Flexion Distraction Therapy
What Is Flexion-Distraction Therapy?
Flexion-distraction therapy is performed on a segmented table that moves as Dr. Rinow slowly manipulates your spine. The manipulations, combined with the movements of the table, stretch and decompress your spine, relieving your back, leg, neck, or arm pain.
As Dr. Rinow performs the gentle manipulations, a section of the treatment table drops or moves, changing the positioning of your body. When your body drops slightly, gravity enhances the effects of treatment and helps realign your spine.
What Are the Benefits of the Treatment?
Flexion-distraction therapy can:
- Reduce pressure on your spinal nerves and discs
- Decrease bulging of herniated discs
- Improve range of motion and mobility
- Help you manage chronic back pain
- Relieve stiffness
- Decrease neck pain and headaches
- Eliminate or delay the need for surgery in some cases
- Promote good disc health
- Relieve pain and numbness in the back, buttocks, arms, and legs
- Improve posture
In a study published in The Journal of Physical Therapy Science, researchers examined the effects of flexion-distraction manipulation on patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. The condition occurs when the spinal canal narrows and presses against the nerves that serve the lower back and legs, causing pain, weakness, numbness, and cramping.
Study participants who received flexion-distraction manipulation as part of their therapy experienced a greater reduction of their painful symptoms than those patients whose treatment did not include the technique.
Will Flexion-Distraction Help Me?
In addition to improving spinal stenosis symptoms, flexion-distraction can also be used to treat many other types of back pain. It may reduce pain and stiffness associated with osteoarthritis and improve spinal movement in patients who have scoliosis
Flexion-distraction therapy can be helpful if you have sacroiliac syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis, sciatica, spondylolisthesis, sprains, and strains. It's also very effective in treating muscle spasms or low back pain unrelated to a specific condition.
The technique is gentle enough to use after spinal surgery and can be an important part of your recovery treatment plan. If you have osteoporosis or another condition that affects your bones, some treatments may be too risky. Luckily, flexion-distraction is gentle enough that it can be a safe therapy option for people who have brittle bones or are frail.
Are you tired of living in pain? Flexion-distraction therapy may offer the ideal way to relieve your symptoms, whether you've been experiencing pain for a few days or weeks, or you have a chronic condition. Call us at 302-595-2344 to schedule your appointment.
