References
  1. Von Korff M. Studying the natural history of back pain. Spine 1994; 19(18 Suppl): 2041S-2046S.
  2. Von Korff M., Saunders J. The course of back pain in primary care. Spine 1996; 21: 2833-2837
  3. Klenerman L, Slade, PD Stanley IM. et al. The prediction of chronicity in patients with an acute attack of low back pain in general practice setting. Spine 1995; 20:478-484
  4. Spine, V 23, No. 13 – A Population based study of spinal pain among 35-45 year old individuals. July 1, 1998
  5. Deyo et al: Herniated Lumbar Intervertebral Disc; Annuals of Internal Medicine, Volume 112, Number 8, pg 598-603, 1990
  6. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. Acute Low Back Pain in Adults: Assessment and Treatment. Rockville: US Department of Health and Human Services. 1994
  7. Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Acute Low Back Pain. Royal College of General Practitioners. UK September, 1996
  8. Feine JS, Lund JP: An assessment of the efficacy of physical therapy and physical modalities for the control of chronic musculoskeletal pain. Pain 1997;71:5
  9. Van den Hoogen HJM, Koes BW, Deville W, et al: The prognosis of low back pain in general practice. Spine 1997; 22(13): 1515
  10. Clinical Practice Guideline Number 14. Acute Low Back Problems in Adults. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. December 1994
  11. No better than placebo. Another look at TENS units for low back pain. Spine Letter 1997; 4(5): 2.).
  12. Gam AN, Johannsen F: Ultrasound therapy in musculoskeletal disorders: a meta-analysis. Pain 1995; 63(1): 85
  13. Beckerman H, Boulter LM, van der Heijden GJ, et al: Efficacy of physiotherapy for musculoskeletal disorders: what can we learn from the research? Br J Gen Pract 1993; 43(367): 73
  14. Gibson T, Grahame R, Harkness J, et al: Controlled comparison of short-wave diathermy treatment with osteopathic treatment in non-specific low back pain. Lancet 1985; 1(8440): 1258
  15. Waterworth RF, Hunter IA: An open study of diflunisal, conservative and manipulative therapy in the management of acute mechanical low back pain. N Z Med J 1985:98(779): 372
  16. Skargren EI, Oberg BE, Carlsson PG, Gade M: Cost and effectiveness analysis of chiropractic and physiotherapy treatment for low back and neck pain. Spine 1997;22:2167
  17. Spine 1993; 18(11): 1388-1395.
  18. Gilbert J. R., British Medical Journal, 1985; 291: 791-794
  19. Carette S., Leclaire R., Marcoux S. et al. Epidural corticosteroid injections for sciatica due to herniated nucleus pulposus. N Engl Jof Medi, Vol 336, No.23 1634-1640; June 1997
  20. Koes BW, Scholten RJPM, Mens JMA, Bouter LM : Efficacy of epidural steroid injections for low-back pain and sciatica : a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Pain 1995 ; 63 : 279-88.
  21. NIOSH Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Ergonomics Program: Final Rule Federal Register, November 14, 2000:68262-870)
  22. Hadler NM and Carey TS, Back belts in the workplace, JAMA, 2000; 284(21):2780-1
  23. Dvorak, J. Gauchat M., and Valach L. The Outcome of Surgery for Lumbar Disc Herniation. A 4-7 Years Follow-up with Emphasis on Somatic Aspects. Spine, Volume 13., No 12., 1988, 1418-1427
  24. Bigos, S, Bathe MC: Back disability prevention. Clin Orthop 221:121, 1987
  25. Waddell G: A new clinical model for the treatment of low-back pain. Spine 12:634, 1987
  26. Saal JA, Saal iS: Nonoperative treatment of herniated lumbar intervertebral disc with radiculopathy. Spine 14:43 1, 1989
  27. Weber H: Lumbar disc hemiation: A controlled prospective study with ten years of observation. Spine 8:131, 1983
  28. Bush K, Cowan N, Katz DE, et al: The natural history of sciatica associated with disc pathology: A prospective study with clinical and independent radiologic follow-up. Spine 17:1205, 1992
  29. Effects of Vertebral Axial Decompression on Intradiscal Pressure. Ramos G, Martin W.,
    Journal of Neurosurgery 81:350-353,1994
  30. Vertebral Axial Decompression Therapy for Pain Associated with Herniated or Degenerated Discs or Facet Syndrome: An Outcome Study: Gose E , Naguszewski W Naguszewski R.
    Journal of Neurological Research Vol 20. No 3 April 1998.
