The Ashwini Back Institute, established by Dr. ( Prof. ) V.T.Ingalhalikar, has completed over 28 years of streamlined care of Back pain and other spinal disorders. What started as a small, informal Back-Care Clinic, in the suburbs of Greater Bombay ( Mumbai ), it has grown into a respectable pioneer Institute in the management of Back Pain and other spinal problems.
Keeping up with increasing needs and with newer developments, we are continuously upgrading our avenues of working. Newer modalities of diagnosis and treatment, both non-surgical and surgical, get incorporated with the advancements in the Back Care Science.
The Institute has Surgical and a Non-surgical divisions, that render comprehensive spinal care of International standards.
The surgical and indoor care division is situated at :
HOSPITAL FOR SPINAL & ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY.
ADITYA NURSING HOME, GOKHALE ROAD,
THANE(W), MAHARASHTRA, INDIA. - 400602.
TEL. NO. +91-22-25426125 / 25441103.
The outdoor care division is situated at :
ASHWINI BACK INSTITUTE.
1-8, POURNIMA, OPP. RAILWAY STATION,
THANE(W), MAHARASHTRA, INDIA. - 400602.
TEL. NO. +91-22-25424889.
ASHWINI BACK INSTITUTE
Offers
services in the following areas of Back Care.
CONSERVATIVE CARE
a. Consultation and Evaluation of all kinds of Spinal Affections.
b. Physical and Occupational Therapy.
c. Exercise Physiology Section.
d. Electro-physiology Lab.
e. Weight Control and Nutrition Program.
f. Orthotic Services.
g. Psychosocial Evaluation and Care.
h. Work Rehabilitation.PAIN MANAGEMENT CLINIC
DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES
SURGERY
EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL SERVICES
BACK SCHOOL
CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION
PREVENTION
a. Pre-employment screening.
b. Industrial BACK SCHOOL.
c. Ergonomic analysis and consulting services.
CLINICAL RESEARCH
The details of these services follow ,
1) PREVENTION :
Back Pain is a common disorder, affecting human population. Apart from the patient's own physical suffering, this Back pain is responsible for chronic or recurrent absenteeism, loss of productive working hours and heavy expenses. Most specialists working in the field of spinal disorders, are convinced that much of this could be avoided with proper prevention program.
Our prevention program includes pre-employment screening and matching the employee's physical resources with his work demands, to prevent recurrent work related injuries. We have been conducting Industrial Back Schools for many industries in and around Thane, for past few years. In this Back School the employees are educated in proper body mechanics, and lifting techniques. They are also taught the importance of physical fitness maintenance and stress management. All these companies have reported a satisfactory reduction in the spinal problems in their employees. We have also carried out ergonomic evaluation of the work places and have advised corrective measures to make work environment a more spine-friendly place. Our computerised database record keeping has proved useful in analysing potential stress-producing working stations in many factories.
2) THE CONSERVATIVE CARE :
Our staff has prolonged experience in the care of Back. They are a group of dedicated, academic minded, science practising people, who are involved in the well being of the patients.
Apart from routine modalities of physical therapy, we also have advanced modalities like lasers, multi-mode neuro-modulators, non-penetrating acupuncture stimulators, a variety of spine related and general exercise stations, motorised traction etc.
Our exercise physiology section carries out lift-task evaluation, physical resource evaluation and institutes a variety of exercise protocols and programs specially designed to suit individual patient's needs. These programs include aerobic and non-aerobic conditioning, stretching, strengthening, work hardening etc. The attention is given not only to the spine, but the patient is rehabilitated as a whole. This is especially necessary in the patients whose activity level has been reduced due to prolonged Back problems.
The Neuro-physiological section has computerised equipment which carries out diagnostic evaluations like E.M.G., sensory conduction studies, motor nerve conduction studies, etc. Evaluation of muscle function by E.M.G. monitoring helps in analyzing malfunctions of various groups of muscles and are extremely useful in diagnosing and correcting postural abnormalities and resultant pains. The Evoked Potential Studying Equipment that is being introduced shortly, will allow monitoring of spinal cord and nerve function during complicated surgeries.
The Bio-feed Back modality working on the principles of E.M.G. pick up, teaches the patient to appreciate unwanted hyper-activity and increased tensions in various muscles and to control it effectively. This Bio-feed Back muscle control training has been proved immensely useful in many a Back Pain patients. Ours is, perhaps the only Back-Care Institute in India using this modality.
Mind has tremendous influence in causing and modifying Back pain. Most people, including some Doctors, are unaware of this scientific fact. The clinic has been regularly using services of clinical psychologist, psychiatrist and psycho-social counsellor for evaluating and treating this important contributing element in Back pain patients. The clinical studies done by us have been very well appreciated in the field of Back care speciality.
Obesity and even undernourished states are either contributing or modifying many spinal problems. In this section, patient's nutrition profile is analysed in detail using special computer soft-wares. The necessary nutritional and activity / exercise programs, to suit individual patient, are chalked out. The patient is educated in the basics of his obesity and undernourishment problem with the help of specially designed literature.
Many patients use improper types of braces or unscientifically prepared braces. The clinic gets braces tailor-made for the individual patient. These braces are checked up by clinicians for the correctness, fitting and the patients are trained in the correct use of them.
