Intersegmental Traction

Overview

What does the roller table do?

Risks

What to expect with Intersegmental traction

Success

Intersegmental Traction “Roller Table” in Scottsdale

  • Overview

The first roller table was developed in 1937
[1]

Trusted Source

United States Patent Office

Governmental authority

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by Dr. Ollie N. Donnahoe and was named the “spinalator”. Dr. Donnahoe came up with the idea for the table after noticing patients were getting improved results after spinal adjustments when the tension of the spine was reduced and mobilized.
[2]

Asheville Citizen-Times

Local Newspaper

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The roller tables today continue to do the exact same thing since 1937.

  • What does the roller table do?

The intervertebral discs in our spine have poor circulation of blood;
[3]

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Academic textbook

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Written for professionals

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[4]

Trusted Source

Academic textbook

Backed by various research articles

Written for professionals

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[5]

Trusted Source

Academic textbook

Backed by various research articles

Written for professionals

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so, the only way to get the nutritional fluids the discs need is by moving these discs through their ranges of motion.

Joint misalignments in the spine can prevent the spine from moving through its full range of motion which can cause degeneration and thinning of the discs.
[3]

Trusted Source

Academic textbook

Backed by various research articles

Written for professionals

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[4]

Trusted Source

Academic textbook

Backed by various research articles

Written for professionals

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[5]

Trusted Source

Academic textbook

Backed by various research articles

Written for professionals

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When the postural muscles, especially around the spine, are under constant strain due to injury or poor posture, the muscles go into spasm.

The intersegmental table works by using the patient’s own weight to create traction without any additional hardware.

Other benefits of the roller table include:

  • Increased Joint motion: when the rollers underneath the table move up and down the spine, it passively mobilizes the facet joints of the spine.
    [6]

    Back be Nimble

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  • Improved circulation: by gently stretching the muscles and soft tissues around the spine, it increases blood flow which brings additional oxygen to the area.

  • Muscle relaxation: Cyriax Testing and EMG shows that there is muscle relaxation and that the roller table breaks up spasms in deep spinal muscles.
    [6]

    Back be Nimble

    Manufacturer’s website

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The roller table is great for conditions like:

  • Lumbar facet (posterior joint) syndrome
    [6]

    Back be Nimble

    Manufacturer’s website

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  • Scoliosis, Hyperkyphosis and/or anterior posture syndromes
    [6]

    Back be Nimble

    Manufacturer’s website

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  • Stress and tension
    [6]

    Back be Nimble

    Manufacturer’s website

    Go to source
    [7]

    Armedica Manufacturing Corporation

    Manufacturer’s website

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  • General joint stiffness or hypomobility
    [6]

    Back be Nimble

    Manufacturer’s website

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  • Ankylosing Spondylitis
    [6]

    Back be Nimble

    Manufacturer’s website

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  • Retrolisthesis
    [6]

    Back be Nimble

    Manufacturer’s website

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  • Osteoarthritis or degenerative spondylosis
    [6]

    Back be Nimble

    Manufacturer’s website

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  • Muscular spasm
    [6]

    Back be Nimble

    Manufacturer’s website

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    [7]

    Armedica Manufacturing Corporation

    Manufacturer’s website

    Go to source
  • General spinal maintenance
    [6]

    Back be Nimble

    Manufacturer’s website

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Call for an Appointment

480-585-5577

or Request an Appointment Online

Call for an Appointment

480-585-5577

or Request an Appointment Online

  • Risks

The roller table does not typically carry any risks unless you have:

  • Infection or malignancies that affect the spine or surrounding tissue
    [6]

    Back be Nimble

    Manufacturer’s website

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  • Spondylolisthesis or other severe spinal instability
    [6]

    Back be Nimble

    Manufacturer’s website

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  • An acute herniated disc with or without “sciatica”
    [6]

    Back be Nimble

    Manufacturer’s website

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  • Rib or spine fracture
    [6]

    Back be Nimble

    Manufacturer’s website

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    [7]

    Armedica Manufacturing Corporation

    Manufacturer’s website

    Go to source
  • Severe osteoporosis
    [6]

    Back be Nimble

    Manufacturer’s website

    Go to source
    [7]

    Armedica Manufacturing Corporation

    Manufacturer’s website

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  • Surgical spinal hardware
    [7]

    Armedica Manufacturing Corporation

    Manufacturer’s website

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The Intersegmental traction table is usually painless. In fact, most patients find the roller table to be relaxing and somewhat like a massage.

  • What to expect with Intersegmental traction

Patients are positioned on their back while a three wheeled cam just under the surface of the table rotates on an axis while it moves its way up and down the length the spine.

The height of the rollers apply a consistent pressure that can be increased or decreased based on patient preference for comfort or strength.

There is a vibrating feature to give a massage-like experience.

Treatment can be as long as the patient wishes. Typical sessions are 10-15 minutes.

  • Success with the roller table

Many patients enjoy the roller table because it feels like a gentle massage to your spine.

In order to back up the information in our articles, Arizona Chiropractic & Holistic Health Center exclusively cites high-quality sources such as peer-reviewed research. We strive to provide accurate, dependable, and trustworthy content based on the best evidence avaliable.

  1. Index of Trademarks Issued from the United States Patent Office. (1956). United States: U.S. Government Printing Office.
  2. O. N. Donnahoe, Asheville Surgeon, Dies. (1971, October 20). Asheville Citizen-Times.
  3. Schafer, R. C. (1988). Chiropractic Management of Extraspinal Articular Disorders. United States: American Chiropractic Association.
  4. Schafer, R. C., Jaskoviak, P. A. (1986). Applied Physiotherapy: Practical Clinical Applications with Emphasis on the Management of Pain and Related Syndromes. United States: Produced by Associated Chiropractic Academic Press for the American Chiropractic Association.
  5. The Lower Extremity & Spine in Sports Medicine. (1995). United Kingdom: Mosby.
  6. Back be Nimble. (n.d.). Quantum 400 Intersegmental Chiropractic Roller Massage. Retrieved August 24, 2021, from https://www.backbenimble.com/chiropractic-intersegmental-roller-table-quantum-400.htm
  7. Armedica Manufacturing Corporation. (2007). QUANTUM 400/400H/400P Intersegmental Traction Table Service & Instruction Manual. Greenwood, AR Armedica Manufacturing Corporation.