Shoulder stabilization shirt

Abstract

An upper-body stabilization garment includes a front portion to contact a front upper-body region of a subject, and a rear portion to contact a rear upper-body region of the subject. A first plurality of elastomeric strips extending diagonally relative to each other across the front portion, and a second plurality of elastomeric strips extending diagonally relative to each other across the rear portion. Each group may extend diagonally at an angle of approximately 15 degrees to approximately 75 degrees from oblique seams to side seams of the garment. The strips may have a width of between approximately 2 inches and 12 inches. According to another embodiment, the upper-body stabilization garment includes a front portion to contact a front upper-body region of a subject and a rear portion to contact a rear upper-body region of the subject. At least one of the front or rear portions includes an x-shaped elastomeric portion.

1 . An upper-body stabilization garment, comprising:
 a front portion to contact a front upper-body region of a subject;   a rear portion to contact a rear upper-body region of the subject;   a first plurality of elastomeric strips extending diagonally relative to each other across the front portion; and   a second plurality of elastomeric strips extending diagonally relative to each other across the rear portion.   
     
     
         2 . The upper-body stabilization garment of  claim 1 , wherein the rear portion includes a left rear oblique seam and the front portion includes a right side seam, and wherein the first plurality of elastomeric strips includes a first strip portion extending diagonally across the front portion from the left rear oblique seam to a lower part of the right side seam. 
     
     
         3 . The upper-body stabilization garment of  claim 2 , wherein the front portion further includes a left side seam and the rear portion further includes a right rear oblique seam, and wherein the first plurality of elastomeric strips includes a second strip portion extending diagonally across the front portion from the right rear oblique seam to a lower part of the left side seam. 
     
     
         4 . The upper-body stabilization garment of  claim 1 , wherein the front portion includes a left front oblique seam and the rear portion includes a right side seam, and wherein the second plurality of elastomeric strips include a first strip portion extending diagonally across the rear portion from the left front oblique seam to a lower part of the right side seam. 
     
     
         5 . The upper-body stabilization garment of  claim 4 , wherein the front portion further includes a right front oblique seam and the rear portion further includes a left side seam, wherein the second plurality of elastomeric strips includes a second strip portion extending diagonally across the rear portion from the right front oblique seam to a lower part of the left side seam. 
     
     
         6 . The upper-body stabilization garment of  claim 1 , wherein the rear portion includes a left rear oblique seam and the front portion includes a right side seam, and wherein the first plurality of elastomeric strips includes a first strip portion extending diagonally across the front portion from the left rear oblique seam to an upper part of the right side seam. 
     
     
         7 . The upper-body stabilization garment of  claim 6 , wherein the front portion further includes a left side seam and the rear portion further includes a right rear oblique seam, and wherein the first plurality of elastomeric strips includes a second strip portion extending diagonally across the front portion from the right rear oblique seam to an upper part of the left side seam. 
     
     
         8 . The upper-body stabilization garment of  claim 1 , wherein the front portion includes a left front oblique seam and the rear portion includes a right side seam, and wherein the second plurality of elastomeric strips include a first strip portion extending diagonally across the rear portion from the left front oblique seam to an upper part of the right side seam. 
     
     
         9 . The upper-body stabilization garment of  claim 8 , wherein the front portion further includes a right front oblique seam and the rear portion further includes a left side seam, wherein the second plurality elastomeric of strips includes a second strip portion extending diagonally across the rear portion from the right front oblique seam to an upper part of the left side seam. 
     
     
         10 . An upper-body stabilization garment of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first sleeve portion to contact a first shoulder region of the subject;   a second sleeve portion to contact a second shoulder region of the subject; and   third and fourth elastomeric strips extending vertically across the first and second sleeve portions of the shirt, respectively.   
     
     
         11 . The upper-body stabilization garment of  claim 10 , wherein the front and back portions are partially attached via a collar and the first and second sleeve portions each include a bottom cuff, wherein the third elastomeric strip extends vertically across the first sleeve portion from the bottom cuff to the collar. 
     
     
         12 . The upper-body stabilization garment of  claim 11 , wherein the fourth elastomeric strip extends vertically across the second sleeve portion from the bottom cuff to the collar. 
     
     
         13 . The upper-body stabilization garment of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second plurality of elastomeric strips overlap with one another in shoulder regions of the garment. 
     
     
         14 . The upper-body stabilization garment of  claim 10 , wherein the third and fourth elastomeric strips overlap at least portions of the first and second plurality of elastomeric strips in left and right shoulder regions, respectively, of the garment. 
     
     
         15 . The upper-body stabilization garment of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a collar encircling the upper edges of the front, rear, and first and second sleeve portions; and   a waistband formed between the lower edges of the front and rear portions of the shirt.   
     
     
         16 . The upper-body stabilization garment of  claim 10 , further comprising an elastomeric strip of material encircling the bottom of each of the first and second sleeve portions to form cuffs. 
     
     
         17 . The upper-body stabilization garment of  claim 1 , wherein the front and rear portions include connecting oblique seams and connecting side seams, wherein at least one of the first and second plurality of elastomeric strips extend diagonally at an angle of approximately 15 degrees to approximately 75 degrees from the oblique seams to the side seams. 
     
     
         18 . The upper-body stabilization garment of  claim 1 , wherein each strip of the plurality of elastomeric strips have a width of between approximately 2 inches and approximately 12 inches. 
     
     
         19 . The upper-body stabilization garment of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elastomeric strips are arranged in specific regions of the shoulder joint so as to limit certain undesired joint movements and muscle activities of the wearer and provide specific unidirectional and multidirectional support to both muscle and joint action. 
     
     
         20 . The upper-body stabilization garment of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elastomeric strips are arranged in specific regions to create compression which provides stability and tension to protect injured or recovering muscles and joints. 
     
     
         21 . The upper-body stabilization garment of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elastomeric strips are arranged in specific regions to prevent shoulder or torso injuries, or to improve postural control. 
     
     
         22 . An upper-body stabilization garment, comprising:
 a front portion to contact a front upper-body region of a subject; and   a rear portion to contact a rear upper-body region of the subject,   wherein at least one of the front portion or the rear portion includes an x-shaped elastomeric portion to provide muscle support to the upper-body of the subject.   
     
     
         23 . The upper-body stabilization garment of  claim 22 , wherein the front portion includes an x-shaped elastomeric portion extending across the front portion, and the rear portion includes a plurality of elastomeric strips extending diagonally relative to each other across the rear portion. 
     
     
         24 . The upper-body stabilization garment of  claim 22 , wherein the rear portion includes an x-shaped elastomeric portion extending across the rear portion, and the front portion includes a plurality of elastomeric strips extending diagonally relative to each other across the front portion. 
     
     
         25 . The upper-body stabilization garment of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a first sleeve portion to contact a first shoulder region of the subject;   a second sleeve portion to contact a second shoulder region of the subject,   wherein at least one of the first and second sleeve portions comprises a plurality of elastomeric strips in a diagonal, overlapping configuration to provide muscle support to the shoulder region.