Scoliosis Treatment NYC;

Non-surgical and Non-bracing method that is reliable and repeatable with documented clinical results:

Comparing lumbar rotation muscle activation levels in an upright weight bearing poition – before, and during an ATM2 treatment.

Following are two graphs showing left and right lumbar muscle activation levels as a function of time while a subject is standing in an upright weight-bearing position and rotating his spine to the left and then to the right repeatedly. The first spinal rotation is to the left side.

So far we have done this with about 10-12 subjects and these improvements in muscle activation patterns are 100% repeatable.

Before ATM2 Scoliosis Treatment:

Many studies have shown the essential nature of reciprocal inhibition that allows the antagonistic muscle to relax as the agonist elicits a concentric contraction.  As can be seen in the “before” Surface EMG study, this essential relaxation is not occurring, but instead, the antagonistic muscle is activating quite extensively.  This phenomenon is called many different things, but regardless of the name, it is NOT conducive to a proper path of motion of any given joint.  The offending antagonistic muscle is performing an eccentric contraction as it is being lengthened and thus puts undue stresses on the related joint and also causes an altered path of motion, further stressing the joint.

This problem occurs due to the fact that when any given skeletal muscle is “Hyper” tonic, the excitation potential of that muscle is increased, thus causing it to activate before or, as can be seen here, even when it is supposed to be relaxing.  This hyper tonicity may come from several different physiological aspects, but if the muscle spindle fibers are shortened as a result of a hypertonic muscle, they too would activate during any type of lengthening and therefore elicit the stretch reflex, causing the muscle to activate, even during lengthening.  As seen here:

(click to enlarge)

During ATM2 Treatment:

By stabilizing the pelvis using the ATM 2, reciprocal inhibition can do it’s assigned task (causing the antagonistic muscle to relax) without the interference of the hyperactive muscle spindle fibers, thus retraining the antagonistic muscle and resulting in the proper path of motion of the joint, proper relaxation of the antagonistic muscle and alleviation of pain.  (Note the proper relaxation of the antagonistic muscle after treatment as documented by this surface EMG study).

As seen here:

(click to enlarge)

A scoliosis patient’s experience with Active Therapeutic Movements on the ATM2:

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When I turned 12 or 13, I started to get kyphosis and lordosis in my back. My mother was always trying to get me to stand up straight and I tried to the best of my ability. I went to physical therapy and was given floor exercises to do with no results. In the 8th and 9th grades I was placed in Adaptive PE. That did nothing for my back and a lot to mess up my confidence! Over the years I discovered that there were certain styles of clothing that I could not wear and I learned how to dress to some what camouflage the kyphosis and lordosis.

At the age of 54, I was back in physical therapy due to a frozen shoulder. My back was really messed up trying to live with pain and a small range of motion in my shoulder. At my second meeting with the physical therapist, he said that he could help straighten up my back and reduce the kyphosis and lordosis once my shoulder was treated.

The first time on the ATM is very memorable because when I got into my car I had to adjust the rearview mirror and could feel my hair brushing against the head rest! I had brought my camera with me and we took after photos. I wish we would have thought about before photos! After a few months of using the ATM twice a week, I could wear blouses that didn’t sit on my lordosis shelf, I could wear necklines that I couldn’t with kyphosis and I could wear dresses that fell over my body the way they should. The physical therapist was surprised that at my age we were able to change my body that much.

The ATM gave me a physical and mental make over! Thank you!

I decided that I wanted an ATM for my home so that I could continue to keep my kyphosis, lordosis and back pain at bay. I went on line and discovered that there was a home version being made for market. I contacted the company and arranged to get a home model. My physical therapist and I have arranged for me to visit him about once every 6 weeks to monitor my progress.

