Suspension therapy involves suspending parts of the body using slings and pulleys to reduce friction and gravity. It aims to relax muscles, increase range of motion and strengthening. Key principles are pendulum movement which uses gravity for gentle oscillation, and reducing friction to allow for smooth movement. Common techniques suspend joints at points like the shoulder's acromion process or knee's lateral joint line to isolate muscles for exercises like flexion, extension, and rotation. Equipment includes suspension frames, supporting ropes, pulleys, slings and fasteners. Whole body suspension supports the entire body vertically.

1. Farah Deeba
Suspension
Therapy

2. Suspension is defined as suspending a
part of the body or whole body with
the supported slings and pulleys.
Suspension Therapy
Definition

3. Suspension Therapy
Principle
Working Under
Pendulum
Friction
Gravity
Eliminating
Movement

4. It is the force which restrict the movement of an
object. In the suspension the same principle
followed, less friction causes the smooth and easy
movement.
Suspension Therapy
Principle
Friction

5. Pendulum is heavy material suspended by
the weightless thread. If the force is applied on it
results in to and fro movement. (oscillation)
E.g. shoulder & hip in walking
Same mechanism used in the suspension
Therapy to maintain the muscle property,
increase the ROM & strengthening the
muscles
Suspension Therapy
Principle
Pendulum

6. The person should have the muscle power
2 for the suspension exercises.( Less cant do
himself). Grade 3 muscles person should go for
antigravity rather then the suspension
therapy exercises for strengthening.
Suspension Therapy
Principle
Gravity
Eliminating
Movement

7. vIt reduces the burden for the therapist
vEasy to lift the limbs
vActive movements can be performed easily with
minimum friction.
Suspension Therapy
Advantages

8. 1. Suspension frame
2. Supporting Ropes
3. Pulleys
4. Slings
5. S-hook and dog clips
6. Wooden cleat
Suspension Therapy
Suspension Instruments

9. 1. Suspension frame:
Ø It is made up of steel or plastic coated steels.
Ø In the top and the head end side is the metal mesh and
the remaining sides are kept open.
Ø In the middle of the frame couch is placed for the patient’s
accommodation.
Suspension Therapy
Suspension Instruments

10. 2. Supporting Ropes:
Ø 3-ply hemp ropes are used for
the suspension to avoid slipping .
Ø One end of the rope consist of
a fixed ring and another end of
the rope passes through the
wooden cleat and is knotted
in half-hitched manner Or
without cleat.
Ø Three types: primary,
secondary and vertical rope
Suspension Therapy
Suspension Instruments
Primary:
Axis as the point of
suspension and it supports
the distal joint.
Secondary:
Added with primary to
support the proximal joint.
Vertical:
Used for vertical suspension
and support the mid portion
of the body

11. 3. Pulleys:
Ø It is the grooved wheel, which moves around an axis and
the rope or the iron cable passing through the groove.
Ø It gives the mechanical advantage.
Ø It can be single or double.
Ø Reduced the burden of lifting whole body or body parts.
Ø Types:
Suspension Therapy
Suspension Instruments
Fixed Pulley Moveable Pulley

12. Fixed Pulley:
Ø The pulley is attached to the fixed point and acting as the
first-order lever (weight on one side and effort on another
side and the axis or fulcrum in midline)
Ø Used to alter the direction of force by which the
resistance or the traction can be applied to the body
parts.
Ø example: lateral malleolus ( peroneus longus muscle
tendon)
Suspension Therapy
Suspension Instruments

13. Moveable Pulley:
Ø One end of the rope is attached to the fixed point and
another end is passed through the fixed pulley .The
moveable pulley is attached in between the fixed point and
the fixed pulley.
Ø It acts like the second order of lever.
ØIt reduces the restricted force into half.
Suspension Therapy
Suspension Instruments

14. 4. Slings:
Ø The slings are made up of canvas.
Ø Types:
Suspension Therapy
Suspension Instruments
Single Sling:
Both the ends are having the D-
rings for the attachment with
the dog clip or S-hook. Used for
elbow and knee and for wrist
and ankle support in 8 manner .
Three-ring Sling:
It consist of three D-rings.Two
at the both end of the sling and
one in the middle kept moving.
Used for wrist and ankle.
Head Sling:
Both the ends are having the D-
rings for the attachment with the
dog clip or S-hook. Used for
Double Sling:
Bigger then single and more then
two sides with the D-rings .Used
for supporting the bigger parts
like thorax, trunk and thigh.

