Applied forces and associated physiologic responses induced by axial spinal unloading with the LTX 3000 Lumbar Rehabilitation System

The Effect of Suspension and Conventional Core Stability Exercises on Characteristics of Intervertebral Disc and Chronic Pain in Office Staff Due to Lumbar Herniated Disc

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of eight weeks of conventional and suspension core stability exercises by use of the designed device on characteristic of intervertebral discs in low back pain.

METHODS

A total of 27 men with chronic low back (CLB) pain due to lumbar disc herniation in L4-L5 and L5-S1 regions were enrolled in this quasi-experimental study. After assessing the pain intensity using a visual analog scale (VAS) and determining the disc herniation index using MRI, each group of patients were asked to perform either conventional or suspension exercises for eight weeks, each week consisting of three training sessions. The pain intensity was assessed at the end of the first, second, third, fourth and eighth weeks and the disc hernia index was determined again at the end of the eight weeks of exercises.

RESULTS

The results indicated significant changes in the intensity of pain in both groups through the period of eight weeks of exercise with a remarkable pain relief. In relation to the structural characteristics of the intervertebral disc, data analysis did not reveal any significant change between the pre- and post-test.

CONCLUSION

Considering the beneficial effects of the stability exercises and specially suspension stability exercises with respect to pain alleviation and reduced use of sedatives and anti-inflammatory drugs, this method can be helpful at early stages of treatment for chronic pains.

Effect of long-term axial spinal unloading on vertebral body height in adult thoracolumbar spine

The human spine is influenced by mechanical loads. To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the effect of long-term axial unloading on morphology of healthy vertebras in adults. The objective of this study is to quantify the effects of long-term relative axial unloading on thoracolumbar vertebral body height in adults. In this study, 218 vertebras on 200 plain lateral radiograms of patients with thoracolumbar vertebral body fracture, which underwent long segment instrumentation and fusion and had a relative axial unloading on five vertebrae of thoracolumbar spine were evaluated. Anterior vertebral body height (AVBH) and posterior vertebral body height (PVBH) proximal and distal to the fractured vertebrae were measured before and at least 1 year after the unloading operative procedures. AVBH of the first distal adjacent vertebrae and summative AVBHs of the first distal and proximal adjacent vertebras to the fractured vertebrae were significantly increased after 1 year of unloading, whereas the PVBH changes were not noticeable and the mean of cumulative height of two levels of proximal and distal adjacent vertebras to the fractured vertebrae did not show significant difference. Vertebral body height of lumbar was more influenced by unloading when compared with thoracic spine. Long-term relative axial unloading can affect the height of healthy vertebral bodies in adult spine.

Treatment of adult lumbar scoliosis with axial spinal unloading using the LTX3000 Lumbar Rehabilitation System

STUDY DESIGN

Repeated-measures analysis of variance: within-subject study using six adult subjects with varying degrees of scoliosis.

OBJECTIVES

To develop methodology to measure the effects of axial spinal unloading using the LTX3000 Lumbar Rehabilitation System (Spinal Design International Inc., Minneapolis, MN) over a 3-month period on subjects with idiopathic scoliosis. To look for sustained treatment benefits, thus measuring the duration of changes induced on lateral scoliotic curves over the 3-month period after intervention with the LTX3000 Lumbar Rehabilitation System.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Current treatments for idiopathic scoliosis have shown mixed results in managing curve progression. Little research has been done to show the effectiveness of axial spinal unloading in changing the curvature of the spine.

METHODS

Baseline data were obtained from four radiographs (two frontal plane, two sagittal plane), surface electromyograms, and back range of motion measurements. Data were collected at four laboratory sessions (baseline, 3 months, 4 months, and 6 months), and the intervention was given between baseline and the 3-month sessions. The intervention phase consisted of axial unloading, two treatments a day for 10 minutes per session, using the LTX3000 Lumbar Rehabilitation System.

RESULTS

Static change of Cobb angle values over time showed statistical significance (P = 0.02, alpha = 0.05). Dynamic change of Cobb angle values within sessions showed statistical significance (P = 0.036, alpha = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Results from this study showed a significant decrease in Cobb angle measurements in the lumbar curvature during the intervention phase. Once the home intervention program was terminated, the lateral lumbar curvature reverted to baseline values (pre-intervention).