Sciatica and Herniated Disc Best Resolved By Cox Flexion Distraction

spinal stenosis

The secret to resolving sciatica and back pain or neck pain due to herniated disc is the chiropractic technic called Cox Flexion Distraction. It is a very effective, safe, gentle, non-force, non-surgical procedure.

Because it is a lot less known and chiropractors who use this technic are not many in most regions in the United States, it might as well be known as the best kept secret in resolving herniated discs and sciatica. Many consider surgery and physical therapy more often than chiropractic treatments for herniated disc and pain management and/or physical therapy for sciatica. Among different chiropractic technics, the Cox Flexion Distraction is superior in healing herniated discs and sciatica.

What is Cox Flexion Distraction?

Cox Flexion Distraction, which is also known as Cox Technic, involves the use of a specially designed chiropractic table. Typically, the patient lays face down on this table. If the patient is in extreme pain, he/she could lay on his/her side.

For sciatica or herniated disc on the lower back, the chiropractor would move the section of the table below the patient's waist while stabilizing the vertebrae just above the disc herniation. For instance if the affected area is the fifth low-back disc the chiropractor would gently stabilize the fourth low-back vertebrae and gently flex the lower part of the Cox table.

For herniated disc on the neck, similar to the procedure in the low back, the chiropractor would stabilize the vertebrae above the disc herniation and flex the table.

The procedure has a "suctioning" effect such that the herniated disc is slowly moved back in its normal place. This "suctioning" effect is not painful, but in fact very comfortable and soothing.

Because sciatica is often caused by a herniated, or protruding, disc in the low back, the suctioning effect relieves pressure on the sciatic nerve and therefore is also very soothing.
Effective for Herniated Discs and Other Back Pain Causes

This Cox chiropractic treatment method works to eliminate sciatica and disc herniation naturally, and is also very effective in relieving pain, in either acute and chronic conditions. With 8 to 10 weeks of treatment, its success rate for eliminating lower back pain is between 89% and 95%. Not only can it resolve sciatica and lumbar and cervical herniated disc, but also resolve the following other causes of back pain:

• stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)


• lateral recess stenosis (narrowing of the canal where the spinal nerves exit)


• lower back facet syndrome (lumbar facet syndrome)


• failed back surgery syndrome

Compared with a form of physical therapy, the Cox Technic was found to be more effective in reducing pain in one year in a clinical trial which was published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, September 2006.

Cox Flexion Distraction is Safe and Gentle

The "suctioning" effect from the Cox Flexion Distraction procedure is not painful, but rather safe and gentle. It gently opens up space in the irritated segment. It causes the affected disc to eventually move back to its proper place, thus effectively eliminating the cause of the pain and discomfort. When performed over an 8 to 10 week period the herniated disc can heal up. Sciatica is also often resolved using this procedure over an 8 to 10 week period.

Non-Force Procedure

The chiropractic procedure is without force. The chiropractor uses a gentle and controlled motion that causes any inflammatory byproducts to be mobilized from the area. In the many cases, the patient is not subjected to increased pain and discomfort during the procedure. Many patients experience reduction of frequency and intensity of pain during the treatment and as the treatment progresses through the prescribed treatment plan.

Non-surgical Solution

It is a wonderful non-surgical solution, thus eliminating the risk of surgery complications. Furthermore, surgeries are more expensive and requires temporary disability from recovering from the surgery. There is a possibility of permanent disability if it is unsuccessful or with major complications.

Cox Technic: Proven Effective

This procedure is well researched and has been proven-effective. In fact, Cox Technic is one of the three most studied chiropractic techniques for low back pain relief. Research and clinical data has been collected over more than 40 years. There are also federally funded research studies: at least five from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), two from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and one from the Department of Veteran Affairs.

Watch the Cox Technic in action here: http://www.sancarloschiropractic.com/blog/lower-back-pain-treatment-cox-flexion-distraction/

As of November 2010, about 64% of chiropractors use the flexion distraction method in their practice. To find a chiropractor who uses Cox Technic, visit http://www.coxtechnic.com/physicians.aspx

As a chiropractor in San Carlos in the San Francisco Bay Area, and years ago in Southern California for the last 20 years, I've used this method for resolving sciatica and herniated disc and have saved my patients from on-going pain management, discomfort, and temporary disability and expense of surgery.