by Dr. C. Tucker
I have been using the Rebox electrotherapy unit for many years, practising as an Ostheopath in England & Australia.
Being a compact, portable unit with few contraindications for its use, the Rebox is remarkably versatile. Instruction in its use is individualy given, with follow up advice where necessary. Treatment is comfortable for the patient and outstanding results can be achieved quickly once the simple technique of the correct use of the unit is mastered.
My experience with the Rebox has been in the treatment of myofacial dysfunction. The majority of the pain experienced by my patients originates from stimulation of nociceptors within these tissues. I have found the Rebox to be effective when treating the following:
fascia - eg inflammation
muscles - eg hypertonia, spasm, minor tears, fibrosis etc.
tendon & tendon sheats - eg minor tears, inflammation bursae, especially if superficial.
Inflammation is quickly reduced and the healting process appears to be accelered.
A beneficial tissue response is immediately palpable after treatment with the Rebox. In acute cases the change is often visible, while pain relief is achieved in both acute and chronic conditions.
I have no hesitation in recommending the Rebox to manual medicine therapists.
Dr. Cynthia Tucker, DO, MRO (UK)
Royal Melbourne
Institute of Technology
Australia
Outline Results Using Rebox
by Dr. I. A. Silver
1. EXPERIMENTAL
The experimental models used were:
A treatement plastic chamber inserted into tha ears of rabbits. This system allows growth of new healting tissue into a thin (100 micron) space between transparent coverslips and its transillumination and observation on a conventional microscope. The rate of healing is measured as the reciprocal of the area of chamber left unfilled by new tissue each day. The records are made photographically with a standart, low power, photomicrographic system incorporating flash illumination for minimal exposure time, and accurate reproduction of the measuring conditions.
A collagenase - induced injuri in the Achilles tendon of rabbits.
Eight pairs of chambers were inserted; one in the right and one in the left ear of eight adult half-lop rabbits (5 males and 3 females). One chamber in each rabbit was treated witn the REBOX and the other was given the game physical manipulation but the power to the apparatus was not switched on. Treatment was continued over a period of 10 days. Similarly, a collagenase injury was induced in one Achilles in eight rabbits. The opposite, uninjured tendon was used as a control.
Observations:
Treatment with the REBOX produced an increase in local blood flow, as measured with a laser doppler capillary flow probe, of between 20 and 50% and lasting for 4-10 minutes after treatement ceased. Handling the ear and application of the probe with the current switched off produced small changes in flow but these were often reductions and were never more than 10% nor sustained.
The healting rate of the treated chambers was significantly increased as compared to those that were shamtreated in six out of the eight rabbits. The treated chambers on average were filled with new tissue 20% quicker then the controls, but there was a considerable spread in absolute time as there was in the untreated group. Paired t test analysis showed a highly significant defference between treated and untreated groups.
In the tendon injury group then untreated animals showed considerable swelling at the site of injury which persisted for at least 18 days and in most cases up to 28 days. The treated group were remarkable in the speed with which the swelling was reduced following treatment with the REBOX. To date we have examined the histology of treated versus nontreated tendons, together with DNA analysis as a measure of cellularity. Treated tendons appeared to return much more quickly to almost normal structure and by 28 days were nearly indistinguishable from the undamaget control tendons. At this time the untreated tendons were still enlarget and highly cellular, due partly to persisting inflammatory cell inflammation infiltration and parly to the presence of large numbers of immature tenoblasts, but the total collagen content of the treated and non-treated groups was not significantly different. The major defference was that the treated group contained more large, mature collagen fibres while the untreated group had healing tissue mostly composed of thin immature TYPE III collagen which is the weak, fetal collagen normally seen in healing wounds.
