Flexion-Distraction
The Lumbar Spine: Back Pain and Sciatic Leg Pain
Vertebrae, discs, nerves, articulations, and a spinal cord make up your spine. Any of them could become a source of pain in an accident, in doing an everyday activity or in playing a sport.
The vertebrae are the bony parts of your spine: the ones that you can see and feel up and down your back. They are sensitive. They become even more sensitive if a disc that separates them "slips" or "degenerates" due to lack of nutrition, deteriorations, or injury.
If the disc "slips, " the inner nucleus (a gel-like material) escapes into the anular fibers (rubberband-like and elastic so as to allow spinal movement) and can cause just low back pain or press back into the spinal canal to compress a nerve which causes pain down the leg where the nerves travel. The leg pain is called sciatica. Decompression may gently open the disc space enough to give space for the nerve to "breathe" and not cause pain.
Nutrition can play a part in your back pain treatment. Research shows a loss of some nutrients within the disc before degeneration occurs, so you may be given supplements to aid in healing.
Painfree motion is usually lost when in pain. A healthy spine and its joints have five motions: flexion, extension, lateral (side-to-side) flexion, rotation, and circumduction (circular motion). The goal is to return healthy, painfree motion to the spine.
To help the disc(s) assume a more normal position, to help the spine regain its lost motions, and to enhance muscle and ligament healing with minimum scar tissue damage, Flexion-Distraction is used.
According to a recent study of 1000 patient cases of back pain treated by 30 different chiropractors, 93% of whom used the Flexion-Distraction Technique to care for the patients' back pain, this technique is successful and well tolerated by patients according to their responses to the technique:
Excellent 47%
Very Good 14%
Good 10%
Fair 7%
Poor 4%
Surgery 4%
Stop, Did Not Start Care 10%
Examined, Not Treated 4%
The average number of days to maximum improvement was 29 days.
The average number of visits to maximum improvement was 12.
Flexion-Distraction Adjustment & Manipulation Benefits
Flexion-Distraction Adjustment & Manipulation creates a "push, pull, pumping" effect on the intervertebral disc space and allows these benefits:
1) Increases the intervertebral disc height to remove tension on the anular fibers and the spinal nerve by making more room and improving circulation;
2) Drops pressure within the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc;
3) Increases the area of the intervertebral foramen up to 28%;
4) Restores vertebral joints to their physiological relationships of motion (realigns your spine).
How does the Flexion-Distraction Adjusting Instrument Work?
"Oh I wish soemone could just pull me apart!" some patients say. This technique does just that and much more in a safe, controlled manner.
This technique is a gentle, non-force procedure which aids the spine in healing properly and to ensure a painfree future. Flexion-Distraction Decompression Adjusting & Manipulation is the well-documented, researched proven effective, non-surgical technique for treating low back pain.
During a treatment, you will lie on your stomach while the doctor manipulates your spine to relieve nerve pressure.
Research Findings on Flexion-Distraction Decompression for Back Pain
Close to 40 years of research, experience, and technology have contributed to the development and evolution of Flexion-Distraction Technique. Chiropractors, engineers, and researchers continue to document its benefits. The latest findings from the federally funded research projects at the National University of Health Sciences and Loyola Stritch School of Medicine show that flexion-distraction technique allows a reduction of intradiscal pressure, an increase in intervertebral disc height, and an increase in intervertebral foramen size. Other authors report that
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Of adjustive techniques that utilize manual forces on short and/or long levers, "only flexion-distraction technique...has been described in a reviewed text & a number of well-respected, peer-reviewed journals."(Bergman, Chiropractic Technique)
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"Flexion-distraction is a standard, widely taught procedure. There is a great deal of supportable and reasonable mechanical and physiologic rationale in the literature for the appropriate use of these procedures for the care of patients with neuromusculoskeletal problems." It is rated as an "Established" technique, one of only two techniques in chiropractic with this rating. (The Mercy Center Consensus Conference on Chiropractic Practice)
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Flexion-Distraction Manipulation is the fourth most popular technique in chiropractic. 58% of chiropractors report that they use this technique. 25% of chiropractic patients receive care with this technique. (National Board of Chiropractic Examiners)
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Flexion-Distraction was successfully used to help a disc herniation patient. (Guadagnino, J of the Neuromusculoskeletal System 1997)
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A CT-confirmed L5-S1 disc protrusion is reported to be reduced following chiropractic adjustment, as seen on a repeat CT scan. (Cox, et al, J of Manipulative And Physiological Therapeutics 1993)
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An L4-L5 left nuclear disc prolapse with a sequestrated segment was successfully managed with conservative flexion-distraction adjusting. (Neault, J of Manipulative And Physiological Therapeutics 1992)
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80% of cervical and lumbar spine disc herniations helped by flexion distraction adjustment. 63% showed MRI reduction in size. (Eliyahu, J of Manipulative And Physiological Therapeutics vol. 19, no. 9)
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After 4 weeks of Flexion-Distraction therapy, a 61 year old female with low back, hip and sciatic pain for five years and bedridden reported no leg or back pain and is able to walk and function again. (Hayden, Georgia Chiropractic Journal 1996)
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13 of 18 low back patients felt greater positive effect of flexion distraction over placebo. (Hawk, J of Manipulative And Physiological Therapeutics 1999)
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