A segment (metamere) of the spinal cord is its area along the long axis consisting of front and back horn with two pairs of posterior (sensitive) and anterior (motor) radices. They distinguish 8 cervical segments (C1-C8), 12 thoracic (Th1-Th12), 5 lumbar (L1-L5), 5 sacral (S1-S5) and 1 coccygeal (Co1).
Sensitive and motor radices unite and leave the spine as right and left spinal nerves at the level of definite vertebra, forming nervous plexi and nerves.
Right and left spinal nerves, giving branches on their way, form local sin zones (dermatomeres), muscular communities (myomeres), etc., and round the body surface
Usually each metamere is innerved from basic and two neighboring – upper and lower segments (see below “palm rule”).
Situation of spinal nervous ganglia and vegetative nervous system ganglia also submits to the law of metamerism
Yet in 1906M.N. Lapitsky showed the existence of connections between definite skin zones and certain visceral organs and tissues having metameric character.
Influence to the skin of a definite body part with apparatus impulses is accompanied by functional changes in organs and tissues belonging to the same segment (metamere) as the irritated skin surface. Under the influence of the apparatus signal changes of microcirculation, cells, tissues and organs metabolism is observed, forming of biologically active substances is observed, which enables normalization of motor, secretory, immune and other activities of visceral organs and parts of body of the organism having metameric junctions with skin zones.
Segmentary (metameric) zones may be included into the scheme of treatment according to indications in any diseases and pathologic conditions for enhancing DENS-therapy effect.
The following zones are addressed as segmentary (metameric).
Metamerism zones (segmentary reflexogenous). Location of these zones is given in the instructions for device use. Dozed and constant modes should be alternated.
Segmentary ring zone at the level of presented complain. Device work begins from spinous processes of the vertebrae corresponding to the level of organ “presenting a complain” location. Device’s electrodes are moved step by step (in “MED” (or “Test”) or “Therapy 77Hz mode) or slid (in “Therapy 77Hz mode) around the body at a speed of 1 cm per second. The width of device treated skin band must correspond to the width of one patient’s palm. Reaching the direct projection of the sick organ, this projection is treated (see above), then motion is performed towards spinous processes of the vertebrae, closing the circle.
“MED” (or “Test”) and “Therapy 77Hz modes should be combined.
“Neck ring” zone. This is a skin area in the shape of a ring around the neck at the level of 2nd – 6th cervical vertebrae, the width of which equals the width of one patient’s palm
The working device electrodes are placed in the region of spinous processes of the spine on one side of the neck. Treatment is performed in constant mode. The device is either moved step by step consecutively (10 seconds per point) around the neck up to spinous processes of the same vertebrae at the opposite side of the neck or slid around the neck at a speed of approximately 1 cm per second, first to one side, then to the opposite one, so that an imagined ring is made. According to indications, the ring may be closed 2 to 5 times.
Large nervous trunks and nodes of vegetative nervous system, blood vessels and lymphatic nodes are located in treatment zone. This zone is treated in brain pathology, auricular system pathology, vision lesions, nasopharyngeal diseases and stomatologic problems.
Collar zone. The upper border of this zone passes along the back surface of the neck at the level of the spinous process of the 2nd cervical vertebra. The lower border is an imagined horizontal line passed at the level of the spines of the scapulae, starts and finishes in epibrachial region. Lateral borders are lateral sides of the cervical triangle and upper edges of trapezoid muscles on both sides..
Device treatment of this zone leads to a change of vegetative nervous system functional state. Besides metameric reactions, a general adaptive reaction always arises during device treatment of this zone which permits the use of collar zone in head vessels diseases, chronic inflammatory processes in the region of head and neck, in neuroses and arterial pressure level changes of various origin.
Attention! During collar zone treatment the following items must be taken into consideration:
- indication must be present;
- in diseases accompanied by arterial (blood) pressure in crease the device should be always moved along the zone only from top to bottom;
- in diseases accompanied by arterial (blood) pressure decrease and in shock conditions the device should be alwaysmoved along the zone only from bottom to top;
— Attention! Treatment in maximal energetic level always increases the arterial pressure.
Taking thus into consideration, in presence of complains and Indications, the device is always moved step by step or slid in “Therapy 77Hz mode at a speed of 1 cm per second.
Lumbosacral zone. Located on the back surface of the body. The upper border of the zone is located at the level of the twelfth ribs, the lower border — at the level of sacrum transition into the coccyx.
Device treatment of this zone exercises influence on blood supply and trophic of the small pelvis organs and lower extremities. Treatment of lumbosacral zone is indicated in diseases of the lower extremities, the intestine, enuresis, functional diseases of male genital sphere (impotency), functional and inflammatory diseases of female genitals, in secondary sterility, in rehabilitation period after diseases and injuries of the spinal cord.
Except exact metameric reactions, treatment of lumbosacral zone causes complicated universal reactions expressing in tonic effect on the whole organism, sleeping and appetite improvement, general tonus increase.
“MED” (or “Test”) and “Therapy 77Hz modes should be combined.