Journal of Spine

Conservative Treatment of Pain and Disability due to Spinal Degenerative Changes using Controlled Biofeedback Decompression Mechanical Axial Traction

Abstract

Elder Camacho, Rafael Aquaroli, Luis Marchi, Leonardo Oliveira, Rodrigo Amaral and Luiz Pimenta

Background: Conservative care for degenerative spinal conditions includes several modalities of treatment. Thus, the traction distinguishes as it is capable to elicit the body´s protective proprioceptive response to distraction, reducing intradiscal pressure and minimizing symptoms secondary to disc herniation and axial pain.

Objectives: This work aims to determine the clinical effects of a short treatment course of motorized axial spinal decompression for patients with pain and physical impairment, caused from either lumbar or cervical degenerative disc pathology with no immediate surgical indication.

Methods: A prospective, non-randomized, single center, case series study from patients with both axial and irradiated symptoms from cervical or lumbar spine. Subjects were submitted to a traction protocol using a motorized mechanical axial decompression system (SpineMED®, LAS Brasil, SP). Clinical outcomes as VAS and ODI for lumbar patients 17 and NDI for cervical patients were also collected.

Results: Clinical outcomes improved along the treatment. AP-VAS scores showed an overall reduction of 59% (p<0.001), while IP-VAS scores improved in 56% in the last session (p<0.001). Average ODI showed statistical significance at last session (28 to 18; p=0.014). Average NDI also showed statistical significance at last session (30 to 20; p<0.001). Despite some minor adverse events, no major complication occurred during treatment.

Conclusion: This present spinal decompression treatment significantly improved patient’s clinical outcomes, indicating that this modality of treatment is a safe and effective noninvasive alternative for patients with cervical or lumbar axial pain and radiculopathy.

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