a fastener associated with the flexible main body for fixing the amount pressure that the flexible, main body exerts on the wearer's hand. 
   
   
       15 . The wrist brace of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible, main body is an elastic bandage-like strap having a opening for receiving the thumb of the user. 
   
   
       16 . A wrist brace, comprising:
 a flexible elongate body having a opening for receiving the thumb of the wearer, the flexible body being adapted to be wrapped around the hand of the wearer, the body having an outer surface and an inner surface with the inner surface coming in contact with the hand of the wearer;   a pressure transmitting member disposed on the main body and adapted to apply focused pressure to the flexor digitorum superficialis tendons and flexor digitorium profundus tendons of the wrist in the region of the transverse carpal ligament.   
   
   
       17 . The wrist brace of  claim 16 , further including a hook and loop fastener system associated with the flexible body. 
   
   
       18 . A method for preventing or reducing wrist pain on a user, comprising:
 providing a flexible, main body having a pressure transmitting member disposed thereto; and   positioning the pressure transmitting member over the flexor digitorum superficialis tendons and flexor digitorium profundus tendons of the wrist in the region of the transverse carpal ligament to apply a focused pressure thereto.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further including:
 providing a second pressure transmitting member on the flexible, main body; and   positioning the second pressure transmitting member over the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon of the wrist in the region of the transverse carpal ligament to apply a focused pressure thereto.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , further including:
 providing a second pressure transmitting member on the flexible, main body; and   positioning the second pressure transmitting member over the extensor digitorum and extensor indicis tendons of the wrist in the region of the extensor retinaculum to apply a focused pressure thereto.