Our Services

Cox Technic

THE ONLY COX CERTIFIED CHIROPRACTORS IN GIPPSLAND

Warragul Chiropractic is proud to offer Cox Technic, an evidence based, highly effective and gentle (non-force) spinal manipulation and decompression technique.  Cox Technic is named after its developer, chiropractor Dr James M. Cox, who saw a need for a safer way of treating severe spinal conditions.  Dr Cameron McConville and Dr Shree Fairchild have completed the intensive training in the USA and are certified in the Cox Technic system of spinal pain relief management.

Cox Technic offers an alternative to invasive surgery and/or dependence on strong pain-relieving medications for the alleviation of pain in the neck, arm, back and leg.   Cox Technic is suitable for conditions such as disc herniation and spinal stenosis but is also a very effective approach for managing less severe conditions causing back and neck pain.  Additionally, it is a good alternative for those who prefer not to have conventional spinal manipulation techniques.

WHAT CONDITIONS MAY BENEFIT FROM COX THERAPY?

    • Sciatica (leg pain, weakness or numbness/tingling originating in the low back) 2
    • Brachialgia (arm pain, weakness or numbness/tingling originating in the neck) 6
    • Pain due to Herniated, Protruding or Prolapsed Discs 2,3,4,5
      • Pain due to Arthritis and disc degeneration 7,8,9,10
      • Spinal Stenosis 7,8,9
      • Failed back Surgery 11 

HOW IT WORKS

Cox Technic is a stretching (flexion-distraction decompression) manipulation of the spine. The following effects have been demonstrated during therapy:

    • Reduces the pressure within the intervertebral disc 2
    • Increases disc height 6
    • Increases the size of the spinal nerve canals (foramens) 2,3,4,5
    • Increase movement in spinal joints 6

Cox Technic Demonstration

To view a demonstration of Flexion Distraction and Decompression Spinal Manipulation as demonstrated by its developer, Dr. James M. Cox please follow this link.

The Table

The Cox Table or a flexion distraction table is specifically designed to allow for gentle stretching (decompression) to be applied to all regions of the spine.

The Research

Cox Technic has been extensively researched.  The Cox Technic flexion-distraction protocols have been scrutinized in USA federally funded research projects(2,13).  Clinical outcomes have shown superior pain relief for radiculopathy(2), greater relief for chronic low back pain(2,11), and more effective in reducing the need for healthcare visits for spinal pain in the year after treatment(2,13).  Additionally, there is evidence regarding treatment effectiveness for failed spinal surgery patients (FBSS, 16).

Please click  Spinal Conditions for specific information and research regarding treatment with Cox Technic.

How Long Until I Feel Better?

Your experience with pain is individual, so your relief time is unique to you as well.

With this in mind, published clinical outcomes can give you an idea of what to expect.

General Healing Time

  • Bones heal rather quickly if they have a steady blood supply: 5-6 weeks.
  • Ligament and tendons take a bit longer: 6-8 weeks.
  • Discs and cartilage take the longest: 3 months or more.

If you have a mixture of these factors, it may take some time.  Other health related issues may increase your healing time, for example, diabetes, obesity, smoking, drinking alcohol and a sedentary lifestyle.

Disc Healing Time

Whilst every case is different, it is generally recommended that 3 months be allowed for a disc to heal.  Like a broken arm that stops having pain after a few days in a cast, you still need to wear the cast for many weeks to allow healing. Your back may also stop hurting early in your treatment plan, but you will have to give space for your disc to heal before challenging it with more demanding activities like prolonged sitting, bending, lifting and twisting. 14

Like a broken arm that stops having pain after a few days in a cast, you still have to wear the cast for many weeks to allow healing. Your back may also stop hurting early on in the treatment care plan, but you will have to give space for your disc to heal for at least 3 months                        

Your Expected Healing Time

"Control, Not Cure" for spine pain relief:

Our practitioners embrace the principle "Control, Not Cure" when dealing with chronic spine pain conditions. Whilst a large percentage of patients have excellent relief with therapy,15 so often the underlying source of pain doesn't just go away. For instance, a severely damaged disc, scoliosis and spondylolisthesis are spinal conditions with you for life. Your chiropractor identifies such conditions and will advise on how to manage or prevent future painful episodes and improve your quality of life.

