Meditrac: The Future of Traction is Movement-Based
What is lumbar traction equipment?
Traditional lumbar traction equipment comes in many shapes and sizes. The classic segmented mechanical traction tables, the traction belts for manual lumbar traction, and the fancier new automated traction tables.
These decompression devices are familiar pieces of equipment in Physical Therapy clinics and Chiropractic offices worldwide.
Disregarding the sleek modern designs of the newer systems, what do all of these lumbar traction units have in common?
The common denominator is that they administer traction therapy to the lumbar spine while the patient is in a sustained, static, supine position.
Who is a candidate for lumbar traction therapy?
Patients who suffer from low back disorders like sciatica, lumbar stenosis, and lumbar herniated discs are generally candidates for lumbar decompression therapy.
When the external pressure placed on a lumbar disc overcomes the internal pressure of the disc itself, the disc can bulge and even herniate, i.e., burst. This escaped fluid exerts pressure on the nerve roots that run along both sides of the vertebrae, causing pain and dysfunction.
The herniated disc also becomes a structural weak point in the spine itself.
A healthy spine is composed of healthy discs "sandwiched" between two vertebrae. The primary role of these discs is to act as shock absorbers. The herniation of even one disc can result in a loss of normal vertebral movement and the height between consecutive vertebrae and affects the overall biomechanics in the lumbar spine.
The loss of typical movement in just one spinal segment will have a negative cascade effect on the healthy movement of the entire body.
How does traditional lumbar traction therapy work?
Lumbar traction is the traditional treatment method for herniated discs in the lumbar region. It involves the application of a strong and continuous longitudinal force to the region of the lower spine to increase the intervertebral space and relieve the pressure on the individual discs and spine itself.
When applied correctly, the desired effect reduces pain and reuptake of fluid in the disc.
However, when administered supine, the positive outcomes of lower back decompression are generally short-lived.
This ambulatory traction unit is the only of its kind.
The Vertetrac is a revolutionary lumbar traction device designed and manufactured by Meditrac, and it offers something novel: an ambulatory lumbar traction experience.
What is ambulatory lumbar traction? How is it different from standard lumbar spine traction?
Ambulatory traction is the revolutionary pairing of spinal decompression with physical activity.
Ambulatory lumbar decompression differs from standard lumbar spine traction because it allows the patient to move around during treatment freely. In contrast, traditional lumbar traction therapy requires patients to remain in a static position, usually on their backs, for an extended period of time.
How does ambulatory traction work?
Instead of being strapped down to a table for 20-30 minutes, a patient undergoing lumbar decompression treatment with the Vertetrac will be fitted with the device while in a standing position.
The patient is then free to ambulate or lightly exercise for the duration of the 30-minute treatment, during which time the Vertetrac is applying a strong and consistent 3D decompression force.
Why is ambulatory traction effective?
Traditional lumbar traction therapy results in an overall decompression of the lower spine, resulting in pain relief for the majority of patients who undergo this method of treatment.
Why is lumbar traction effective?
Patients suffering from herniated discs display decreased overall activity levels because the pain and dysfunction from a herniated disc are generally exacerbated with movement. Reduced physical activity leads to weakness and shortened muscles, leading to more pain. Pain leads to a further decrease in function and activity. This unforgiving sequence is what is commonly referred to as the pain cycle.
The main goal of any lumbar decompression therapy is to break the negative pain cycle and reintroduce movement.
When traction therapy is utilized as a form of lumbar herniated disc treatment, the negative pressure induced in the disc from the pull of the axial force also draws the escaped fluid back inside the herniated disc, thus restoring the biomechanics of the lumbar spine and enabling pain-free movement.
Ambulatory lumbar decompression is unique.
The unique design of ambulatory decompression treatment with the Vertetrac allows the patient to accomplish pain relief and return to movement simultaneously. These effects are long-lasting with regular maintenance sessions because the Vertetrac targets and treats the source of disc-related pain and not just its symptoms.
There are four key elements inherent to the proven success of ambulatory lumbar traction when compared to traditional lumbar traction:
Ambulatory lumbar traction encourages mobility.
First and foremost, modern medicine has been telling us for many years that bed rest and immobility should no longer be considered best practices when treating spinal pain.
Preventing mobility in patients who are already experiencing spinal pain will compound their loss of function and quite probably increase their pain as well.
