Intraosseous Therapy (IOT)

This blog was originally posted, April 14, 2023, by Kristen Reynolds, MD, on our previous website.

Eighty percent of people will experience back pain at least once in their lives and 85% of all low back pain (LBP) is considered to be non-specific, meaning there is no proven cause shown by exam or imaging such as Xray and MRI.

Intraosseous therapy (IOT) is an innovative technique that had never been taught in the U.S. until April 8, 2023 when an esteemed physician Dr. Artamonov from Europe shared his technique with those of us attending an exciting medical conference in Miami, FL.

The basis for IOT rests on the vascular anatomy of the spine, mainly the central spinous venous system (CSVS). One part of the CSVS called Batson’s plexus is a set of interconnecting veins (large to tiny) that traverses the entire spine and drains into larger veins of the chest and pelvis.

Batson’s plexus is thought to be the crucial line of flow for lymph drainage and venous outflow of the spine and surrounding tissues. This drainage is critical for removing inflammation. In the setting of chronic back pain, the build-up of inflammation within this plexus most likely leads to congestion, which contributes to and enables the ongoing pain cycle.

IOT is a simple, safe, and nearly painless way of gaining access to the CSVS through an easily accessible bone at the top of the pelvis called the posterior superior iliac spine (if you put your hands on your hips, your thumb will rest on this part of the pelvis, at the lower back). The pelvis is linked to Batson’s plexus, and provides an easy, accessible way to improve the flow and removal of inflammation in the back.

IOT is incredibly successful in treating back pain, no matter the cause.