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Q. What does the IDD in IDD Therapy® stand for?IDD stands for Intervertebral Differential Dynamics. Intervertebral describes the location of the focus of the treatment, differential describes the pressure differential created within the disc and dynamic describes the dynamic mobilization of a targeted spinal structure.
Q. How does IDD Therapy® work?DD Therapy® applies the latest computer technology to our understanding of physics and biomechanics to deliver a computer directed physiotherapeutic treatment protocol that is capable of distracting, or drawing apart, two targeted vertebrae surrounding a disc. The distraction relieves pressure on the vertebrae and importantly creates a negative pressure within the intervertebral disc. The negative pressure promotes the diffusion of fluid, nutrients and oxygen into the disc. Secondary mechanical oscillating waveforms release spasmodic behaviour in the supporting soft tissues and increase strength and flexibility in those soft tissues to restore function and mobility.
Q. How does IDD Therapy® focus on a specific spinal segment?Lumbar Spine (Lower back): During treatment the patient is lying on their back (supine position) with their knees bent and this flattens the curve of the lower spine. By selecting the angle of the application of the controlled force, the point of focus of the force can be directed to the specific spinal segment. With the application of the force focused in this manner, the delivery of the force, which is carefully controlled by computer and features unique delivery mechanisms, allows for two vertebrae to be distracted whilst the patient is in a completely relaxed state.
Cervical Spine (Neck): The same principal of altering the angle of distraction to focus on a specific spinal segment applies equally to the vertebral levels of the cervical spine.
Q. What is the difference between IDD Therapy® and traction?In traction a simple pulling force is applied in a linear fashion along the entire length of the spine therefore making traction non-specific. With IDD Therapy® , the point of application of the force is focused on a specific spinal segment by using angles associated with each segment of the spine. IDD Therapy® also has a secondary mechanical oscillating waveform to mobilise spinal structures and promote the rehabilitation of supporting soft tissues.
Q. What is the significance of negative pressure and diffusion?Diffusion is the process whereby molecules transfer from an area of high pressure or concentration to an area of low pressure or concentration. Creating a negative pressure within a disc creates a “sucking” action, that draws in fluid, nutrients and oxygen from the surrounding tissues where the pressure is higher, into the disc where there is a low pressure. This is to stimulate the hydration of the disc, so essential for maintaining disc height and disc health, and to promote healing.
Q. What are the implications of a negative pressure for a herniated disc?Where someone has a herniated disc, the “sucking” action created by the negative pressure draws the bulging disc nucleus back into the disc, thus relieving pressure on the nerves. The location of the herniation does not affect the action of the negative pressure.
Q. When the treatment stops will the herniated disc nucleus simply seep out again?The fibres of the disc wall (anulus fibrosus) are set in a lattice like structure at 30 degrees to one another in a normal healthy disc. If there is a loss of disc height the angle between the fibres reduces and the walls lose strength. As the nucleus is drawn back into the disc, the fibres that make up the disc walls are realigned towards their natural position of strength at 30 degrees to one another. Fluid and nutrients drawn into the disc (a disc does not have its own blood supply and relies on diffusion for nutrition) will encourage metabolism and the healing process of the weakened disc walls, or where there is a tear to encourage the closure of the tear through healing. At the same time, IDD Therapy® re-educates the supporting soft tissues by increasing strength and flexibility to better support the joint.
Herniated discs appear to respond most favorably to IDD Therapy® when MRI shows lateral herniation with impingement. Mild central bulging typically take a little longer, patients with multiple herniations may require additional sessions.
Q. What are the limitations of manual adjustments of the spine?Manual adjustments can help to realign the vertebrae when they are out of line however manual adjustments typically address certain conditions only. Lateral and rotating adjustments can be performed by manual manipulation and some vertical movement is possible in the form of wedging in certain techniques such as Cox Flexion/Distraction. However using manual manipulation, it is almost impossible to perform a pure vertical movement in the vertebrae that is critical to achieving decompression of the intervertebral disc.
Furthermore the ability to maintain that movement for a period of 25 to 30 minutes, to measure and record the applied force, to apply exactly the same force repeatedly and make adjustments where necessary is impossible with manual manipulation. This is a key component of the Accu-SPINA® device and IDD Therapy® .