Ambulatory lumbar traction organically promotes healing
Second, activity and muscle contraction are naturally found to increase overall circulation and facilitate the delivery of healing factors to an affected area.
In this way, ambulatory lumbar traction treats pain and directly treats the source of pain so that its recurrence rate is less.
Ambulatory lumbar traction restores confidence to the mind and body
Third, encouraging the lumbar spine to practice moving while the vertebrae are in proper alignment safely and the restored biodynamics lends increased confidence to the spine itself and promotes the body's overall return to typical movement and healthy movement patterns.
For example, many patients suffering from disc bulges and herniation will tilt to compensate for pain and muscle weakness. The Vertetrac allows these patients to stand upright and re-integrate upright posture during pain-free movement.
And finally, encouraging dynamic activity while the patient is pain-free due to concurrent decompression therapy will also give the patient themselves a boost of confidence. It will motivate them to continue working hard to regain their prior strength and mobility.
Lumbar decompression methods are not all created equal
Lumbar decompression devices are widely available and clinically proven to provide effective treatments for herniated discs, among other lower back disorders.
Not all lumbar decompression devices are created equal, though. The research supporting best practices in lumbar decompression devices is available for the discerning provider or patient interested in implementing a truly effective low back pain treatment method.
What is Traction on the Move?
Non-invasive solution for back and neck pain through the innovative "traction on the move" protocol. Meditrac devices target the source of the pain, increase the range of motion, and assist with tissue recovery, all while encouraging your patient's full freedom of movement.
85% clinically-proven success rates!
Your professional touch makes a difference in your patient's success. Based on your patient's clinical diagnosis, your manual-tuning is essential for 100% precise treatment, giving back your patient's smile.
Small devices, Big Relief! We know your clinic's space matters! Drug-free treatment, no hospitalization or surgery needed.
Since 1992, Meditrac devices have been the active choice for the world's spine clinicians.
6 Clinical Facts
Traction decreases intra-discal pressure on the nerve root and dural sac.
Disc disorders are accompanied by muscle spasms and reduced transfer of the disc fluid.
Research shows that fluid transfer is essential to normal biomechanics in the disc and is possible when the Spine is in Motion.
Vertical traction force increases the intervertebral space simultaneously with Horizontal force, creating an effective 3D force.
Muscular contraction during exercise naturally helps to facilitate fluid transfer& improves range of motion.
Traction is traditionally administered to patients in the supine position, disregarding the importance of mobility for tissue healing and fluid reabsorption.
The Cervico2000; is not just another cervical traction unit
Neck pain is a real and serious public health concern across the globe, and unfortunately, it is here to stay.
With our smartphones, laptops, and compressed environments, only further restricted due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the ever-growing problem of cervical pain is not being solved anytime soon. The mean age of neck pain patients is getting younger and younger.
How are we, the healthcare providers, currently addressing the issue of cervical pain?
We would all be hard-pressed to find a single chiropractor or physical therapy clinic that did not boast at least one type of cervical decompression device. There are thousands of google searches per day on "how to treat my neck pain," "stiff neck what to do," or "what specialist can help with cervical pain."
Common practice for the treatment of acute or chronic neck pain typically consists of a combination of the following: pain medication, physical therapy, chiropractic, and in many cases, surgery. Specialists doling out these treatments are orthopedists, neurologists, osteopaths, chiropractors, and physical therapists.
Cervical traction units are freely available and come in many shapes and styles. They are popular for the treatment of cervical pain. They can be bought online, in pharmacies, and even in a doctor's or therapist's office.
Not all cervical traction equipment is created equal. While many patients report a slight improvement in neck pain while wearing or using the devices, the outcomes are generally short-lived, forcing patients to continue to pursue more effective cervical pain treatment options.
Simply put, every solution we employ to treat cervical pain is reactive.
When we consider the ever-rising trend in the prevalence of cervical pain and the unfortunate trend in lowering the average age of these patients, a reactive solution is just not sustainable in the long term.
The number of patients is growing exponentially; the number of practitioners (in many countries, already overburdened) is not growing to keep up with demand. Pain medication and spinal surgery's side effects and risks are not acceptable to many. Without critical changes to this approach, this trend will only continue to rise, and the system will fail more and more patients.
What alternatives does Meditrac offer?
At Meditrac, we believe that with awareness, education, preventive strategies, and targeted cervical traction treatment, we might be able to restore the proper curve (pun intended) and posture (couldn't help ourselves) to the trend of cervical pain.
