- What is Laser Enhanced Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression (LESD)?
- What Are The Treatments Like?
- How Long Are Treatments And How Many Do You Need?
- Can Triton® Spinal Traction Therapy Help My Pain?
- Will Triton® Spinal Traction Treatments Hurt? Is it Safe?
- Are There Any Contraindications To Having Spinal Decompression?
- Is Spinal Decompression a New Type of Treatment?
- How Long Will My Treatment Program Be?
- Why is this type of therapy more successful than other treatment options?
- Why the Need for Exercises and Other Therapies?
- Will My Pain Go Away For Good?
- How much will it Cost?
- How Does Triton® Differ from Other Spinal Treatment Tables?
- How is Spinal Decompression different from older type traction?
What is Laser Enhanced Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression (LESD)?
As part of staying on the cutting edge of technology, our office is pleased to provide non-surgical Laser Enhanced Spinal Decompression Therapy (LESD) using the Triton® Spinal Traction/Decompression Therapy System. This relatively new therapy delivery system incorporates a dual stage treatment approach utilizing two technologically advanced treatments - a combination of non-surgical spinal decompression (a form of traction/distraction which has a long history of relieving neck and low back spinal pain and helping some people avoid surgery) and 'cold' laser therapy (also known as Low-Level Laser Therapy - LLLT) delivered using scientifically specific technique protocols for an enhanced and accelerated unparalleled treatment effect. Various other physiotherapy modalities and chiropractic techniques are also incorporated into each session if required.
What Are The Treatments Like?
A patient's comfort is our top priority, and we want their visits to be enjoyable and successful.
After lying fully clothed on the comfortable Triton® treatment table, you will be fitted with a support system. The support system helps to stabilize your body. The advanced computer controlled system automatically utilizes a logarithmic curve to avoid reflex responses which would create muscle spasm and adjusts to the proper angle of gentle pull (distraction), allowing us to target the specific discs that are causing your pain and symptoms. The split table design decreases friction and allows separation of the vertebra. The Triton® spinal traction computer system then simulates an anti-gravity effect on your spine that helps to assist herniated disc material return toward its normal position, thus reducing pressure and pain. Patients describe the treatment as a gentle and painless intermittent pulling sensation producing spinal stretch and relaxation which gently graduates to a peak over a period of several minutes relieving pressure from the discs, joints and muscular tissues while enhancing the body's natural healing process. Many patients actually fall asleep during treatment!
It is important to note that many patients get substantial, immediate relief after just a few treatment sessions. Some patients have significant reduction of pain after just one session. Individual cases vary. It is also important to remember however, that pain subsiding does not infer that your discs and spine are healed. So, it's critical that patients complete the treatment protocol prescribed by the doctor in order to achieve the full value of this spinal traction therapy.
How Long Are Treatments and How Many Do You Need?
Patients typically undergo 15 to 20 treatment sessions over a period of 6 to 8 weeks, followed by a re-evaluation to determine if any further therapy sessions are required. Each session is actually short in duration, often lasting approximately 20-30 minutes. This, of course, depends on your individual case determined by a thorough pre-treatment evaluation. During or following each session, a combination of various physiotherapy modalities such as a cold or heat packs, electronic muscle stimulation/sedation, ultrasound or soft-tissue low-level laser acupuncture (LLLT) may be applied to speed and enhance the healing process. Various chiropractic techniques, stretching exercises and core stabilization techniques may also be utilized.
The really good news is that this is not something you have to continue to do for the rest of your life! So it is not a big commitment.
Click here to view a typical 6 week 20 session therapy program.
Can Triton® Spinal Therapy Help My Pain?
Though each patient is different and no doctor can guarantee success, the clinical results of this type of therapy have been shown to be effective in approximately over 75% of patients treated. The common problems of many back conditions are damaged discs and poor spinal muscle control. Our treatment program addresses both of these core problems. The specially designed Triton spinal traction system creates a controlled unloading of the spine which appears to decrease disc pressure thus increasing blood and nutrient exchange. This exchange of fluids is something the damaged disc desperately needs to help it heal from the inside out. Muscle strength, control and endurance can all be improved with our spinal therapy program that includes specific controlled spinal exercises.
Will Triton® Spinal Treatments Hurt? Is it Safe?
Triton® spinal traction therapy treatments are one of the most gentle and comfortable therapies available. The treatments utilize Health Canada and FDA licensed and approved equipment with proven safety and efficacy. Most patients report a mild sense of stretch on their back or hips, and often fall asleep during treatment sessions. The Triton® traction system is produced by one of the world's largest manufacturers of hospital based therapy and rehabilitation equipment - The Chattanooga Group, USA.
Are There Any Contraindications To Having Spinal Decompression?
Contraindication criteria include: pregnancy, severe obesity, spinal/joint fusion with or without metallic rods, moderate to severe osteoporosis, unstable spondylolisthesis, lumbar vertebral compression fracture below L1 (recent), local spinal osteomyelitis, meningitis, aortic aneurysm, primary malignant or metastatic spinal neoplasm or pelvic/abdominal malignancy (cancer), patients undergoing active cancer treatment, local bilateral pars defects, severe peripheral neuropathy, hemiplegia, paraplegia, Down’s Syndrome (Trisomy 21/G), cognitive dysfunction, cauda equina syndrome and disc pathology with sequestration.
