SINTHESI

The Sinthesi line comprises couches for physical therapy that also allow for a wide range of mobility and muscular lengthening exercises, as well as for overall posture re-education treatments.  A specific characteristic of these couches is the double motorisation, that is adjustment of the torso section fully assisted by an electric actuator, which excludes any effort on the part of the therapist during the relevant movements.

The height adjustment on the couch can be electrical or hydraulic for all models and ranges from 48 cm to 100 cm. Specifically, two options are available for electrical adjustment, footswitch or foot rail. Furthermore, aAll models also have a head section control panel.

The head section is 52 cm long, and can easily be adjusted to a positive angle of up to +54° and negative angle of up to -52° using an ergonomic control fitted on the couch frame and gas springs.  The head section has an elongated breathing hole, the plug for it is supplied as standard equipment. 

Almost all models also offer a version that features head section arms to make the patient more comfortable when in a prone position.  The versions with side section arms are identified by the term "PLUS".  

All models allow a wide range of positions, both bent and extended and, in cases in which the leg section is separate, symmetrical and asymmetrical as well.  The positions of the segments are easily adjusted using one or more gas spring(s) and original ergonomic controls fitted on the base frame.  The top of the range model is the MI.TO couch (ref. base codes LS374 - LS384). 

In general, Sinthesi couches can also be fitted with wheels and a centralised braking system and/or side section arms that can rotate through 180° for overall posture re-education exercises. 

The maximum safe working load is 180 kg.

There is a choice of 20 colours for the upholstery. Posture cushions of various shapes and sizes can also be requested, to be used with the couch and with the same colour upholstery.

 The McKenzie's Method: the story of Mr. Smith

The Sinthesi tables allow the execution of postural exercises for subjects who suffer from lumbar pain and cervical pain, according to Mckenzie’s method.

For long time we have been used to mobilize the lumbar column in a sense only, only in flexion, being afraid of mobilizing it in extension. In recent years McKenzie helped to get a better view.

It is famous the case of Mr. Smith, happened in mid of 50’s years in New Zealand determining an important change on the carrier of the young therapist McKenzie.

After having treated Mr. Jones for a knee problem, Mckenzie received Mr. Smith who  suffered from lumbar pain for several weeks. At that moment, McKenzie was called at the telephone in another room, so he invited the patient to undress and lie down on the therapy table.

The therapy table was left with the backrest tilted as it was served to Mr. Jones to stay comfortably placed with his back, while the therapist had taken care of his knee.

Mr. Smith, having to show his back, lay in prone position, forcing his spinal column to a forced passive extension.

At the end of call, which was probably not very short, Mckenzie came there; terrified for that posture, he made immediately raise the patient, scolding him. But Mr. Smith, getting up, told him that the thigh pain, which bothered him for a long time, had passed.

That posture, which until that moment was feared by all teachers and therapists, and considered potentially harmful, turned out unexpectedly beneficial.

This is the essence of Mckenzie’s Method, which recognizes the importance of lumbar lordosis: it is important not only keep it, but sometimes it is useful to accentuate it in a passive way, keeping relaxed the extensor muscles of rachis.

Is thus obtained:

- the reduction of pressure on the intervertebral discs and their consequent rehydration;

- the repositioning of the disc nucleus forward, with the reduction of any pressure on the nerve root.

The insights and the Mckenzie's Method have allowed us to set up a program of exercises for the subject, who suffers from lumbar or cervical pain, in a more precise way by adapting it to patient’s needs.