Re: discussion..... spinal decompression therapy

[Guest guest]

Rod,

When I bought my clinic years ago it had an old Anatomotor traction table.

A belt around the pelvis attached to rigging on one end and a harness around the rib cage attached to rigging on the other.

The patient is supine and the table moved to and fro (as opposed to hither and yon).

The caudad rigging (not a crawdad rigging which would be a crabtrap) had a ratcheting sprocket to make the tension tighter thus increasing the distraction on the lumbar spine.

It has been similarly shown in 90/90 hospital traction where the patient is supine with the hips at 90 degree and the calves on a bench thus placing the knees at 90 degrees.

Big woop.

(This was also used by my brothers who would tie me under my arms and hang me from our tree house. No charge.)

After using it on a number of patients I chalked it up to “Jacuzzi care”, meaning, it felt great while being applied but had no lasting effect.

I later purchased a lumbar flexion traction table and took the seminar. Lumbar traction is powerful, specific, and affordable.

It would appear that lumbar decompression is a marketing campaign much like “cosmetic dentistry”. It is not really a specialty but promotes itself as one.

One problem with spinal decompression marketing is that it results in making every day chiropractic look pedestrian and less than effective which is too bad.

See the hill anatomotor here:

http://snap.joins21.com/snap2.php?pnum=1 & nstart=1 & id=s_smedical21 & ctgr=a

( E. Abrahamson, D.C.)

Chiropractic physician

Lake Oswego Chiropractic Clinic

315 Second Street

Lake Oswego, OR 97034

503-635-6246

Website: http://www.lakeoswegochiro.com

Our Mission:

To help God's children enjoy life to the fullest, and become excellent stewards of their health.

From: Rod <rjacksondc@...>

Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2006 17:58:20 -0700

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Subject: this oughta stimulate discussion.....

Hi all:

One of my friends called recently asking my opinion on the DRX 6000 (?) spinal decompression therapy. His 89 yo father (with osteoporosis, 3-4 areas of DDD/DJD in his lower back, bilat leg pain, foot drop on one side and ambulatory only with a walker) went to a chiropractor that advertised in the paper. He was told it would take a 4-5 week series of daily treatments to see if it would help, at a cost of $6,000. This old gentleman is on a fixed income and would have to ride over an hour one way (he doesn't drive) or would have to find accomodations for the duration of treatment. He is not a good surgical candidate even though an ortho in Portland suggested that surgery might help.....(!). I will be seeing him soon for evaluation and told him I would consult my colleagues on the DRX and report back to him. Any practical experiences or thoughts by my esteemed colleagues?

Thanks,

Rod , DC