Lumbar Matrix(TM) Scan From SpineMatrix(R) Revolutionizes the Diagnosis of Low Back Pain
AKRON, Ohio, June 10 /PRNewswire/ — A new technology that revolutionizes the way low back pain is diagnosed and treated, while also significantly reducing healthcare costs, has been introduced by SpineMatrix® Inc., an Akron, Ohio-based medical technology company that specializes in advanced spinal diagnostics.
SpineMatrix’s new, non-invasive Lumbar Matrix(TM) Scan uses high-speed computer processing of thousands of bioelectric signals to observe neuromuscular activity of the low back. The advanced diagnostic technology allows physicians to accurately identify the source of low back pain, which helps determine proper treatment and can result in significant savings for patients and the healthcare industry.
Low back pain is the most common and costly disabling condition in the United States, affecting nearly 31 million Americans. Current diagnostic methods used most frequently to detect lower back pain – such as X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans – take into account the anatomy of the back but not the physiology. These methods often fail to pinpoint the precise cause of pain for this reason. More than 85 percent of patients with low back pain are never given a specific diagnosis, leading to ineffective treatment and billions of dollars spent in unnecessary healthcare costs. Additionally, invasive procedures, including surgery, may follow misdiagnosed lower back pain, further elevating healthcare spending. Since 1997, U.S. spending on diagnosis and treatment of spinal disorders increased 65 percent, as indicated by the Journal of the American Medical Association.
“The Lumbar Matrix Scan was developed to help physicians more precisely diagnose the cause of low back pain and prescribe the best form of treatment to alleviate the pain,” said Ben Shappley, president and CEO of SpineMatrix. “Not only are we improving patient care, but we’re providing a tool with the real potential to save millions of dollars for consumers, employers and health plans.”