Flexion-Distraction

West Jordan Flexion-Distraction is a scientifically validated non-surgical technique that works better than traditional chiropractic adjustments alone or Physical Therapy. This technique allows the doctor to slowly, and gently pump the joints open, while the specialized table flexes the lower half of the patient’s body up and down to increase spinal motion, restore space between bones, reduce bulged/herniated discs, etc. Its a safe, gentle, non-force procedure and works well to take pressure off the spinal nerves that may be injured or dysfunctional.

Clinical Benefits per the medical studies:

• “Viable alternative to surgery for patients with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis”
• Reverses the chronic pressure on the spinal nerves from a bulged or herniation
• Increases spinal motion within the disc and spinal joints.
• Game changer for all types of low back pain including sciatica

BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2006
“..clinically meaningful improvement in disability was seen in over two-thirds of the patients, and the improvement appeared to be maintained over an average of 16.5 months after cessation of treatment… the treatment approach in this study is a viable alternative to surgery for patients with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (LSS),. As the efficacy of surgery does not appear to decrease if it is delayed in favor of a non-surgical trial [36], most patients with LSS should be treated non-surgically for a period of time before considering operation. 

Distraction Manipulation (DM) may have benefits that relate to biomechanical effects on the stenotic segment, such as reduction of intradiscal pressure [20] or widening of the space in the region of the nerve root [21]. DM may also have neurophysiological effects that may be helpful in patients with LSS, such as facilitation of afferent input from mechanoreceptors [37], possibly helping to improve proprioception, which has been shown to be impaired in patients with LSS [38], or hypoalgesia ..”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1397818/

Now lets check out this study that compared outcomes between patients undergoing flexion distraction technique and those who did standard Physical Therapy rehab for low back pain.  Its no surprise that patients with shooting pain down their leg and those with moderate to severe low back pain symptoms improved most from Flexion Distraction than from Physical Therapy alone.

European Spine Journal 2006
A randomized clinical trial and subgroup analysis to compare flexion–distraction with active exercise for chronic low back pain… subjects categorized as chronic, with moderate to severe symptoms, and those with radiculopathy (shooting pain ) improved most with Flexion Distraction.

Subjects randomly allocated to Flexion Distraction technique (table) had significantly greater relief of pain than those who did Physical Therapy (PT) alone.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3233943/

This next landmark study strongly recommends anyone with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal), to try Flexion Distraction before doing anything else, especially surgery.  Sadly, doctors refer out for surgery too early and too often, and are not versed on proven conservative treatments like flexion distraction technique.

Journal of Physical Therapy Science 2014
“flexion-distraction techniques showed significant decreases low back pain by stimulating “ the mechanical receptor that suppresses the transmission of pain stimuli at the level of the spinal cord and brain stem to produce pain-reducing effects”
Improvements measured:

1. Significant decrease in low back pain 
2. increased blood flows can remove inflammatory exudate
3. Increased water content in the joint and disc itself
4. Increased nutrition supply 
5. The space in the spinal cavity widens, and the paraspinal muscles and ligaments are extended to reduce secondary myofascial pain.”
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4155230/

Here’s another randomized trial (credible and quality study design):

“CONCLUSIONS: In this first trial on flexion distraction care, flexion distraction was found to be more effective in reducing pain for 1 year when compared to a form of physical therapy.”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/16970536/