Cox® Decompression: Gentle Care That AS Patients Can Finally Tolerate

WHEN YOUR SPINE NEEDS A GENTLE TOUCH: CHIROPRACTIC CARE AND ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS

Living with a spine condition that causes daily back pain, stiffness, and uncertainty about the future can feel overwhelming. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) — or has an idea that something similar might be behind stubborn back and hip pain — you deserve honest answers and genuine hope. Here's some encouraging news: chiropractic care, delivered with the right approach, can be a meaningful part of your path toward feeling better.

YOUR CHIROPRACTOR MAY CATCH WHAT OTHERS MISS

A 2026 case study that came out in Cureus describes the story of a 15-year-old girl who had suffered three years of chronic low back and hip pain — moderate to severe, daily, and hardly touched by physical therapy, medication, or injections. Standard lumbar MRI had come back nearly normal. It was her chiropractor who put the pieces together, recognizing that pain this persistent — with so little to show on imaging — was quite possibly something deeper than a mechanical spine problem. A pelvic MRI was arranged, revealing bilateral sacroiliac joint damage consistent with juvenile ankylosing spondylitis. A timely referral to rheumatology put her on the right path, and for the first time in years, she began to improve. (1) Chiropractors are trained not just to treat, but to recognize and refer when the situation calls for it.

GENTLE CARE THAT RESPECTS INFLAMED SPINES

When you're living with AS, you may not want aggressive treatment — and caring, experienced chiropractors like yours at Moriarty Chiropractic understand that completely and can deliver gentler spinal manipulation. As James M. Cox, DC, DACBR, developer of the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management, describes from a case shared by Dr. Mike Poulin of Virginia: "High velocity, low amplitude adjusting is not very well tolerated by these patients, and long y-axis Cox® decompression is welcome relief."

Cox® Technic works by gently and slowly stretching the spine with a careful, hands-on touch — nothing forceful, nothing jarring, just smooth and soothing decompression. This long y-axis decompression gently opens spinal joints, reduces pressure on inflamed tissues, and brings back motion in a way that AS patients can actually tolerate and appreciate. Dr. Poulin's patient with ankylosing spondylitis felt meaningful pain relief through this approach. (2)

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIMPLY ENDURE IT

Whether you’ve just been diagnosed, still searching for answers, or looking for conservative care to complement your medical treatment, chiropractic has a beneficial role to play. The goal is never to replace your medical specialist or rheumatologist — it's to work alongside your medical team, helping your body move more freely and hurt a little less every day.

CONTACT Moriarty Chiropractic

You deserve care that's as compassionate as it is skilled — a provider who listens, treats you lightly, and knows when to bring in the right help.

Schedule your chiropractic appointment soon!