Abstract: A gravity traction vest for secure attachment to a patient is disclosed. The patient has a torso with a rib cage having a plurality of ribs including a lowest rib, the rib cage forming at its front a generally inverted U shaped area. The vest (10) is adapted to be secured to the patient and attached to a support structure, whereby the patient is suspended from the support structure with the head of the patient in a generally upward direction. The vest (10) includes a torso surrounding member (11) having a first section (12) and a second section (13). The sections (12) and (13) are constructed of a rigid material and the first section (12) is shaped to surround a first side of the torso and the second section (13) is shaped to surround a second side of the torso. The back edge (12a) of the first section (12) is cooperatively connected to the back edge (13a) of the second section (13).

Abstract: A vest (48) and vest insert (78) are the subjects of this patent application. The vest (48) is for use in a GRAVITY LUMBAR REDUCTION THERAPY PROGRAM apparatus, and the insert (78) extends along the bottom edge (56) of the vest (48) to engage the bottom surface (80) of a patient's lowermost rib (82) to support the patient (16) during treatment.