Clinical Consult

I recall that this subject may have already been discussed on the blog but I am unable to find the entry.

I did a lit search on VAX-D, DRX9000 and non-surgical decompression therapy (marketing terms seemed like a good place to start).  There is some evidence:

1. effect on nerve conduction http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?itool=abstractplus&db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=abstractplus&list_uids=11680509

2. mechanism of the treatment http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?itool=abstractplus&db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=abstractplus&list_uids=8057141

3. I found one RCT which compared VAX-D to TENS http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?itool=abstractplus&db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=abstractplus&list_uids=11680522

4. interestingly there is was case of sudden progression of disc protrusion reported during treatment http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=14661685&query_hl=4&itool=pubmed_docsum .
Has anyone done a systematic review on this subject as some chiropractors in my area are doing extensive marketing of these devices and I’d like to know a little bit more about the evidence in support of, or against their use. 

Greg

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