Scenar - A History
In the early 1970's, at the height of the Soviet-American space race, a brilliant young Russian doctor and engineer, Alexander Karasev, began to study the systems of reflexotherapy and acupuncture that had been filtering out of China and other countries in Asia. Karasev had the idea to apply these principles through an electrical device. In 1973, by his own account, he took an engine from a children's toy, and combined it with a contact breaker, a transformer and some electrodes. The device produced an impulse which was longer and more powerful than the nerve signal produced by pain. It suppressed pain signals for a time, and was the first of what are now known as TENS machines.
In the following years, while working at the Radiotechnical University of Taganrog, he developed this idea into the first prototype of a far more advanced technology, an interactive, bio-feedback device which would later be known as Scenar. Various doctors and scientists (mostly based at Sochi University, especially a young neurologist, Alexander Revenko) worked with Karasev to refine the Scenar technology into a broad therapy system, combining principles from acupuncture and Western neurology.
Research funding came from the Soviet military-run space programme, hoping to give Cosmonauts a tool to treat injuries and illnesses during extended stays in space, where limited storage and recycled body wastes made drugs problematic. Intentionally or not, they gave their country one of the most powerful medical devices in the world.
Following the perestroika reforms in the late 1980's, and just before the Soviet Union's break-up in 1991, the Scenar team disbanded, and leading members set up their own competing companies (see Scenar Devices). In 1993, Scenar was approved by the Ministry of Health in Russia for general use in what was then a financially-strapped medical system.
Several years later, near the end of the century, Scenars started to filter out to Western countries, and medical approvals were sought and gained in the U.K., USA and other countries following exhaustive trials. Outside Russia, Scenar is especially widely used in Australia, Austria and Germany.
About the author: Paul Lowe has Scenar practices near Brighton in Sussex. He tackles many issues including back pain and joints (slipped disc, sciatica, rheumatoid and osteo arthritis, frozen shoulder, carpal tunnel, RSI), neurological (migraines, IBS, TMJ, RSD, fibromyalgia), burns, wounds and sports injuries.
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Tel: (44) 01273 803888 |
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Don Elwick - Managing Director, Brighton Media Centre (Cracked Ribs) "December 21st, 2009, I went out running, slipped on some ice, and fell heavily on my back. A nurse and a doctor both confirmed I had two or three cracked ribs. I spent the next week hardly sleeping due to the pain. December 29th, I saw Paul Lowe for a Scenar treatment, and that night I slept properly again. Over the next few days, almost all the pain had gone, and the ribs were back to normal. I had Scenar again and on January 4th, the doctor found it hard to believe there was nothing left from the accident - broken ribs normally take at least 6 weeks to heal." ............................................ Venus Villa, First Artist, The English National Ballet, London (Leg injury) "I had a very painful injury to my leg (compartment syndrome), and I tried several therapies. Scenar was the best for really deep healing, even when I was dancing for seven hours a day. Thank you Paul." ............................................ Marco Crivello, Artist, Lewes, Sussex (Shoulder + Back Pain) "I had acute pain in my right shoulder. I tried osteopathy and cranio-sacral over several weeks, but with negligible results. Paul treated me with Scenar daily for four days, and by the end I was pain-free. On another occasion, I was in acute pain months after Achilles tendon surgery -- after one treatment from Paul, the pain went away. I also threw my back out twice. Each time, one Scenar treatment was enough to put it back to normal." ............................................ Stephane Davies-Arai, Sculptor, Lewes, Sussex (Sciatica) "I was rushed to hospital on three occasions and given four strong painkillers including morphine. I finally collapsed at work in agony, unable to walk. After 10 treatments with Paul, I was able to stop the painkillers and drive 80 miles to a work event. Six months on, I'm still pain free." .............................................. Tim Cornwall - Private Hire Driver, Herstmonceaux, Sussex (Slipped Disc) "I've had hip and lower back problems for over 30 years. This episode was the worst I've had for two years: I could hardly walk or drive and I had to give work away. Until now, I'd go to the chiropractor for several treatments and take at least three weeks to recover. With Paul it took four days and four Scenar treatments to get back to normal. On day 1, I could barely walk. On day 3, I took the dog for a one-hour walk." ............................................. John Hayward - Landscaper, Westham, Sussex (Neck + Shoulder Pain, Arm/hand nerve damage) "The pain had reached levels that stopped my physical workload. The diagnosis was nerve compression due to an injury to the C5/6/7 vertebrae. I now faced the prospect of surgery to install metal inserts... After four Scenar treatments, I was able to stop the painkillers... After three months and 10 treatments, I can also report... ability to sleep on my side again, write and sign my signature fluently again, turn my head fully to the right and left... Six months later, I'm doing heavy physical work again as part of my job, and despite needing occasional top-ups, I'm basically pain-free. Altogether, a phenomenal success."
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All Rights Reserved: Life Routes. © Copyright: Paul Lowe, 2008. Tel: 01273 803888. Email: info@scenartherapist.co.uk