The extensive benefits of a chiropractic flexion table

A chiropractic flexion table offers you many advantages when giving your patients adjustments.

There is absolutely no question that back pain is the single most common complaint that brings patients into your office. According to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), as many as 31 million Americans experience back pain. In the majority of cases, this pain is not as a result of an illness (such as arthritis), but instead are mechanical problems due to the spine being out of alignment.^1-3

Furthermore, back pain is the second most common reason patients see their doctor, next only to upper-respiratory infections. As you might expect, all of this back pain is not cheap. Americans spend at least $50 billion annually to treat their back pain.^1-3

Given all of these aching backs, it seems rather obvious that you will want to provide the best possible care to your patients with back pain. If you happen to see patients with back pain, particularly those who suffer from protruded, bulging, or slipped discs, you may consider using flexion distraction to provide your patients the best possible pain relief.

Of course, this might mean investing in a flexion-distraction table in order to get the best results from each spinal adjustment for these patients. However, there are some things you may need to consider beforehand.

A gentle touch for your patients

The main advantage to using a flexion-distraction table is that you remain in control of the amount of force behind the thrust with the assistance of the segmented, drop-away table. In essence, you are letting gravity do most of the work in adjusting the spine.

This makes flexion distraction an excellent treatment option for those patients who require a gentler touch when it comes to their spinal adjustments. Examples include patients with osteoarthritis or herniated discs, or even those who are older and frail.^4,5

Because of this, you should consider what percentage of your patients might benefit from flexion distraction as opposed to other types of adjustments. If, for example, you see many geriatric patients in your practice, investing in a flexion-distraction table would be money well spent.

Easier on you

Let’s be honest – as a DC, your entire livelihood is literally in your hands. Unfortunately, decades of performing thousands of adjustments can leave you needing relief from sore and stiff fingers, wrists, arms, and even backs from bending over patients. Because the flexion-distraction table uses gravity to assist in controlling adjustments, it also means that you will not be required to use as much force.

In essence, the natural force of gravity is taking the brunt of the load in performing flexion-distraction adjustments. If you are already established in your practice and looking toward a time in which you might either cut back on your hours or simply retire, a flexion-distraction table might be a good addition so that you can keep yourself in top shape for as long as possible.

Just keep moving

Another consideration when looking at flexion-distraction tables is the amount of maintenance needed to keep all the moving parts in good working order. Unlike a standard chiropractic examination and adjustment table, a flexion-distraction table will have various segments that move, or drop, in order to properly perform the adjustment. All of these moving parts will get worn or stuck over time, which could affect the quality of your adjustments.

In order to keep the table working properly, you may consider purchasing a service package when you buy your flexion-distraction table. Although a service package may be an extra expense up front, it will pay for itself in the long run in terms of not having to worry about declining table performance.

With our aging population, the flexion distraction has come into its own as an effective, safe, and gentle means to help rid older patients of nagging back pain. A flexion-distraction table will give you the type of flexibility needed to treat this particular patient population.

References

1. Back pain facts and statistics. American Chiropractic Association. Accessed 8/31/2016.
2. Vällfors B. Acute, subacute and chronic low back pain: clinical symptoms, absenteeism and working environment. Scand J Rehabil Med Suppl. 1985;11:1-98.
3. Agency for Healthcare Policy and Research (AHRQ). Back Pain Patient Outcomes Assessment Team (BOAT). MEDTEP Update. 1(1).
4. Duck J. Table plays important role in flexion-distraction treatment. Chiropractic Economics. Accessed 8/31/2016.
5. Manison AM. Chiropractic management using Cox cervical flexion-distraction technique for a disk herniation with left foraminal narrowing in a 64-year-old man. J Chiropract Med. 2011;10(4):316-321.