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CONTENTS :
• What is suspension therapy
• Principles of suspension therapy

SUSPENSION
• Uses, Advantages and Disadvantages of suspension therapy
• Materials used in suspension therapy
• Types of suspension

THERAPY
Presented By:
Dr Chandan Verma
Assistant Professor
MGPC

PRINCIPLES :
What is suspension therapy ?
• Friction : It occur during a particular surface move on another.
• * In suspension, friction is less, therefore causes smooth & easy movement
• Pendulum : Is heavy material suspended by the weightless thread When the force is applied on
• Suspension is a special technique of exercise therapy in which a part, the pendulum it results in to and fro movement.
or all, of the body is suspended in the air by ropes and slings • In human body, pendular motion occurs mainly in shoulder & hip joints,
attached to fixed points above to increase ROM, increase muscle • Forward leg movements & arm swings while walking
power and support body parts.
• In suspension, Pendular motion is used to maintain muscle property,
• Increase ROM & strengthening the muscles
• Eliminating gravity movement : The patient should at least have muscle power 2 for suspension
therapy exercises.

AIMS : ADVANTAGES :
• It reduces the burden of therapist.
• Improve Joint ROM
• Easy to lift the limbs.
• Muscle Strengthening

• Neuro-Muscular Co-ordination • Active movement can be performed easily with minimum friction.

DISADVANTAGES :
• Complex JOINTS

• Many equipment's required

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SUSPENSION UNIT : PARTS OF

SUSPENSION :
• Suspention frame
• Fixed point
Late Mrs. Guthrie
• Pulley
Smith has invented
the suspension • Supporting ropes
apparatus. • Slings
• Wooden cleat
• Dog clip and Shook
• Storage trolley

FIXED POINT :

• It is made of stainless steel or plastic coated steel.

In the top and head end side presents the 5cm metal mesh
and remaining side kept open.

SUPPORTINGROPES: SINGLE ROPE :

• Connecting ropes provide the attachment of a sling to the frame • Has a ring fixed at one end by which it is hung up.
and are adjustable in length.
• The other end of the rope then passes through one end of the
• There are following three types of supporting ropes: wooden cleat through the ring of a dog clip and through the other
Single Rope end of the cleat and then knotted.
Double Rope
• The cleat is for altering the length of the rope and should be held
Pulley Rope
horizontally for movement and pulled oblique when supporting. The
rope then 'holds' on the cleat by frictional resistance.

• Length of rope required is 1.5m

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DOUBLE ROPE :
• Consist of two pulleys at upper and lower attachments.

• This device gives a mechanical advantage of two as two pulleys are

used. The rope is shortened by pushing the cleat down, allowing
the lifter to move with gravity at the same time as it offers a
mechanical advantage of two.

• Such a rope is used to suspend the heavy parts of the body – the
pelvis, thorax or heavy thighs when these are to be supported
together.

PULLEY ROPE :
• This has a dog clip attached at one end of the rope which then
passes over the wheel of the pulley.

• The rope then passes through the cleat and a second dog clip.

• It is used for three dimensional movements of a limb.

SLINGS : SINGLE SLING :

• There are following four types of slings: • Single slings are made of canvas bound with soft webbing and
Single Sling Double with a D ring at each end. They measure 68 cm long by 17 cm
Sling wide.
Three Ring Sling • Used for elbow and knee.
Head Sling • Folded to support wrist and ankle.

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DOUBLESLING:

• Broad slings with D-rings at each end.

• Used to support pelvis, thorax or thigh together, specially
when the knees are to be kept straight.

• 68cm long and 29cm width.

THREERINGSLING:

• They are webbing slings

• Consist of 3 D rings. 2 at the end of the sling and 1 in the
middle kept moving.

• 75cm length 3-4cm width.

• Used for wrist and ankle region.

HEADSLING: WOODEN CLEAT :

• This is a short, split sling with its two halves stitched together
• It is made of wood and is used for altering of the rope.
at an angle to create a central slit.
• It has two or three holes for the rope passage. The rope itself
• This allows the head to rest supported at the back under the
hold the cleat by friction resistance.
lower and upper part of the skull.

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STORAGE TROLLEY :
DOG CLIP & S HOOK :
• Used to attach the supporting rope with mesh.
• Storage of slings and ropes is done with the help of hooks.
• To attach the sling with supporting rope.

TYPES OF SUSPENSION : VERTICAL SUSPENSION :

• COG of the body part or the body is taken as point of

• Vertical Suspension
suspension.
• Axial Suspension
• Used to provide support to the body parts of the patient.
• Pendular Suspension
• Uses : Relaxation

Prevent pressure sore

MECHANISM OF MOVEMENT:

• In using vertical fixation the rope is fixed so that it hangs vertically

above the centre of gravity of the part to be suspended.

• Vertical suspension is used for support as it tends to limit the

movement of the part to a small-range pendular movement on each
side of the central resting point

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MECHANISM OF MOVEMENT :
AXIAL SUSPENSION :
• It is the most common type • This occurs when all the ropes supporting a part are attached to

• Joint is taken as point of suspension one “S” hook which is fixed to a point immediately above the
centre of the joint which is to be moved.
• Gravity eliminated

• Uses : Relaxation • When such fixation is set up the movement of the limb will be on

Maintain muscle property Increase a flat plane level with the floor. In this way pure angular
movements are obtained.
blood circulation

Increases venous and lymphatic drainage

PENDULAR SUSPENSION :

• Point of suspension is shifted away from the joint axis.

• Movement usually takes place against gravity
• Muscles will be getting resistance while moving if the axis is
shifted opposite to that movement
• Uses : increases the muscle strength and muscle endurance.

WHICH TYPEOF SUSPENSION ?

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