YYC Sport and Spine

MedX is recognized as the Gold Standard for treating and reducing chronic back pain and dysfunction through specific spinal strengthening. Over the last 15 years, the Universities of Florida and San Diego, along with various orthopedic clinics around the world, have published some of the most compelling research to date. This research shows that specific spinal strengthening exercises using the MedX Lumbar Rehab help people get better, even after multiple failed attempts at other forms of treatment.

How It Works
The MedX Lumbar extension Machines have been clinically proven to be extremely effective in the treatment of chronic back. Until MedX developed their patented restraint systems, there was never an effective way to isolate and strengthen the muscles of the spine.

Many companies have “Low Back” exercise machines that claim to strengthen the back. Clinical research has proven that these machines actually strengthen the hamstrings and gluteus muscles. A controlled study done by the University of Florida showed that people who worked out on two different “Low Back Machines” for 12 weeks actually gained no strength at all in their lumbar extensor muscles, although their hamstring and gluteus muscles did improve significantly.

Rehabilitation providers worldwide have seen excellent outcomes using the MedX Lumbar. This is attributed to medical evidence that shows that the majority of patients with chronic spinal pain are significantly “deconditioned”. Weakness of the musculature of the spine can lead to many conditions such as herniated discs, facet syndrome, and degenerative joint disease. A strong spine provides a strong foundation that allows for healthy spaces between the vertebrae, which helps prevent spinal compression.

With more than 100 published articles in peer-reviewed journals, MedX has been shown to be the most effective way to rehab your back.

In short – if you have done other treatments for your low back pain only to get temporary relief, weakness and instability is likely the reason the pain returns. If you strengthen and stabilize your back – you are far less likely to have a recurrence.

Non surgical spinal decompression is an effective and pain free way of treating chronic back and neck pain caused by degenerative disc disease, disc bulging/herniations, facet syndrome, and osteoarthritis.

Your spine is composed of 24 vertebra stacked on top of one another with discs In between to provide cushioning and allow movement. Think of a disc as a jelly doughnut- the outside of the disc is made of fibrous rings called the annulus fibrosis and the inner gel is like the jelly inside the doughnut called the nucleus pulposis.

When the outer part of the disc is injured or has worn down (degenerated) the inner jelly can be squished through the tears in the disc – like jelly out of a jelly doughnut. Pain is caused by tears in the disc itself or from pinching or irritating nerves from the bulging or herniated disc.

Decompression works by gently stretching open the disc space creating a negative pressure in the disc. This negative pressure acts to reduce the bulging and irritation and draw fluids (water, oxygen and nutrients) into the disc thereby relieving the pain and stimulating healing in the disc.

By relieving the compression/irritation of the nerves and healing the tears in the disc – pain relief is achieved. Most people find decompression treatment relaxing and comfortable – in fact some people fall asleep during the treatment.

Most people will need between 15 – 20 treatments to heal the disc and achieve lasting pain relief.

Shockwave therapy accelerates the healing process in the body by stimulating metabolism and enhancing blood circulation to regenerate damaged tissue. Strong energy pulses are applied to the affected area.

How It Works
These pulses occur for short periods of time, creating micro-cavitation bubbles that expand and burst. The force created by these bubbles penetrates tissue and stimulates cells in the body that are responsible for bone and connective tissue healing. In many instances, shockwave therapy is most effective in cases where the human body has not been able to heal itself on its own. According to the Journal of Orthopedic Research and the Journal of the American Medical Association – shockwave therapy has a success rate of 90% for plantar fasciitis and 91% for calcific tendonitis of the shoulder. Most conditions only require 3-6 treatments once a week.

We most commonly treat : Plantar fasciitis/heel spurs, achillies tendonitis, Morton’s neuroma, rotator cuff injuries, golfers elbow, tennis elbow, jumpers knee, ligament injuries to the knee, shin splints, and hip bursitis.

Low level laser therapy (LLLT) utilises a beam of electromagnetic waves of a single frequency and defined wavelength to promote tissue healing and pain relief in a broad spectrum of soft tissue injuries and diseases.

How It Works
The term Laser is the acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emmision of Radiation. A laser light is monochromatic, collimated, and coherent. A laser is a device that produces such a light. Low level laser therapy (LLLT) is usedto treat various musculoskeletal condition. LLLT is a non-invasive light source treatment that generates a single wavelength of light. It emits no heat, sound, or vibration. It is also called photobiology or biostimulation. LLLT is believed to affect the function of connective tissue cells (fibroblasts), accelerate connective tissue repair and act as an anti-inflammatory agent. Lasers with different wavelengths, varying from 632 to 904 nm, are used in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.

What the above means is that low level laser stimulates healing in damaged tissue. It is not tissue specific – so can reduce pain and inflammation, and accelerate healing in many tissue types, therefore is effective in treating many different conditions.

Active Release Technique Therapy is a patented, state of the art soft tissue system/movement based technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves.

How It Works:
Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently with Active Release Technique Therapy. Problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves often develop from postural strain, repetitive strain, trauma, and/or chronic inflammation. This can lead to the formation of scar tissue or adhesions within and between the muscles and fascia and other surrounding structures. This prevents proper function, loss of strength, and causes pain. ART serves to break these adhesions thereby restoring proper function to the associated structures.