Why Does Flexion Distraction at Most Chiropractic Clinic Feel So Good? Science Has the Answer
If you've ever wondered what exactly your Murfreesboro chiropractor is doing when performing flexion distraction - ala Cox® Technic - on your aching back, you're not alone. Many of your fellow Murfreesboro chiropractic patients explain the gentle, rhythmic motions as surprisingly soothing, but what's really happening beneath the surface is nothing short of remarkable. Thanks to cutting-edge research, we now have a crystal-clear picture of how this gentle technique does its thing to help your spine – and the outcomes might amaze you.
YOUR SPINE IN MOTION: MORE SPECIFIC THAN YOU THINK
Ever felt like your back was "stuck" or certain movements just wouldn't come naturally? That's exactly what researchers found when they used ultrasound technology to watch spines 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 help most. Picture a skilled artist carefully restoring a valuable painting, working on exactly the areas that need attention. Your chiropractor isn't just moving your spine haphazardly – your chiropractor at Most Chiropractic Clinic is creating targeted therapeutic motion that addresses the specific spots where you're experiencing issues. For patients dealing with severe pain or those who have had back surgery before, 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 really interesting. You know that pressure you feel in your lower back, particularly when sitting or bending? Researchers actually measured what happens to that pressure throughout a flexion distraction treatment – and the results are striking. Gudavalli, Cramer, and Patwardhan (2) discovered that flexion distraction significantly decreases the pressure inside your spinal discs. Imagine your disc as a water balloon that's been squeezed too tight – that pressure triggers pain and prevents healing. When your Murfreesboro chiropractor performs flexion distraction, it’s like essentially releasing that squeeze, giving your disc space 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 heal.
OPENING THE DOORS FOR YOUR NERVES
Perhaps the most interesting discovery concerns what happens to the tiny ‘doorways’ where your nerves leave your spine. These spaces, called intervertebral foramina, can become narrowed due to disc problems, bone spurs, or swelling – essentially trapping your nerves and causing that darting pain, numbness, or tingling you might experience. Well, the same research team (3) reported findings that flexion distraction essentially opens these nerve pathways, creating 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 Most Chiropractic Clinic isn't just "trying something that might work" – your chiropractor is applying a technique that impacts three major sources of your back pain: ‘stuck’ spinal segments, extreme 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, supported by research. The next time you're on our treatment table, you can relax knowing that proven biomechanical changes are occurring with every careful movement your chiropractor makes.
CONTACT Most Chiropractic Clinic
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Brandon Skiles on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates the relief with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for disc herniation.
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