Lo-Bak TRAX is a back pain treatment device that aims to take pressure off your spine to provide instant and long-lasting pain relief. Find out more about Lo-Bak TRAX today in our review.
What Is Lo-Bak TRAX?
Lo-Bak TRAX is a unique FDA-cleared medical device designed to treat lower back pain. The device looks like a set of bicycle handles. You lie down, grip the handles in either hand, place the leg rests on your legs, and then insert the triangle “bar” between your legs, gently applying pressure.
The device is targeted towards those with lower back pain. Using the device, you can take pressure off your spine, relax your muscles, and feel comfortable.
Lo-Bak TRAX was made by chiropractor Roland S. Berthiaume. In 2011, Berthiaume formed a company called NGC Industries and has been selling Lo-Bak TRAX ever since – mostly via infomercial and online sales.
Although Lo-Bak TRAX was launched in 2011, the product has been in development since the year 2000. The devices are sold at a price of $159.95 each.
How Does Lo-Bak TRAX Work?
Lo-Bak TRAX works on a simple three step concept:
Step 1) Lie Down: Many people with lower back pain will lie down flat on their back when they feel pain. They do this because the position naturally takes pressure off your spin, relaxes the muscles, and feels comfortable.
Step 2) Pull Up Your Feet: Pull up your feet so your heels are closer to your butt and your knees are bent. This causes the curve in your lower back to flatten. When the curve is flattened, it takes much less force to traction or stretch the spine.
Step 3) Push: Pushing is easier for the human body than pulling. Lo-Bak TRAX’s unique design lets it function as a lever, creating a mechanical advantage to traction the spine and discs.
When you do this, Lo-Bak TRAX will stretch the sensitive, soft tissues that surround and support your spine. The soft tissues are not used to being stretched like this: they’re used to being compressed during all the times you’re sitting down.
After you completed your Lo-Bak TRAX session, wait 1 to 2 minutes before getting up to avoid a spasm.
The unique triangle shape of Lo-Bak TRAX means you don’t have to apply much force to get instant pain relief. You sit in this position for a few minutes, then relax. The entire process shouldn’t take longer than 10 minutes per day to provide long-lasting pain relief.
One of the advantages of Lo-Bak TRAX is that you don’t need to use complicated pully systems – like those weird cradles that force you to hang upside down to stretch out your back. There are no moving parts at all. And, you can customize the amount of force you apply to your back.
You can use Lo-Bak TRAX flat on your back or while lying in bed. The creators of the device specifically address this in their FAQs section, as they mention that some people have bad knees and have trouble lying down on the floor. However, if you’re using it in bed, you’ll notice that the cushioning of your bed takes a little bit away from the traction force.
During the first 3 weeks of use, you may feel sore after using Lo-Bak TRAX. If your lower back is particularly tight, then you may also notice that you feel it in your middle back instead of your lower back: the creators of Lo-Bak TRAX claim this is a natural process and that after prolonged use, the device will eventually stretch out your lower back as well.
Lo-Bak TRAX Pricing
Lo-Bak TRAX is available online through Amazon.com as well as the official LoBakTRAX.com website. You can also find it on the television shopping network QVC.
Lo-Bak TRAX is priced at $159.95 per unit.
All purchases come with a lifetime guarantee against breakage.
What Do Customers Have to Say About It?
Lo-Bak TRAX appears to work as advertised to treat lower back pain. The device is cleared by the FDA and underwent a 6 week clinical trial that demonstrated its effectiveness. On Amazon, the device is generally well-reviewed. With a total of 40 reviews so far, the Lo-Bak TRAX has 4.3 stars out of 5. Here are some of the pros and cons we’ve noticed after reading through all of these reviews:
Pros
-Works to treat pain caused by bulging discs
-More portable than other back pain treatment systems
-Excellent customer service, including a lifetime guarantee (one reviewer claimed that Amazon wouldn’t ship to his destination, so Dr. Berthiaume personally took a Lo-Bak TRAX to the post office and shipped it to his location)
-Equal spinal distraction and decompression
-No undue pressure on the arms during use
-Stretches the spine and the hip joint
-Comes with a DVD full of exercise recommendations
Cons
-It’s not going to cure your back pain permanently but it does provide relief
-Can’t put the same pressure on you as clinical back pain treatment systems
-Does not work on everyone
-High price for a straightforward piece of medical equipment
Ultimately, the reviews for Lo-Bak TRAX are generally positive. The few negative reviews on Amazon and other review websites don’t indicate any specific problems with the device: they just show that the device didn’t work to treat their lower back pain.
Obviously, it’s rare to find a device that treats back pain in 100% of users. Lo-Bak TRAX does not appear to work in 100% of all users – although many people indicate that it worked more effectively than other treatment systems.
Who Makes Lo-Bak TRAX?
Lo-Bak TRAX was made by Dr. Roland F. Berthiaume, a chiropractic doctor who has been practicing for over 20 years. A news article in 2011 described how Berthiaume had always suffered from lower back pain – even though he was supposed to specialize in back pain treatment. He created Lo-Bak TRAX to help others treat their chronic back pain comfortably and effectively at home.
To bring Lo-Bak TRAX to market, Dr. Berthiaume teamed up with Thomas. A Valentine, a mechanical engineer. The pair formed NGC Industries.
Today, Lo-Bak TRAX continues to be made in the United States.
Should You Use Lo-Bak TRAX to Treat your Lower Back Pain?
Lo-Bak TRAX appears to be an effective treatment for lower back pain. It’s generally well-reviewed online, although some reviewers indicate that it didn’t work to treat their lower back pain. The price is a little higher than some people would expect to spend on a straightforward piece of metal. However, considering the price of chiropractic treatment and other back pain treatment systems, Lo-Bak TRAX is in line with what you can expect to spend.
You can buy Lo-Bak TRAX today from Amazon for around $160.