2. CLINICAL
I have treated a number of soute and chronic injuries in horses, dogs and human patiens with the REBOX. In the acute non-infected inflammatory lesions such as sprains, the relief of pain is a notable feature as is the reduction in swelling. An increase in blood flow around and in the treatment area amount of increase seemed very variable. In chronic inflammatory disease the response was much less predictable. A number of patiens reported considerable improvement but other found little benefit.One patient with chronic Achilles tendonitis had dramatic response in ankle but a disappointing short lived responze in the other.
I have been especially impressed by the speed of reduction of sweling in acute injuries.
We are currently testing the strength of treated ass against untreated injured tendons from the rabbit Achilles model, using an hydraulic tensile testing machine. Preliminary results indicate that the treated tendons have nearly regained their preinjury strength by 28 days whereas the untreated are about 25% weaker.
Dr. I. A. Silver, Profesor of comparative pathology
Department of pathology University of Bristol
The Medical school, University Walk
United Kingdom
REBOX in a Neurological Ambulatory Clinic: First Experience.
by M. Vicenikova, M.D.
During five months in 1994, we performed more than 1 000 treatments with the device REBOX, both in mostly functional musculoskeletal disorders, and in some neurological nosological units, from which I include some examples.
The effect in functional musculoskeletal disorders is described in detail in other parts of the REBOX collection, and I include only some select observations:
- Excellent effect occurs in acute disorders mostly located in the soft tissues of the movement system and with the symptoms of swelling, hypertonicity, skin reaction.
- Quick effect in migraines and in many types of facial pain, of other than neuralgic origin.
- In chronic algic vertebrogenic syndromes, it is beneficial to apply REBOX simultaneously to places of numerous secondary changes and to reach very good effects, especially with repeated applications. In such cases, it is optimal to use also other procedures of musculoskeletal medicine.
We had an interesting experience with some neurological diagnoses:
- Thomsen’s cognitive myotonia: Serious muscle spasms were alleviated immediately upon REBOX application, apparently by the vasodilatating and myorelaxating effects.
- Sclerosis multiplex, paresthetic and dysesthetic syndrome: Pain was alleviated, feeling and proprioception in the lower limbs increased. Repeated applications.
- Polyneuropathy of various geneses: Spasms and dysesthesia were alleviated.
- Status after transversal spinal lesion, increase in spasms and in the afferent nociception from old scars after decubitus ulcers: REBOX application alleviated pain as well as spasm in the lower limbs.
- Irritation and incomplete hypesthesia in the third branch of the trigeminal nerve after dental procedure, difficulties lasting several months: With REBOX therapy, difficulties receded already after the first five sessions.
- In mild peripheral nerve lesions, especially in the sensitive component: REBOX noticeably speeds up the healing.
M. Vicenikova, M.D.
Neurological Clinic, Otrokovice
Czech Republic
Case Report: Sclerosis Multiplex
by L.S.
I have suffered from sclerosis multiplex cerebrospinalis since the year 1984. The disease began with complete blindness in the right eye. In 6 months, there was progression with damage of my lower limbs in the bottom of my feet, with loss of feeling and pain. At the beginning of 1987, further progression occurred, followed by overall lower limb damage with tingling, loss of feeling, and pain. My eyes were impacted as well in the middle of that same year. Greater difficulties with walking also occurred, especially when walking distances greater than 1 kilometer, walking up and down the stairs, up and down a slope. A year-long disability leave from work followed, and then retirement into permanent partial disability.
I have used Rebox daily since May, 1989. Depending on the overall condition and need, I perform rehabilitation as often as twice a day. I apply Rebox to my whole right lower limb every morning before leaving for work. My right lower limb causes most difficulties for me in the area of lumbar spine when walking. Before using Rebox, my right lower limb refused to function after the first ten steps, it got sprained and it stumbled. I had to stop walking and rest. The condition has been nicely corrected by Rebox, my walking became secure and regular without any feeling of fatigue. I try to ride my bike every day for at least 10 minutes. Depending on how I am feeling, I may also apply Rebox before I ride the bike. I rehabilitate my left lower limb only in the area of instep, to address the loss of feeling under the balls of my toes.