Over the past two decades, our medical team has designed, developed, and redesigned a cervical traction unit, the Cervico2000, at the center of this novel approach to cervical pain treatment.
The Cervico2000
The Cervico2000, Meditrac's innovative cervical traction device, is designed with the simplicity of a collar but the performance of any similar automated device. Velcro straps connect the padded anterior and posterior portions. The Cervico has a unique and powerful decompression mechanism that applies a strong traction bilateral force of up to 44 pounds simply by pressing down on or "jacking" the levers on either side of the device. Traction can be customized asymmetrically to favor a disc bulge or a pinched nerve. Patients can be trained to independently don and doff the Cervico neck traction device.
What truly sets the Cervico2000 apart from the other traction devices in its field is that the wearer is not confined to a static position for the duration of the decompression treatment. They can exercise and are encouraged to participate in light physical activity during the session.
Why is mobility during cervical disc decompression so important?
At Meditrac, we believe, and science agrees, that bed-rest and activity restriction are antiquated approaches to pain treatment and cause more harm to patients suffering from chronic or acute spinal pain. To truly start down the road to recovery, the patient needs activity modification, proper spinal alignment, and pain-free mobility.
In a previous blog entry, we discussed the fundamental importance of mobility to the overall healing process. Muscle contraction naturally results in increased blood flow, which optimizes the delivery of oxygen and healing factors to an injured area.
When you start to think about this, it seems counter-intuitive to employ a treatment for back and neck pain that forces patients in pain to sustain seated or supine positions for 15-20 minutes or more.
When properly fitted, the Cervico2000 applies a solid and effective traction force while simultaneously allowing the complete wearer freedom of movement and the ability to ambulate slowly or exercise gently.
The strong traction from the Cervico, coupled with pain-free mobility, has multiple holistic and positive effects on the patient:
Increased physical confidence in their mobility
Positive feelings of encouragement and empowerment in their pain journey
Increase fluid reuptake in the disc, restored biomechanics
Development of correct mobility habits with proper spinal positioning
In short, the Cervico2000 by Meditrac is like none of the cervical traction equipment that you have already come across. It combines mobility with decompression to target cervical disc pain at the source.
Who is a candidate for cervical pain treatment with the Cervico2000?
Anyone suffering from neck pain, acute or chronic, can be a candidate for treatment with the Cervico2000. The Cervico is designed to target the source of pain related to whiplash injuries, disc disease, torticollis, work-related neck soreness, sports injuries, and osteoarthritic or degenerative changes to the cervical spine.
Some contraindications for using the Cervico2000 include localized skin irritation, recent mandibular, cervical, or clavicular fractures, active bone cancer, active bone infections, poor bone integrity, and disorders of the blood vessels of the neck.
A typical treatment with the Cervico starts with proper imaging and diagnosis by a Doctor. Depending on the diagnosis, severity, and chronicity of the pain, a treatment program with daily or tri-weekly sessions will begin. After 2-3 weeks, a reassessment will determine whether the patient continues the current program for another 2-3 weeks or moves into a maintenance program. The Cervico maintenance program typically comprises weekly or bi-monthly sessions to maintain the progress made during the treatment program.
Meditrac boasts an over 85% success rate in patients suffering from acute or chronic pain. To date, thousands of patients have improved their quality of life after being treated with the Cervico2000.
70% of patients report a noticeable improvement after just eight sessions with the Cervico2000. 75% of patients report a total return to function after 12 sessions with the Cervico. They have no mobility or activity restrictions. These patients have successfully avoided prescription pain meds and costly surgeries.
What advice can Meditrac offer?
Neck pain can be avoided or improved with simple lifestyle modifications.
- In the workplace: lift or prop your screen, so it is at eye level. Invest in a comfortable chair that causes minimal arching in the lower back and positions your hips and knees at 90-degree angles under your desk. Don't forget to take breaks every hour or two to do simple neck stretches or loosening exercises.
- At home: try to minimize children's screen time, or invest in phone or tablet kickstands to position the devices at eye level. Teach them the same gentle neck exercises, and encourage them to listen to their bodies throughout the day.
Together we can try to get ahead of this problem.
During treatment, patients are entirely mobile, encouraged to perform light activities and exercise for active rehabilitation with 3D forces.
Compact, Customizable, and cost-effective treatment; no drugs, hospitalization, or surgery needed.
Vertical traction force increases the intervertebral space simultaneously with Horizontal force, creating an effective 3D force.
