Flexion Distraction Therapy
A gentle, non-thrust chiropractic technique designed to help decompress the spine, improve mobility, and support disc and nerve-related concerns.
What Is Flexion Distraction Therapy?
Flexion Distraction Therapy (FDT) is a gentle, non-thrust chiropractic technique specifically designed to treat spinal conditions such as herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, facet joint dysfunction, and nerve compression.
It is performed on a specially engineered treatment table that allows the spine to move in a rhythmic, controlled motion — combining flexion, or bending, and distraction, or gentle stretching and decompression, of the spine.
Unlike manual spinal adjustments that involve quick thrusts, FDT uses slow, repetitive movements to reduce pressure on spinal discs and joints. The therapy is especially beneficial for individuals who may not tolerate traditional adjustments due to pain, age, disc involvement, or sensitivity to force.
How Flexion Distraction Works
The patient lies face-down on a flexion-distraction table with movable sections that the chiropractor can lower and raise in a gentle pumping rhythm.
As the table moves, the chiropractor applies gentle pressure with their hands to specific spinal segments. This creates a decompression effect that may help:
- Reduce intradiscal pressure, helping re-centralise bulging or herniated discs
- Relieve pressure on spinal nerves, easing leg pain or sciatica
- Improve spinal mobility by freeing restricted joints and adhesions
- Stretch tight muscles and fascia around the spine
- Promote nutrient-rich fluid exchange into the intervertebral discs to support healing
- Minimise pain by interrupting the pain-spasm-pain cycle and reducing local inflammation
FDT May Be Used For
- Herniated or bulging discs
- Degenerative disc disease
- Sciatica and nerve root compression
- Spinal stenosis
- Chronic low back or neck pain
- Post-surgical cases, when approved by a healthcare team
- Older adults or those with spinal arthritis who cannot tolerate aggressive adjustments
At Lakeside Chiropractic, we often combine flexion distraction with other therapies — such as soft tissue work, cold laser therapy, and rehabilitative exercises — to support healing and comfort.
Relevant Research & Evidence
Flexion Distraction Therapy has been studied in the context of spinal disc injuries, sciatica, and chronic low back pain.
- A 2022 cadaveric study measured intradiscal pressure directly during the flexion-distraction procedure and found statistically significant pressure reductions at every lumbar level tested. The researchers note the pressure change is transient, returning to baseline once the table returns to its starting position, and that this hasn't yet been directly shown to translate into reduced disc bulging in living patients, more research is needed on that specific link.
- A study comparing manual therapy, including flexion-distraction, with spinal decompression devices in patients with chronic low back pain found both approaches reduced pain, while only the manual therapy group showed a statistically significant increase in disc height.
- A randomised clinical trial compared flexion-distraction with an active exercise program in patients with chronic low back pain. Both groups improved, and the flexion-distraction group had significantly greater pain relief at the end of treatment.
Flexion distraction is widely used in conservative spine care as a non-surgical option for disc-related and nerve root-related conditions, and this evidence base continues to grow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about what Flexion Distraction Therapy feels like, when it may be used, and how it can fit into a broader care plan.