  31. The Effects of Vertebral Axial Decompression On Sensory Nerve Dysfunction In Patients with Low Back Pain and Radiculopathy Tilaro F, Miscovitch D
    Canadian Journal of Clinical Medicine Vol.6, No. 1, January 1999
  32. A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study of VAX-D and TENS for the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain. Sherry, E, Kitchener P., Smart R., Department of Orthopedics Sydney University, AU
    Journal of Neurological Research Vol 23, No 7, October 2001
  33. Dermatosomal Somatosensory Evoked Potential Demonstration of Nerve Root Decompression After VAX-D Therapy . Naguszewski W ,Naguszewski R, Gose E.
    Journal of Neurological Research Vol 23, No 7, October 2001
  34. A Prospective Randomized Study of VAX-D Therapy for Acute Low Back Distress
    S.J. Peerless MD, FRCP, L. Meissner MD, FRCP(C), H. J. M. Barnett MD, FRCP
    C.R. Stiller MD, FRCP
    The John P. Robarts Institute, University Hospital, London Ontario University of Western Ontario, Canada: 1989
  35. An Overview of Vertebral Axial Decompression. Tilaro F.
    Canadian Journal of Clinical Medicine Vol. 5, No. 1, January 1998
  36. Efficacy of VAX-D on chronic low back pain: Study of dosage regimen. Ramos G.
    Department of Neurosurgery and Radiology, Rio Grande Regional Hospital
    McAllen Texas
  37. VAX-D reduces Chronic Discogenic Low Back Pain (Four Year Follow-up)
    Boudreau D., Odell R.
    Anesthesiology News, Volume 29, Number 3, March 2003
  38. Best Review: Low Cost Alternative to low-back Surgery. A.M. Best Company Inc.
    Life Health – Insurance Issues and Analysis; September 1998.
  39. Jeffrey S. Harris. Occupational Medicine Practice Guidelines: Evaluation and Management of Common Health Problems and Functional Recovery in Workers: The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine: First Edition 1998
  40. Crock HV: The Practice of Spinal Surgery. New York, Springer-Verlag, 1983
  41. Hsu K, et al: Painful lumbar end-plate disruptions: A significant discographic finding. Spine, 13(1): 1988
  42. Bogduk, N: Innervation of the lumbar spine. Spine, 8(3): 1983
  43. McCarron RF, et al: The inflammatory effect of nucleus pulposus: A possible element in the pathogenesis of low back pain. Spine, 12(8): 1987
  44. Seal JA et al: High levels of inflammatory phospholipase A2 activity in lumbar disc herniations. Spine, 15(7): 1990
  45. Crock HV: Internal disc disruption: A challenge to disc prolapse 50 years on. Spine, 11(6): 1986
  46. Modic MT, et al: Degenerative disc disease: Assessment of changes in vertebral body marrow with MRI. Radiology, Vol 166, 1988
  47. De Roos A, et al: MRI of marrow changes adjacent to end-plates in degenerative lumbar disc disease. AJR, Vol 149, September 1987

The following Spine Guidelines and Standards of Care were analyzed and referenced in this discussion.

    1. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. Acute Low Back Pain in Adults: Assessment and Treatment. Rockville: US Department of Health and Human Services. 1994
    2. Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Acute Low Back Pain. Royal College of General Practitioners. UK September, 1996
    3. Clinical Practice Guideline Number 14. Acute Low Back Problems in Adults. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. December 1994
    4. Daltroy, L. H., Cats-Baril, W.L. Katz J.N., et al.: The North American Spine Society (NASS) lumbar spine outcome assessment instrument: Reliability and validity tests. Spine 21:741-749,1996
    5. Rosemont and LaGrange (IL): American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons,
      (AAOS); 1996.
    6. Royal College of General Practitioners, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Osteopathic Association of Great Britain, British Chiropractic Association, National Back Pain Association. Clinical Guidelines for the management of Acute Low Back Pain. London: Royal College of General Practitioners, 1996.
    7. Faas A, Chavannes AW, Koes BW, van den Hoogen JMM, Mens JMA, Smeele IJM, Romeijenders ACM, van der Laan JR. NHG-Standard "Lage-Rugpijn". Huisarts Wet 1996; 39:18-31.
    8. Fairbank, J.T.C., Davies, J.B., Mbaot, J.C.,and O’brien, J.T.: The Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire, Physiotherapy 66P:271-273, 1980.
    9. Clinical Practice Guidelines For the Diagnosis and Treatment of Low Back Pain.
      Medical Services Department; Work. Compensation Board, October 1995
    10. Practice Parameters; Industrial Medical Council, Department of Industrial Relations, State of California, April 1994