Flexion distraction is a chiropractic technique used to treat conditions having to do with the lumbar spine. The technique is gentle and uses a special table that moves as your chiropractor adjusts your spine. Motions are slow, without any jerking or excessive pressure.
As your chiropractor performs adjustments, sections of the table drop or move, changing your body positioning and allowing gravity to enhance the adjustment. The adjustments, combined with movements from the table, stretch and decompress your spine, relieving your back, leg, neck, and arm pain.
Gentle Treatment
This method is a great treatment option for patients that cannot receive typical adjustments.
Special Table
Motion from the table allows gravity to enhance the adjustment made by the chiropractor.
Pain Relief
It can be used to relieve back, leg, neck pain and more.
Flexion distraction is a safe treatment option for patients with brittle bones or other conditions that make regular spinal adjustments risky.
How does flexion distraction work?
Flexion distraction involves using a special table, like the Cox technic flexion distraction table, to distract and flex your back in a gentle motion. The special treatment table moves in a smooth rhythm, allowing your chiropractor to gently stretch and bend your back in different directions while they add pressure to various parts of the spine.
Treatment sessions can be focused on the lumbar spine or the cervical spine. It can provide pain relief to other areas of the body because of the influence of your central nervous system, which is located in your spine. This is why flexion distraction can treat leg or knee pain as well as back pain.
Flexion distraction technique for herniated disks creates a negative pressure in your spinal disks, corrects bulging or herniations, and allows movement of nutrients back into the disk. This relieves pressure on nerves and brings pain relief to the affected areas.
Benefits of the flexion distraction technique
Studies have shown that including flexion distraction adjustment resulted in a greater reduction of painful symptoms (Source).
Some benefits of flexion distraction therapy include:
Reduced pressure on spinal nerves and disks
Decreased disk herniation
Improved range of motion and mobility
Relieved stiffness
Decreased neck pain and headaches
Relieved pain and numbness in the back, buttocks, arms, and legs
This technique promotes optimal spinal disk health and is also beneficial for chronic pain management. One study of chronic knee pain patients reported decreased pain maintained by monthly chiropractic adjustments using flexion distraction therapy (Source).
What conditions can be treated?
Flexion distraction is a chiropractic technique that can be especially beneficial for those with medical conditions that prevent them from receiving other types of adjustments. It is even gentle enough to be included in recovery treatment plans following spinal surgeries.
Our office uses flexion distraction therapy for several conditions including:
Osteoarthritis
Scoliosis
Sciatica or leg pain
Sprains and strains
Arm pain
Neck pain
Low back pain
Chronic pain
And more
Schedule an adjustment
If you are looking for gentle and non-invasive pain relief, we are ready to see you for a chiropractic adjustment. A doctor of chiropractic will conduct a physical exam and medical history before determining the chiropractic treatment that is right for you.
Many insurances offer coverage for chiropractic care, and we are happy to review your benefits with you. Schedule your consultation today and discover why so many people trust a chiropractor with their body.