We are Helena's premiere non-surgical spinal disc therapy facility. This is one of many ways Active Life Chiropractic Centre goes the extra mile to help as many people as possible. No other facility has such a variety of advanced treatment options to help solve your problems.
- What is Triton DTS Therapy?
- What system does our office use?
- What conditions can be treated with DTS?
- If I have had spinal surgery can DTS help me?
- What conditions are not appropriate for this treatment?
- What is the difference between DTS Therapy and traction?
- What results can I expect?
- Is DTS Therapy cleared by the FDA?
- What medical practitioners apply the DTS Therapy System?
- How does disc decompression on the DTS system relieve pain?
- Follow up treatment: How often is it required and how beneficial is it?
Q: What is DTS Spinal Decompression Therapy?
A: DTS Therapy is a non-surgical therapy for the relief of back and leg pain or neck and arm pain. During this procedure a computer controlled instrument that cycles through distraction (pulling) and relaxation phases and by proper positioning, It is thought that this causes a vacuum effect within the discs. This vacuum effect draws water and nutrients into the disc to speed it's healing.
Top
Q: What system does our office use?
A: After a significant amount of research, Active Life Chiropractic Centre
chose the Triton DTS system manufactured by the Chattanooga Group, the premier manufacturer
of physical medicine equipment. More importantly, our system has the brand new 2006
computerized head which is the most sophisticated and technologically advanced unit
in the world.
In fact, the new 2006 Triton head is so revolutionary that it
won the prestigious 2006 Australian Design Award in the “Medical and Scientific”
category. We also selected the Triton DTS system due to its ability to treat discs
in both the neck and low back.
Top
Q: What conditions can be treated with DTS?
A: Patients with acute and chronic low back pain can benefit from DTS Therapy. Specifically, the system provides a program of treatments for relief from pain for those patients suffering with low back and neck pain, as well as pain that radiates down the leg or arm. The treatments are physician prescribed following specific protocols to ensure maximum, lasting improvement. The protocols use a combination of static, intermittent, and cycling decompressive forces to relieve pressure on the structures that may be causing the pain.
The DTS System treats a wide variety of conditions including:
- Disc Herniation
- Facet Syndrome
- Sciatica (pain down the leg)
- Discogenic Pain
- Spondylolisthesis (Grade 1)
- Spinal Stenosis
- Cervical Radiculopathy (radiating pain or pain down the arm)
- Degenerative Disc Disease
Top
Q: If I have had spinal surgery can DTS help me?
A: The application of DTS Therapy at some point following surgery is appropriate (indicated). It has been used as follow-up therapy for patients that continue to complain of post-surgical back pian. This "dual approach" seems to offer an advantage especially in those patients that have more than one level of herniation in which only the major segment was excised.
Top
Q: What conditions are not appropriate (contra-indicated) for decompression therapy?
A:The DTS Therapy System is an inherently safe procedure that can be used, without complications, for a wide variety of anatomical dysfunctions of the low back, which are commonly associated with back pain. However, patients with the following conditions should NOT be treated with DTS therapy:
- Severe Osteoporosis
- Vertebral Fractures
- Spondylolisthesis (Grade 2 or higher)
- Spondylolysis
- Unstable Post Surgical Conditions
- Any kind of surgical hardware
Other factors that could exclude the use of DTS Therapy are pathological lesions or congenital deformities of the vertebral column that disrupt the integrity of the vertebral and ligamentous structures, such as fractures, tumor, severe osteoporosis, or spina bifida; and progressive disease or inflammatory processes of the spinal joints or muscles.
Top
Q: What is the difference between DTS Therapy and traction?
A: There are many types of traction and, although this is one form, the DTS system is unique in a few key aspects. The DTS system uses progressive pulling to overcome the protective muscle response, which reduces conventional traction's ability to generate decompression within the disc to create a vacuum effect. In the DTS system, the computer controlled forces are slowly added to reduce the guarding effect of the spinal stabilizer muscles. The other advantage DTS has over conventional traction is the ability to create a "pumping effect" on the disc by increasing and decreasing the load as the treatment is given.
Top
Q: What results can I expect?
A: Most patients are scheduled for 20 twenty-five minute treatments over a 6-week period. The typical patient feels relief as fast as the first 5 to 8 treatments. Pre and post treatment MRIs have shown 50% reduction in the size and extent of herniations after 6 weeks of treatments. Clinical Studies confirm 86% of patients with disc problems reported relief with this type of treatment.
Top
Q: Is DTS Therapy cleared by the FDA?
A: Yes, the DTS has received FDA Clearance as a Class II Medical Device with 510(k) listing.
Top
Q: What medical practitioners apply the DTS Therapy System?
A: Neurologists, neurosurgeons, orthopedists, orthopedic surgeons, rhuematologists, internists, family practitioners, chiropractors, and multidisciplinary practices all use our treatment. Hundreds of doctors throughout the United States are relieving pain utilizing the DTS.
Top
Q: How does disc decompression on the DTS system relieve pain?
A: Damage to the discs and facet joints of the neck or low back exert pressures on vital structures resulting in pain, muscle spasm and inflammation. The DTS relieves pressure and factors causing pain through precise, computer-controlled adjustments along the natural anatomical lines of the spinal column. It does so without applying undesirable twisting or rotational movements.
Top
Q: Follow up treatment: How often is it required and how beneficial is it?
A: Experience has shown that the majority of patients who recover on the DTS generally remain in remission. However, some individuals whose lifestyle or work environment tend to expose them to higher risk factors, have found that a follow-up or maintenance program of DTS treatment sessions offers a measure of protection against disabling "flare ups" of their back pain. Patients in this category usually develop, in consultation with the doctor, their own rhythm of maintenance visits that can help mitigate future problems.