Shirts and shorts having elastic and non-stretch portions and bands to provide hip and posture support

Abstract

One aspect of the invention may be characterized as a shirt configured to counteract detrimental upper body movement. The shirt has a base layer, a plurality of inelastic bands, and a load distribution portion. The plurality of inelastic bands are coupled to the base layer, and include a first cross-connecting band, a second cross-connecting band, a third cross-connecting band, and a fourth cross-connecting band. The load distribution portion is also coupled to the base layer, and anchors ends of the first, second, third, and fourth cross-connecting bands. Further, the first, second, third, and fourth cross-connecting bands and the load distribution portion are configured to limit internal rotation and anterior tilting of the scapula when the shirt is worn by a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shirt configured to counteract detrimental upper body movement, the shirt comprising:
 a base layer having a first elasticity;   a plurality of bands coupled to the base layer, the plurality of bands comprising a second elasticity less than the first elasticity, a first cross-connecting band, a second cross-connecting band, a third cross-connecting band, and a fourth cross-connecting band; and   a load distribution portion coupled to the base layer, the load distribution portion anchoring ends of the first, second, third, and fourth cross-connecting bands; wherein   the first, second, third, and fourth cross-connecting bands and the load distribution portion are configured to limit internal rotation and anterior tilting of the scapula when the shirt is worn by a user.   
     
     
         2 . The shirt of  claim 1 , wherein the first cross-connecting band couples the load distribution portion to a right shoulder region of the shirt, and wherein the second cross connecting band couples the load distribution portion to a left shoulder region. 
     
     
         3 . The shirt of  claim 2 , wherein the third cross-connecting band couples the load distribution portion to a right ilium portion of the rear of the shirt, and wherein the fourth cross-connecting band couples the load distribution portion to a left ilium portion of the rear of the shirt. 
     
     
         4 . The shirt of  claim 3 , wherein a fifth one of the plurality of bands couples a neck portion of the shirt to the first cross-connecting band, and wherein a sixth one of the plurality of bands couples the neck portion of the shirt to the second cross-connecting band. 
     
     
         5 . The shirt of  claim 4 , wherein a seventh one of the plurality of bands couples to the shoulder portion of the shirt via a first end of the seventh one of the plurality of bands and to an eighth one of the plurality of bands via a second end of the seventh one of the plurality of bands. 
     
     
         6 . The shirt of  claim 5 , wherein the seventh and eighth ones of the plurality of bands couple to each other at an angle. 
     
     
         7 . The shirt of  claim 1 , wherein the load distribution portion has a disc shape. 
     
     
         8 . The shirt of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bands comprises a first shoulder flare portion and a second shoulder flare portion. 
     
     
         9 . The shirt of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bands comprises:
 a fifth cross-connecting band extending from the load distribution portion to a lower right portion of the rib cage;   a sixth cross-connecting band extending from the load distribution portion to a lower left portion of the rib cage;   a first support connector coupling the first cross-connecting band to the fifth cross-connecting band; and   a second support connector coupling the second cross-connection band to the sixth cross-connecting band.   
     
     
         10 . The shirt of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bands comprises a center support connector coupling an upper region of the third cross-connecting band to an upper region of the fourth cross-connecting band. 
     
     
         11 . The shirt of  claim 10 , wherein the center support connector is configured to maintain a form fit of the shirt when worn by a user. 
     
     
         12 . The shirt of  claim 1 , wherein the shirt is configured to provide a mechanical and sensory stimulation to guide a joint to an optimal neutral joint position. 
     
     
         13 . The shirt of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of bands is configured to apply a compression force to inferior and medial portions of a user's scapula. 
     
     
         14 . The shirt of  claim 1 , wherein the shirt is not configured to apply a compressive force on lateral portions of the muscles deltoideus of a user. 
     
     
         15 . The shirt of  claim 1 , wherein the shirt is not configured to apply a compressive force on the vertebrae cervicales VII. 
     
     
         16 . A method of counteracting detrimental upper body movement, the method comprising:
 donning a shirt, the shirt comprising a base layer having a first elasticity, a plurality of bands having a second elasticity less than the first elasticity coupled to the base layer, and a load distribution portion, the shirt configured to limit internal rotation and anterior tilting of the scapula when worn by a user; and   limiting internal rotation and anterior tilting of the scapula.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising:
 adjusting the shirt such that the user experiences a compressive force on the inferior and medial portions of the user's scapula.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising:
 preventing internal rotation and anterior tilting of the scapula.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising:
 applying compression forces on the user such that the user's kinetic chain of joints is maintained in optimum relation to each other, and power is transferred from the ground through the user's body segments to provide maximum power to a user's arm.   
     
     
         20 . A method of manufacturing a shirt comprising:
 forming a base layer having a first elasticity;   securing a plurality of bands to the base layer, the plurality of bands having a second elasticity less than the first elasticity; and   securing a load distribution portion to the base layer and to at least two of the plurality of inelastic bands, the load distribution portion anchoring the at least two of the plurality of inelastic bands to substantially a middle of a back of the shirt, the load distribution portion having the second elasticity.