Could traction be the answer to your low back pain or sciatica?

Today I want to talk to you about a low back treatment that should be at the top of your list of interventions if you suffer from low back pain.  It’s called lumbar flexion distraction.  Flexion distraction technique is a smooth gentle treatment we use to focus care to the problematic area of the low back.

After we take a history and perform an examination we can determine if flexion distraction is the most effective and efficient treatment for you to relieve pain and reach your goals.  Research indicates this technique is effective for chronic disc bulge, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis which is a narrowing of the hole where the nerve exits the spinal canal.  It’s also proven effective for lumbar facet joint issues by “gapping” or increasing the space in the facet joints.  Studies performed post mortem show that flexion distraction produces negative pressure in the intervertebral discs (the “shock absorbers” between the vertebrae) allowing for increased hydration to the discs.  Range of motion often increased quickly, and within 2-4 weeks, pain levels decrease and ability to perform your daily functions increases.  Coupled with some home flexibility and stabilization exercises our patients get excellent, long-lasting results.

For those who have acute low back pain (pain that’s been present for just a few days) we’ll often work first on getting the pain under control before starting on flexion distraction as the technique can aggravate new sprains and strains of muscles and ligaments.  If you’ve been suffering with low back pain for more than a couple of weeks we will usually start flexion distraction treatment right away.

If you have any questions about this or any other technique or if you want to know if this treatment could help you or someone you know who’s suffering from low back pain.  Give us a call!