There has never been a therapeutic treatment instrument like the Antalgic-Trak. With the ability to convert from a lumbar treatment to a cervical treatment and 10-way articulation, it makes everything else obsolete.
Fact 1 – Muscle Function
Spinal movements are accomplished by many different groups of muscles. Each group is comprised of bundled fiber groups that are either parallel to the spine, or to some degree, perpendicular to the spine. To maximize treatment outcomes, each bundled fiber group needs to be stretched along its length not its width.
PARALLEL FIBERS: To stretch the muscle fibers that run parallel to the spine, such as the Erector Spinae, basic traction is sufficient.
PERPENDICULAR FIBERS: To stretch the muscle fibers that are angled or perpendicular to the spine, and whose primary functions are to rotate or laterally flex the spine, such as the Multifidus, Rotatores, Serratus, External Oblique, etc., the spine must be rotated and or laterally flexed while being tractioned or decompressed. This can only be done with Antalgic-Trak’s multi-axis articulating features.
Fact 2 – Varied Spinal Posture
Antalgic-Trak can improve the comfort of the patient because it can change its posture to fit the patient. It does this by positioning the adjustable sections into a variety of positions that make the patient comfortable. These positional adjustments help relax the patient by accomodating to their antalgic posture of their condition.
Fact 3 – Tissue Effect
With linear decompression (1st generation machines), repetitive pulling in the same posture can irritate already injured or inflamed tissues. We can reduce this by varying the spine’s posture each session. Each posture variation changes how the pull-force moves through the spine.
Fact 4 – Pull Parameters
You can set the pull forces by “poundage” values or “distance” values.
POUNDAGE: When set for poundage, the system elongates the patient to varying lengths until the resistance sensors find the “set” poundage. As the patient relaxes, there is less tension on the resistance sensor. To compensate, the sensor tells the motors to elongate further to find the “set” poundage. In some instances, particularly with geriatric patients, constantly increasing the elongation, particularly in the first week of therapy, can injure tissues that are not yet acclimated to the treatment.
DISTANCE: When set for distance, the system will only elongate to a specific “set” distance. As the patient relaxes and there is less tension on the resistance sensor, the resistance sensor will “read” less poundage. However, the resistance sensor will not tell the motor to elongate further to seek the “set” poundage because the system was “set” for distance. This prevents over stretching or tearing of tight and taught non-elastic tissues giving them additional time to become elastic. Distance settings prevent tissue stretch injury. Each Spinetronics system includes this safety feature.