As a followup to my last post on Decompression...interestingly enough, the primary U.S. company Axiom Worldwide, LLC manufacturing the DRX9000 machine has gone into receivership. As well, the Low Back Clinic investigated in the CBC report has changed its name to Premium Spinal Care.
Things that make you go hmm??
Again, I do believe that decompression (aka traction), can certainly be helpful. It's just the high cost of treatment that I'm not in agreement with.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
CBC Marketplace's Report on Spinal Decompression
Erica Johnson of CBC Marketplace did a piece called "Stretching the Truth?" on Friday March 26th which 'exposed' the latest treatment for low back pain sufferers: Spinal Decompression.
I've had numerous patients ask me about Spinal Decompression over the past two years. It has been advertised a lot in local radio and print media especially by the Low Back Clinic, a franchised operation out of Toronto. Low Back Clinic was the specific target for Erica Johnson, but there are a few other similar companies and individual clinics in the GTA offering the same decompression treatment.
The main thrust of the segment was that Spinal Decompression (especially with the DRX9000 machine) was being improperly marketed. Low Back Clinic has been claiming a success rate of over 89% that is not based on proper research and also claims that the DRX9000 is based on NASA science (again false). As well, it was also brought out that patients have been getting injured through the use of the machine...this while being asked to pay ~$5000 for 20 sessions.
As I mentioned, patients have been asking me about this form of treatment and I've even had many new patients come in who have tried the DRX9000. So far, I've yet to meet someone who has said it has helped them...at all. But most have said they've felt 'cheated' because they spent so much money.
What's my view on Spinal Decompression? Well, I do know that it is nothing new per se. In fact, it is just glorified mechanical traction...which has been used in rehab settings for decades. The main difference: the DRX9000 adds computerized traction control and a TV screen on which the patient can view DVDs during their treatment.
Traction (aka Spinal Decompression) will certainly help some people and not others. However, this can be said for ALL therapies. When it comes to treating pain and neuromusculoskeletal problems, there isn't one cure-all for everyone. Each person is UNIQUE and DIFFERENT in physical, genetic and mental/emotional makeup and responds to therapy in their own way.
I see it in my own practice. Usually chiropractic adjustments help patients, but sometimes patients fail to get the relief they want too. I get pretty good result with low intensity laser therapy (about 70% success) but there's still 30% who I can't help with laser.
Why do some patients beat their cancer with chemo or radiation therapy while others don't?
Why do some people get over colds/flu in a few days while others take weeks?
Why does Tylenol work for one person but Advil for the next?
I would argue that it is simply because we are all made and programmed differently. As doctors and therapist, we try our best to used evidence-based treatment...things which have been researched and clinically shown to be effective. There is some trial and error involved to find the right mix of therapies that ultimately help you, the patient. This is the ART and SCIENCE of medicine.
So my main gripe with Spinal Decompression or traction is not that it is not therapeutically beneficial (it will help some folks), but that the marketing and the pricing structure are out of line and unfair.
However, the one thing I can't logically come to terms with is this: if the decompression helps to restore intervertebral disc height during the treatment, won't gravity and the weight of your body simply compress the disc again as soon as you get off the table????
I've had numerous patients ask me about Spinal Decompression over the past two years. It has been advertised a lot in local radio and print media especially by the Low Back Clinic, a franchised operation out of Toronto. Low Back Clinic was the specific target for Erica Johnson, but there are a few other similar companies and individual clinics in the GTA offering the same decompression treatment.
The main thrust of the segment was that Spinal Decompression (especially with the DRX9000 machine) was being improperly marketed. Low Back Clinic has been claiming a success rate of over 89% that is not based on proper research and also claims that the DRX9000 is based on NASA science (again false). As well, it was also brought out that patients have been getting injured through the use of the machine...this while being asked to pay ~$5000 for 20 sessions.
As I mentioned, patients have been asking me about this form of treatment and I've even had many new patients come in who have tried the DRX9000. So far, I've yet to meet someone who has said it has helped them...at all. But most have said they've felt 'cheated' because they spent so much money.
What's my view on Spinal Decompression? Well, I do know that it is nothing new per se. In fact, it is just glorified mechanical traction...which has been used in rehab settings for decades. The main difference: the DRX9000 adds computerized traction control and a TV screen on which the patient can view DVDs during their treatment.
Traction (aka Spinal Decompression) will certainly help some people and not others. However, this can be said for ALL therapies. When it comes to treating pain and neuromusculoskeletal problems, there isn't one cure-all for everyone. Each person is UNIQUE and DIFFERENT in physical, genetic and mental/emotional makeup and responds to therapy in their own way.
I see it in my own practice. Usually chiropractic adjustments help patients, but sometimes patients fail to get the relief they want too. I get pretty good result with low intensity laser therapy (about 70% success) but there's still 30% who I can't help with laser.
Why do some patients beat their cancer with chemo or radiation therapy while others don't?
Why do some people get over colds/flu in a few days while others take weeks?
Why does Tylenol work for one person but Advil for the next?
I would argue that it is simply because we are all made and programmed differently. As doctors and therapist, we try our best to used evidence-based treatment...things which have been researched and clinically shown to be effective. There is some trial and error involved to find the right mix of therapies that ultimately help you, the patient. This is the ART and SCIENCE of medicine.
So my main gripe with Spinal Decompression or traction is not that it is not therapeutically beneficial (it will help some folks), but that the marketing and the pricing structure are out of line and unfair.
However, the one thing I can't logically come to terms with is this: if the decompression helps to restore intervertebral disc height during the treatment, won't gravity and the weight of your body simply compress the disc again as soon as you get off the table????
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