Chiropractic radiologist, Dr. Cliff Tao shares his expertise in reading spine images.
Dr. Cliff Tao was born in Ottawa, Canada now lives in Irvine, California. He has owned and operated a nationwide private chiropractic radiology practice since 2004. Following graduation from National University of Health Sciences in Chicago, Dr. Tao completed his 3-year full-time chiropractic radiology residency at
Los Angeles College of Chiropractic (LACC) and then a full-time musculoskeletal radiology research fellowship at University of California, Irvine (UCI) Medical Center in Orange, California. He is an internationally sought after speaker, and is published both in chiropractic and medical literature, on the topic of chiropractic, spine, and musculoskeletal imaging. Dr. Tao was former voluntary radiology faculty at LACC and former voluntary instructor of radiology at UCI Medical Center. He is married with a 7-year-old boy, and enjoys the outdoors, especially downhill skiing.
On this episode of The Back Doctors Podcast, you’ll get to hear from Dr. James M. Cox who is the developer of Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction Manipulation. He is a remarkable doctor who has dedicated his life to finding the most effective treatment for back pain. He presents published research on the effectiveness of Cox Technic in the treatment of post-surgical continued pain syndrome.
About Dr. Cox
Resources:
The Cox 8 Table by Haven Medical
References:
Tronnier V. SCS als therapeutische Option beim Postnukleotomiesyndrom [SCS as a treatment option for failed back surgery syndrome]. Orthopade. 2016 Sep;45(9):738-43. German. doi: 10.1007/s00132-016-3310-5. PMID: 27530208.
Clancy C, Quinn A, Wilson F. The aetiologies of Failed Back Surgery Syndrome: A systematic review. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2017;30(3):395-402. doi: 10.3233/BMR-150318. PMID: 27689601.
Itz C, Huygen F, Kleef MV. A proposal for the organization of the referral of patients with chronicnon-specific low back pain. Curr Med Res Opin. 2016 Nov;32(11):1903-1909. doi: 10.
Gudavalli MR, Olding K, Joachim G, Cox JM. Chiropractic Distraction Spinal Manipulation on Postsurgical Continued Low Back and Radicular Pain Patients: A Retrospective Case Series. J Chiropr Med. 2016 Jun;15(2):121-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jcm.2016.04.004. Epub 2016 May 25. PMID: 27330514; PMCID: PMC4913115.
Aspegren DD, Burt AL. A study of postspinal surgery cases in chiropractic offices. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 1994;17:88-92.
O'Shaughnessy J, Drolet M, Roy JF, Descarreaux M. Chiropractic management of patient’s post-disc arthroplasty: eight case reports. Chiropractic & Osteopathy 2010;18:7
Morningstar MW, Strauchman MN. Manipulation under anesthesia for patients with failed back surgery: retrospective report of 3 cases with 1-year follow-up. Journal Chiropractic Medicine 2012;11:30-5
McMorland G, Suter E, Casha S, du Plessis SJ, Hurlbert RJ. Manipulation or microdiskectomy for sciatica? A prospective randomized clinical study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2010;33:576-84 positive results with chiropractic manipulation
Estadt GM. Chiropractic/Rehabilitative management of post-surgical disc herniation: a retrospective case report. J Chiropr Med 2004;3:108–15.
Cox JM. Spinal adjusting of failed low back surgery. In: Chiropractic Orthopedics Conference Proceedings. Annual symposium on Investigation of Failed Low Back Surgery; 2009 May 8-May 10; San Antonio, Texas. Published by the American College of Chiropractic Orthopedists and Southern California University of Health Sciences and Texas Council of Chiropractic Orthopedists. American College of Chiropractic Orthopedists; 2009. p. 43-112.
Coulis CM, Lisi AJ. Chiropractic management of postoperative spine pain: a report of 3 cases. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine 2013;12:168-75
Kruse RA, Cambron J. Chiropractic management of post-surgical lumbar spine pain: a retrospective study of 32 cases. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2011; 34:408-12
Cox JM, Feller J, Cox-Cid J. Distraction chiropractic adjusting: clinical application and outcomes of 1000 cases. Top Clin Chiropr 1996;3(3);45-59.
McMorland G Suter E Casha S du Plessis SJ Hurlbert RJ. Manipulation or microdiskectomy for sciatica? A prospective randomized clinical study. Journal Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2010 Oct;33(8):576-584
Albert HB, Manniche C. The efficacy of systematic active conservative treatment for patients with severe sciatica: a single-blind, randomized, clinical, controlled trial. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2012 Apr 1;37(7):531-42. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e31821ace7f. PMID: 21494193.