It is not uncommon to see some patients of Back pain whose normal life, work and earning profile is severely affected by Back pain. A systematised approach is needed to put these unfortunate victims, back on the track. The routine treatment aimed at clearing the Back pain alone does not work in these patients. The Work Rehabilitation strategy calls for careful study of the patient in totality and rectifying all the contributing troubles. At times this calls for involving the patient's family, employer and even other people at work place, in the rehabilitation process. Our clinic has rehabilitated many such disabled patients to their basic life styles and work profiles.
3) PAIN MANAGEMENT CLINIC :
Many chronic Back / Neck pain patients are disabled and cannot pursue their normal life activities. They need to be given special attention and care for their pain. The Pain Management Clinic conducted by an Anaesthesiologist with special interest and training in pain management looks after these patients, using various pain management modalities. If required these patients are given hospitalised care and various therapeutic anaesthetic blocks. The drug regimes and pain control modalities are tailor made to suit the individual patient.
4) DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES :
Many patients of recurrent or chronic Back pain, are treated by one clinician after other unsuccessfully. This happens often because of incomplete diagnosis of the source of Back pain. We are proud to say that with the help of various diagnostic blocks and radiologically controlled biopsies, we have achieved a high level of accuracy in diagnosis and have been able to treat effectively many chronic back pain suffers.
5) SURGERY :
We have a spacious, well equipped operation theatre block. Continuous, on-going air sterilisation by micro-filters and UVR has helped us maintain post surgical infection rate on par with International standards. All kinds of spinal surgical procedures are regularly being carried out at our Institute. The surgery is done for both, the vertebral column and the spinal cord and includes surgery of disc, instability, stenosis, spinal tumors of various types, developmental and congenital affections like scoliosis and infections of spine like Tuberculosis etc. All areas of spine including the base of the skull and the upper cervical spine are operated upon using sophisticated instrumentation, state of art anaesthesia equipment and various monitors. The newer blood saving techniques like auto-transfusion etc. are also used. Certain techniques of spinal surgeries developed by us are appreciated in scientific circles.
6) EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL SERVICES :
A need to know everything about his/her Back pain is a basic necessity of any Back pain patient. This is specially true in chronic, recurrent Back pain patients. We have been conducting `BACK SCHOOL' for last many years, in which the patients in small groups are given classroom coaching in the affairs of the Back. The important aspects of back pain, like structure and function of spine, disease processes, ergonomic discussions, preventive guidelines and exercise physiology are covered in relevant details. The BACK SCHOOL is conducted in English and Marathi languages at present. Gujarati and Hindi batches are also being introduced. A free for all, question-answer session relating to spinal problems is one of the most popular part of the BACK SCHOOL. There has been reduction in the frequency and intensity of suffering and disablement, and in work absenteeism in all the patients that have been trained in the BACK SCHOOL. A plethora of instructional sheets, literature, booklets, and specially made video films are used in the BACK SCHOOL.
b. Pre-Surgery School : The Spinal surgery is in disrepute for various reasons, some rational, some irrational. The fact remains that appropriately indicated, competently carried out spinal surgery in properly selected patients, always gives very satisfying results. Many a patients who deserve to undergo surgery, run away from surgery due to various mis-conceptions and unrealistic fears. With the help of literature in various languages and video films, the patients needing spinal surgery are specially educated about the surgery, the likely outcome, the likely complications and about the future improved life. These patients also get opportunity to meet and discuss everything about the surgery with the patients, who themselves have undergone spinal surgery. This has allayed fears and anxieties in the patients undergoing surgery. Their post-operative compliance with rehabilitation program is improved and the final outcome of the surgery is satisfying. This patient education has contributed a lot towards the success rate of surgery at our Institute.
7) CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION :
The Institute in last 10 years has earned reputation as an academic learning centre. A large number of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Neuro Surgeons, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists and other medical and para medical personnel, interested in Back care and spinal surgery, from various parts of India, have visited the Institute and spent variable period learning the art of spinal care. The Institute has conducted formal training sessions for medicos and paramedics. Every staff member has been selected carefully, and subscribes to the philosophy of being a permanent student and an ever willing teacher. Every week scientific meetings are held as a part of academic updating. These meetings are also attended by Orthopaedic Surgeons and others, interested in Back Care, from around us.
9) CLINICAL RESEARCH :
Clinical research is a continuing process at our Institute. Our staff members have resented scientific papers in various conferences at National and International level. Practicing state of art, spinal care science without compromising in quality, is the motto of the Institute.
We at "ASHWINI BACK-INSTITUTE" are proud that we are able to help relieve sufferings of Back pain patients and other spinal disorders.
OUR STAFF
DR. V.T. INGALHALIKAR ( DIRECTOR )
DR. P. V. PRABHU
DR. BHARAT N. CHAUBEY
DR.( Ms ) S. V. INGALHALIKAR
DR. ( Ms ) S. V. EKBOTE ( CHIEF, REHAB. SERVICES )
DR. ( Ms) S. S. KHER
DR. ( Ms ) D. V. JOSHI
DR. ( Ms ) S. NADKARNIASHWINI BACK INSTITUTE,
1-8, "POURNIMA", OPP. RLY.STN., THANE (W).
MAHARASHTRA, INDIA . PIN 400602
TEL. NO. +91(22) 25424889.
E-mail : ashwinibackcare@mtnl.net.in
Website : www.abispinecare.com