Scapulae position measuring device and method

Abstract

A scapulae position measurement device includes a main body extending in the vertical direction, configured to be positioned to run along the spinal column, having a vertical scale, and a moveable arm, extending in a horizontal direction on the right or left side of the main body, having a horizontal scale. The scapulae position measurement device is capable of measuring position changes of the horizontal direction (X axis) and vertical direction (Y axis) of the scapulae, and capable of displaying the tension/relax state of the surrounding muscles of the scapulae with an objective numerical value.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A scapula position measurement device for use on a person having right and left scapulae, comprising:
 a main body, extending in a vertical direction, having a right side and a left side;   an arm, moveably extending from either the right or left side of the main body; wherein   the main body is configured to be aligned to a spine of the person in a predetermined location, and the arm is moveable to a position along the main body corresponding to a predetermined location of the right or left scapulae; and   a horizontal position of the right or left scapulae can be determined by comparing a position of the predetermined location to the arm, and a vertical position of the right or left scapulae can be determined by comparing the position of the arm to the main body.   
     
     
         2 . The scapula position measurement device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a vertical scale, disposed on the main body;   a horizontal scale, disposed on the arm;   
       wherein
 the horizontal position of the right or left scapulae can be determined by comparing the position of the predetermined location of the right or left scapulae with the horizontal scale; and 
 the vertical position of the right or left scapulae can be determined by comparing the position of the arm with the vertical scale. 
 
     
     
         3 . The scapula position measurement device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a positional measurement device, disposed upon one of the main body and the arm, the horizontal position of the right or left scapulae being measurable by measuring the position of the predetermined location for the right or left scapulae with the positional measurement device, and the vertical position of the right of left scapulae being measurable by measuring the position of the arm with the positional measurement device.   
     
     
         4 . The scapula position measurement device according to  claim 3 , further comprising a measurement value display part, configured to display a measurement value of the position of the horizontal direction and/or vertical direction at the right or left scapulae measured by the positional measurement device. 
     
     
         5 . The scapula position measurement device according to  claim 1 , wherein the arm is capable of sliding upon the main body in a vertical direction. 
     
     
         6 . The scapula position measurement device according to  claim 5 , wherein one of the arm and the main body include ridges extending in a vertical direction, and another one of the arm and the main body include grooves extending in the vertical direction, the arm being slidably attached to the main body by interconnection of the ridges and grooves. 
     
     
         7 . The scapula position measurement device according to  claim 5 , wherein the main body includes a fall-prevention device, configured to prevent the arm from falling by locking the arm when the arm is sliding. 
     
     
         8 . The scapula position measurement device according to  claim 1 , wherein the arm is detachably connected to the main body. 
     
     
         9 . The scapula position measurement device according to  claim 8 , wherein the arm is detachably connected to the main body using a magnet. 
     
     
         10 . The scapulae position measurement device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an indicator member, slidably disposed upon the arm, the horizontal position of the right or left scapulae being measurable by measuring a position of the indicator member on the arm.   
     
     
         11 . The scapula position measurement device according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a main body indicator member, attached to the main body and configured to slide in a vertical direction, a vertical position of the right or left scapulae being measurable by measuring a position of the arm relative to the main body using the main body indicator member.   
     
     
         12 . The scapula position measurement device according to any of  claims 1 , wherein the main body is flexible. 
     
     
         13 . A scapula position measurement method for use with a person having right and left scapulae, comprising:
 positioning a main body of a scapula position measurement device vertically in a predetermined location along a spine of the person;   moving a horizontal arm, extending from a side of the main body, to align with a predetermined location of the right or left scapula of the person;   determining a horizontal position of the right or left scapulae by measuring a position of the predetermined location relative to the arm; and   determining a vertical position of the right or left scapulae by measuring a position of the arm relative to the main body.   
     
     
         14 . A scapula position measurement method in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein moving the horizontal arm comprises moving a pair of horizontal arms extending from opposing sides of the main body, whereby each horizontal arm aligns with a predetermined location of the right and left scapula, respectively. 
     
     
         15 . A scapula position measurement method in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein determining the horizontal position of the right or left scapulae comprises comparing the position of the predetermined location relative to a horizontal scale disposed upon the arm. 
     
     
         16 . A scapula position measurement method in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein determining the vertical position of the right or left scapulae comprises comparing the position of Patent the arm, when aligned with the predetermined location, relative to a vertical scale disposed upon the main body. 
     
     
         17 . A scapula position measurement method in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein determining the horizontal and vertical positions of the right or left scapulae comprises measuring the position of the predetermined location with respect to the arm and measuring the position of the arm with respect to the main body using a positional measurement device, disposed upon one of the main body and the arm. 
     
     
         18 . A scapula position measurement device for use on a person, comprising:
 a vertical body, having right and left sides, configured to be aligned with a spine of the person in a predetermined location, having a vertical scale disposed thereon;   a pair of horizontal arms, moveably extending from the right and left sides of the vertical body, each horizontal arm having a horizontal scale disposed thereon, each horizontal arm being moveable to a position along the main body corresponding to a respective predetermined location of a right and left scapula of the person, a horizontal position of the right and left scapulae being determinable by comparing a position of the respective predetermined location relative to the horizontal scale of the respective horizontal arm, and a vertical position of the right and left scapulae being determinable by comparing the position of each arm relative to the vertical scale of the main body.   
     
     
         19 . A scapula position measurement device in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the main body is flexible. 
     
     
         20 . A scapula position measurement device in accordance with  claim 14 , further comprising an indicator member, moveably disposed upon each arm.