In the mid 1980's, CYBEX, U.S.A. developed the Trunk Extension/Flexion (TEF) unit to enable Practitioners to take the guesswork out of spinal muscle strength testing. It provided the means to quantitatively and accurately display the strength of the trunk extensors and flexors, using “isokinetic” technology. Isokinetic strength testing has been available to Sports Medicine Practitioners since the late ‘60s, testing the strength of upper and lower extremity muscles, with particular emphasis on the lower limb thigh muscles, both pre and post surgery. CYBEX, in the United States, felt that the lumbar spine also required the same attention, especially with the prevalence of lumbar spine disorders. Isokinetics have a fixed speed with a variable resistance, that is totally accommodating to the individual. Because of this accommodation, it allows for maximal dynamic loading throughout the entire range of motion. This allows for the most efficient way to load a muscle, as well as the safest, as it provides the situation whereby the patient will never meet more resistance that they can handle, as the resistance is equal to the force applied. CYBEX, U.S.A. released the TEF in 1985, but due to poor exchange rates and the cost of shipment, the first TEF didn’t arrive in Australia until 1991. This first unit was placed into the Metropolitan Spinal Clinic where it has been active over the last 14 years. It has now been moved to the Brighton Spine Institute, located within the Brighton Spinal Group.
It has quantified spinal strength accurately, and hence, given a base to which to establish a rehabilitation programme, as well as monitor progress. More importantly though, the TEF has been able to identify areas of weakness, both in the symptomatic and asymptomatic person, and has been used as a guide to creating an individualised program of exercises. Anecdotally, results from this approach of rehabilitation have been excellent.
CYBEX spinal systems have had over 50,000 hours of clinical testing and treated over 22,000 pathological and post-surgical patients, thus proving their safety and effectiveness.
The TEF unit tests and rehabilitates the trunk muscles that are used in day to day life, including lifting and bending. It objectively, and accurately, quantifies the extent of back disorders, and can be used to rehabilitate and strengthen the trunk musculature. What is of more significance though, is that there is a high correlation between the CYBEX Back Testing data and the patient's functional status and pain complaint.
Utilising results from U.S. studies, it was found that, as high as 85% of long term chronic pain cases, who were treated on CYBEX Back Systems, returned to work after only 1.5 to 4 months of treatment.
There is a definite need for objectivity in the assessment and treatment of spinal conditions. There is no also no doubt that the CYBEX TEF unit provides this objective measure in the safest possible way, which can only assist the Therapist in providing the most effective treatment needed to restore optimal, painfree function.