Sound wave treatment cures spinal damage

Parvez Khan, an advocate in Panvel, often drives to the Alibaug court to represent his clients. However, six months ago, he couldn’t stand up, owing to a severe back pain, reports Raghav Rao.

Parvez Khan, an advocate in Panvel, often drives to the Alibaug court to represent his clients. However, six months ago, he couldn’t stand up, owing to a severe back pain.

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The 37-year-old was treated using a relatively new technology known as Khan Kinetic Treatment (KKT), which uses low frequency sound waves to reposition the patient’s spine, at a Goregaon clinic in March. This helped him get rid of the pain he had been suffering for two years.

“Doctors at a number of city hospitals recommended I go for surgery since a section of my spine had been compressed,” said Khan.

“My friend recommended KKT and the problem was treated without surgery.”

During the past six months, KKT technology has come up as a high-tech alternative therapy for people suffering from spinal problems.

Doctors at Goregaon clinic claim the technology can be used to treat problems such as scoliosis, osteoarthritis and neck and back pains.

“Approximately 80 per cent of the cases of spinal problems that end up being operated can be treated with KKT,” said Dr Aslam Khan, the orthopaedic surgeon from Canada who developed the treatment.

“KKT is not a replacement for surgery. It should be an option that patients should consider before surgery, which should only be their last resort,” he said.

Madhulita Das (36), who flew from Hyderabad to the country’s only KKT clinic in Mumbai in December, said it had proved effective for her.

“Before the treatment, I couldn’t use my right hand for activities like holding a pen or tying a knot. Post KKT, I can hold objects again,” said Das, whose right hand had gone numb due to nerves in her neck being compressed by an inflammation.

Spine surgeons in the city however, are not convinced about the efficacy of the treatment.

“These alternative therapies are for degenerative conditions resulting from age. They cannot be used to treat conditions like deformities, spinal tumours and infections,” said Dr Arvind Kulkarni, consultant spinal surgeon at Bombay Hospital.

Dr P.S. Ramani, senior consultant neurospinal surgeon at Lilavati Hospital, Bandra said most people with spine problems were treated non-surgically.

“People get well on their own with bed rest, physiotherapy and exercise. Surgery is a drastic step. This therapy might be effective, but only to provide relief to patients whose ailments cannot be treated using conventional means,” he said.