Pettibon System Questions

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What is Pettibon?

The Pettibon System is a rehabilitation and therapy program for the spine’s hard and soft tissues. It uses x-rays for diagnosis, assessing progress, and use of objective measurement tools to assess the patient’s progress. The Pettibon System tests each patient’s ability to respond to care and instructs patients in home care for faster correction.

Why does BACKFIT choose to use the Pettibon system?

We feel the system is well researched and documented allowing an effective system for healing injured, aging, or aching backs.

In the BACKFIT office, what equipment is part of ‘Pettibon’?

Wobble chairs, Linked Trainer, Head weights, the doctor’s spinal correction adjusting equipment, cervical traction units, and the thoracic rolls.

Can I use an exercise ball instead of a wobble chair?

Sure. However, a genuine wobble chair is designed specifically for repairing lower back and disc injuries. A genuine wobble chair will give you the best possible results.

What is cervical traction?

Cervical traction aids in the correction of neck, upper back and lower back conditions due to its effect on spinal lordosis; it is used to warm up the neck and upper back prior to treatment; is used more frequently by patients who suffer from neck pain, degenerative conditions of the neck and upper back, disc injuries, head aches, and migraines.

Are there different types of wobble chairs? Is one more effective than the other?

We offer our patients commercial wobble chairs and portable wobble chairs. Both are effective. Commercial wobble chairs are more practical for home office use, while portable chairs are beneficial for people who travel frequently or for people who have space issues at home.

Why do we use head weights?

Weighting systems are used to activate the body’s righting reflexes causing the body and muscles to react and reposition underneath the head.  Weights used immediately after an adjustment counteract the static and dynamic stretch reflex in muscles that typically “pull” back out an adjustment.  The weights effectively “hold” the adjustment given by the doctor and are an “adjustment” to the spine themselves.

How long should I keep my head weights on?

Muscle physiology dictates that the isometric exercise that is provided by the head weight should be performed for a minimum of 7 minutes, to an optimum 20 minutes twice per day.

Why does everyone have different coloured steel weights?

Everyone has a different spinal displacement or distortion.  The weights are prescribed by the doctor to correct each patient’s unique postural distortion.

What is the posture strap for?

Physics principles realize that a force is not a force until it meets resistance Weight applied to the front of the head will not have a proper effect in the neck if it is not met by a “bracing” of the lower cervical spine, henceforth the posture strap makes the head weighting more effective.

Can I use this equipment at home?

Our most successful patients use it at home daily.

When I am in the post-adjustment area, should I repeat the six warm-up wobbles?

It is not necessary to repeat the warm-ups. Simply wobble back and forth in a pain free direction. You can also perform wobble board proprioceptive exercises, use the vibration platform or do slant board exercises.

Why is it necessary to do a ‘cool down’ after I have an adjustment?

This holds the adjustment for a longer period of time.

Is spinal molding part of Pettibon?

Yes, it is mandatory for long term corrections of the spine.

How often should I spinal mold, and for how long?

For the first 30 days spinal molding should be done daily. If you miss a few, don’t worry about it, we are all human! The doctor will guide you as to how and when it should be applied as you progress.

*Effectiveness varies from patient to patient