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Do you have a herniated disc, multiple herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, facet syndrome, or any other type of spinal problem? Is your doctor suggesting surgery, Pain Management, or Physical Therapy? Have you tried Chiropractic and just could not get enough relief? Come to First Health Chiropractic for Physical Medicine and try out the Decompression Traction System (Triton DTS). Research indicates the disc is responsible for a significant number of Lumbar/Leg pain and neck/arm pain syndromes. Compression increases intradiscal pressure leading to annular compromise and possible extrusion of nuclear material. Since the disc is an avascular structure, it doesn't receive fresh blood and oxygen with every beat of the heart. It requires "diffusion" created by motion and 'decompression' to restore nutrients and enhance healing. Decompression is defined as reduction in pressure (intradiscal). Recumbent positions (both prone and supine) decrease intradiscal pressures in comparison to standing and sitting. However focused, axial mechanical+Y translation traction, (creating 'decompression' i.e. unloading due to distraction and positioning) has been shown to reduce disc pressure and enhance the healing response even further.
There is some suggestion in the literature that extruded nuclear material may be "drawn in" by the reduction of intradiscal pressures. This concept however is not uniformly accepted since the length of time the material stays 'drawn in' has not been established in controlled studies. However, a temporary reduction in intradiscal pressure can still have a profound effect on the healing process via increased contact with the blood supply and fibroblast migration (so called phasic effects). This is in addition to the pain relief created neurologically by stretching soft tissue (e.g. stretch receptors, mechanoreceptors etc.) make decompression therapy a logical and viable addition to a "passive" pain care regiment.
Clinically it is important to establish criteria both in the utilization of Decompression therapy and in defining its utility. (As with many therapies, hyperbole and overstatement are common.) Axial Decompression (both lumbar and cervical) is first and foremost a "passive" therapy and as such has definite limitations in "curing" a chronic musculoskeletal condition. Its value is most specific in helping referral pain not solely low back or acute low back pain (symptoms for which manipulation has proven beneficial).
Loss of local muscle control, abnormal posture and alterations in spinal curves are the probable underlying source of most spinal 'compression' and degeneration. Therefore a "passive" therapy has little effect in truly fixing the underlying problem.
However, that being said, Decompression therapy (done safely within established protocols and a clear understanding of it's limitations) can often effectively enhance the healing process and render quick, effective and often amazing pain relief in a properly selected patient population (many who have previously failed other treatments). Additionally it may also be very useful in determining the overall prognosis of passive care and expediting the phase-in of rehab protocols.
Indications and Use
Any non-acute (>1 week) low back or neck pain syndrome not related to a disease process, canal stenosis or acute strain/sprain injury is theoretically treatable by decompression. Disc and facet pain can often be relieved by early intervention with decompression. The acute inflammation of injuries however should be reduced by other means, in most cases, prior to beginning Decompression. Contraindications are similar to manipulative therapy, however since mechanical stretch creates no impact, mild to moderate Osteoporosis may not be contraindicated. (This holds true overall for frail and elderly patients who could potentially be injured by manipulative thrusts. Disc fragmentation, calcification, severe arthritis and any surgical spinal appliances are all relative contraindications.
Our clinical findings suggest Decompression will create a relatively quick initial response. Patients who will do well tend to feel a sense of relief (which can be direct pain cessation or a centralization of pain and/or reduction to an ache or stiffness) within six sessions. Full relief, if attainable through this passive treatment will usually be in 8-12 sessions. (Occasionally a 'stubborn' pain syndrome may continue to improve slowly over 15+ sessions though this is not the norm). Often patients will be treated 4-6 sessions and notice enough relief to allow active rehab to begin. Their Decompression may continue (pre or post rehab depending on the methods chosen) for 4-6 further sessions before discontinuing or reducing the frequency.
Typical frequency is 3-5 times per week. The extent and seriousness of the symptoms will determine if more than three sessions per week should be utilized. Our experience suggests Decompression is also an excellent supportive or maintenance treatment for those cases where pain relief is marked but prone to exacerbations.
The Triton DTS represents the finest Decompression Traction System available today. Cervical, lumbar, and wrist Decompression Traction can be delivered utilizing the Triton DTS in a controlled and proven method.
Decompression therapy is very affordable and cheaper than surgery. Spinal Traction is highly recommended by Neurological Research. It was found that out of 778 cases of patients receiving spinal decompression 92% said that they showed improvement (Neurological Research; Volume 20, Number 3, April 1998).
Spinal Disc Decompression, utilizing Decompression-Reduction-Stabilization, is a unique, non-surgical therapy developed for the treatment of chronic lower back pain, herniated discs and degenerative disc diseases.
