HOW IS COX DIFFERENT FROM OTHER DECOMPRESSION?

Cox technique is a highly skilled, very specific form of spinal manipulation/adjustment.  The doctor places his hand on the specific vertebra that he wants to adjust. He then applies a decompressive force until he feels the joint separate.  That is how he knows when to stop the movement of the table. Different joints need different amounts of traction to separate. While decompressed, the doctor is able to take a specific joint through all of its normal motions- flexion, extension, left and right bending, and even rotation. He can then move on to another joint and repeat the process. 

Traditional traction tables and similar machines utilize straps to hold you in.  A percentage of your body weight is calculated to determine how hard to pull. There is no way to isolate a specific joint. It is a non-skilled procedure. No one feels for specific joints to move in your spine. These tables only pull in one direction. They do not take your joints through their normal motions.    

WHY WOULD I USE COX DECOMPRESSION OVER OTHER TREATMENTS?

Conditions such as herniated discs, lumbar and cervical stenosis, sciatica and radicular arm pain all involve compressive forces. It makes sense that when compression is a problem, then decompression should be an effective way to combat this. As people age, their discs lose fluid which often results in degenerative discs and arthritic joints. These spines become more rigid, sometimes osteoporotic, and they often don’t tolerate traditional manual manipulation as they once might have. Scoliosis patients with rotated spines like this table. The table allows us to de-rotate their spines prior to decompression, making it a more comfortable experience.  Patients who don’t want manual manipulation that involves popping or clicking, can be effectively treated with this table.