Keller RB, Atlas SJ, Singer DE, Chapin AM, Mooney NA, Patrick DL, Deyo RA. The Maine Lumbar Spine Study, Part I. Background and concepts. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1996 Aug 1;21(15):1769-76. doi: 10.
Valat JP, Genevay S, Marty M, Rozenberg S, Koes B. Sciatica. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2010 Apr;24(2):241-52. doi: 10.1016/j.berh.2009.11.005. PMID: 20227645.
Roncoroni C, Baillet A, Durand M, Gaudin P, Juvin R. Efficacy and tolerance of systemic steroids in sciatica: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2011 Sep;50(9):1603-11. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/ker151. Epub 2011 Apr 27. PMID: 21525139.
Spine specialist, Dr. Lee Hazen shares a story of a chronic back pain patient with several comorbidities that gets 70% relief with Cox Technic.
Lee Hazen, D.C.
Dr. Hazen graduated Cum Laude from Cleveland Chiropractic College of Los Angeles in 1989. After a short post-ceptorship in Burbank, Ca, he was invited to become a resident in Dr. James Cox's clinic. From 1989 until 1998 he was co-director and resident in Ft. Wayne Indiana with Dr. Cox. While there, he attended and completed a 400-hour post-graduate Chiropractic Orthopedics training sponsored by National University of Health Sciences. Dr. Hazen has been serving the Murrieta-Temecula area for 15 years.
As a Cox Technic instructor for the past 25 years, he has taught many chiropractors across the country the use of the specialized decompression table, diagnosis and care of spinal disease. Currently, he is on the post-graduate faculty of National University of Health Sciences.
He is currently involved in gathering treatment outcome data for ongoing research on failed back surgery syndrome. He is continuing to publish case study reports on difficult and complex case studies that are evaluated and treated in his Temecula, CA office. Lee Hazen D.C. and TCIM is committed to helping you regain and then maintain your quality of life, devoid of spine and extremity pain. Dr. Hazen offers specific protocols for spinal pain relief that are well-researched, well-documented, repeatedly published and clinically effective: Cox Technic Flexion-Distraction and Decompression Adjusting Manipulation. The protocols were started 48 years ago by Dr. James M. Cox in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Cox Technic protocols have evolved as clinical application demands and research studies dictate. We are proud to offer the most cutting-edge, 21st century, non-surgical decompressive spinal pain relief.
Resources:
The Cox 8 Table by Haven Medical
Dr. Kelly Brinkman from Logan University shares with us her clinic experience with compression fractures.
Dr. Kelly Brinkman earned her BS degree from Iowa State University in 1983 and graduated from Logan College of Chiropractic in 1990. She has been in private practice in both Illinois and Missouri and has worked on a volunteer medical team on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. She finished the Insurance Consultant post graduate program and earned her MCS-P (Medical Compliance Specialist – Physician) in 2009. She has held the position of clinician and Educational Coordinator at Logan and is currently full time faculty. She has taught the Cox Flexion Distraction course since 1991 and has lectured for James Cox DC, DACBR through National College of Chiropractic post graduate department in years past. She also currently teaches the Billing and Documentation and Clinical Reasoning 1 courses and has assisted in numerous other classes.
Resources:
Kelly.Brinkman@logan.edu
Spine specialist, Dr. Marc Baker shares a story of a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces with continued back pain after having back surgery.
Dr. Marc Baker
Spine specialist, Dr. Anna Jurik shares a story of a 64-year-old female with spine fractures who was treated with Cox Technic.
Dr. Anna Jurik is a licensed Chiropractic Physician and a Registered and Licensed Dietitian/ Nutritionist. She is a graduate of National University of Health Sciences, where she earned her degrees in Chiropractic Medicine, a Masters in Advanced Clinical Practice and a certificate in Massage Therapy. She currently holds a position as a teaching clinician at the university and is ranked as a Professor.
Her unique background has allowed her to take her teaching experiences outside of the standard classroom. She has taught seminars, which has allowed her to educate her colleagues as well as personally expand her mindset and experiences.
Dr. Jurik also holds degrees in Exercise Physiology and Dietetics, and has earned various certifications and trainings over the years in order
to diversify her treatment options. These include Graston Deep Tissue Technique, Kinesio-taping, Webster Technique, Pediatrics
& Prenatal care, Rehabilitation of the Spine, Craniosacral Therapy, Rehabilitation of the Spine, Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization, Acupuncture, Cox Technique and Chinese Medicine.
This unique background has allowed her to truly treat every patient holistically. It allows her to work with a patient and put together a natural and specific plan to achieve and help maintain the best health possible. It has also allowed her to have a wide knowledge base that she is able to share with those she is educating.
Resources:
630-629-9664 Clinic
The Cox 8 Table by Haven Medical
Spine specialist, Dr. Ted Siciliano shares a story of a lady who loses the ability to lift her foot causing her foot to drop with each step.
