Adjustment for the Disc
Categories: In the Office
Matthews Chiropractic Center patients with sciatica, leg weakness or numbness, or any type of lumbar disc injury can benefit from flexion-distraction therapy. Cox flexion-distraction adjusting is a form of chiropractic manipulation which treats the intervertebral disc, posterior facet joints, and the passages around the spine where nerves travel. Flexion-distraction adjusting is accomplished with the patient lying face down on a special hinged chiropractic table; the spine is stabilized while the section of the table under the patient’s legs is moved towards the floor.
Flexion-Distraction Benefits1:
- Increases height of the posterior disc space.
- Decreases disc protrusion and reduces stenosis.
- Flexion opens the space for spinal cord.
- Increases nutrients moving into the disc.
- Opens the posterior joints and reduces posterior disc stress.
- Reduces pressure in the disc during distraction (decompression).
- Expands the space where the nerve root passes.
Help for Disc Injuries
Disc injuries go by many names: bulge, protrusion, herniation, prolaspe, rupture, slipped, torn/tear, etc. and represent varying degrees of a similar injury. Damage to the disc and pressure on nerves can cause lower back pain, sciatica, weakness, numbness, and/or tingling in the legs. All of these symptoms can come from injury of the disc and can benefit from flexion-distraction treatments.
Surgery Alternative
Often I see patients who have had low back surgery or who are contemplating surgery to treat disc injury complaints. Cox flexion-distraction therapy is an effective non-surgical alternative that has allowed patients to avoid low back surgery. Chiropractic adjustments are made to help the spine regain and maintain motion. Similarly, flexion-distraction therapy brings movement to joints and discs of the lumbar spine. If you seek a chiropractor who utilizes this specialized adjusting technique please call Matthews Chiropractic Center for more information.
- Cox, James M. Low Back Pain: Mechanism, Diagnosis and Treatment, 6th ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1999. [↩]
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