M3D or Multi Directional Disc Dynamics is a manual therapy technique developed by Dr David Cuccia. It is used to treat neck and back pain with/without arm or leg symptoms. These symptoms may be caused by a protruding or herniating disc, the facet joint or degenerative joint disease (arthritis).
M3D therapy involves positioning of the patient anywhere within the 3 anatomical planes in order to apply therapy to a desired spinal segment. This positioning can happen before and during the treatment, enabling the application of distraction from multiple directions. This positioning is achievable through the use of therapeutic device Extentrac.
The 3 anatomical planes:
Sagittal: Plane that runs down through the body, dividing the body into left and right portions
Coronal (frontal): Plane that runs perpendicular to the sagittal plane and divides the body into anterior and posterior (front and back) portions.
Transverse: Horizontal plane that divides the body into upper and lower portions; also called cross-section.
Patient positioning can be vertical, horizontal or anywhere in between, while being supine (face up) or prone (face down).
Every case is treated in accordance with the patient’s specific clinical presentation. Some severe acute presentations may require treatment in the prone with flexion decompression posture. Sub- acute or chronic presentations may require a supine with extension decompression. Some patients may require vertical gravitational protocols. Patients can be put into their antalgic (pain reducing) position before affectively applying a spinal decompression cycle to the desired spinal segment.
One of the many reasons I enjoy this technique is the ability to apply multi directional traction manual therapy to a lumbar joint while the patient is standing!
