Cox Technic and Chiropractic Neurology for the Treatment of Neck Pain

The cervical spine is a complex, delicate area of the human body. The cervical spine is essentially an extension of your brain, where the brain meets the spinal cord in the center of seven cervical vertebrae.

Many things can go wrong in the cervical spine, from text neck to whiplash to stenosis. Treatment could involve medication, injections, and conservative treatments such as chiropractic, acupuncture, therapeutic massage, and physical therapy. Surgery is a last resort, but as I experienced firsthand less than a year ago, surgery is sometimes the only option.

Once the root cause and source of neck pain is identified, a good chiropractor will not only have a variety of techniques to choose from for treating the cervical spine, but the experience to understand which technique to use.

Honestly, I’ve had patients with neck pain sit across from me with a look of terror on their face, thinking I’m going to crack their neck. First, there’s no “cracking” happening in a chiropractic adjustment. Second, not all chiropractic techniques involve sudden force, including adjustments.

There are two areas of specialization for treating neck pain at Natural Healthcare Center that are quite rare in this area – Cox Technic and chiropractic neurology.

Cox Technic Flexion Distraction and Decompression

My post-graduate education led me to become a Cox Technic (pronounced “technique”) specialist. Not many chiropractors specialize in this kind of decompression therapy, and even fewer are certified to use Cox Technic to treat the cervical spine.

Cox Technic Flexion Distraction and Decompression Therapy reduces pressure in the spinal discs to enable healing. It can also place the spinal joints in the proper position to restore movement and mobility. A specialized Cox Technic table is used to gently and safely decompress the spine. We have three of these tables at Natural Healthcare Center.

Some people think of a Cox Technic table as a machine, but that’s not an accurate description. I don’t strap down a patient and leave the room as the table does the work. This is an advanced yet manual treatment technique performed by hand. The Cox Technic table is merely an instrument that allows me to treat the patient safely and effectively.

Cox Technic is most commonly used to treat neck pain caused by:

• Cervical disc degeneration, which is often related to osteoarthritis
• Bulging and herniated discs
• Cervical radiculopathy (pins and needles)
• Stenosis (narrowing of the hole of the spine where the nerve exits the vertebrae)

Because Cox Technic is extremely gentle, I can use this technique on patients who are in significant pain, including elderly patients. Surgeons often refer patients to me for cervical Cox Technic to avoid surgery.

Chiropractic Neurology

Dr. Kurt Hostnik’s post-graduate education is in chiropractic neurology, also called functional neurology. As a board-certified chiropractic neurologist, Dr. Hostnik evaluates and treats not only neck pain, but how the brain, nervous system, and physical function are being affected. Dr. Hostnik will observe gait (movements while walking), muscle tone, reflexes, eye movement, and other functions to get to the root cause of the individual’s condition.

Certain conditions require both physical rehabilitation and neurological rehabilitation, which is why Dr. Hostnik and I work together so often to create custom treatment programs. Chiropractic neurology can be used to treat a wide range of conditions that can be related to neck pain, including but not limited to:

• Muscular spasms or hypertonicity
• Numbness or tingling
• Vertigo
• Visual disturbances
• Memory and concentration difficulty
• Balance problems
• Mood disorders
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Concussions and mild traumatic brain injuries
• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Anxiety
• Scoliosis

When It Comes to Neck Pain, You Need Options

If you’re dealing with neck pain, you should feel 100 percent confident in the person or team treating this complex, delicate area of the spine. You should also recognize that there is no single technique that can treat every condition in every person. It’s impossible.

At Natural Healthcare Center, Dr. Hostnik and I provide two very unique, specialized forms of treatment for neck pain. In addition to standard treatments mentioned previously, Cox Technic and chiropractic neurology provide two incredibly effective options that can improve your quality of life and help you avoid surgery.

To learn more about how we treat neck pain, schedule your complimentary consultation at Natural Healthcare Center.