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Why Should YOU Choose Spinal
Decompression? Spinal Decompression is a non-surgical, drug free solution for your back and neck pain. The treatment
is painless and is performed in a quiet setting with soft music. In fact, many patients say that it 'feels great'!
Spinal Decompression Consist of Three Phases Of Care
PHASE ONE: THE TREATMENT BEGINS!
DTS Spinal Decompression Therapy is performed on a specially designed table in either a face up or face down
position. Clinical consideration and your comfort are used in deciding which position will be best for you. We may begin in
one position but in later sessions it may be necessary to change positions. You will remain fully dressed during the treatment
though we recommend wearing loose fitting clothes, and removal of your belt and objects from your pockets.
You will be comfortably positioned on the table on the table and fitted with a wrap-around harness. This restraint
is what allows the unloading of the spine and discs by the traction motor. Your position on the table, the harness, and angle
of the gentle distraction allows for accurate and focused treatment to the affected disc. Once comfortable on the DTS the
computer controlled traction device is programmed to deliver a gentle stretching force to the spinal vertebra. This force
is delivered directly to the harness system. The DTS system applies the gentle force then releases it approximately every
minute throughout the session. The total treatment time is usually less than 18 minutes and often just 10 minutes initially.
Most patients report simply feeling a subtle and gentle stretching at their hips. Since DTS therapy is a comfort-based procedure,
patients usually report a sense of relief and relaxation during the session. Many patients even fall to sleep.
IMBIBING THE DISCS
The gentle stretching and relaxing of the spine fosters a phenomenon called “imbibition”. In the
simplest of terms, this is the way a normal disc gets nutrition. This pumping action promotes nutrition intake into the discs,
something often lost in damaged and degenerative disc conditions. In healthy discs, imbibition occurs naturally with daily
motions and body positions and accounts for the increase of disc thickness in the morning and decrease at night. A disc with
poor imbibition, fewer nutrients and hydration, is more likely to become injured and painful. Stretching, or tractioning the
spine in a controlled, comfortable manner can help re-establish a more normal imbibition. This can re-supply the disc with
nutrients and blood contact that help the disc heal from the inside out. Also the dramatic decrease of pressure in the disc
(decompression) can foster the drawing in of bulge and help take pressure off a “pinched” spinal nerve.
RE ESTABLISH STRUCTURAL SUPPORT
Although most patients report dramatic reduction of their pain within as few as 5 treatments, an injured spinal
disc needs time to heal. This is why we urge you to be regular with your prescribed treatments and office visits. Research
shows to completely heal some discs a regular program of home exercises, prescribed by your doctor will need to be followed.
Spinal disc structures can take months to heal. Even though your pain may be gone, you must stay on the treatment plan in
order to keep your spine healthy.
As you become more mobile and more able to return to your normal lifestyle, your increased activity is what
your spine needs most. Now you will be imbibing the discs naturally, like people with healthy discs. Movement is life and
your spine depends on the muscle activity to support your spine and create fluid movement to and from the discs.
PHASE TWO: STABILIZATION OF STRUCTURE
PAIN IS UNDER CONTROL: REHABILITATE THE STRUCTURES SUPPORTING THE DISC
Most patients feel significant pain reduction in as few as five DTS therapy treatments. That however does
not mean the healing process is complete, or that your pain won’t return.
During phase 2 of your DTS therapy treatments, our office will prescribe a series of rehabilitative measures
in order to more fully heal your discs, and keep the pain from returning. Most low back pain sufferers have two compounding
problems that have contributed to their disc injury and limited their natural healing abilities.
- Decreased Spine Flexibility
- Poor Muscle Control
A program of focused rehabilitative exercise, with Biofeedback, may begin during of after your DTS therapy
course of treatment. Our rehabilitation program involves several clinically effective yet simple, pain free activities including
Biofeedback. Biofeedback allows you to monitor and control spinal motion and re-claim proper spinal movement patterns. Strengthening
the muscles that support the spine, and regaining endurance in them is also vital for spinal health.
All the body systems must work in concert for optimum health so nutritional and lifestyle advice may be given
as well as an at-home exercise program. We can’t over emphasize the importance of the at-home exercises. What you do
at home is integral to the overall success we have.
Studies show consistent stabilization and endurance exercises control back pain and reduce injury. At what
point you start the exercise program is a function of your pain and overall progress based on our findings.
OBJECTIVES AND EXERCISES
We need to accomplish two main objectives during phase 2:
- Re establish proper co-contraction of the muscles of your abdomen and lower back as well as determine movements
that may benefit or degrade your condition
- Improve the endurance of these muscles (their ability to work longer periods of time without fatiguing).
Our evaluation will determine the duration of our in-office phase 2 lasts for 4-6 weeks.
We Focus on the Following:
- Monitor and retrain the co-contraction of the “deep” abdominal and lower back muscles using the
stabilizer biofeedback device.
- Add more complex movements monitored by the stabilizer as control is improved.
- Prescribe low stress, short duration home exercises. These are called “floor-core” movements
These activities can create dramatic improvements in lower back function and stability if done consistently
and with dedication of purpose. Typically the “floor-core” procedures are trained very conscientiously in our
office to assure proper execution, then done in an ordered fashion two times daily. The time your spend on the exercises is
dependant on the number of exercises, sets, and repetitions. Most sessions will be about 15 minutes.
PHASE THREE: SUPPORT OF MUSCULAR SYSTEM
During Phase 3, we’ll structure an in-office and home based exercise program that will help to bring
your spine back to full health. This exercise program may include in-office resistance training, at-home stabilizer exerciser
and resistance training and other “core” exercises.
Regular and consistent home-based exercise is one of the keys to long-term relief. We have found through experience
the simple home-based exercises we prescribe are most effective. Introduction to the low tech movement exercises you can do
to speed the healing process are one of the most important parts of the DTS therapy system.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
If phase 1 passive treatments (DTS/adjustments/modalities) fail to give satisfactory (50%) relief, it is usually
due to one of three reasons:
1) The damage is too extensive for complete healing. This can include extensive arthritis, stenosis, multiple
herniations, pinched nerve roots and congenital anomalies. In these cases a referral to another doctor or further tests may
be needed (if it is determined rehabilitation is still warranted the duration and provocation of your pain will guide our
progression through phase 2).
2) Daily activities present stresses that continue the pain/injury. When daily activities are on the going
source of problems, work modification or bracing may be considered. In many people the back muscles are simply too weak to
meet their daily demands. Structured exercise is often the only real solution.
3) Passive treatments alone are not enough to motivate the healing process. Typically 80% of patients will
report good-to-excellent relief by the 8-10th treatment. If progress is stalled or has reached a plateau (and surgical intervention
is not a real option) Phase 2 activities will often generate renewed improvements in the pain.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT CARE? SIMPLY
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WE LOOK FORWARD IN HELPING YOU RETURN TO AN ACTIVE HEATLHY LIFESTYLE!
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