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Quote:

Originally Posted by numb (Post 861076)

Hi,
Did any one of you try DRX 9000? Is this machine only for the lumbar area or for the neck as well? Does it work and how much does it cost? $2500 for 24 times DRX treatment out of pocket according to one chiropractor.
Thanks,

It is traction, plain and simple (words from a DRX owner I know).....with a tremendous marketing approach! Traction by any name, works pretty well for some...not at all or made worse for others. It is a non-covered benefit by almost all if not all insurances (experimental) when billed as "spinal decompression." IMHO, that is why they make about $5000, cash, for a completed course.

On the other hand, "traction" as is conventionally done and billed is reimbursed by almost all insurances and is about $35 per session. Personally, I would take that route so if it doesn't work, you are not on the hook for $5K.

And from Medline...

Systematic literature review of spinal decompression via motorized traction for chronic discogenic low back pain.
Macario A, Pergolizzi JV.
SourceDepartment of Anesthesia, Stanford University School of Medcine, Stanford, California 94305-5640, USA. amaca@stanford.edu

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature to assess the efficacy of nonsurgical spinal decompression achieved with motorized traction for chronic discogenic lumbosacral back pain.

DESIGN: Computer-aided systematic literature search of MEDLINE and the Cochrane collaboration for prospective clinical trials on adults with low back pain in the English literature from 1975 to October 2005. Methodologic quality for each study was assessed. Studies were included if the intervention group received motorized spinal decompression and the comparison group received sham or another type of nonsurgical treatment.

RESULTS: Data from 10 studies were fully analyzed. Seven studies were randomized controlled trials using various apparatus types. Because of this low number, we also analyzed three nonrandomized case series studies of spinal decompression systems. As the overall quality of studies was low and the patient groups heterogeneous, a meta-analysis was not appropriate and a qualitative review was undertaken. Sample sizes averaged 121 patients (range 27-292), with six of the seven randomized studies reporting no difference with motorized spinal decompression and one study reporting reduced pain but not disability. The three unrandomized studies (no control group) of motorized spinal decompression found a 77% to 86% reduction in pain.

CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the efficacy of spinal decompression achieved with motorized traction for chronic discogenic low back pain remains unproved. This may be, in part, due to heterogeneous patient groups and the difficulties involved in properly blinding patients to the mechanical pulling mechanism. Scientifically more rigorous studies with better randomization, control groups, and standardized outcome measures are needed to overcome the limitations of past studies.