Combining motion with traction > simultaneously decreases pressure, enables fluid exchange, improves Range of Motion, and promotes recovery.
Cervico2000 enables the application of distraction force directly to the cervical spine alongside the cervical lordosis while retaining patient mobility
Case Study
Traction treatment restores chronic back patients with a severely herniated disc recover in record time!
Innovative non-invasive Vertetrac treatment delivers pain relief and complete recovery for herniated disc patients following 12 years of suffering, eliminating hospitalization, drugs, and surgery.
The patient, a 43-year-old lawyer, was no stranger to extreme back pain.
For over 12 years, she experienced attacks that often left her incapable of sitting at a desk and in tears. The patient testifies:
"I was not able to walk beyond 20 meters. I couldn't even drive. I resorted to meeting my clients while lying on the office floor. I was dependent on drugs. I moved like a homeless, pausing on each bench in my neighborhood."
The condition deteriorated when the patient experienced stronger pain with radiation in her left leg earlier in the year, compelling her to seek hospitalization and IV medical treatment at Ichilov Hospital, Tel Aviv.
The treatment offered partial and temporary pain relief. The next step proposed, a high-risk back operation, was an outcome the patient refused to accept.
History
The patient endured a history of severe pain attacks for over 12 years with radiation to the legs.
An MRI revealed a vast herniated disc on the right at L4 – L5 and a massive disc on the left at L5-S1.
The patient could not stand for more than 15 minutes, could barely walk, and could not sit upright in an office chair during severe attacks.
The bone scans produced negative results.
Diagnosis
The Meditrac post-hospital tests revealed the patient had a positive leg in the right of 40 degrees, weakness of EHL 3/5 from the right, positive leg in the left of 50 degrees, yet her sensation test was normal.
Treatment
The patient began a daily treatment with Meditrac's Vertetrac dynamic traction device encompassing walking on a treadmill for 10-to-15 minutes while in traction.
The traction treatment was gradually increased to 30 minutes a day. In the early stage of treatment, she still needed two doses of morphine and an anti-inflammatory drug once a day.
Post-treatment
The MRI on E and F show the disc herniation on level L4-5 is completely normal
Level 5 S1 still shows a disc herniation to the left (MRI results recorded on June 19, 2015)
Outcome
Today the patient has fully restored her health and accomplishes her daily activities pain free
Following a week of intensive treatment, the patient could walk for 30 minutes without breaks and no longer needed anti-inflammatory medication.
By the end of the second week, she stopped taking nightly morphine treatments.
Following 12-to-15 sessions, the patient was able to reduce her treatment frequency to every second day
After a month, she returned to full-time office work in a sitting position.
She exercises preventative treatment that involves walking on the treadmill for half an hour once a week while wearing the Vertetrac device to maintain progress and recovery
About Vertetrac Dynamic Traction
Vertetrac's lumber ambulatory decompression solution delivers an innovative, mobile, and cost-effective treatment of lower back pain. It offers relief to lumbar spine-related injuries and disorders, including herniated discs and Sciatica, an alternative to surgery, body braces, or decompression table treatments.
Vertetrac compared to traditional traction:
Vertetrac outperforms traditional traction by combining decompression with horizontal force, making simultaneous 3D decompressed traction therapy possible. This unique combination provides concurrent 3D treatment with asymmetrical traction options.
Vertetrac's "traction-on-the-move" not only encourages patients to be active during treatment but also accelerates recovery.
Being a compact, the one-size-fits-all device makes it possible for a group of patients to be treated simultaneously within a clinical environment. Patient feedback to back treatment achieved in a group environment validated the positive impact of group work on the individual healing process.
A portable and maintenance-free unit, Vertetrac requires little storage space and fits conveniently into a travel bag. Patients needing long-term care can rent or purchase the device and can be guided to administer self-treatment in their own homes.
The treatment sessions, averaging 30 minutes, are significantly shorter than traditional traction and are completed with minimal interruption to the patient's routine. Patients wearing the device can move freely and walk. They can also stand or sit during treatment.
All Meditrac treatment devices are FDA listed and practiced by recognized medical authorities.
For more on Meditrac Vertetrac treatment: www.meditrac.co.il or contact us at: USA Toll Free Number: 1-866-732-0170 or info@meditrac.co.il
A conversation about the benefits of Traction on the move with Dr. Arieh Grober and Dr. Steven Horwitz.
