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Evaluating the Efficacy of Vertebral Axial Decompression Therapy in Treatment of Patients with Chronic Lower Back Pain: A Systematic Review

Received: 22 July 2019     Accepted: 29 September 2019     Published: 25 October 2019
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Abstract

The primary objective of the study was to explore the effectiveness of Vertebral Axial Decompression (VAX-D) in treating patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) as a safe and competent therapeutic method. Also, to determine the quality of life in alleviating chronic lumbar pain using mechanical Lumbar traction force applied to the lumbar spine. A systematic review and meta-analysis involving detailed literature survey on Vertebral Axial Decompression (VAX-D) therapy for patients with chronic low back pain were conducted in three databases namely MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library from (January 1994 to February 2019). Studies supporting the outcomes with qualitative statistical analysis on chronic low back pain and Lumbar traction were retrieved. We retrieved sixteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for systematic review, and 6 studies were found to be eligible for inclusion in meta-analysis with a sample size of 486 patients receiving Lumbar traction. Among them, one study was found to be high quality that detailed the positive relationship between reduction of pain intensity after VAX-D therapy. However, most of the studies are unsuccessful in demonstrating an improvement towards the patient's mobility or quality of life. There is no reliable indication of the efficacy of VAX-D therapy for chronic low back pain patients. Studies on VAX-D had methodological errors and inadequate data for profound statistical analysis. Further, there was no evidence to show the dosage requirement, patient position, and settings on the VAX-D table that led to observed outcomes. Any prospect of research focusing on LBP morbidity should enable to distinguish between symptom duration and pattern with accurate standard methods. Therefore, more studies validating the effective treatment strategies in the management of patients with chronic low back pain are warranted.

Published in Rehabilitation Science (Volume 4, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.rs.20190402.12
Page(s) 25-34
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2019. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Vertebral Axial Decompression, Chronic Low Back Pain, Lumbar Traction, Lumbar Spine, Quality of Life, Randomized Controlled Trials

References
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  • APA Style

    James McKivigan, Brittany Krisak, Brittni Vogel, Ashley Harrington, Van Nguyen. (2019). Evaluating the Efficacy of Vertebral Axial Decompression Therapy in Treatment of Patients with Chronic Lower Back Pain: A Systematic Review. Rehabilitation Science, 4(2), 25-34. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rs.20190402.12

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    ACS Style

    James McKivigan; Brittany Krisak; Brittni Vogel; Ashley Harrington; Van Nguyen. Evaluating the Efficacy of Vertebral Axial Decompression Therapy in Treatment of Patients with Chronic Lower Back Pain: A Systematic Review. Rehabil. Sci. 2019, 4(2), 25-34. doi: 10.11648/j.rs.20190402.12

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    AMA Style

    James McKivigan, Brittany Krisak, Brittni Vogel, Ashley Harrington, Van Nguyen. Evaluating the Efficacy of Vertebral Axial Decompression Therapy in Treatment of Patients with Chronic Lower Back Pain: A Systematic Review. Rehabil Sci. 2019;4(2):25-34. doi: 10.11648/j.rs.20190402.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.rs.20190402.12,
      author = {James McKivigan and Brittany Krisak and Brittni Vogel and Ashley Harrington and Van Nguyen},
      title = {Evaluating the Efficacy of Vertebral Axial Decompression Therapy in Treatment of Patients with Chronic Lower Back Pain: A Systematic Review},
      journal = {Rehabilitation Science},
      volume = {4},
      number = {2},
      pages = {25-34},
      doi = {10.11648/j.rs.20190402.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rs.20190402.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.rs.20190402.12},
      abstract = {The primary objective of the study was to explore the effectiveness of Vertebral Axial Decompression (VAX-D) in treating patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) as a safe and competent therapeutic method. Also, to determine the quality of life in alleviating chronic lumbar pain using mechanical Lumbar traction force applied to the lumbar spine. A systematic review and meta-analysis involving detailed literature survey on Vertebral Axial Decompression (VAX-D) therapy for patients with chronic low back pain were conducted in three databases namely MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library from (January 1994 to February 2019). Studies supporting the outcomes with qualitative statistical analysis on chronic low back pain and Lumbar traction were retrieved. We retrieved sixteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for systematic review, and 6 studies were found to be eligible for inclusion in meta-analysis with a sample size of 486 patients receiving Lumbar traction. Among them, one study was found to be high quality that detailed the positive relationship between reduction of pain intensity after VAX-D therapy. However, most of the studies are unsuccessful in demonstrating an improvement towards the patient's mobility or quality of life. There is no reliable indication of the efficacy of VAX-D therapy for chronic low back pain patients. Studies on VAX-D had methodological errors and inadequate data for profound statistical analysis. Further, there was no evidence to show the dosage requirement, patient position, and settings on the VAX-D table that led to observed outcomes. Any prospect of research focusing on LBP morbidity should enable to distinguish between symptom duration and pattern with accurate standard methods. Therefore, more studies validating the effective treatment strategies in the management of patients with chronic low back pain are warranted.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

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    AU  - James McKivigan
    AU  - Brittany Krisak
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    AB  - The primary objective of the study was to explore the effectiveness of Vertebral Axial Decompression (VAX-D) in treating patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) as a safe and competent therapeutic method. Also, to determine the quality of life in alleviating chronic lumbar pain using mechanical Lumbar traction force applied to the lumbar spine. A systematic review and meta-analysis involving detailed literature survey on Vertebral Axial Decompression (VAX-D) therapy for patients with chronic low back pain were conducted in three databases namely MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library from (January 1994 to February 2019). Studies supporting the outcomes with qualitative statistical analysis on chronic low back pain and Lumbar traction were retrieved. We retrieved sixteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for systematic review, and 6 studies were found to be eligible for inclusion in meta-analysis with a sample size of 486 patients receiving Lumbar traction. Among them, one study was found to be high quality that detailed the positive relationship between reduction of pain intensity after VAX-D therapy. However, most of the studies are unsuccessful in demonstrating an improvement towards the patient's mobility or quality of life. There is no reliable indication of the efficacy of VAX-D therapy for chronic low back pain patients. Studies on VAX-D had methodological errors and inadequate data for profound statistical analysis. Further, there was no evidence to show the dosage requirement, patient position, and settings on the VAX-D table that led to observed outcomes. Any prospect of research focusing on LBP morbidity should enable to distinguish between symptom duration and pattern with accurate standard methods. Therefore, more studies validating the effective treatment strategies in the management of patients with chronic low back pain are warranted.
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Author Information
  • School of Physical Therapy, Touro University, Henderson, USA

  • School of Physical Therapy, Touro University, Henderson, USA

  • School of Physical Therapy, Touro University, Henderson, USA

  • School of Physical Therapy, Touro University, Henderson, USA

  • School of Physical Therapy, Touro University, Henderson, USA

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