 Suspension is the means by

which parts of the body are

supported in slings and elevated
by the use of ropes of variable
lengths fixed to a point above
the body. Suspension frees the
body from the friction, while
moving.
 A mesh or Guthrie Smith cage,
keeping in consideration that
the space between the mesh
and the plinth is 1.5 meters.

A wide plinth with a semi hard

surface, to decrease friction.
 Hooks, ropes, cleats and clips to
support and connect the mesh and
the slings.
 Slings with different sizes and shapes to
rest the body parts on.
 Springs or therabands and theratubes if it
will be used in resistance exercises.
 A)- Vertical fixation:
 The point of attachment of the rope is
over the centre of gravity of the moving
segment, which is at the junction of the
upper and middle thirds of the
segment. The part can then move like
a pendulum, forming an arc. Usually
this type of suspension is used for
support, as the range of is limited to a
small arc of movement on either side of
the vertical point.
 B)- Axial fixation:
 The point of attachment of all
ropes supporting the part is
above the axis of the joint to
be moved. The part will move
on a transverse plane parallel
to the floor. This type of fixation
allows maximum movement of
a joint.
 Active participation is encouraged as
the patient learns to use the appropriate
muscles for the desired movement.
 Relaxation is promoted through secure
support and smooth rhythmic motion.
 Little work is required from stabilizing
muscles because the part is supported.
 Modifications can be made to the
suspension unit to to provide grades of
exercise resistance.
 After instruction, the patient can often
work independently, saving the therapist
time and effort.
 Therabands: are wide rolls of elastic
bands supplied in eight colours
according to their resistance ,
where as theratubes are latex or
rubber tubes with eight colours
graded according to the resistance
they offer. The tension produced by
the material is affects by their
lengthening.
 The required lengths can
be cut and one end could
be attached to a fixed
object securely, (which
might be a door knob,
table leg or a suspension
unit, the other hand is
grasped by the therapist or
tied to a handle.
 Elasticmaterials that have the
properties of extensibility,
compressibility and torsion.
When springs are extensible
they offer resistance to muscle
work as they are stretched, as
they recoil they offer resistance
to isotonic lengthening when the
movements are controlled.
The weight of resistance
offered can vary from 5 kgs to
25 kgs. The spring should be
stretched to its full length to
reach the maximum
resistance it offers, i.e; the
band inside the spring should
be taut.
Overstretching beyond the
taut band can cause
deformation of the metal
and separation of the coils.
Deformation could also be
caused by interlocking two
springs and leaving them
interlocked for a prolonged
time.
 Arrangement in parallel or in
series.
 Number of coils.
 Thickness of the metal.
 The length of the taut band
inside the spring.
 A)- Springs in parallel: if two or
more springs are arranged side
by side and attached to the
same point the resistance
offered will be the sum of the
resistance offered by the springs.
B)- Springs in series: when two
or more springs are joined
end to end i.e; in series the
resistance offered is the same
as the resistance of only one
of them,
 e.g: if two 10 kgs springs are
arranged in series the resistance
offered is 10 kgs but the range
of motion they offer is doubled, if
the same force required to
stretch the spring fully is
considered, then the force
applied to the two in series
would be half the weight
resistance of one, i.e; 5 kgs.
Connecting in series
therefore is indicated if
either the range is great or
a low rsistance spring is not
available.