Non-surgical spinal decompression therapy: does the scientific literature support efficacy claims made in the advertising media?

Daniel, Dwain

doi:10.1186/1746-1340-15-7

Cited by 17 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 9 publications

(8 reference statements)

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“…Recently, its advertised www.journalchiromed.com effectiveness has been called into question. 1 To date, we found 3 current spinal decompression tables published in PubMed journals: VAX-D therapy (VAX-D Medical Technologies, Oldsmar, FL), [2][3][4][5][6][7][8] DRS System (Cluster Technology Corporation, defunct), 9 and IDD Therapy (North American Medical Corp., Marietta, GA). 10 The common perception is that spinal decompression therapy is effective at treating disk pathologies, according to advertisements in chiropractic trade publications.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiographic disk height increase after a trial of multimodal spine rehabilitation and vibration traction: a retrospective case series

Horseman

Morningstar²

2008

Journal of Chiropractic Medicine

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Objective: Although spinal decompression therapy has been touted as an effective treatment of disk pathologies, there is little existing research that specifically uses disk parameters as an outcome measure after a course of spinal decompression therapy. Our study presents multidimensional outcomes after a structured protocol of multimodal chiropractic rehabilitation and uses a radiographic parameter of disk disease as an indication of the effects of a vibration traction decompression-type table. Clinical Features: Patients selected for this retrospective cohort reported a medical history of lumbar herniated or bulging disk verified by previous magnetic resonance imaging/computed tomography, history of paresthesia in one or both lower extremities, pain level reported as a minimum of 8/10, and/or history of sciatica or other radicular pain finding. Intervention and Outcome: A total of 6 patients' outcomes are reported in this study. All patients received a multimodal spinal rehabilitation treatment with vibration traction therapy. Positive and statistically significant outcomes were obtained in radiographic disk height, functional rating index, numeric pain rating, spirometry, and patient height. All patients achieved improved outcomes after treatment. Conclusion: The multidimensional outcomes reported here were achieved after a structured protocol of multimodal chiropractic rehabilitation. It is unknown which, if any, of these procedures were responsible for the observed improvements.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiographic disk height increase after a trial of multimodal spine rehabilitation and vibration traction: a retrospective case series

Horseman

Morningstar²

2008

Journal of Chiropractic Medicine

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“…Over the year, many studies have demonstrated its positive effects on cervical and lumbar spine-related pain [4] [5] [6]. However, some review studies [7] [8] [9] pointed out that further research is needed, since there is not enough conclusive evidence to fully support the contribution of the therapy. Therefore, it is important to conduct a qualitative study on the mechanics of the therapy.…”

Section: Cervical Traction Therapymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Traction Position in Cervical Traction Therapy Based on Dynamic Simulation Models

Wong¹,

Zhang²,

Kurusu³

2017

JBiSE

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This study describes the development of a cervical traction therapy simulation model that evaluates two types of the traction positions, namely the sitting position and the inclined position. An anatomically correct human skeleton model and two mechanical traction device models were constructed in simulations using a physics engine. The anterior and posterior intervertebral separations were measured at both positions with a series of traction forces (60N to 200N) and traction angles (10˚ to 40˚). The result suggested that the sitting position caused the subject to lean forward and as a result led to excessive anterior compression when traction angle is over 20 degrees. The inclined position creates greater intervertebral separations on both the anterior and posterior sides than the sitting position. This suggests that the inclined position may be more effective in increasing intervertebral separation than the sitting position.

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“…A herniated IVD is under constant elevated intradiscal pressure [2,28,29] and if intradiscal pressure can reduce, then perhaps a healing/regenerative response can occur. Non-surgical technology can therapeutically reduce intradiscal pressure and may allow for degenerative spinal conditions to regenerate, and more specifically, rehydrate.…”

Section: Non-surgical Spinal Decompressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Untitled

2017

PMRD

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Until recently, physicians specializing in pain management believed that once a significant degenerative spinal condition exists-patients must live with their symptoms or undergo surgical/invasive interventions [1]. However, increasing evidence [2][3][4][5][6] illustrates the ability of degenerate Intervertebral Disc (IVD) disorder (s) to regenerate. This regeneration phenomenon specifically refers to the notion of rehydration. Currently, there is a lack of quality literature that supports the incidence of such findings; however, if this phenomenon *Corresponding author: Shawn P Williams, Department of Health Professions, York College, City University of New York, New York, USA, Tel: +1 7182622907; E-mail: swilliams2@york.cuny.edu exists, then degenerative IVD conditions once believed by patients and pain management physicians to be permanent may actually be reversed [1]. This paper will attempt to explain how the current literature supports this particular phenomenon by providing a conceptual framework that outlines anatomical, physiological and pathological properties of the intervertebral disc in reference to rehydration capabilities, and reviewing the literature that documents the current traditional therapeutic practices being used to treat degenerative disc conditions. After reviewing these necessary avenues, it should be apparent that the current practices being used to treat degenerative IVD disorders prove to be both costly and therapeutically ineffective. It should also become apparent that based on sound anatomical principles, non-surgical spinal decompression may be able to regenerate/ rehydrate a group of selective degenerative spinal conditions, and therefore can be used as a valuable treatment modality. MethodsA search using both the indexed (PubMed and PsychLit) and non-indexed literature was used. Other resources included the Cochrane Library, articles from governing bodies of the Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) profession, trade magazines, and research conferences and symposium proceedings. Conceptual labeling, memos for category building and narrative synthesizing the findings of literature retrieved from searches of computerized databases, hand searches, and authoritative texts. Discussion Anatomical, physiological and pathological properties of the IVDThe IVD is composed of a nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus and is enclosed both above and below by two cartilaginous vertebral endplates. The annulus fibrosus is made up of several lamellae consisting of parallel collagen fibers interdispersed by elastin fibers [3]. Individual lamellae of the annulus fibrosus run obliquely between vertebral bodies, inserting onto the surfaces of the vertebral endplate. This oblique and overlapping arrangement allows a small degree of movement and provides firm stability. However, the posterior aspect of the annulus fibrosus is thinner than the rest of the annulus, which may subject this region to structural weakness; and thus may provide the anatomical basis of more posterior annular tears [7,8...

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Non-surgical spinal decompression therapy: does the scientific literature support efficacy claims made in the advertising media?

Cited by 17 publications

References 9 publications

Radiographic disk height increase after a trial of multimodal spine rehabilitation and vibration traction: a retrospective case series

Radiographic disk height increase after a trial of multimodal spine rehabilitation and vibration traction: a retrospective case series

The Effect of Traction Position in Cervical Traction Therapy Based on Dynamic Simulation Models

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