(347) 625-1246
hello@brooklynchirocare.com
112 Greenpoint Ave #1B, Brooklyn, NY 11222
Flexion-distraction in Brooklyn means one thing at Brooklyn Chiropractic Care: a gentle, hands-on technique done on a specialized table, with no thrusting. It’s what Dr. Patel uses for disc-related back problems.
Key Takeaways
- Flexion-distraction (the Cox technique) uses a table that moves your lower body through flexion and distraction while Dr. Patel works on the spine with his hands.
- It’s gentle and non-thrusting. There’s no forceful twist.
- In a randomized trial of 235 adults with chronic low back pain, flexion-distraction gave significantly more pain relief than an active exercise program. Function scores didn’t differ between the groups.
- Not every back problem is a disc problem. The exam decides whether this technique fits you.
What flexion-distraction is
It’s a table-assisted technique. You lie face down on a specialized table. Part of the table moves, so your lower body gets gently flexed and stretched (distracted) while the doctor applies controlled hands-on pressure to specific spinal segments. Flexion-distraction decompresses the disc. The gentle stretch is meant to take pressure off an irritated disc and free up movement.
Researchers describe the Cox version as done on a table that allows distraction of the spine through downward and flexion movement of the lower body.
What the evidence says
The best randomized evidence compared flexion-distraction with an active trunk exercise program in 235 adults with low back pain for more than three months. Both groups improved significantly. Flexion-distraction produced significantly greater pain relief (P=0.01), while the Roland Morris disability and SF-36 scores didn’t differ. In subgroups, people with chronic, moderate-to-severe symptoms improved most with flexion-distraction. People with recurrent, moderate-to-severe symptoms did better with the exercise program. Patients with radiculopathy did significantly better with flexion-distraction.
Keep the limits in mind. It’s one trial, in chronic low back pain, comparing two treatments with no sham or no-treatment arm. For nerve-related leg symptoms, a small uncontrolled case series of lumbar stenosis patients treated with the Cox technique, nerve mobilization, and home exercise also reported meaningful disability improvements. See our page on lumbar spinal stenosis. Neither study proves it will work for you.
What to expect from flexion-distraction in Brooklyn
You start with a consultation and an orthopedic and neurological exam, with digital X-rays if they’re clinically needed, and a report of findings. That’s how Dr. Patel decides which technique suits your problem. If the problem is disc-related, flexion-distraction can be part of the plan. Follow-up adjustments are $100.
For related reading, see our guides to a herniated disc and degenerative disc disease, or our sciatica page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does flexion-distraction hurt?
It’s gentle and non-thrusting. Some soreness after any manual care is common and usually mild. See what’s normal after an adjustment.
Is flexion-distraction good for sciatica?
In the randomized trial above, patients with radiculopathy did significantly better with flexion-distraction than with exercise. That’s one trial, so it’s encouraging, not a promise. Your exam works out what’s causing your leg symptoms.
Will I hear a pop?
Not as a goal. The pop isn’t what makes an adjustment work, and this technique doesn’t rely on a thrust. See our guide to the popping sound during a chiropractic adjustment.
Ready to find relief? Schedule an appointment online with Dr. Patel at Brooklyn Chiropractic Care in Greenpoint.
References
- Gudavalli MR, Cambron JA, McGregor M, et al. A randomized clinical trial and subgroup analysis to compare flexion-distraction with active exercise for chronic low back pain. Eur Spine J. 2006;15(7):1070-1082. PubMed: 16341712
- Murphy DR, Hurwitz EL, Gregory AA, Clary R. A non-surgical approach to the management of lumbar spinal stenosis: a prospective observational cohort study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2006;7:16. PubMed: 16504078
Not Sure What's Causing Your Pain?
Take our 60-second pain assessment and get a personalized care recommendation from Dr. Patel.
Take the Assessment
