Why Does Flexion Distraction at Apple Country Chiropractic Feel So Good? Science Has the Answer
If you've ever wondered just what your Williamson chiropractor is doing when treating your aching back with flexion distraction (aka Cox® Technic, you're not alone. Many of your fellow Williamson chiropractic patients describe the gentle, rhythmic movements as surprisingly comforting, but what's actually going on beneath the surface is nothing short of remarkable. Thanks to cutting-edge research, we now have a good picture of how this gentle technique does its thing to help your spine – and the outcomes might amaze you.
YOUR SPINE IN MOTION: MORE PRECISE THAN YOU THINK
Ever felt like your back was "stuck" or certain movements just wouldn't come naturally? That's exactly what researchers discovered when they used ultrasound technology to see in real time how the spine’s spinous processes moved during flexion distraction treatment. Kruse and colleagues (1) report that this treatment creates very specific, controlled movements of spinal spinous processes where your spine needs it most. Picture a skilled artist carefully restoring a valuable painting, working on exactly the areas that need attention. Your chiropractor is not just moving your spine haphazardly – your chiropractor at Apple Country Chiropractic is creating targeted therapeutic motion that addresses the specific spots where you're experiencing issues. For patients managing severe pain or those who have had previous back surgeries, this precision means getting effective treatment without the worry of overly aggressive treatment.
GIVING YOUR DISCS THE RELIEF THEY'RE WANTING
Here's where things get quite interesting. You know that pressure you feel in your lower back, especially when sitting or bending? Researchers essentially measured what happens to that pressure throughout a flexion distraction treatment – and the outcomes are striking. Gudavalli, Cramer, and Patwardhan (2) discovered that flexion distraction significantly reduces the pressure inside your spinal discs. Envision your disc as a water balloon that's been held too tight – that pressure causes pain and slows healing. When your Williamson chiropractor performs flexion distraction, it’s like essentially releasing that squeeze, giving your disc room to ‘breathe’ and begin the healing process. This pressure relief is game-changing for anyone coping with herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, or spinal stenosis. Less pressure means less pain, decreased inflammation, and finally increased chance for compressed nerves to recover.
OPENING THE DOORS FOR YOUR NERVES
Perhaps the most exciting discovery concerns what happens to the tiny ‘doorways’ where your nerves leave your spine. These spaces, called intervertebral foramina, can become restricted due to disc problems, bone spurs, or swelling – essentially trapping your nerves and causing that darting pain, numbness, or tingling you might feel. Well, the same research team (3) reported findings that flexion distraction essentially opens these nerve pathways, making more space for proper nerve function. It's like widening a narrow hallway so people can move through comfortably again. When your nerves have enough space, they can function like usual, sending proper signals throughout your body without the interference that causes pain.
WHY THIS KNOWLEDGE CHANGES EVERYTHING
Understanding what's really happening during your treatment changes flexion distraction from a mysterious procedure into a logical, science-based solution. Your chiropractor at Apple Country Chiropractic isn't just "trying something that might work" – your chiropractor is applying a technique that takes on three major sources of your back pain: ‘stuck’ spinal segments, excessive disc pressure, and compressed nerve pathways. This knowledge can boost your confidence in your chiropractic treatment plan and help you grasp why consistency of care matters. Your spine didn't get these issues overnight, and true healing takes time. But now you know that each gentle session is systematically getting to the root causes of your discomfort, backed by scientific evidence. The next time you're on our treatment table, you can be confident that proven biomechanical changes are occurring with each careful movement your chiropractor makes.
CONTACT Apple Country Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Brandon Skiles on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes the relief with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for disc herniation.
Schedule your Williamson chiropractic appointment now.
