What is Intersegmental Traction

This device, also called the “roller table” by most patients is the first part of your chiropractic treatment.  Used to relax the muscles and traction the spine, patients lie on their back for 10 minutes while 3 foam/rubber rollers massage and mobilize one or all areas of the spine.  Most patients fall asleep or “almost” fall asleep during this part of treatment.

Why Intersegmental Traction

Benefits include increase in translatory movement which increases the passive motion to the involved spinal joints.  Spinal joint motion assists in joint nutrition, since the cartilage in a joint is dependent upon synovial fluid motion to receive its nutrients.  Motion in the joints also stimulates mechanoreceptors which then inhibit the pain reflex (reducing pain).  As the rollers press the paraspinal muscles they will express metabolic by-products out of paraspinal muscles.  The rollers kneading and massaging the affected muscles and joints help relax muscles spasm, splinting and hypertonicity promoting muscle relaxation.

Electric Stimulation

​After your adjustment, electric stim is used to “speed up” the healing process.  Saved for last, this therapy consists of 2 to 4 pads placed on strategic areas of the body along with ice or heat depending on which is indicated for 10 minutes.  This is a passive therapy and should be very relaxing.

There are 4 main clinical applications for which electric stimulation is used

1) Pain Relief​ – to stimulate the pain gate mechanisms thereby masking pain symptoms and activate opioid mechanisms which again provide some degree of pain relief.

2) Muscle Stimulation​ – stimulation resulting in a series of twitches or a tetanic contraction strengthening or fatiguing the affected muscle.

3) Increased Local Blood Flow​ – causing muscle contraction which brings about a local metabolic and vascular change.

4) Reduction of Edema​ – Promotes the reabsorption of edema in the tissues.