What is IDD Therapy® treatment?
IDD Therapy® treatment is the integration of three unique components:
IDD Therapy® treatment stands for Intervertebral Differential Dynamics Therapy, a non-surgical medical protocol for the effective treatment of painful back syndromes. Developed by a broad spectrum of specialists in the field, the treatment method has evolved into a comprehensive disc therapy approach capable of reducing a herniation with up to 86% - 94% success rates.
Extensive clinical studies (not all published) have been conducted to validate IDD Therapy® treatment. Thousands of back pain patients have been successfully treated using this protocol. Prescription drugs are not a mainstay of this treatment, although some IDD Therapy® providers do use pharmacology to manage their back patients’ initial pain syndrome.
A significant component of this medical regimen incorporates the use of advanced intervertebral decompression equipment. IDD Therapy® treatment must be performed on an IDD Therapy® factory labeled machine.
The primary component of IDD Therapy® treatment is the utilization of a patented intervertebral computer-directed spinal-rehabilitation device referred to as the Accu-SPINA™ system.
The Accu-SPINA™ system is a class II medical device with a 510(k) FDA clearing. The Accu-SPINA™ system is designed to induce decompression, reduction and stabilization of vertebral structures.
The Accu-SPINA™ system has the ability to target specific segments of the lumbar spine for treatment. Over the course of a full treatment regimen, this system enables the treating specialist to distract the intervertebral space by a distance of 5 to 7 millimeters, thus significantly decreasing pressure inside the disc.
IDD Therapy® treatment utilizes the application of distraction forces to spinal structures in a precise and graduated manner. Distraction is offset by cycles of partial relaxation. This technique of decompression may prevent muscle spasm and patient guarding during treatment as pressure within the disc is reduced from +25 mmHg to -150 mmHg*. Negative pressure within the disc is maintained throughout the treatment session.
Degenerative disc disease can be effectively treated with the Accu-SPINA™ system because repeated decompression
promotes the diffusion of water, oxygen, and nutrients into the vertebral disc area, thereby naturally re-hydrating
and rehabilitating degenerated discs. In the case of disc herniation, the negative pressure may induce the retraction of the herniated or bulging disc, leading to relief of pain. Multiple treatment sessions on the machine are required to achieve optimal results. *Nachemson; MTG Newsletter, October 1998
Have There Been Clinical Trials And Studies Conducted On
Several clinical studies and practice case studies have been published. You can click on our Clinical Studies Tab on the menu at the top our site to see all of them. Below are just a few:
Practical Pain Management Magazine: C Norman Shealy, MD, PhD reviews the evolution of back pain technology and presents results of a study utilizing differential dynamics rehabilitation [IDD Therapy®]. Based on author’s review of recent study results, inter-vertebral differential dynamic rehabilitation appears to be the current optimal recommendation for most lumbar pain syndromes.
The study is called A Retrospective Clinical Pilot Study: Long-term Effect Analysis of IDD Therapy® in Low Back Pain. It was conducted by C. Norman Shealy, MD, PhD, Nirman Koladia, MD, and Merrill M. Wesemann, MD. The objectives of this study were (i) to produce a follow-up to the Shealy and Borgmeyer Study, (ii) to evaluate long-term benefits of IDD Therapy® treatment, and (iii) to determine any benefits of IDD Therapy® in comparison to other treatment options. The authors stated: “A direct conclusion that can be drawn from the data is that improvement in pain continues after the treatment sessions are completed.”
6-Month IDD Therapy® Patient File Review: Results of 6-month patient file review of patients who had IDD Therapy® at Monmouth Advanced Medicine Clinic showed 93.6% of their patients obtained total pain relief on the Accu-SPINA™ machine.
Emory University is currently conducting a single-blind clinical trial and there are many more in the works. We are also sponsoring a Continuing Medical Education course which will be ready soon for IDD Therapy®. It is titled: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Chronic Low Back Pain. This activity is intended for neurologists, anesthesiologists, physiatrists, orthopedic surgeons, rheumatologists, and internists. It will allow these doctors to earn CME credits for learning about IDD Therapy®.
