4. SUSPENSION THERAPY
•Suspension is a special technique of exercise therapy in which part or all
of the body parts are suspended in the air with the help of slings and the
rope duly attached to fixed points above, to increase the range motion
(ROM) and increase muscle power by supporting the different body parts.
•Its also known as Sling Exercises Therapy (SET).
5. Aims & Objectives
•Following are the basic aims of suspension therapy.
•Muscle strengthening.
•Range of motion Improvement.
7. Basic Terms Used In Suspension
Therapy
•Friction: It occurs when one surface moves on another. In suspension, friction is less, therefore it
provides smooth and easy movement.
•Gravity elimination: The patient ought to have at least grade 2 muscle power in order to perform
the suspension therapy exercise.
•Pendulum: The type of heavy object/ material suspended the threat or sling in order to achieve
weightless position.
8. By Using Suspension Therapy
ADVANTAGES
• Reduces the burden of therapist
• Reduces the friction
• Promotes the active movement
• Patient who have the muscle power of
grade 2 can easily perform the suspension
therapy exercise under the supervision of
physiotherapist.
DIS-ADVANTAGES
• Very complex
• Initiating the process is quite difficult
• Multiple equipment's are required
• Patients who have the muscle power
below the grade 2 cannot perform the
suspension therapy exercise.
9. PARTS OF SUSPENSION THERAPY
1. Sling
2. Supporting ropes
3. Fixed point
4. Wooden cleat
5. Dog clip & shook
6. Storage trolley
10. DOG CLIP & S-HOOK
•Used to attached the supporting rope with Mesh.
•To attach the sling with supporting rope.
11. SLING
Following are the types of sling
1. Single sling
2. Double sling
3. Three ring sling
4. Head sling
12. SINGLE SLING
•Sling is made-up of webbing material and a D-ring attached at each end.
•They are 68 centimeters long and 17 centimeters wide approximately.
•Used for elbow and knee specially.
•Folded to support wrist and ankle.
13. DOUBPE SLING
•Broad slings with D-rings attached at each end.
•Used to support the pelvis, thorax and thighs to gather specially when the knees are to be kept
straight.
•68cm long and 29 cm wide approximately.
14. THREE RING SLING
•They are also webbing sling
•Consist of three D- rings, 2 in the end of sling and one in the middle kept it moving.
•75 cm long and 4cm wide approximately.
•Used for wrist and ankle regions.
15. HEAD SLING
•This is a short, split sling with its two halves stitched together at a certain angle to create a central slit.
•This allows the head to rest supported at the back under the lower and upper part of the skull.
16. SUPPORTING ROPES
•Connecting ropes provides the attachment of a sling to the frame and are adjustable in length
• Following are the types of supporting ropes
1. Single rope
2. Double rope
3. Pulley rope
17. SINGLE ROPE
•It has a ring fixed at one end through which its hanged up..
•The other end of the rope passes through the one end of wooden cleat through the ring of a dog
clip and through the other hand of cleat and then knotted.
•The cleat is used for altering the length of the rope and should be held horizontally.
•Length of the rope is required 1.5 meter approximately.
19. DOUBLE ROPE
•It consist of two pulleys ( upper and lower attachments)
•As the two pulleys are being used thus it gives the advantage of two pulleys.
•This rope is used to suspend the heavy parts of the body (pelvis, thorax or heavy thighs
needed to support to gather).
21. PULLEY ROPE
•This has a dog clip attached at one end of the rope which then passes over the wheel of pulley
•The rope then passes through the cleat and a second dog clip.
•It is used for the three dimensional movements.
22. FIXED POINTS
•It is made up of stain less steel
•In the top and head end side presents the 5cm thick metal, and the sides remains open.
23. WOODEN CLEAT
•It is made-up of wood and used for altering the length of rope
•It has two or three holes for the passage of rope.
27. 1. VERTICAL SUSPENSION
•Centre of the gravity of the body is takes as a point of suspension.
•Used to provide the support to the body parts of the patients.
•It is used for relaxation and prevent pressure sores.
28. Mechanism
•In vertical suspension the rope is fixed as it hangs vertically above the center of gravity of the part to be
suspended.
•The vertical suspension is used for limit the movement of the part to small range pendular movement on
each side of the central resting position.
29. 2.AXIAL SUSPENSION
•It is most common and frequently used type of suspension. In this type, the joint is taken as the point of
suspension.
•Gravitational forces are eliminated more as compare to previous suspension types.
•Used for relaxation, maintain muscle property (increase blood circulation an increase venous and lymphatic drainage).
30. Mechanism of Axial suspension
•In this type all the ropes which are supporting the body parts are attached to one “S” hook which is fixed to
a point just above the joint which is to be moved.
•During this fixation the movement of limb will be on a flat plane level with floor.
