Flexion Distraction/Spinal Decompression
Non-surgical spinal decompression is a hot topic in back pain reduction. Dr. Erica Heppe is trained and certified in spinal decompression.
The Cox Technique (flexion-distraction) is the most researched technique in chiropractic and stems from osteopathic manipulation.
Back pain affects 80% of us at some point in our lives. Back pain is disruptive to normal activities of daily living and frustrates the sufferer and their family.
The Cox Technique is a gentle, safe, controlled treatment for spinal pain relief. This technique is a chiropractor-applied, chiropractor-controlled, patient-focused treatment designed to provide spinal pain relief.
Dr. Heppe will perform a thorough examination that leads to a specific diagnosis of the spinal condition to be treated. Here is what you can expect for your treatment:
Here is an example of a patient on a flexion distraction table, as the table is slowly being moved into the flexion phase.
- The patient lies face down on a Flexion Distraction table, the specially designed table for delivering the treatment.
- In delivering the treatment, the Chiropractor concentrates on one vertebral motion segment at a time as the lower end of the table slowly drops away (see the picture on the right).
What does a treatment feel like?
Flexion Distraction is relaxing, relieving, and gentle. There is no quick moves or noise.
Click Here to watch videos of Dr. Cox performing this gentle technique. This will show you what you can expect your treatment to look like.
For a full list of conditions that can be treated by Flexion-Distraction click here.
How does Flexion Distraction decrease pain?
Research shows that using the Cox Technique can:
- dropping intradiscal pressure to as low as -192mm Hg in the lumbar spine (low back) and lowering pressures in the cervical spine (C4-C7) 96 to 1583 mm Hg. --> Meaning this can reduce low back pain from disc bulges.
- widening the spinal canal foraminal area by 28% --> Means the space for the nerve roots to exit is larger
- reducing pressure on the spinal nerves --> Means the ligaments and other surroundings structures won't irritate the nerves
As an added bonus, flexion distraction returns motion to the joints of the spine.
The special flexion-distraction table will move the discs around, as seen above, to help hydrate the discs and move disc bulges back into the correct location.
