The Valley’s Own DRX9000 Great! What Is It?

Antonia Arroyo and Dr. Mario Arroyo in their Santa Ynez chiropractic office. On the wall is a photo of a favorite Arabian horse that the couple raised locally at their Arabian horse ranch on Edison Street.

This is the story of how the DRX9000 made its way to the Santa Ynez Valley. No, the DRX9000 is not a fancy sports car or something from Star Trek. It is a non-surgical, spinal decompression system that helps people alleviate painful, debilitating back, neck, and leg problems without going “under the knife.”

Dr. Mario Arroyo and his wife, Antonia, brought this state-of-the-art medical device to the Santa Ynez Valley. The DRX9000 resides in the Arroyo Chiropractic Clinic on Edison Street in Santa Ynez.

Who would think that this cozy looking, powder blue and white cottage would house revolutionary treatment equipment? The clinic’s comfy waiting room reminds one of a tea room. Furnished with white wicker and pillows, the room exudes a homey atmosphere. A basket of apples and a bowl of candy add to the welcoming aura.

Beyond the reception area, however, high technology takes over. Patients recline on a thick, black, vinyl mattress with their knees draped over a triangular cushion to take pressure off the back. DRX9000 technician Guillermo Medina attaches the appropriate harness (lumbar or cervical) to the patient. During an approximately 30-minute session, the DRX9000 methodically pulls ever so gently on the spine with computer-calibrated movements to alleviate pressure on the disks in trouble. Usually eleven to fifteen treatments are required to achieve relief, though, according to Dr. Arroyo, a “complete” treatment is 20 sessions.

Fate played a major hand in the location of the DRX9000 in Santa Ynez.

Long-time owners of a chiropractic office in Huntington Park, in 1986 the Arroyos were referred to an equine clinic in the Valley when a horse from their stable required surgery. The Arroyos traveled north from their home in Southern California to deliver the horse and then continued to visit it weekly during its recuperation.

They were so charmed and enchanted by the Valley that they bought a ranch here in 1986, where they breed and raise Arabians.

The Arroyos also show their Arabians at the national level, under the guidance and training of Kelly Elm. Elm has been Arroyo Arabians’ farm manager and horse trainer for the past 22 years.

In 2006, Antonia injured her back at a horse competition. She needed relief from the pain but wanted to avoid the surgery that was recommended by their doctors.

By chance, she happened upon a DRX9000 treatment facility in Arizona. She tried the decompression option and was thrilled when the pain disappeared and she was able to return to her active sports life.

In fact, she went on to win the Arabian U.S. National Championship in Amateur Western Pleasure in 2008.

Because of her successful experience with the DRX9000, the Arroyos wanted make this treatment available to their neighbors in horse country, so they opened an office in the Valley and bought and installed a DRX9000. They now spend half of their week here and half in Huntington Park, where Dr. Arroyo still maintains his other clinic.

Most of their patients are local, but this is a tourist destination. One frequent visitor to Solvang, San Bernardino resident Rosemary Mendoza, suffered recent cervical distress and was looking for a non-surgical solution. During one of her frequent visits to this area, she saw an ad for the Arroyo Clinic and contacted them. She is now driving here for weekly treatment as well as for her usual R&R.

The Arroyos and their staff are happy to be able to help their Valley neighbors by providing a non-surgical back-pain treatment in this area. The DRX9000 has come to stay!