Objective: To discuss the use of side-lying Cox® Technic flexion-distraction decompression for a patient with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis unable to lie prone for treatment due to pain.
Clinical Features: An 80-year-old female sought chiropractic care for her chronic low back pain. The patient had a history of lumbar spinal stenosis, multiple lumbar disc herniations, and lumbar spondylosis. The patient’s pain was initially rated as an 8/10 on the numeric rating scale.
Intervention and Outcome: Pain prevented the patient from lying in a prone position, so she was treated in a side-lying position using the Cox® Technic flexion-distraction decompression approach to lumbar mobilization. Additional treatments also included electronic muscle stimulation, infrared light therapy, and instructions for at-home exercise program and activity modifications. An episode of care was initiated at a frequency of 3 visits per week over a period of 4 weeks, totaling 12 treatments. After a total of 16 visits, the patients pain decreased to 3/10 and she also reported improved sleep, and increased mobility.
Conclusion: The results of this episode of chiropractic care, utilizing side-lying Cox® Technic flexion-distraction decompression, resulted in favorable outcomes. This particular patient experienced reduced pain, increased sleep, and increased mobility after a trial of 16 treatments. This case demonstrates that a modified Cox® Technic flexion-distraction protocol may benefit patients with low back pain, who are unable to receive treatment in the traditional prone position.
Author keywords: Chiropractic; Disc Herniation; Spinal Stenosis; Facet Arthropathy; Chronic Low Back Pain
Author affiliations: TS: Private Practice, West Creek, New Jersey, United States; CR: Resident, Miami VA, Miami, Florida, United States; RK: Keiser University Spine Care Clinic, West Palm Beach, Florida, United States
This abstract is reproduced with the permission of the publisher. Click on the above link for free full text. Online access only.
|