Backlife

Arnold Trachtenberg PTA, Director of Central Park Physical Therapy Center: “At Central Park Physical Therapy we had the opportunity to use the Backlife with a number of our patients who were being treated for various low back conditions.

A large majority of the patients who received a course of treatment with Backlife reported that their pain was reduced significantly following the treatment. The comments were that they had greater pain free rangeof motion, they were able to perform their activities of daily living with reduced pain and discomfort. Many of the patients stated that they felt that they were able to move with less pain and even were able to perform their prescribed back exercises with greater ease.

Based on the experience with Backlife at Central Park Physical Therapy I would recommend it to any orthopedic clinic that treats patients with back pain. It has roved to be an excellent adjunct to traditional treatments for low back pain”.



Brian PT, Central Park Physical Therapy Center: Brian says that Backlife can be used in early intervention:”I would recommend Backlife to patients who are in acute pain and are limited from using other types of early intervention.” Brian reports that Backlife works well as a passive range of motion (PROM) device, providing a viable alternative to other supine back treatments.



Juha Sinda, PT, Director of Brian Park Physical Therapy Center:”Most patients that used Backlife had positive comments” he says. “It provided relief from back pain, increases lumbar range or motion (ROM) and relaxed lumbar muscles”. “A large number of my patients would benefit from performing an anterior pelvic tilt –the same type of pelvic tilt provided by Backlife”.

BackLife - Helping the body repair itself

By: Dr. Eyal Lederman DO PhD

In the last two decades studies have shown that treating patients who had joint injury or surgery with passive motion tend to show better recovery. It has been since found that the body is very responsive to mechanical signals that the passive motion units (CPM) produce and that this stimulation helps it repair itself. Patients who receive CPM show better quality repair, faster rate of repair, less swelling and reduced pain.

BackLife is the first CPM units to have been developed for treating the lumber spine and its physiological affects on the body are probably similar to CPM developed for other joints. One of the first short-term study using patients with lower back problems have demonstrated a significant relief of lower back pain in patients using the BackLife CPM. One of its main physiological affects is by providing the mechanical signals that are necessary for stimulating and directing the repair process in spinal fact joint, ligaments muscles and tendons. The spinal disc being a connective tissue structure may also benefit from low stress passive movement for repair. Furthermore, disc damage often leads to swelling within the spinal canal resulting in pain and nerve root irritation (leg symptoms). Passive movement produced by BackLife may help drain such inflammatory swelling within the spinal canal, reducing pressure and resulting in pain relief and diminished leg symptoms. Another benefit of the passive motion produced by BackLife CPM is that it may help the sciatic nerve glide within its sheath helping reduce swelling and blood flow within the nerve sheath. Sciatic leg pain is often due to reduced blood supply and oxygen to the nerve itself.

In chronic spinal condition BackLife CPM probably works along the same physiological principle described above. In particular, conditions where there is low-level chronic inflammation and pain in spinal joints or discs. In facet joint wear and tear may disturb the intra capsular homeostasis leading to further slow destruction of the different joint's structures. In these conditions BackLife CPM may help assist the drainage of joint and preserve their physiological and mechanical integrity.

Chronic lower back pain of muscular origin is now recognized to arise from mental stress and not just mechanical over-loading of the muscles. It has been shown that patient with these musculoskeletal conditions have an inability to relax their muscle either during the work period or leisure time. Some of the effects of BackLife may be attributed to promoting regular relaxation period during which back muscles can "switch off." This effect would be amplified by the gentle low amplitude and low frequency movement that BackLife provides. Furthermore, muscle pain can arise form increased intramuscular pressure due to muscle damage. Movement either passive or active is a potent stimulus for facilitating flow in muscle. It is not unreasonable to hypothesis that this may take place by the gentle flexion-extension movement of the spine produced by BackLife CPM.

I can envisage the use of BackLife as an important therapeutic adjunct in several clinical scenarios. Most acute lower back injury patient could benefit from immediate short-term use with small likelihood for adverse side effects. It could help reduce pain in the lower back as well as alleviate some of the associated leg symptoms. This would also apply to chronic back injuries or degenerative conditions of the spinal complex. In this group of patient longer period of use may be required. Furthermore, chronic lower back pain sufferers who have sedentary jobs that contribute to their condition may benefit from regular dynamic stimulation of the spine using BackLife.