-Vallorie Borchardt

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UNEXPECTED EFFECT OF THE ATM2TM WHILE TREATING A PATIENT WITHADHESIVE CAPSULITISIMPACT ON IDIOPATHIC SCOLIOSIS

Clare Lewis PT, PsyD2, FAAOMPT

George Drysdale MPT

Introduction

The ATM2TM is a standing treatment table used for the .treatment of spine, shoulder and hip problems involving loss ofROM.Subject:The patient was a 55-year-old teacher with a diagnosis ofadhesive capsulitis. After less than satisfactory results fromconservative care, surgical manipulation was performed. ROMwas improved, however the patient still lacked functional ROM.Physical therapy evaluation revealed dysfunction might beimproved by addressing patient’s upper thoracic kyphosis(which upon palpation revealed decreased joint play) since fullshoulder elevation requires normal mobility of the upperthoracic spine. It was decided to do a trial treatment utilizing theATM2TM as a means to gain joint play of the thoracic spine.

Methods & Materials

The ATM2TM was used to help attain mild mobilization withmovement for the thoracic spine. This was achieved by havingthe patient set up facing the unit. Her thoracic spine wasstabilized inferior to the area needing mobility. The posteriorspinal segments were oscillated gently against the resistanceband as the patient preformed active backward bendingmovements. She performed 10 repetitions the first treatment toscreen for deleterious effects. At 2nd treatment, patientperformed 3 sets of 10-15 reps facing the ATM2TM. She alsocompleted 3 sets of 10 repetitions with her back and her side tothe ATM2TM. Patient was seen 2-3 times a week forapproximately 14 weeks.

(click to enlarge)

Results

Objective measurements included shoulder ROM, pain leveland height measurement. ROM post intervention showed again of 70-130 degrees in the left arm which restoredshoulder ROM to equal bilaterally. Although treatmentwasn’t aimed at the right arm, patient also gained 40 degreesin the right arm from the ATM intervention aimed atthoracic mobility. Patient gained 1/2 inch in height and painlevel was now 0/10 (from an initial pain level of 9/10).Based on both visual inspection and photos taken before andafter intervention, the patient’s spinal deformity was 80-90%better. Pt noted after the first ATM2TM treatment that herhead now touched the headrest of her car indicating a changein her posture. At discharge patient related the unexpectedbenefit of a straighter spine was being able to wear clothes that she previously was unable to wear.

Conclusion

Treatment utilizing the ATM2TM for a patient withAdhesive Capsulitis with restricted thoracic mobility,resulted in not only restored shoulder ROM but also theunexpected improvement of a lifelong scoliosis of thespine. This is the first case report to document correctionof scoliosis while using the ATM2TM.This patient was referred to physical therapy for thetreatment of limited shoulder ROM; not scoliosis. Anunexpected outcome was noted after treatment, that ofimproved spinal alignment. As a result of the visiblechange in her spine the patient also derived an improvedself-concept of her body image with an unexpectedpsychosocial improvement also noted. As choices in themanagement of scoliosis are limited, this study points to aneed to do randomized controlled trials of the ATM2TM asa possible modality in the treatment of scoliosis.

Special Message from Dr. Sadovnik

Dr. Sadovnik has worked extensively with Scoliosis patient in the clinical setting.  Having 2 years of post-doctoral education in brain based neurological rehabiliation as well as the soft, flexible SpineCor bracing system.

After many years of experience Dr. Sadovnik recognized that:

1. Patient’s who were not good candidates for bracing or surgery (or didn’t want surgery) had very little options, if any, for successful treatment.

2. Patient compliance with wearing the brace was poor (if you don’t wear it – it won’t help)

3. Most patients wanted to avoid surgery at all costs

Because of this Dr. Sadovnik began investing alternate methods of treatment that were reliable and repeatable.  As Dr. Sadovnik continued to investigate options he found that the ATM2 when coupled with his unique protocol was the only method of reliable and verifiable treatment that gave consistent outcomes.

If you’d like to learn more or find out if you or your child may benefit from Dr. Sadovnik’s scoliosis exercise protocol with the ATM we offer a complimentary Phone consultation.

Call now at 646-770-0916 to speak with Dr. Sadovnik personally.