Is there a difference between spinal decompression traction brands?
YES and NO:
Our KDT Neuroflex Decompression Traction System has the widest availability of patient positioning options of ANY systems that we investigated. Patients may lay on their back (supine), on their stomach (prone), side lying, gentle inversion, supine extension or supine flexion, prone flexion or prone extension, side lying straight or with lateral bending. Due to the wide accessibility of positioning options we are able to adapt the table positions to the most comfortable / most relaxing position for our patients in pain. What does this mean for YOU? The more relaxed you are during the therapy, the more relaxed the spinal muscles in the area of injury are, the greater quantity of disc decompression is achieved. This means faster reductions in pain, more comfortable treatments, less traction force required, faster disc healing, and LESS COST.
Our Technology
Dr. Jay Kennedy's KDT Neuro-Flex Decompression Traction System
Different brands of decompression traction tables are
like different brands of automobiles. ALL decompression systems are a
traction based system that uses a harness attached to a pulley to gently
pull the damaged tissue to create a negative pressure to the targeted
disc. KDT Neuro-flex tables just have more positioning options available and the computer is significantly more customizable for individual patient situations .
Certain other brands
(The VAX-D and the DRX9000) are the most limited in regards to patient
selection and comfort. With the DRX9000, patients are limited to supine
positioning (laying on their back) only. The VAX-D limits patient
positioning to prone laying (face down on their stomach) only. Because of
the effects of gravity on an injured disc, patients with other
complicating conditions such as acid reflux, varying body shapes, surgical
histories or "enhancements," other injuries, or the actual mechanics of
the injured disc, these limited patient positioning options can
complicate the application of spinal decompression therapy. This means
less comfort, more traction force required, more treatments, and higher cost.
Certain brands have trademarked the phrase "true
decompression" which I find to be quite misleading to the
public. Decompression is a function of the disc...not a table, the table is a mechanism of traction. Frankly, the FDA has the same concern because ALL of the brands
of Decompression Traction Systems are Cleared by the FDA to perform
"traction." Unique pull patterns are better decided by an experienced
doctor who has evaluated you and customized your treatment rather than a
computer that treats all cases of disc herniations the same (cookie
cutter approach). Most research regarding non-surgical spinal decompression has been performed using the VAX-D protocols (prone protocols and pull patterns using a percentage of body weight and contraction and rest phase pull patterns), and since most symptomatic disc bulges are oriented towards the posterior elements of the disc this is a more commonly positioned orientation for our patients with "radicular" symptoms (nerve symptoms progressing down the leg). The DRX9000 brand manufacturer (AXIOM Worldwide) has advised their practitioners to adopt the clinical trial results and have claimed them as their own even though the patient positioning is significantly different from the VAX-D system protocols.
Our concerns with many decompression traction providers is that they use a "one size fits all" protocol which we find to be too intense without any increased therapeutic benefit. Decompression performed at 50% of the body weight (for the lumbar spine) for 30 minutes has not been shown to have any increased therapeutic benefit when compared to our 12 - 15 minute program at 35% of the body weight. The more intense program used by our competitors has an increased risk of a "traction reaction (back spasm response)" than our more gentle program with no increased therapeutic benefit and it generally costs significantly more. Even though some table systems do have limitations with variable positioning options, the patient improvements are generally impressive if correctly applied.
Difference between Chiropractic and Spinal Decompression?
Chiropractic Adjustments are designed to be high velocity (fast) adjustments with low amplitude (small motions) designed to correct the loss of normal position and or motion of two or more spinal levels. In many cases they can help alleviate the symptoms of many sources of back pain by reducing muscle spasms, increasing normal range of motion, increasing disc flexibility, and by flushing inflammatory chemicals from the injured area. Unfortunately, some Chiropractic adjustments may create some degree of shearing force on the injured disc which may aggravate an unstable disc. Chiropractic adjustments do not increase disc height whereas Spinal Decompression Traction can. Our general rule of thumb is at the beginning of Spinal Decompression we only "instrument adjust" to reduce the shearing force on the disc if indicated. Our patients find it to be more comfortable and we find it more specific in vertebral level contact. After the disc has stabilized the Chiropractic adjustments may be performed by hand if indicated.
Difference between Physical Therapy vs. Spinal Decompression?
This is a misleading question because Spinal Decompression traction is a Modality whereas Physical Therapy is a system of modalities.
Some physical therapists use traction, some perform spinal decompression traction, some do active rehabilitation, some do only passive rehabilitation, some do more than one of the above.
Spinal Decompression Traction can be performed by Medical Doctors, Chiropractors, and physical therapists. This modality is not taught as a general curriculum in medical school, chiropractic school, or physical therapy school. It is ideally learned as an elective post graduate program, although most practitioners learn it by a basic in-service training from the manufacturer.
There are numerous physical therapy offices in the
area offering pelvic traction that will try to convince you that it is
the same as spinal decompression, and our patients have commented that
they have had mediocre benefits from the therapy. Once we evaluated
their individual case we have almost always found issues with the
patient positioning being somewhat uncomfortable or inappropriate for
the patient, too long of a treatment time (potential for creation of
basic pelvic/cervical traction
muscle guarding or spasm) or too long of a pull duration especially if
not using variable pull forces ie. setting the pull for 1/3 body weight
for 15 minutes. These situations can be from limitations of the
equipment, but more likely evidence of a minimally trained technician
applying therapy. Once we thoroughly evaluated these patients and
corrected the treatment protocols, their results were significantly
improved.
To Talk to a Doctor or schedule an appointment, Please call:
There are numerous physical therapy offices in the
area offering pelvic traction that will try to convince you that it is
the same as spinal decompression, and our patients have commented that
they have had mediocre benefits from the therapy. Once we evaluated
their individual case we have almost always found issues with the
patient positioning being somewhat uncomfortable or inappropriate for
the patient, too long of a treatment time (potential for creation of
