Introduction
Cox Decompression Manipulation is a gentle, safe, non-surgical procedure for the treatment of painful and disabling low back and neck disorders caused by disc herniations (subligamentous and extruded), disc bulges, degenerative disc disease, sciatica and osteoarthritis of the spine. Cox Decompression works with the body’s natural design to aid it in healing properly. Just a decade ago there was no other well researched method. Surgery was the only option for correcting certain problems in the spine, sometimes with little success or with multiple invasive operations. Now there is a research based alternative to surgery…Cox Decompression is a safe alternative to back surgery for those 95% of patients whose conditions do not demand surgical intervention.
Cox Decompression is designed to relieve pressure on the structures that cause irritation and inflammation in the low back or neck. Cox Decompression procedures relieves the pressure by achieving decompression of discs and facet joints. Dr. Bill Blueter is one of only 11 physicians in Northeast Ohio that is certified to perform Cox Decompression Manipulation. Cox Decompression is the only form of spine decompression recognized by insurance companies, therefore it is usually a procedure that is covered by insurance.
Conditions Treated and Contraindications
Conditions Treated
- Lumbar Disc Herniation
- Cervical Disc Herniation
- Thoracic Disc Herniation
- Osteoarthritis of the spine
- Spondylolisthesis
- Stenosis
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Bulging Discs of the Cervical or Lumbar Spine
- Facet Syndrome
- Pelvic Pain
- Headache
- Vertebral Compression Defects
- Loss of range of spinal motion
- Whiplash Injuries
- Osteoporosis
- Pregnancy Back Pain
- Subluxation
- Mechanical Back/Neck Pain
- Patients unable to tolerate other forms of conservative care (rehabilitation or vigorous adjustments)
Contraindications (conditions not treated)
- Acute fracture or dislocation
- Malignant Cancer
- Instability with rheumatoid arthritis
- Advanced osteoporosis
- Patients failing tolerance testing
Patient Outcomes
In the largest collection of cases (1,000 cases) treated with decompression adjusting and manipulation published in the journal, Topics of Clinical Chiropractic (vol. 3, no. 3), researches and clinicians found these positive results:
- median number of days to maximum medical improvement was 29 days
- median number of visits to maximum improvement was 12 visits
However, these statistics were then separated by condition to help clinicians and patients understand how varying conditions require more (or less) days and visits to see maximum results. For example,
- L5 disc herniations:
- 86% maximally improved in less than 90 days
- Only 36% required more than 20 visits
- Only 30% required more than 30 visits
- vs. Lumbar Sprain/Strain
91% maximally improved within 90 days
Only 29% needed more than 20 visits
Only 8% needed more than 30 visits
Only 9% of cases reached the chronic stage
Less than 4% of cases were candidates for surgery after care.
Patient Satisfaction
Patient responses to care in the 1,000 cases study show that the technique was well-accepted:
- 47.1% rated the care as EXCELLENT
- 13.7% rated the care as VERY GOOD
- 9.9% rated care as GOOD
- 7.4% rated the care as Fair
- 4.1% rated care as Poor
- 3.5% needed surgery
- 10% stopped care for various reasons
- 4% were examined but not treated
The Treatment
The Lumbar Spine (low back) Treatment:
After undergoing a thorough examination which leads the doctor to a diagnosis of the back condition to be treated, the patient lies on a table that is built to traction the spine, along with producing motions that are normal for the spine. To attain these motions, the table goes “up and down” (flexion and extension), goes “side to side” (lateral flexion), or moves in a circular motion (circumduction). All movements are slow and within the pain-free ranges of motion.
The doctor will hold down on a specific spinous process (the back part of a vertebra that feels like a “bump” on your spine) to isolate a single segment for treatment. The distraction manipulation is applied manually by the doctor to the patient’s low back at the levels of the spine to be treated. Tolerance testing is performed prior to the treatment to be sure it causes no pain to the patient. This technique is designed to help patients with low back and leg pain, as well as patients reporting solely low back pain.
Lying Prone Flexion
The Cervical Spine (Neck) Treatment:
The patient will lie prone (face down) on the table whose headpiece moves in motions that are normal for the cervical spine (Flexion, Extension, Rotation, Lateral Flexion, and Circumduction). This headpiece allows traction to be applied to the cervical (neck) and thoracic (mid-back) spine alone or while these motions are being administered. The doctor will hold the appropriate spinous process (back of the vertebra) of the cervical spine to isolate the level to receive the decompression manipulation.
Axial Distraction with Rotation Lateral Flexion,
Doctor holding a cervical
Spinous process
Benefits of Cox Decompression
Cox Decompression creates a “push, pull, pumping” effect on the intervertebral disc space which provides a mechanical change within the spine resulting in amazing results. The effectiveness of Cox Decompression has been the subject of many scientific studies published in peer reviewed scientific journals which highlight the following benefits:
- Relief for acute and chronic (long term) low back and neck pain with or without radiating leg or arm pain.
- Increases the intervertebral disc height to remove tension on the anular fiber and the spinal nerve by making more room for the nerve to exit the spine and improving circulation.
- Drops pressure within the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc.
- Increases the area of the intervertebral foramen (the hole that the nerve exists the spine) up to 28%.
- Returns spinal joints to their normal anatomical ranges of motion.
