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

Abstract

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.