Chiropractic techniques
for lower back pain.
Not every aching back has the same cause, so not every back gets the same treatment. Dr. Propper and Dr. Jenn match the technique to your body and your condition, and explain what they’re doing before they do it.
First, find out
what’s driving it.
Your first visit starts with your history: when the pain began, what makes it better or worse, which positions change it, and what you’ve already tried. Then an examination of how your spine actually moves, with digital X-ray on site when imaging is needed.
The technique follows from what that finds. A stiff joint, an irritated disc and a narrowed spinal canal each call for a different approach. More on our advanced testing.
Four approaches,
and who each one suits.
01
Manual adjustments
Diversified Technique
A precise, hands-on adjustment to restore joint function and mobility.
Suits: Lower back pain from a stiff, restricted joint.
02
Cox Flexion-Distraction
Certified Cox Technique Specialist
A gentle, non-surgical technique on a specialized table. Slow, rhythmic movement gently separates the vertebrae to take pressure off the structures inside the spine, with no forceful thrust. Most patients describe it as a deep stretch.
Suits: Disc-related back pain: herniated or bulging discs, sciatica and spinal stenosis.
About Cox Flexion-Distraction03
Instrument-assisted adjustment
A lighter approach
A gentle adjustment made with a small hand-held instrument rather than by hand.
Suits: Patients who prefer a lighter touch, or who are nervous or in acute pain.
04
Home care
Between visits
Home exercises and guidance on sitting, lifting and sleeping, so what happens in the office carries on through the rest of your week.
Suits: Every plan, alongside the care you receive in the office.
When it needs
something else first.
Some back pain needs medical care before anything else. Loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness around the groin or inner thighs, is an emergency: get care immediately. Weakness in a leg or foot, or symptoms that are getting worse quickly, need prompt assessment.
If your examination points to something chiropractic care isn’t right for, Dr. Propper will tell you so and refer you to a trusted specialist.
What patients ask
about back pain care.
Which technique will I get?
That depends on what your examination finds and what you are comfortable with. A plan can combine more than one: Cox Flexion-Distraction for a disc problem alongside home exercises, for example. Dr. Propper or Dr. Jenn will explain what they are doing, and why, before they do it.
Does a chiropractic adjustment hurt?
Most patients feel little to no discomfort. If you are nervous or in acute pain, gentler approaches such as an instrument-assisted adjustment or Cox Technique are options. Comfort is always part of the plan.
Is Cox Technique the same as spinal decompression?
You may see it described as non-surgical spinal decompression. Cox Flexion-Distraction is the form of it used here, and Dr. Propper is a Certified Cox Technique Specialist.
How many visits will I need?
It depends on the cause of your pain and how long you have had it. Dr. Propper will give you a realistic plan after your first exam, rather than a promise about how quickly you will feel different.
Do I need a referral to see a chiropractor?
No referral is needed. You can schedule directly with us: call (203) 226-1047 or request an appointment online.
More on back pain
and its causes.
Find the approach
that fits your back.
Schedule a visit for an examination and a straight answer about what’s causing your pain and which approach fits.