A muscle stretching and spine decompressing apparatus including a base
frame (20), a flexible sheet (12) attached to the top of the base frame
(20) for supporting the body of a user, and a motorized actuation means
(16) for bending the flexible sheet (12) from a substantially flat
position to a substantial arc. The motor (18) includes a main shaft (30)
connected at each end (30e) to counter grooved helix pulleys (46). As the
motor (18) turns the main shaft (30), the counter grooved helix pulleys
(46) wind up cable (48) attached to the ends (12a, 12b) of the flexible
sheet (12), thereby drawing the flexible sheet ends (12a, 12b) inward to
cause the flexible sheet (12) to bend. The motor control system (92)
provides for automatic or manual control of the arc of flexible sheet
(12).