The BackProject ATM 2 Rehabilitation System
Unlike traditional therapy, in which patients perform tasks against the direction of painful movements, the ATM2 has them performing these movements in the natural direction–in the direction of their pain. Adjustable belts and ratchets both compensate for the lack of gravity and control the amount of pressure patients react to, as they repeatedly perform the otherwise pain-inducing movement. The new approach offers full control of the position of the pelvis and a large range of compression so that the patient’s movements can be normalized. The patient then does the painful movement on the unit, where they can do it pain-free. Even in everyday activities, the muscles of people with back pain are continuously firing just to keep the person stable. Once on the unit, those muscles don’t need to fire anymore. The strain goes down with each notch of the ratchet. The central nervous system “memorizes” the pain-free movements; joints are repositioned so that when patients are off the unit, they’re able to perform the movement in an extended range, without pain.