Flexion Distraction is a form of chiropractic therapy that requires the assistance of a “flexion” table. It may also be referred to as “spinal distraction” or “decompressing traction”. The patient lays face down on the table and the bottom half of the table moves up and down and from side to side isolating the individual segments and ultimately reduces pressure within the disc. This is a non-invasive form of treatment for acute and chronic spinal pain syndromes. It has become a common non-surgical approach in the management of disc problems such as herniated discs, disc degeneration, sciatica and pinched nerves. Patients typically describe feeling “looser” post treatment and the objective of flexion distraction is to:
- Increase intervetebral disc height
- Decrease pressure within the disc
- Allow the nucleus pulposus (the center of the disc) to assume its central position and relieves pressure of the spinal nerves
- Transiently increase the saggital diameter of the vertebral canal
- Restore physiologic motion to the vertebral joints
- Improve nutrient transport to the disc
- Decompresses the space (foreamen) where the spinal nerve roots travel
For more information regarding the goals of flexion distraction please refer to http://www.coxtechnique.com/aboutcoxtechnic/goals.html