This year in the spring, after I was sick with a viral infection, my ability to write for a longer period of time deteriorated, pain in my right arm and hand and disorders of fine movement occurred. I applied Rebox to my arm from thoracic spine all the way down to the wrist. After not quite three months, the condition significantly improved, so that currently I apply Rebox to my right arm as a prevention before a demanding day.
During a peaceful period with no difficulties, I devote 4 to 5 minutes to Rebox in the morning. I work 6 hours a day, I take care of my family, I work in the garden. I am glad that I have Rebox, that I am able to work with my disease and to live an almost normal life.
L.S. (female, *1950)
Nurse in a Prenatal Advisory Clinic
Czech Republic
Case Report: Phantom Limb Pain
by L.P.
In August of the year 2002, I was hospitalized in a hospital where my right leg was amputated. After the wound healed, I started to suffer from phantom pain. It was truly unpleasant. I went to the doctor who prescribed pain medicine for me. This medicine relieved my pain for only a short time. Then I learned about the device Rebox. It was fantastic, and although the pain has receded, I continue with the treatment. The treatment intervals are three weeks, and my condition keeps improving. I would recommend this device to anyone who has the same problems as I do.
L.P. (male)
Czech Republic
Case Report: Spinal Injury
by V.V.
In the year 2003, for the first time, I underwent lumbar spine surgery due to a dislocated disc. However, after surgery, my condition kept deteriorating, and tingling in my legs and hands began. At the beginning of 2005, I found another neurosurgical site where, after performing a CT and an MRI, they told me that my lumbar spine must be screwed together one more time. In March, 2005, I had surgery at the spondylosurgical department in the Motol hospital in Prague, where they tightened the vertebrae L4-S1 by means of screws. Because I also had difficulties turning my head and I had tingling in my right foot toes, they also implanted Prodisk into my thoracic spine vertebrae C6-C7 in the Motol hospital in August, 2005.
When performing the post-surgical rehabilitation, my condition began to deteriorate, back pain gradually increased, there was tingling and greater difficulties moving my legs, my thoracic spine became blocked, and I had headaches. As a part of the thoracic spine difficulties, my muscles tightened, my blood pressure fluctuated and increased, hearing and vision disorders occurred. Rehabilitation exercises could not be performed due to my headache, and despite several examinations, the doctors were not able to establish any further treatment procedure. I was not able to sit for longer than half an hour, I could not raise my arms above the shoulder level, I had problems performing daily household tasks. The Rehabilitation Clinic in Motol recommended that I attend the Pain Center and try to reduce the pain so that rehabilitation could be continued. In the Sokolov Pain Center, I tried all possible pain-alleviating means including opiates, but they had to be discontinued due to their strong side effects. Eventually, doctor Procházková let me borrow the rehabilitation device Rebox which I used for a month and my condition significantly improved upon its application. Because I had to return the device to the hospital, I decided to obtain my own Rebox.
I use Rebox daily, both in my thoracic spine and in my lumbar spine. At the beginning, I applied Rebox several times a day, now, after two years, I usually use the device twice a day, depending on my current condition. I keep having to alleviate the pain with analgesics, but thanks to Rebox, I was able, after nearly three years of sick leave and disability leave, to return to my work in an after-school child care facility. Even though the difficulties with my lumbar spine, with innervation in my lower limbs, and with my thoracic spine persist, I could never manage them without Rebox. Thanks to its small dimensions I can take it to work with me every day. At the moment when I begin to feel that my muscles are beginning to tighten and that there is tingling and pain, I immediately apply Rebox. My muscles relax after a little while and there is no spine blocking.; If I did not apply Rebox, my condition would get worse, and then not even Rebox could help, I would have to go to the doctor for an ablution and I would be on another sick leave. I thank Mr. Petr Slovak for enabling me to buy Rebox for home use for an acceptable price. I can now use it any time to relieve the difficulties that I have.
V.V. (female)
Czech Republic
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More references can be found on Rebox CD-ROM.