Is Spinal Decompression a New Type of Treatment?
Although traction therapy has been around for thousands of years, the Triton® computerized spinal traction therapy is relatively new. Advances in equipment and procedures have dramatically improved effectiveness. This system allows the safe delivery of this previously hospital based therapy in our office. Continual improvements in the delivery system and regular updates in protocol keep this system in the forefront of non-invasive disc therapy. Each year over 50,000 patients are treated with this type of therapy and that number is growing. For a complete comparison of this therapy with surgical options, check out the tab - Triton® vs. Surgery.
How Long Will My Treatment Program Be?
This depends on the complexity and extent of the treatment and rehabilitation needed, however, we typically treat 2-3 times a week for the first month, gradually tapering to a less frequent schedule and transitioning from passive to active treatments as you respond. The treatment is administered over a reasonable time frame and your response is continually evaluated. Further treatments may be necessary or a reduced frequency may be recommended at that time. The rehabilitative phase may include additional Triton® spinal traction therapy sessions coupled with special exercises, physiotherapy, chiropractic spinal and joint manipulative adjustments, if indicated, to enhance the results. Most patents are released from spinal traction treatments after 6 to 12 weeks.
Why Is This Type Of Therapy More Successful than Other treatment Options?
Triton® spinal traction therapy as practiced in our clinic is a comprehensive program incorporating traction techniques and targeted "core" stabilization exercises combined with biofeedback, physiotherapy and gentle chiropractic care. In addition, we use other adjunctive treatments that have proven effectiveness in back care. It is this multi-faceted approach that makes our combination of treatments so effective and is what sets our procedure apart from others in this area.
Additionally, spinal discs have been shown to be a predominate site of pain, so treating the disc as gently and directly as possible makes sense. The blending of focused traction of the site, rehabilitation to the supporting structures and overall strengthening of musculature makes the treatment unique. This therapy affects the disc as directly as possible without surgery. For a complete comparison of this therapy with surgical options, check out the tab - Triton® vs. Surgery.
Why the Need for Exercises & Other Therapies?
Along with the damage in the disc, we also need to treat the supporting spinal muscles. A complete program targeting the function of the stabilization muscles of the spine is a vital part of spinal decompression therapy. Heat, ice, muscle stimulation, ultrasonic therapy and soft-tissue laser acupuncture (LLLT) can offer additional benefits for inflammation and spasm reduction. Our goal is to not only to help heal the disc but enhance muscle control and support of the low back. A gradual breakdown of the foundational support of your back is what puts undue stresses on the discs and leads to disc degeneration, pain and loss of function. Our program of spinal exercise and adjunctive therapies will assist in rehabilitating these structures.
Will My Pain Go Away For Good?
Although it is difficult to predict the future, experience has shown that most patients do find long-term relief or effective management of their pain when they complete the entire recommended program of treatments. Regular home exercise and periodic visits to our clinic will help in maintaining your spinal health and reduce the probability of reoccurrence. As with any comprehensive rehabilitation program, your continued home care exercises and discretion in some daily activities is the key to long-term relief.
How much will it Cost?
The cost varies depending on your condition and the extent of care needed. (See above for comparison with cost of surgery). We promise to only do those procedures necessary for your fullest recovery. You always have the choice as to the extent of care. Our staff will review all costs, payment options and insurance coverage before treatment begins. We want to help and we believe finances shouldn't stand in the way of your good health.
How Does Triton DTS Differ from Other Spinal Treatment Tables?
Our office uses Triton® spinal traction equipment from The Chattanooga Group, USA, which has become the gold standard for spinal decompression.
How is Spinal Decompression Different from Older Type Traction?
Older type traction is a simple steady force that is put on the patient's body with the intent of unloading the body's joints, muscles and other structures. For example, hanging upside-down or the inversion table is a common method to put the spine into traction. Rather than one's body weight putting stress on the spine, which is what happens when standing erect; the body weight is working to unload the spine.
Various forms of traction have been around for over 1000 years; however, pain relief has been inconsistent and short-lived until now. In fact, several clinical studies have shown ordinary (old type, steady pull) traction to be an ineffective form of back and neck pain relief. The reason is unexpected, but pretty simple. Our bodies react to the steady pull of the traction on the spine by contracting or squeezing the muscles surrounding the spine. Rather than achieving the desired effect of unloading the spine, the pressure on the spine is actually increased, thus increasing intradiscal pressure. Thus this old type of traction does NOT allow the discs to re-hydrate and heal, which is what ultimately yields pain relief.
Triton® spinal traction, on the other hand, is a computerized updated form of traction. Computer technology is used to control variations in the unloading (traction pull) of the spine, effectively avoiding the body's muscle contraction response. The doctor can control how many progressive tension steps are experienced by the patient before reaching the maximum tension. The doctor also has complete control over how long the tensions are held steady and how often they are repeated through the computerized system.
