A new non-surgical treatment for back pain has been given clinical trials at

several teaching hospitals. These trials were done on people who had been

referred to a neuro-surgical department because other, non-surgical, treatment

had been ineffective.

This new therapy is ‘vertebral axial decompression therapy’ [VAX-D] and has been

issued a new U.S. patent. VAX-D is a therapeutic table, invented by Dr. Allan

Dyer, former Deputy Minister of Health, Ontario, and who is the pioneer in the

heart defibrillator research.

The VAX-D table has been proven to be a reasonably effective means of

decompression therapy for managing herniated and/or degenerative lumbar discs.

In the research trials, the degree of significant remission of symptoms attained

after 10 daily therapy sessions was 70 % - after other procedures, including

physical and chiropractic treatment, had failed.

A follow-up of patients, up to 12 months, did not find any unexpected level of

relapse.

VAX-D is not a cure-all for all back problems but surgery should be used for

patients failing to respond to this more conservative approach.

While the majority of patients find this VAX-D procedure effective, and are able

to regain a functional level of activity after 15 to 20 sessions, there are some

that fail to respond. This treatment is quite safe, without complications, once

abnormal conditions, i.e. fractures or congenital defects requiring other

procedures, have been ruled out.

Most people with low back pain and sciatica experience relief of pain and are

able to return to their usual activities after therapy. This usually consists of

18 sessions of 30 minutes each on the VAX-D Therapeutic Table.

Some more difficult cases may require ongoing VAX-D maintenance.

Patients with such conditions as tumors, fractures, severe osteoporosis or other

defects are not candidates for this therapy.

This therapy is available throughout the U.S. and Canada at VAX-D clinics.

Resource: Tim Emsky, Back Centres, Inc.

Margot B is a writer on the subjects of health, environment, fashion.

She writes childrens' stories, is a proofreader.

Margot specializes in Web design and genalogy.