Q. Is IDD Therapy® painful?IDD Therapy® is a very safe, non-invasive treatment that is gentle and carefully controlled. On the contrary of being painful, IDD Therapy® is very relaxing with many patients actually going to sleep during treatment. At the end of treatment, patients can feel elated from the release of natural endorphins in the body.
Q. Do I need to have a scan?Yes. An MRI or suitable scan will form part of the diagnosis process, so important to establish or confirm the position in the spine of a possible problem, thus enabling the appropriate IDD Therapy® protocols to be applied.
Q. Do I have to do any exercises?IDD Therapy® provides a computer directed method of applying and achieving physical therapy treatment objectives without requiring the patient to participate in any exhaustive or painful exercise regimen.
You will not have to run a marathon or swim 10km every day for the rest of your life but a common sense approach should be adopted to keeping yourself healthy, fit and active.
Q. When will I start to feel better?Many patients may feel relief from pain soon into the treatment as pressure on the nerves is relieved. However it is essential to complete the course of treatment in order for gradual physiological changes to occur to give you the best chance for long term pain relief. Different people will react differently depending on their condition and the length of time they have had their problem.
Q. What are the side-effects?There are no known adverse side-effects as IDD Therapy® does not require injections or pain medications and does not involve surgery. Some patients may experience muscle spasms during early treatments as changes in the body are being encouraged. In such moments, the treatment is paused and some massage may be given to the patient before the treatment is resumed. Some soreness may be felt in the muscles as they adapt to changes, a similar feeling to after exercise though this passes as the muscles get stronger.
There are many positive side-effects to the treatment and we will be delighted to hear from you if you wish to share your experience.
Q. Are there any features in the treatment that assist with relaxation?In-built into the treatment is a heated vibrating pad that is fully adjustable. This warms the muscles in the back to encourage blood flow into the area and the vibrating massage pad relaxes the muscles. An interferential facility is available in the treatment where patients require additional temporary pain relief. A relaxing blue light helps to encourage a calm state of mind, so essential for successful treatment and a selection of music played through headphones lets you take your mind off things whilst your body goes to work.
Q. Are there any conditions that make treatment with IDD Therapy® unsuitable?IDD Therapy® on the Accu-SPINA® is an inherently safe procedure that can be used, without complications for a wide variety of anatomical dysfunctions of the lumbar and cervical spine. Patients with the following conditions should NOT however be treated with IDD Therapy® .
• Osteoporosis T-Score of - 2.5 or greater
• Recent Vertebral Fractures
• Spondylolisthesis (Grade 2 or higher)
• Spondylolysis
• Unstable Post Surgical Conditions
• Any kind of surgical hardware
• Inflammatory, infectious, or neoplastic conditions
• Pregnancy
• Malignancies, tumors or metastases in the spine
• Pathological lesions or congenital deformities of the vertebral column
• Progressive pathological or inflammatory processes of the spinal joints or muscles
Q. Are there any injections or pain medications I must take?Some medical professionals advise the use of anti-inflammatory medications and muscle relaxants for certain patients in the early stages of treatment. The objective of IDD Therapy® is to prevent the need for injections and to eliminate the need for patients to use pain medications.
Q. I have had surgery already, can I still have IDD Therapy® ?Treatment with IDD Therapy® at some stage following spinal surgery is NOT CONTRA-INDICATED unless there is surgical hardware in your spine. Patients with pain following certain surgical procedures such as laminectomy or micro-discectomy can still benefit from IDD Therapy® . IDD Therapy® has been used as a follow-up therapy for patients that continue to complain of post-surgical back pain. 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.
Where a patient has undergone a spinal fusion, it is necessary to wait a minimum of 6 months before undergoing IDD Therapy® .
Q. How much does the treatment cost?Treatment costs do of course vary by location and provider and we encourage you to contact your nearest provider directly.
Q. What are the safety features of the treatment?IDD Therapy® is computer controlled and mechanical by nature and so if at any time during treatment you feel pain, or need to cough or sneeze, there is a safety switch controlled by you that when activated stops the treatment in a controlled manner. The Accu-SPINA® is a highly engineered device with many other inbuilt safety features that eliminate risks posed by electrical surges, power shut off or other outside interferences.
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