17 Jan Understanding Flexion Distraction Treatment for Disc Herniation
Lumbar radicular symptoms can be caused by lumbar intervertabral disc herniations. If a disc injury is positively established through diagnostic imaging, surgery is a commonly recommended approach. Flexion/Distraction manipulation is a therapeutic alternative that may offer relief for subjective complaints and elimination of objective signs. Success with this technique might spare the patient an operative procedure. Flexion/ Distraction manipulation is a treatment developed by Dr. James Cox. It is often used for lumbar disc injuries ( herniations, bulges, etc.), and for other low back and lower extremity radicular conditions( sciatica). The technique involves the use of a specialized table which allows for passive distraction, flexion, lateral bending, and rotation. These different planes of motion, along with the use of appropriate adjunctive therapy and exercises( Active Release Techniques®, physical therapy exercises), allow for reduction of symptoms attributable to lumbar disc syndromes. Contraindications and indications for flexion/ distraction manipulation have been identified and enumerated. Flexion/ distraction manipulation is a treatment that should be investigated as a part of the algorithm for presurgical therapies of lumbar intervertebral disc injuries. This alternative in conservative care may be of benefit to a large number of patients. The surgical option for treating disc herniations might be reduced with propagation of flexion/ distraction manipulation. Cox® Technique( aka flexion-distraction or F/D) relieves back and leg pain. Disc herniation and/or stenosis may be the cause of the pain. Or simple arthritis or a back sprain may be the culprit. Cox® Technique is a gentle, non-surgical, chiropractic manipulation adjustment procedure. 95% of back pain and neck pain patients DO NOT require surgery. Cox® Technique is a safe alternative to back surgery. It is also approved for failed back surgery patients who still suffer after back surgery. Cox® Technique is a well-researched(with research studies complete and underway), well-referenced(with over 90 + articles published in medical and chiropractic journals) chiropractic spinal adjusting manipulation. Cox® Technique drops intradiscal pressures to -192 mmHg and increases the foraminal area by 28%. Cox® Technique stops pain, realigns the spine and restores range of motion inherent to the spine while reducing low back pain, especially radiculopathy(extremity pain-leg pain or arm pain) patients better than active exercise therapy. Innovated by James M. Cox, DC, DACBR, in the 1960’s, Cox® Technique is a marriage of osteopathic and chiropractic manipulation principles. It is an accepted and widely used form of spinal manipulation. Today, nearly 60 % of chiropractic physicians report using it in their practices. A select number of physicians have advanced their training through postgraduate courses. These “certified” Cox® Technique chiropractic physicians are ready to help you. The Research Federally Funded Biomechanical Research has thus far shown the following about Cox® Flexion Distraction Technique: 1. Reduces intradiscal pressures to as low as 192 mmHg 2. Increases intradiscal height 3. Increases foraminal size by 28% Clinical Research has shown the following(Topics in Clinical Chiropractic, 1000 cases study, 1996; 3(3): 45-59, 79-81): •It takes 12 visits to maximum improvement(not considering the diagnosis)(from Cox et al, Topics in Clinical Chiropractic 1996, 3(3)) •It takes 29 days to maximum improvement(not considering the diagnosis)(from Cox et al, Topics in Clinical Chiropractic 1996, 3(3)) •It takes 3 months for a torn disc to heal sufficiently to return to normal activities of daily living( Hirschberg: Texas Medicine 1974, 70(12)) Please visit http://coxtechnique.com/ for more detailed research and clinical information.