Is the SPINA System Cleared By The FDA? Yes. The SPINA System is not only cleared to provide treatment for relief from pain and disability for those patients suffering with low back pain, but it is also cleared to provide treatment for relief from neck pain associated with herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, and posterior facet syndrome.
The Spina System™ has received two (2) FDA clearances as a Class II Medical Device: One is for providing decompression to the lower lumbar portion of the back and the other is for providing decompression to the cervical portion of the back.
Who can benefit from using Spina System™
equipment?
What is the difference between decompression and traction? Many clinicians specializing in lumbar spine pathology have criticized traditional traction. Traction fails in many cases because it causes muscular stretch receptors to fire, which then cause para-spinal muscles to contract. This muscular response actually causes an increase in intradiscal pressure. On the other hand, genuine decompression is achieved by gradual and calculated increases of distraction forces to spinal structures, utilizing various degrees of distraction forces.
A highly specialized computer must modulate the application of distraction forces in order to achieve the ideal effect. The Accu-SPINA™ system applies a gentle, curved angle pull which yields far greater treatment results that a less comfortable, sharp angle pull (see diagram). Distraction must be offset by cycles of partial relaxation.
The Accu-SPINA™ system continuously monitors spinal resistance and adjusts distraction forces accordingly.
Genuine decompression also involves the use of a special pelvic harness that supports the lumbar spine during
therapy. Negative pressure within the disc is maintained throughout the treatment session. With genuine
decompression, the pressure within the disc space can actually be lowered to about -150 mmHg.
Isn’t decompression just a fancy name for a traction machine? No. There is a big different between traction, distraction and decompression. Traction has been around for hundreds, if not thousands of years. The problem with traction as it is known today is that it is not always beneficial. In 1998, the Scientific American rated traction to be of little or no value in the examination of efficacious therapies for lower back pain. This finding is consistent with many studies that report traction can often times signal a nociceptive splinting response and put a patient’s back muscles in spasm, resisting any attempts to effect a change on the disc proper.
Distraction, a term used to describe a flexion distraction technique, attempts to reposition the spine from the
offending lesion. This technique has been shown to be very effective, even though potentially damaging to the
person performing the technique and largely dependent on the skill of the technician. Decompression therefore is an event - a combination of restraint, angle position and equipment engineering. One can experience traction without decompression, but not decompression without traction. Traction is a machine - Decompression is an event.
What Result Can My Patients Expect? Many patients with lower back syndromes may experience pain relief as early as the third treatment session. Comparison of pre-treatment MRI’s with post-treatment (IDD Therapy® regimen for 4 weeks) MRI’s has shown a 50% reduction in the size and extent of herniation. In clinical studies, 86% of patients reported relief of back pain with the Accu-SPINA™ system. Within the past five years, some private practice clinicians have reported success rates as high as 90%. How long is each treatment session?
Each treatment session is approximately 25 to 45 minutes in duration (research has established that optimum results
are achieved with sessions that incorporate
On average, the patient comes for 20-30 treatments over a 4-6 week period.
What conditions are contraindicated?
Patients with the following problems or symptoms are usually excluded from using the Spina System: Pregnancy, Prior
lumbar surgical fusion, Metastatic cancer,
How long before a patient experiences change? Often times a patient experiences some relief within the first few (3-7) treatments. Usually by the 12th to 15th treatment all patients have reported some remission of symptoms. Patients not showing significant improvement by the 15th to 18th session may be referred for further diagnostic evaluation.
Does the Spina System™ work for everyone? Eighty-to-ninety percent of patients who have been properly selected and comply with the Spina/IDD Therapy® protocol will have good-to-excellent outcomes. Patient’s conditions that do not respond quickly to the therapy are often unable to be helped by anything quickly. Patients vary in age, sex and body morphology and may require counseling in weight loss, nutrition and other lifestyle changes. |
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