Medical Research

Decompression Research Abstracts

Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2008 Feb; 89(2):269-74.
Outcomes after a prone lumbar traction protocol for patients with activity-limiting low back pain: a prospective case series study.
Beattie PF, Nelson RM, Michener LA, Cammarata J, Donley J.
Program in Physical Therapy, Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. pbeattie@gwm.sc.edu

OBJECTIVE: To determine outcomes after administration of a prone lumbar traction protocol. DESIGN: Prospective, longitudinal, case series. SETTING: Suburban, chiropractic practice. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 296 subjects with low back pain (LBP) and evidence of a degenerative and/or herniated intervertebral disk at 1 or more levels of the lumbar spine. We excluded patients involved in litigation and those receiving workers' compensation. INTERVENTION: An 8-week course of prone lumbar traction, using the vertebral axial decompression (VAX-D) system, consisting of five 30-minute sessions a week for 4 weeks, followed by one 30-minute session a week for 4 additional weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The numeric pain rating scale and the Roland- Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) were completed at preintervention, discharge (within 2 weeks of the last visit), and at 30 days and 180 days after discharge. Intention- to-treat strategies were used to account for those subjects lost to follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 250 (84.4%) subjects completed the treatment protocol. On the 30-day follow- up, 247 (83.4%) subjects were available; on the 180-day follow-up, data were available for 241 (81.4%) subjects. We noted significant improvements for all postintervention outcome scores when compared with preintervention scores (P.01). CONCLUSIONS: Traction applied in the prone position using the VAX-D for 8 weeks was associated with improvements in pain intensity and RMDQ scores at discharge, and at 30 and 180 days after discharge in a sample of patients with activity-limiting LBP. Causal relationships between these outcomes and the intervention should not be made until further study is performed using randomized comparison groups.



Pain Pract. 2008 Mar;8(1):11-7.
Treatment of 94 outpatients with chronic discogenic low back pain with the DRX9000: a retrospective chart review.
Macario A, Richmond C, Auster M, Pergolizzi JV.
Department of Anesthesia and Health Research & Policy, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5640, USA. amaca@stanford.edu

BACKGROUND: This study's goal was a retrospective chart audit of 100 outpatients with discogenic low back pain (LBP) lasting more than 12 weeks treated with a 2-month course of motorized spinal decompression via the DRX9000 (Axiom Worldwide, Tampa, FL, U.S.A.). METHODS: Patients at a convenience sample of four clinics received 30-minute DRX9000 sessions daily for the first 2 weeks tapering to 1 session/week. Treatment protocol included lumbar stretching, myofascial release, or heat prior to treatment, with ice and/or muscle stimulation afterwards. Primary outcome was verbal numerical pain intensity rating (NRS) 0 to 10 before and after the 8-week treatment. RESULTS: Of the 100 initial subjects, three withdrew their protected health information, and three were excluded because their LBP duration was less than 12 weeks. The remaining 94 subjects (63% female, 95% white, age = 55 (SD 16) year, 52% employed, 41% retired, LBP median duration of 260 weeks) had diagnoses of herniated disc (73% of patients), degenerative disc disease (68%), or both (27%). Mean NRS equaled 6.05

(SD 2.3) at presentation and decreased significantly to 0.89 (SD 1.15) at end of 8-week treatment (P < 0.0001). Analgesic use also appeared to decrease (charts with data = 20) and Activities of Daily Living improved (charts with data = 38). Follow-up (mean 31 weeks) on 29/94 patients reported mean 83% LBP improvement, NRS of 1.7 (SD 1.15), and satisfaction of 8.55/10 (median 9). CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective chart audit provides preliminary data that chronic LBP may improve with DRX9000 spinal decompression. Randomized double-blind trials are needed to measure the efficacy of such systems.

Neurol Res. 1998 Apr;20(3):186-90. Vertebral axial decompression therapy for pain associated with herniated or degenerated discs or facet syndrome: an outcome study.
Gose EE, Naguszewski WK, Naguszewski RK.


Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA.

The outcomes of vertebral axial decompression (VAX-D) therapy for patients with low back pain from various causes are reported. Data was collected from twenty-two medical centers for patients who received VAX-D therapy for low back pain, which was sometimes accompanied by referred leg pain. Only patients who received at least ten sessions and had a diagnosis of herniated disc, degenerative disc, or facet syndrome, which were confirmed by diagnostic imaging, were included in this study; a total of 778 cases. The average time between the initial onset of symptoms and the beginning of this therapy was 40 months, and it was four months or more in 83% of the cases. The data contained the patients' quantitative assessments of their own pain, mobility, and ability to carry out the usual 'activities of daily living'. The treatment was successful in 71% of the 778 cases, when success was defined as a reduction in pain to 0 or 1, on a 0 to 5 scale. Improvements in mobility and activities of daily living correlated strongly with pain reduction. The causes of back pain and their relationship to this therapy are also discussed.

J Neurosurg. 1994 Sep;81(3):350-3.
Effects of vertebral axial decompression on intradiscal pressure.
Ramos G, Martin W.
Department of Neurosurgery, Rio Grande Regional Hospital, McAllen, Texas.

The object of this study was to examine the effect of vertebral axial decompression on pressure in the nucleus pulposus of lumbar discs. Intradiscal pressure measurement was performed by connecting a cannula inserted into the patient's L4-5 disc space to a pressure transducer. The patient was placed in a prone position on a VAX-D therapeutic table and the tensionometer on the table was attached via a pelvic harness. Changes in intradiscal pressure were recorded at resting state and while controlled tension was applied by the equipment to the pelvic harness. Intradiscal pressure demonstrated an inverse relationship to the tension applied. Tension in the upper range was observed to decompress the nucleus pulposus significantly, to below -100 to -160 mm Hg.