March 8th , 2002

To whom it may concern,

I have been involved with the Backlife project for the past two years. I was responsible for the very first feasibility assessment study of Backlife with patients suffering from low back pain. These patients were referred to the Backlife treatment from the Unit for Surgery of the Spine at Meir hospital, Kfar-Saba, Israel. I was excited by the response of the majority of patients after using the device.

The results of the study are promising. More than 75% of patients were satisfied with the device and their responses indicated that Backlife had significantly helped them with their lower back pain.

The Backlife device functions as a CPM (continues passive movement ) apparatus and incorporates proven therapy techniques used by experts. This unique treatment regimen is currently available only in professional clinics, and has never before been presented for home use. Backlife is a user- friendly device, allowing treatment without professional supervision.

In addition to the initial study, we are planning to start a Multi Center Study in three leading medical centers, in the very near future. We are very encouraged with the pilot study results.

Over the past10 years our department has successfully treated more then 100,000 patients with back pain. I will actively encourage my patients to purchase and use Backlife once it is available as a consumer product.

Once the product becomes available, I will be happy to endorse Backlife, along with the findings of the studies, at International professional conferences.

Sincerely Yours,
Dr. Reuven Gepstein
Head
Unit For Surgery Of The Spine - Meir Hospital, Israel

The golden rule is:
If you can have physiotherapy you can use Backlife

Backlife is a safe device, which has been scientifically tested and found not to cause any damage or to aggravate the patient’s condition.

However there are cases in which we recommend you consult your doctor prior to using Backlife.





These Are:

* If you have had back surgery, including spinal fusion, in the last year or thigh surgery in the last six months.

* If you suffer from Listesis - spinal dis-algiment from grade 2 and above.

* In cases where there is central pressure on the spinal cord with the following symptoms: poor balance, urinating problems and numbness in both legs.

* If you are Pregnant.

THE 12-MINUTE CURE FOR CHRONIC BACKACHE
by Martyn Halle

Scientists have invented a machine which treats back pain without the patient having to move. Traditionally, patients with lower back pain are encouraged to do physical exercise as part of their treatment.

Now experts have devised a machine that can carry out continuous passive movement (CPM) exercises in the home.

Machines have been used to exercise damaged shoulder and knee joints, but no one had applied the technology to lower back pain, which affects up to 80 per cent of the population at some stage in their life.

To use the device, patients lie on their back with their legs draped over a column which sits behind their knees. The electrically powered Backlife then performs an elliptical motion, pulling the legs upwards. This stretches the lower back forward applying traction to the vertebrae in the spine.

Several hospital trials using the device have shown an improvement in back pain relief. One study in Israel demonstrated that patients treated with Backlife reported a 70 per cent improvement in pain relief compared to 8 per cent for patients receiving a dummy treatment.

North London osteopath Dr Eyal Lederman says the device is highly effective. "It does the work of an osteopath or physiotherapist in a very accurate way.

"Damaged backs need exercising, but there is a danger that too much over-strenuous exercise could cause damage. Laying down and using the Backlife for 12 minutes a couple of times a day will help bring relief and promote healing.

"The gentle rocking motion repeatedly contracts and releases the lower back if it is stiff or locked.

"A session lasts 12 minutes and you will get about a dozen movements of the back in that time. It uses the scientific knowledge we have that back pain and injury responds best to exercise.

"It is controlled so there is virtually no likelihood of any more damage being done to an injured back.

"Research has shown that not exercising a damaged back can worsen the injury. You can get adhesions - a sticking together of tissue caused by chemicals released by injured muscles or soft tissue."

Nicola Lee, 32, who works as a medical adviser for the Royal College of Nursing, put her back out a year ago while cycling near her home in Co. Durham.

She made things worse when working in her garden and has two slipped discs.

Nicola has just started to use a £250 Backlife machine and hopes it will ease her pain and encourage her slipped discs back into place.

"There is the prospect of surgery if I can't get the discs sorted out," she says. "I'm hoping the machine will help the discs pop back by relaxing the compression of my vertebrae.

"The gentle stretching is helping and the machine has given me more mobility. But I haven't had it long enough to tell if the improvement will last. "I suspect it will be the long-term effect of using the machine that will make the difference.

