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About Us>Spinal Therapy Center>Treatments
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Treatments |
Spinal Traction and Rehabilitation
Spinal traction has been well recognized, since ancient times, as an effective treatment for various spinal disorders. Spinal traction has remained an important component in the conservative treatment of spinal disorders, even in our modern times, with great advances in understanding and new treatments of spinal problems.
In accordance with the development of new and more sophisticated surgical techniques, which also carry the burden of many complications, it has also become very clear that the conservative approach should always be tried initially, prior to performing invasive procedures.
It is well documented that invasive procedures carry a certain complication rate, which may actually aggravate the original problem. In addition, there has been much emphasis on rehabilitation of injured patients, and on improving the patient’s chances of returning to a productive life. These trends have emphasized active exercise programs combined with non-invasive modalities.
Cervical and Lumbar tractions have had a long record of helping to relieve numerous acute and chronic symptoms of back and neck pain in many patients, allowing patients to start active exercises earlier thereby enhancing and accelerating their recovery.
After many years of experience with different traction devices, Dr. L. Stabholz, the inventor, and Dr. A. Grober decided to introduce some cardinal changes to the traditional traction techniques and constructed a new traction apparatus – Vertetrac. They succeeded in achieving excellent results in the treatment of low back disorders.
One of the main changes was the application of a force greater than the weight-bearing force of the upper part of the body directly to the lumbar spine (up to 88 lbs. from each side). This was only possible by complete elimination of friction by applying a vertical, upward distraction force directly to the spine.
Thorough investigations and results proved that only powerful traction, such as that of the aforementioned force, may produce a sufficiently strong suction “suck back” force. Repositioning to the front of extruded parts was made possible, causing interruption of their contact with pain-producing tissues: annulus fibrosus (AF), posterior longitudinal ligament, spinal nerves and dura mater.
The results were:
1) Immediate, or almost complete disappearance of back and sciatic pain;
2) Simultaneous application of a horizontal force to strengthen the stretch of longitudinal ligaments produced by traction. Such increased stretching of ligaments creates a powerful centripetal “push back” pressure that greatly facilitates repositioning of reducible parts, specifically AF and even free fragments; 3) Providing the patient with the possibility of walking, standing, sitting and moving during treatment, thereby increasing the flow of blood and nutrients into the discs, which is of great importance for their normal function. This also prevents development of adhesions, and ischemia of the nerve root, which are a few of the main causes of chronic pain and postoperative complications. Free walking also eliminates muscle spasm to a great extent, and as such has proven to have a most beneficial effect on patients. Relaxation of muscle spasm also eases the performance of manipulation;
4) Applying differential traction to patients with an antalgic lean (Sciatic Scoliosis) in order to aid in restoring normal upright stance and to decrease muscle spasm, particularly in situations where the spasm proves to be especially severe. Normal upright stance allows normal tonic responses, which are of great importance to the patient’s full recovery.
In the Center, the Vertetrac Lumbar traction and Cervico 2000 Cervical traction devices are positioned on a patient who can be either standing or sitting and the patient can then walk while in traction and move from one place to another, perform certain stretching exercises, walk on a treadmill, or perform other exercises while in traction.
The ability to perform active exercises while in traction supports the modern principles of rehabilitation by enhancing the patient’s involvement in the rehabilitation process and accelerating blood flow to the tissues and intervertebral discs.
Cervico 2000 and Vertertac
Cervico 2000 and Vertetrac are two spinal traction units that are unique in several aspects. They are small, portable and perform traction in three dimensions simultaneously . These ambulatory cervical and lumbar spine traction units are primarily capable of performing the designed goal of spinal traction effectively and without inconvenience, providing patients with the proven medical treatment they require. The small size, portability, and simple operation of Meditrac's traction units are a vast contrast to the complicated, large lumbar and cervical spine traction table units available on the market today.
All other effective lumbar spine traction units, including the most sophisticated computerized and expensive ones available, require the patient to lie prone on a bed or on a special traction table, tied down with a harness completely unable to move around, walk, or perform other active exercises. Research has shown that these movements are actually all highly desirable for enhancement of the patient’s rehabilitation.
The Cervico2000 and the Vertetrac units, on the other hand, take up hardly any space and can be conveniently stored in a box or cabinet and taken out for use when needed.
Treatment sessions using Vertetrac are short, taking less than 30 minutes per day. Each patient needs between 10-15 daily treatment sessions in an acute stage.
Treatment sessions using Cervico 2000 are short, taking less than 15 minutes per day.
Each patient needs between 8-10 treatment sessions according to his or her specific medical condition.
Transcutaneus Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) - treatments
TENS is a non-invasive form of treatment equipment for relieving chronic pain. A TENS device sends tiny electronic pulses through the skin to small nerves. This provides impulses in different scales and in a wide range of pulse widths and duration which help trigger a message that is different from the original pain message sent to the brain thereby eliminating the feeling of pain. The TENS treatment is ideal for chronic pain.
Note: This is only a partial explanatory list of the treatments carried out at the Center. | |
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