15. Suspension Therapy
Suspension Instruments
Slings

16. 5. S-hook and dog clips :
The s-hook and dog clips are used to attach the supporting
ropes with the mesh and sling with the supporting ropes
Suspension Therapy
Suspension Instruments

17. 6. Wooden Cleat :
Ø It is made up of wood and is used for altering the length for
altering the length of the rope.
Ø It has two or three wholes for passage.
Ø It is used horizontally for adjusting the rope length and
oblique for friction resistance by the rope to avoid slippery.
Suspension Therapy
Suspension Instruments

18. Suspension Therapy
TYPES OF SUSPENSION
3. Pendular
Suspension
1. Axial
Suspension
2. Vertical
Suspension

19. 1. AXIAL SUSPENSION
1. Joint axis is taken as the point of
suspension.
Ø The limb is supported by the slings
above the axis of the joint
Ø In movement part moves parallel
to the floor and the base of swing
shows cone shape.
USES
Ø Relaxation
Ø Maintain muscular property
Ø Increase blood circulation
Ø Increase venous drainage
Ø Increase lymphatic drainage
Suspension Therapy
TYPES OF SUSPENSION

20. 1. VERTICAL SUSPENSION
Ø The center of gravity of the body part or
the body is taken as the point of suspension.
USES
Ø To support the body part
Ø To reduce the pressure sore
Suspension Therapy
TYPES OF SUSPENSION

21. 1. PENDULAR SUSPENSION
Ø Here at first the axis of the joint is taken
as the point of suspension.Then depends
on the strengthening of the muscle group,
the axis is changing towards medially, laterally,
anteriorly and posteriorly.
Ø Axis for strengthening opposite
to that group of muscle.
USES
Ø To strengthen the muscles
Ø To increase the muscle power
Ø To increase the endurance
Suspension Therapy
TYPES OF SUSPENSION

22. Suspension Therapy
GOOD LUCK

23. Suspension Therapy
TECHNIQUES OF SUSPENSION
Position of
the patient
Point of
suspension
Needed
accessories
Procedure

24. Shoulder Joint:
Abduction and Adduction
Position of the patient : Supine lying
Point of suspension: one inch below the
acromion process
Needed accessories: 3 S-hooks, 1 Three
ring sling, 1 Single sling,
and 2 Supporting – rope
with wooden cleat
Procedure: For Strengthening of abductors
and adductors; performing abduction
and adduction.
Suspension Therapy
EXAMPLES OF TECHNIQUES OF SUSPENSION

25. Shoulder Joint:
Flexion and Extension
Position of the patient : Side lying
Point of suspension: Greater tuberosity
Needed accessories: 3 S-hooks, 1 Three ring
sling, 1 Single sling,
and 2 Supporting – rope
with wooden cleat
Procedure: For Strengthening of flexors and
extensors; performing
Flexion and Extension.
Suspension Therapy
EXAMPLES OF TECHNIQUES OF SUSPENSION

26. Shoulder Joint
Medial and Lateral Rotation
Position of the patient : Supine lying
Point of suspension: Olecranon Process
Needed accessories: 4 S-hooks, 1 Three ring
sling, 1 Single sling,
and 2 Supporting – rope
with wooden cleat
Procedure: For Strengthening of Medial
and Lateral rotators
performing both Rotations
Suspension Therapy
EXAMPLES OF TECHNIQUES OF SUSPENSION

27. Elbow Joint:
Flexion and Extension
Position of the patient : Sitting
Point of suspension: Lateral epicondyle of
the humerus
Needed accessories: 4 S-hooks, 1 Three ring-
sling, 1 Single sling,
and 2 Supporting – rope
with wooden cleat
Procedure: For Strengthening of flexors and
extensors; performing Flexion
and Extension.
Suspension Therapy
EXAMPLES OF TECHNIQUES OF SUSPENSION

28. Hip Joint:
Abduction and Adduction
Position of the patient : Supine lying
Point of suspension: Two inches below the ASIS
Needed accessories: 3 S-hooks, 1 Three ring
sling, 1 Single sling,
and 2 Supporting – rope
with wooden cleat
Procedure: For Strengthening of abductors
and adductors;
performing abduction and
adduction.
Suspension Therapy
EXAMPLES OF TECHNIQUES OF SUSPENSION

29. Hip Joint:
Flexion and Extension
Position of the patient : Side lying
Point of suspension: Greater trochanter
Needed accessories: 3 S-hooks, 1 Three
ring sling, 1 Single sling,
and 2 Supporting – rope
with wooden cleat
Procedure: For Strengthening of Flexors and
Extensors;
performing Flexion and Extension
Suspension Therapy
EXAMPLES OF TECHNIQUES OF SUSPENSION

30. Hip Joint:
Medial and Lateral Rotation
Position of the patient : Supine lying
Point of suspension: Apex of the patella
Needed accessories: 4 S-hooks, 1 Three ring sling, 1 Single sling,
and 2 Supporting – rope with wooden cleat
Procedure: For Strengthening of Rotators ;
performing both rotations.
Suspension Therapy
EXAMPLES OF TECHNIQUES OF SUSPENSION

31. Knee Joint:
Flexion and Extension
Position of the patient : Side lying
Point of suspension: Lateral Joint Line
Needed accessories: 4 S-hooks, 1 Three ring
sling, 1 Single sling,
and 2 Supporting – rope
with wooden cleat
Procedure: For Strengthening of Flexors and
Extensors; performing flexion
and extension
Suspension Therapy
EXAMPLES OF TECHNIQUES OF SUSPENSION

32. Whole Body:
The separate slings are suspending each and every limb in the vertical
suspensions with the supporting ropes.
• The upper trunk,
• Lower trunk,
• Head,
• Upper limbs,
• Lower limbs
Suspension Therapy
EXAMPLES OF TECHNIQUES OF SUSPENSION

33. Suspension Therapy
GOOD
LUCK