STS/VECTTOR Treatment

Dr Rhodes and Dr Boudreau discuss STS with Dusty

Dr. Donald Rhodes

South Texas Innovative Medicine

Review

There has been considerable interest in the Duchenne community regarding a physical therapy system known as Dynatronic STS, (the new machine is called VECTTOR), invented by Dr. Donald Rhodes, who is located in Corpus Christi, Texas. The following is a review of a visit to Dr. Rhodes and some perspective on him and his treatment.

The treatment

Dr. Rhodes has a proprietary machine that passes low frequency electrical current through nerves. He believes that varied electrode pad placement combined with differing beat frequencies allow for treatment of different ailments. The electrodes are hooked up to the strategic nerves in the feet and hands, and send electrical impulses up to the place in the back that controls the sympathetic nervous system.

Here is his working hypothesis

“STS treatments are effective due to a combination of the following aspects of the treatments: low frequency electrical current passing through long sections of nerves; electrode pad placement (including acupuncture and reflexology points); production of cyclic adenosine monophosphate; the choice of the peripheral nerves being stimulated so that there is a cross over effect in the central nervous system; leakage of action potentials from the nerves being stimulated into nerves entering the sympathetic ganglia; the quadrilateral location of the stimulation; creation of action potentials through sympathetic nerve fibers, in the peripheral nerves being stimulated; creation of action potentials in the peripheral nerves being stimulated; activation of the sodium pump in the nerves being stimulated; production of ACTH; production of dynorphins, enkephalins or beta endorphins; creation of IGF-1; and creation and/or production of circulation altering neuropeptides such as vascular intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP).”

Dr. Rhodes and Dr. Boudreau

Dr. Rhodes is an energetic, kindly man in his early sixties. He is a podiatrist. He is passionate about his technology. He says he has seen significant improvements in his patients suffering from RSDS, a chronic pain disease, diabetes, fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis. He is extremely confident in the treatment’s ability to also help individuals with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy.  Dr. Boudreau, also a kindly man, is an orthopedic surgeon and osteopath, and they share a practice and work closely together.  They are both disillusioned with the more conventional ways of treating patients with drugs. They believe that the system does not work as well if patients are taking steroids.

Cost

Treatment is expensive due to the cost of the machine, time spent with Dr. Rhodes and Dr. Boudreau and travel and accommodation. Dr. Rhodes charges $4,500 for the STS machine and a few hundred dollars for training.

My thoughts

Basically, the STS electrodes electrically stimulate acupuncture, acupressure, and reflexology points, as well as free nerve endings and nerve trunks.  Dr Rhodes believes that by improving circulation in the body, the body heals. Growing up in an Asian country, I was exposed to eastern medicine, and familiar with what was being presented.  I believe that it provides therapeutic relief for many ailments. Dr Rhodes is taking an ancient eastern tradition and combining it with modern technology.

Dusty is the 18th patient with Duchenne or Becker who is currently using STS. He receives 80 minutes of STS/VECTTOR treatment twice a day for the first month, and then 80 minutes a day thereafter. It is only Dusty’s 5th day of treatment. So far, I cannot say we have seen any visible improvement and nor does he report any. However, it is still early days, and I remain hopeful that Dusty will benefit. I will be tracking his progress.

Hooked up!