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Physical therapy
Physical therapy for the spine can be divided into passive and active therapies. Passive therapies are those that are applied to the patient by the physical therapist, including modalities such as ultrasound, electric muscle stimulation, traction, heat and ice, and manual therapy. Self-administration of appropriate modalities by the patient, when possible, is advocated frequently.
Almost 50 years ago, however, a technique known as "Spinal Mobilization" (not to be confused with "manipulation", a technique performed by chiropractors), the gentle passive movement of vertebrae, became a widely accepted intervention among physical therapists to treat spine dysfunctions and pain. Through a variety of manual techniques by pressing over the vertebrae and positioning the patient, small movements of stiffened or fixed vertebral joints are elicited and in turn, helping to restore the spine’s flexibility and mobility. Unfortunately, these techniques are difficult to perform manually with enough consistency and intensity for a sustained period of time, and while effective when performed by the most skilled and trained physical therapists, for most, results with manually performed mobilization treatments have been modest.
The Advanced Spinal Mobilization Instrument device was developed to address the difficulty in performing manual mobilization and has become the basis of a carefully designed and novel therapeutic procedure.
The patented instrument has been available in the United Kingdom, Australia and Ireland for over five years where independent back care clinics, medical offices or hospitals have conducted treatments by physical therapy specialists.