The Decompression-Reduction-Stabilization therapy is an effective treatment for:
• Herniated disc
• Degenerative disc
• Facet syndrome
• Sciatica
• Post-surgical patients
• Spinal stenosis
The Spinal Decompression Table in conjunction with additional modalities effectively relieves the pain and disability resulting from disc injury and degeneration, by repairing damaged discs and reversing dystrophic changes in nerves. Spinal Disc Decompression addresses the functional and mechanical aspects of discogenic pain and disease through non-surgical decompression of lumbar intervertebral discs. Studies verify the significant reduction of intradiscal pressures into the negative range, to approximately minus 150 mm/HG, which result in the non-surgical decompression of the disc and nerve root. Conventional traction has never demonstrated a reduction of intradiscal pressure to negative ranges; on the contrary - many traction devices actually increased intradiscal pressure, most likely due to reflex muscle spasm. The Decompression Table is designed to apply distraction tension to the patient’s lumbar spine without eliciting reflex paravertebral muscle contractions.
By significantly reducing intradiscal pressure, Spinal Disc Decompression promotes retraction of the herniation into the disc and facilitates influx of oxygen, proline and other substrates. The promotion of fibro elastic activity stimulates repair and inhibits leakage of irritant sulphates and carboxylates from the nucleus. The most recent trial sought to correlate clinical success with MRI evidence of disc repair in the annulus, nucleus, facetjoint and foramina as a result of treatment and found that reduction of disc herniation ranged between 10% and 90% depending on the number of sessions performed, while annulus patching and healing was evident in all cases.
The most recent clinical study of 778 patients has showed that Disc Decompression Therapy was more than 70% successful in the treatment of herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, facet syndrome, and sciatica. In this same study, 92% of patients had a reduction in their pain of at least one point on the 0 to 5 scale.
Triton Decompression Traction System (DTS)
FDA approved Decompression Traction System (DTS) treatment may provide the relief for which you are searching. DTS is a safe, non-surgical treatment to help in the management of serious low back and leg; as well as neck and arm pain. The Triton Decompression Traction System can help relieve pain associated with...
- Herniated Disc
- Degenerative Disc
- Facet Syndrome
- Sciatica
- Headaches
1) Research has proven discs may be a primary site of back and leg pain, as well as neck and arm pain.
2) The disc is damaged by compression & flexion [squishing].
3) The disc is avascular (it has no direct blood supply). It gets its nutrients in and waste products out by diffusion [like a sponge]. The healthier the disc the greater its diffusion.
4) Over time loss of strength of the lower abdominal and low back muscles, poor posture, trauma etc. increase the compression on the discs, especially of the lower discs [L5/L4] and the mid-neck discs [C5/C6].
5) DTS therapy stretches the spine in a safe, controlled and very specific way to open the disc spaces. This decreases the pressure on the discs and allows an increase of blood flow to help reduce inflammation and heal the area.
6) Research indicates in some cases bulges may be pulled or drawn in by DTS decompression and help relieve pinched nerves.
7) As with all therapy your adherence to the treatment advice and protocols are vital to ensure the best possible outcome. Additionally, though Decompression therapy can help many back conditions it is not a cure for everyone. Many times disc damage cannot be fully healed due to the extent of damage or the continuation of irritating activities.
8) Since traction works with the bodys natural healing processes it does take time to gain full relief. Twelve sessions is the usual minimum number for the disc injuries, especially with leg or arm radiation [if he condition continues to improves a maintenance program may be beneficial] & dont skip rehab/exercises!!
9) Decompression is a safe and comfortable treatment for most. It rarely causes pain or worsens symptoms [if traction is painful it is simply discontinued]. Occasionally spasms can create post treatment discomfort (ice or electric stimulation will usually relieve it). Tell us immediately if pain increases. Decompression is usually not the treatment of choice for acute pain of less than one week, especially if it is difficult to move and bend.
Negative intradiscal pressure created by decompressive traction therapy facilitates nutrition and diffusion into the disc improving healing. In some cases actual retraction of the protruded material may take place. However, often an improved healing response reducing inflammation is the source of pain relief.
Clinical results indicate that an average of eighty-six percent of patients treated achieve relief, particularly those suffering from common causes of neck and low back pain.
Many of the common causes of low back pain may be related to a form of compression within the spine. Decompression is a direct, intuitive remedy and unlike other treatments, it can focus its effect at the source of the pain. DTS has the ability to immobilize the upper and lower portions of the body, and then gently apply a controlled therapeutic traction. This treatment is directed at relieving pressure on structures that may be the cause of pain. The system helps relieve pain through decompression of the lumbar or cervical discs and joints, which are unloaded through distraction and positioning. This cyclical, painless stretching reduces pressure and promotes blood and fluid flow. This in turn, improves the healing process naturally. Patients are given a thorough exam and diagnosis as to their suitability and prognosis. Some conditions and patients are not candidates. The doctor will make that determination for you.