"Now I'm in a lot less pain and am able to do such everyday things as taking my dog for a walk without any stiffness or discomfort. The traction used by the machine on the spine is very gentle and I feel I is helping when I use it." Backlife was developed by Israeli doctors but was devised by the son of an El Al airline pilot who suffered from chronic back pain and was on the verge of giving up his career. The machine has allowed him to carry on flying. "Backlife stimulates movement between the facet joints in the spine. This decreases the stress between the vertebrae and relaxes the muscles and tendons," says Dr Steve Lamm, a medical adviser to Backlife.

"We had X-rays of the spine taken before a rotation of the machine and during it. They showed the increase in the distance between the vertebrae during the treatment session."

Several hospitals have acquired machines for their physiotherapy departments. And the developers hope they may be bought by GP surgeries who can then loan them to patients.

Almost half the population gets back trouble but as 23-year-old Aston Villa striker Darius Vassell tells HILARY FREEMAN, he copes - with an ingenious new gadget he can use at home.

On February 13, 2002 all eyes were on a shy 21-year-old as he ran on to the pitch for his first England match. The team was losing 1-0 to Holland but fans expected little from the young striker. Then David Beckham crossed the ball and the new boy took his chance, smashing it into the back of the net. The crowd roared. England had equalised and Darius Vassell had arrived.

Since then Darius has earned 15 England caps. He has also become a formidable goal scoring force in his Premiership club, Aston Villa. But he has fought against the scourge of all footballers: injury. In addiion to knee and ankel problems, Darius has also suffered from lower back pain - an affliction which affects half the population.

Footballers are particularly prone to it. Villa's chartered physiotherapist, Alan Smith, says: "Running, stretching and twisting on hard ground puts terrible stress on a player's spine and joints."

But now Darius has become one of the first people in the UK to use a revolutionary machine which brings hospital technology into the home. The player is now pain-free and hasn't missed a game through back trouble since he started using the Backlife device three months ago.

Born and brought up in Birmingham, Darius was first spotted by a Villa talent scout at 11. He joined the youth team and was selected for the first team in 1998 when he was 18. He scored twice on his debut, a UEFA cup match against Swedish team Stromsgodset. "I scored two goals in just 10 minutes," he says. "It was incredible and the fans went mad. You can't explain the feeling - I wanted to do it again and again. We were losing two-one when I came on the pitch and I felt like I had saved the team. After the match I went home and watched it on TV with my mum. That day and my England debut are the highlights of my career."


The low points have been when injuries have kept him on the sidelines. "No footballer can avoid accidents," he says. "You feel frustrated that you'll lose your place in the team and have to fight your way back. It's every player's nightmare. Whenever I'm feeling down, I watch my England debut on video. Knowing I've scored for my country - that I've been selected to play for it and that the nation is cheering me on - is a big confidence boost."

Alan Smith says that at least four of Villa's 30-man squad suffer from back pain and this figure is probably reflected throughout the country's top football clubs. Darius says: "I've sometimes suffered from lower back pain and stiffness. It's important to keep my back loose and flexible. The looser it is, the less likely you are to injure the rest of your body, particularly your legs. So when the physio suggested I give Backlife a try, I was interested to see if it could help."

The machine was developed by scientists in Israel. It's only 46cm high and 40cm wide but very powerful. A back pain sufferer lies on their back with their knees bent over the top of the machine and it moves their pelvis gently in a regular circular motion. This relieves pressure on the spinal vertebrae and discs while massaging the back and relaxing the muscles.

It's particularly effective for those with a slipped disc or trapped nerve. The device works on the same principle as a medical procedure known as continuous passive movement (CPM).

Research has found that when damaged joints are manipulated, the injury heals more quickly and effectively. Basic osteopathy and physiotherapy are based on this knowledge.

CPM expert Dr Eyal Lederman, of the General Osteopathic Council, says: "The Backlife method is very gentle, required no medical supervision and there is little chance of patients suffering adverse reactions. It's also safe for children to use. For the best possible results, it should be used three times a day for 12 minutes."

Darius says his pain is reduced and regular use of the machine has made his lower back feel looser: "I've definitely noticed an improvement," he says. "It took a few weeks to feel the benefits but now I'm much less stiff."

Alan Smith believes the proof is in Darius's goal-scoring performance - he has chalked up seven goals in his last eight Premiership matches.