Dr. Ted Siciliano has been in active practice for 41 years in the Manahawkin, NJ area. Dr. Siciliano is a long-time certified Cox Technic practitioner who attends courses regularly to keep up on all the latest in research, biomechanics, and application of Cox Technic protocols. He has written several case reports for the monthly Cox Technic Case Report publication and shares cases at Cox Seminars on a regular basis. He conducts practical, hands-on workshops with his colleagues at his Mayetta, New Jersey office.
Resources:
Dr. Cameron McConville shares a story of a retired 70 year-old mechanic with spinal stenosis who improves with Cox Technic flexion/distraction decompression therapy.
DR CAMERON MCCONVILLE
Cameron has extensive experience in the chiropractic field having graduated from the RMIT Bachelor course in 1993.
Through ongoing professional education and training Cameron has expanded his expertise and knowledge in the management of complex spinal disorders. Advances in spinal treatments led Cameron to the USA where he has undertaken further studies in the theory and application of spinal decompression/distraction therapy (Cox Technic). Cameron is pleased to be one of just a handful of certified Cox practitioners in Australia. Certified Cox practitioners are regarded for their evidence-based approach to the management of spinal disorders. Cameron has special interest in the management of 'sciatica', chronic low back, neck pain and headaches.
Cameron also has a strong interest in promoting his profession through research. In 2019 he joined the Board of the Chiropractic Australia Research Foundation (CARF), and in 2023 published his first research paper in the Canadian Journal of Chiropractic, drawing attention to the little known spinal condition known as spinal gout.
Understanding the importance of a holistic approach to back pain management Cameron has spent the past 20 years in Warragul developing strong relationships with local medical practitioners, physiotherapists and massage therapists ensuring clients achieve their health care goals.
Resources:
warragulchiropracticcentre.com.au
The Cox 8 Table by Haven Medical
Spine specialist, Dr. Troy Dreiling shares a story of a building superintendent with a low back injury that resulted in an extruded disc.
Dr. Dreiling has been providing chiropractic services to the Vancouver / Portland Metropolitan area and the families living there, for well over 23 years. The basis of his service is a caring heart and wanting to see that people in pain – especially avoidable pain – can live the kind of life they envision for themselves by getting the care they need.
Resources:
Disc and Joint Pain Relief Complex
Dr. Kurt Olding discusses patient options when it comes to treating back pain and gives an example of a patient that's been through the Spine Care "Supermarket" in search of relief.
Dr. Kurt Olding has been in practice for over 30 years, opening Minster Chiropractic Center in 1986 after graduating from National College of Chiropractic in Lombard, IL in 1984. Through the years Dr. Kurt has enjoyed treating all age groups, from infants to athletes and parents to grandparents. He took special interest in sports medicine during his early years in practice, completing 300 hours of continuing education through the Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician program.
Dr. Kurt earned Cox® Technic certification in 2009. In 2012 he began co-instructing the technique, and since 2015 has been a full-time instructor alongside Dr. James Cox, Dr. Ralph Kruse, and Dr. George Joachim.
Through his work with Cox® Technic, Dr. Kurt has had several exciting opportunities. In March of 2016, he taught Cox® Technic in Bern, Switzerland as part of the Swiss Chiropractic Academy’s “technique series” program. Later that month, he presented research on Cox® Technic with his mentor Dr. James Cox at the annual Association of Chiropractic Colleges Research Agenda Conference. Dr. Kurt co-authored a paper published in the June 2016 edition of the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine titled Chiropractic Distraction Spinal Manipulation on Post-surgical Continued Low Back and Radicular Pain patients: A Retrospective Case Series.
In 2015, Dr. Kurt became board certified as a Chiropractic Orthopedist, and a Fellow of the Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists (FACO). He is also a board member of the Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists, serving since early 2016.
Dr. Kurt and his wife Jackie are Minster natives. They have three children: Sunni, Kregg, and Jack. Sunni and her husband Tyler joined the practice in 2014.
Resources:
Spine specialist, Dr. Sarah Bracamontes shares a story of a 79-year-young female with left leg pain. Dr. Bracamontes shares her evaluation and treatment program that helped this patient become active again.
Dr. Bracamontes is a graduate of Los Angeles College of Chiropractic and practices in Los Gatos, California. She has been a Cox Certified Doctor since 2005 as she found relief for herself as a patient being treated with Cox Technic. She also uses a low-force instrument for adjusting called an Activator. She practices an osteopathic therapy called cranio-sacral therapy. She has recently added pilates to her practice for functional rehab.
Resources:
See Dr. Bracamontes demonstrate Cox Technic on YouTube
The Cox 8 Table by Haven Medical