Cox Flexion Distraction

Dr. Ebeling studied directly under Dr. James Cox at his office in Ft. Wayne, Indiana to learn the non surgical approach to treating herniated lumbar discs.

What is Cox Flexion Distraction?

It uses a special flexion distraction table that bends in the middle. Your legs are lowered on the table while the doctor maintains contact with the vertebrae directly above the herniated disc. This creates a negative pressure that helps pull the herniation back inside the disc.

You Tube Video Transcription of Cox Flexion Distraction:  (to see the video look me up on YouTube)

“Hi this is Dr. Robert Ebeling and today we’re going to explain how we treat herniated lumbar discs. First I want to show you this model of the spine. If you can see this, these are the discs which are in between the bones. It’s a misnomer when people say they have a slipped disc because the disc can’t actually slip, it’s firmly attached top the bone above and below. And right over here, this is actually a representation of a herniated disc. Your disc is kind of like a jelly donut; it has a really soft inside and a tough outside and if that outside gets torn, usually from a lifting and twisting type injury, that jelly can squish out putting pressure right on that nerve root, not only causing back pain but also pain to go down into the leg. So what we do with this table is called flexion distraction. It’s a really nice gentle approach to treating herniated discs. And what we do is, have the patient lay on the table and I actually take one of my hands and stabilize the bone above where the disc bulge is. Then we strap the legs on here to the table. And then do a gentle flexion distraction.”

Patient Demo: “I sure need you to stretch me out, that’s for sure!” So again stabilizing that bone above where the disc problem is. We’ll do six times and take a little rest. And another six. That’s all there is to it. Okay, come on up. How do you feel? “Good!” All right! “I need that all the time.” Let’s go put you on the rollers.

Cox Flexion Distraction vs. Spinal Decompression

Cox flexion distraction is the best non surgical treatment for a herniated lumbar disc.  Similar to spinal decompression, the goal is to remove pressure from a herniated disc.  The only difference between the two techniques is that with Cox flexion distraction the doctor has full control over how much pressure or traction is applied.  In the spinal decompression technique, the machine does all the work and if something is not set right there’s no quick release.

Symptoms of a Herniated Disc

One thing you will often see with a herniated disc is leg pain, also known as sciatica, as well as loss of muscle strength along with the back pain. Sometimes it is so bad you actually will lose the normal deep tendon reflex in the leg.

Video of full treatment with flexion distraction and neck adjustment (Again look me up on YouTube to see videos)

In this video the disc at L5/S1 is affected which is the very bottom one in your spine and pinches the nerve going to the calf muscle.  Watch what happens below before and after with correct chiropractic treatment using Cox flexion distraction and an upper cervical adjustment.  This is the power of chiropractic!

Englewood Chiropractor Robert Ebeling DC, PC of
A-Just-A-Ble Chiropractic Center
3333 S. Bannock St #235
Englewood, CO 80110
(303) 377-1755