Regardless of initial diagnosis or original injury,
if you have had low back pain symptoms for more than
6 weeks or recurrently over a longer period you are
likely to develop weakness and instability of the spine.
This weakness is the major factor in most chronic back
conditions.
At the Back Clinic we specialise in specific intensive
strengthening treatment that has been proven to restore
stability to the spine, reduce or eliminate pain and
return patients to a full and active life.
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about
our treatment. Clicking on the associated links within the
answers will guide you to more complete information on each
subject. If you have further questions or would like to discuss
your symptoms with one of our physiotherapists please do not
hesitate to contact us for more
information.
Research has shown that our treatment produces excellent
and lasting results with a wide range of back conditions.
See "Are You A Candidate?"
for more details.
MedX® is computerised, non-invasive medical equipment
that tests the strength of a patient's lumbar extensor muscles,
the muscles that support the spine, and delivers specific
and highly accurate results. It is the first machine capable
of isolating the lumbar extensor muscles and producing an
objective measurement of lower back strength and range of
motion.
MedX® compares your lower back strength with that of
a healthy pain free person of the same sex, weight and age.
Using this information, including the precise extent of your
lower back weakness and the limits of your range of motion,
our physiotherapists are able to devise a treatment programme
for you. The key component of this treatment is the use of
MedX® to strengthen the lumbar extensors and related musculature.
As a result of the increase in muscle strength, the lower
lumbar spine becomes supported which in turn leads to a decrease
in, or elimination of, low back pain.
Most back pain can be treated successfully if the weakened
muscles of the spine are isolated and strengthened. MedX®
prevents pelvic rotation during treatment and this ensures
that the lumbar extensor muscles are exercised. As the strength
and flexibility of the back muscles increases, function improves
and pain decreases.
Only MedX® completely immobilises the pelvis during strengthening
treatment.
If the pelvis is not immobilised and allowed to rotate during
exercise the hips, gluteals and thighs extend the spine instead
of the back muscles. This means that the low back muscles
remain inactive, weak and vulnerable to painful episodes.
Without
pelvic immobilisation, exercise is non-specific.
Most of the work is done by the hamstrings, gluteals
etc.
Where
pelvis is immobilised, strengthening is focused
on lumbar extensors
Back muscles are isolated and strengthened.
Patient works the machine, NOT the other way round.
You are seated in the MedX® equipment and the lower half
of your body is immobilised using ergonomically designed straps
and pads that are adjusted by the physiotherapist. This leaves
your upper body free to flex and extend. The effect is to
isolate the lower torso and to stabilise lumbar function.
You will feel "snug", but not uncomfortable.
The physiotherapist then calibrates the machine to
determine your true "start position". The
aim is to remove any source of non muscular torque which
would exaggerate the true measurement of back strength,
such as the effects of gravity and friction.
Your back strength is then measured at various points throughout
their pain-free range of motion.
The computer measures the force that you generate
via a pad that sits against your shoulder blades. During the
test, the force you exert is displayed on computer screens.
One screen faces you and the other is on a separate stand
in front of the physiotherapist. The information is displayed
in either a bar or line graph format. The machine shows where
in your range of motion your back is weak. It can also show
the degree to which your back is weaker than it should be
for your sex, age and weight. Printouts of these results are
provided for you and your doctor both on completion of the
isometric test and at regular stages during the programme,
making it easy for everyone to monitor progress.
We follow the MedX® medical protocol of a 12 week programme
which comprises an initial isometric test followed by 16 treatment
sessions. For the first month, you will visit the clinic twice
a week, and thereafter once a week until completion. If you
are in acute pain, we will not start the MedX® programme
immediately but will treat you using manual physiotherapy
until such time as you are assessed by our physiotherapists
as being suitable to begin the programme.
The length of each treatment, and the number of MedX®
sessions has been determined by surgeons and medical researchers
in the United States as being the optimum period of time over
which to obtain the best results from MedX®. Occasionally
patients may recover quickly, occasionally they may take a
little longer but most will derive optimum benefit over the
16 treatment sessions.
We get to work relieving your acute symptoms from your very
first visit. Getting at the underlying causes of recurring
back pain takes a little longer. Some of our patients feel
better from the very first MedX treatment, most of our patients
feel better within the first three or four treatments, and
a few feel better only after six or seven treatments. However,
the vast majority of patients who complete our 12 week programme
feel significantly better at the end and, perhaps more importantly,
stay that way.
8. Surely I will need to carry on with MedX after the
programme ends in order to keep my muscles strong?
By the end of the twelve-week programme, your strengthened
lower back muscles will be "trained" to maintain
posture and support the spine during movement. Research has
shown that patients retain most of the benefits of the treatment
16 months and more after completion. However, research also
shows a modest decrease in strength level two years after
completion of the programme. Many of our patients choose to
have one half an hour “maintenance” session on
MedX® each month in order to maintain maximum strength
in their back and minimise the possibility of any new episodes
of pain.
MedX® medical equipment is manufactured in the United
States by the MedX® Corporation. The Company's goal was
to create the first meaningful tools for testing human functional
ability and muscular strength. After 14 years of continuous
research and several million dollars in development expenditure,
the MedX® Lumbar Extensor Machine was perfected. Now this
equipment is well on the way to becoming the new medical standard
for the treatment of back pain.
In addition to being at the heart of the treatment provided
by The Back Clinic, MedX® is used in over 1000 clinics,
hospitals and physiotherapy practices worldwide. There are
clinics in the United States of America, Canada, Switzerland,
Holland, Germany, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong
Kong, South Africa, Singapore, Korea, Taiwan and Malaysia.
Please click here for a comprehensive
list of MedX® clinics.
11. Has there been any medical research carried out to
establish whether the MedX® programme actually works?
Yes. Numerous studies have been published in scientific and
medical journals on the effectiveness of the MedX® treatment
in treating patients with back pain. We will be pleased to
provide you with copies of the studies that have been published
in the following "peer reviewed" medical journals:
If you have medical insurance, the cost can usually be recovered
up to a limit depending on your individual policy. (The Back Clinic is recognised by all leading medical insurance companies.) Please note - to keep
administrative costs to the minimum we ask our patients to
settle their bills with us direct and claim refunds from their
insurer.
You do not need a referral letter to come for an assessment
at The Back Clinic. If you intend claiming the cost from your
insurers, you may need a referral letter from your specialist
or GP, which can be arranged after your initial assessment.
If you are currently being treated by a GP or Consultant,
or if you have recently undergone surgery, we will be happy
to contact your doctor in order to explain our treatment and
discuss its suitability for you. We receive regular referrals
from many leading consultants and GPs and yours may already
be known to us.
15. How soon after surgery can I be treated on MedX®?
We have had great success with many post-surgical patients.
The MedX® protocol requires a six-week period after surgery
before MedX® treatment can begin. We can however treat
you with manual physiotherapy during this period if required.