Warragul Chiropractic is proud to offer this gentle, safe, effective, non-surgical treatment of spine pain to the people of Gippsland. 

RESEARCH:

1. Evidence-Based Nonpharmacologic Strategies for Comprehensive Pain Care White Paper 12.15. 2017

2. Gudavalli MR et al: A randomized clinical trial and subgroup analysis to compare flexion-distraction with active exercise for chronic low back pain. European Spine J. 2006 Jul;15(7):1070-82

3. Sherry E, Kitchener P, Smart R: A prospective randomized controlled study of VAX-D and TENS for the treatment of chronic low back pain. J Neuro Res 2001 Oct;23(7):780-4.

4. Ozturk B1, Gunduz OH, Ozoran K, Bostanoglu S: Effect of continuous lumbar traction on the size of herniated disc material in lumbar disc herniation. Rheum International 2006 May;26(7):622-6

5. Filiz M et al: Mechanical Traction for Lumbar Radicular Pain: Supine or Prone? A Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Phys Med Rehabilitation 2018 (ePub Ahead of Print)

6. Fritz et al. Exercise Only, Exercise with Mechanical Traction, or Exercise With Over-Door Traction for Patients With Cervical Radiculopathy, With or Without Consideration of Status on a Previously Described Subgrouping Rule: A Randomized Clinical Trial. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2014;44(2):45–57. Epub 9 January 2014. doi:10.2519/jospt.2014.5065

7. Ammendolia C et al: Comprehensive Nonsurgical Treatment Versus Self-directed Care to Improve Walking Ability in Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Randomized Trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2018 Dec;99(12):2408-2419.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2018.05.014

8. Choi J, Lee S, Jeon C: Effects of Flexion-Distraction Manipulation Therapy on Pain And Disability In Patients With Lumbar Spinal Stenosis. J Phys Therapeutic Science 2015;27(6):1937-9

9.  Murphy, DR; Hurwitz, EL; Gregory, AA; Clary, R. A non-surgical approach to the management of lumbar spinal stenosis: A prospective observational cohort study. BMC MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS 2006; 7:NIL_1-NIL_8

10. Smith et al. The influence of flexion distraction spinal manipulation on patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: A prospective, open-label, single-arm, pilot study. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, Volume 32, October 2022, Pages 60-67

11. Kruse, Jerrilyn Cambron:  Chiropractic Management of Postsurgical Lumbar Spine Pain: A Retrospective Study of 32 Cases. JMPT 2011 Jul-Aug Vol. 34

12. Chow DH, Yuen EM, Xiao L, Leung MC: Mechanical Effects of Traction on Lumbar Intervertebral Discs: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study. Musculoskelet Sci Pract 2017; 29:78‐83

13. Gudavalli MR*, Cox JM* et al. Intervertebral Disc Pressure Changes During the Flexion-Distraction Procedure for Low Back Pain

14. Hirschberg G: Treating Lumbar Disc Lesion by Prolonged Continuous Reduction of Intradiscal Pressure. Texas Medicine 1974; vol. 70: 58-68

15. Cox, JM, Feller JA, Cox JA: Distraction Chiropractic Adjusting: Clinical Application, Treatment Algorithms, and Clinical Outcomes of 1000 Cases Studied. Topics in Clinical Chiropractic 1996; (3)3:45-59, 79-81

16. Cox JM, Feller, J: Chiropractic treatment of low back pain: a multi‐center descriptive  analysis of presentation and outcome in 424 consecutive cases. Journal of  Neuromusculoskeletal Systems 1994; 2(4):178‐190

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