TOSPro Medical Products, LLC

Back Buoy™-type back supports are in use by trans-Pacific pilots flying for major airlines. They discovered that this type of back support improves their cognitive awareness during the 15-hour flights and also greatly reduced back pain, headache, and fatigue making their bodies feel much warmer due to improved circulation. They will not fly without them. The FAA gave its approval for their use. There was so much improvement in hand, back and foot temperature that a few of the pilots wondered if some type of heater had been worked into the back supports.

A few people have reported that unfortunately they had been involved in collisions while driving. Due to the use of the Back Buoy™ type back support their injuries were much less severe than anticipated.

Several employers have reported to us that the Back Buoy™ was the most cost-effective way to improve the ergonomics in the office. Rather than replacing chairs at a very high cost, the back support greatly improved comfort and efficiency and had the added benefit that the employees could use their back supports in the car and then bring them into the office. 

Several bus company drivers found commuting to work on buses caused back pain that was then made worse while driving the buses. Using the Back Buoy™ has alleviated both problems. Back supports that were purchased in 2004 and 2005 are still in use today.

One of Dr. Newkirk’s patients, a female bus driver, was injured in a head-on collision three years ago and had to stop working due to pain neck and back pain. Her treatment program had not relieved any of her pain.

She came for consultation but before a new treatment program could be started she was required to re-locate to Houston from Northern California . She had to drive herself and thought she might not be able to make the trip.

Instead, she used a Back Buoy™ and reported that not only did she make the trip but that her chronic neck and back pain was actually reduced by at least 50% while driving. Ordinarily driving would force her to stop every hour or two and this was no longer necessary.

One of the special approaches to pain taken in Dr. Newkirk’s office is to explain to patients in pain that there are numerous mechanical as well as medical factors that create a pain syndrome.

Chronic pain is often misperceived as a failing of the patient to cope with life’s challenges. Furthermore, medications are not necessarily the sole, sufficient answer for pain control. It is common experience in Dr. Newkirk’s neurology practice for new patients with headache to sit in his office using the Back Buoy™ and then within a few minutes discover that headache, neck and back pain as well as tingling in the legs and feet have either improved or disappeared. Most patients discover within 30 to 60 seconds that the Back Buoy™ provides remarkable relief for their discomfort.

Truck drivers who carry liquid loads are made very uncomfortable with partial loads that shift or “slosh” on every turn causing the driver to be whipped back and forth for an entire trip. The Back Buoy™ helps stabilize the driver, whether he or she is using a flat seat, which leads to sliding, or a heavily padded seat that is too soft and allows constant shifting of the body side to side. Seat belts do not help with this type of spinal strain. On a long trip the work required to maintain posture against these forces is very fatiguing. Back Buoy™ solves this problem by assuring spinal stability thereby reducing both pain and fatigue. Drivers’ safety records improve once fatigue and pain are better managed.

Dr. Newkirk’s practice includes people who are inspectors, who are required to drive all day to many different job sites frequently getting in and out of their vehicles, most of which have worn seats. Using the Back Buoy™ has greatly reduced back pain and stiffness and has made it much easier to get in and out of the car by the end of the day and especially by the end of the week.

For those readers who are interested in the major contributing physical mechanisms that contribute to thoracic outlet syndrome, carpal and cubital tunnel syndrome, repetitive strain, upper extremity overuse, common and tension headache and other forms of neck, shoulder, back and leg pain while sitting, the following discussion may clarify some of the issues.

Most of us become round-shouldered over time for two general reasons. Nearly all arm and hand activity occurs in front of the body. In order to reach forward the collar bone must twist out of the path of the upper arm. As this occurs the shoulder blades, which attach to the outside end of the collar bones moves to the side as the collar bones, pivoting on the acromio-clavicular joint (AC joint or the articulation between the outside corner of the shoulder blade and the shoulder end of the collar bone).

The top of the sternum or breast bone tips backward carrying the mid-portions of the collar bone with it on both sides thus narrowing the deep space above the lungs (superior thoracic aperture) through which the nerves, arteries, veins and lymphatics pass to and from the arms and upper thorax. Highly specialized MRI studies can illustrate all of these structures and indicate blood flow as well.

These studies show that over time the scalene muscles which extend from the front side of the cervical spine to the first and second ribs enlarge and compress the nerves and blood vessels. This occurs after auto accidents as well as repetitive strain injuries. Reaching further narrows this space and can be shown to compress and compromise the functions of the involved nerves, veins, lymphatics, and rarely the arteries. Any treatment that relieves this compression improves pain, numbness and tingling, weakness, fatigue and tightness.

The broad categories of treatment that help such syndromes include but are not restricted to the following:

1. physical therapies which strengthen the peri-scapular and lumbar support muscles, improve posture, and increase joint mobility where needed
2. medications that relieve pain, inflammation and muscular tightness
3. relaxation techniques that reduce pain and muscular tightness
4. postural support devices
5. thoracic surgery that removes the first rib and first two scalene muscles and in a few cases sections the tendon of the pectoralis minor muscle. This is a “last resort” treatment.

We have been able to verify with MRI studies that in symptomatic people, Back Buoy™ is able to increase the front-to-back diameter of the superior thoracic aperture and reduce pressure on vessels and nerves. Ultrasound studies have shown an increase in venous flow with the use of devices that correct scapular position while sitting. By measurement patients with diffuse hand swelling due to overuse experience a reduction in swelling with the use of scapular stabilization devices.

Anyone interested in clinical consultations regarding residuals of workstation injuries or seat belt injuries from motor vehicle accidents can reach Dr. Newkirk through his clinical office in Greenbrae, Marin County, California . This is listed in the Contact Us portion of the website. Please do not ask the staff in the clinical office any questions about the Back Buoy™ or future products but refer those questions to the TOSPro office. Thank you.