Y Strap Treatment
DISCLAIMER: Against what common social media will show you, the Y-Strap itself will not provide long-term relief from your pain. Please read further to better understand the Y-Strap and how we utilize it here at FPI!
We are one of the only providers in San Diego County who utilize the Y-Strap treatment in their practice. This treatment is not for everyone, and requires a thorough exam to determine if the patient is a good candidate for this treatment.
What does the Y-Strap treatment process look like?
Following a full history & exam, we will often perform focused myofascial release to loosen up tight muscles surrounding the spine. Next, we will assess your spine and correct any joint restrictions with diversified chiropractic adjustments. This is to help relax the spine and surrounding muscles before the Y-Strap treatment is performed to ensure a smooth procedure.
Lastly, the treatment is performed with the patient lying flat on their back on the table. The strap is placed around the back of the neck and gentle traction begins to assess your tolerance. If the gentle traction is painful, the Y-Strap will either be readjusted to improve comfort, or the treatment will cease and the thrust will not be applied. If the traction is comfortable, a quick, specific pull is applied to traction the spine.
What is the purpose of the Y Strap?
The main focus of the Y-Strap is to decompress the joints and discs in your spine. By doing this, a multitude of things happen:
We alleviate pressure on painful areas of the spine, most commonly on the joints and discs, which are subject to arthritis and disc herniations.
We increase blood flow and circulation to those areas, improving oxygen and nutrient flow to the spine.
We remove pressure on spinal nerves, thereby reducing pain and improving function of the spine and its surrounding areas.
It increases the endorphin-rush that is released following the adjustment, which contributes to pain reduction and increased relaxation.
What should I expect to feel from the Y-Strap?
Following the adjustment, most people report feeling a large sense of relief and often have a hard time explaining the endorphin rush. We often tell the patients to lay down for a minute or so to allow the treatment to take effect and help them relax.
On occasion, patients report feeling light-headed immediately after, which often lasts for a very short period of time. Some have reported feeling minor soreness following the treatment, but these symptoms only last for about 1-2 days, and is completely normal.
We recommend relaxing for the rest of the day following the treatment, and avoiding any aggressive motions of the head/neck during this period of relaxation. As always, we strongly advise against “self-adjusting” your spine, especially following the Y-Strap treatment. The excess force through the spine could contribute to your soreness and you can injure yourself in the process.
How often should I get the Y-Strap?
As this is a powerful adjustment, we recommend at least 7-14 days between Y-Strap treatments. Dependent on your specific condition, we may have you come back in for standard chiropractic and sports medicine treatments between Y-Strap adjustments to continue correcting any injuries that you may have.
If you have any specific questions, please Contact Us prior to coming in to our Kearny Mesa office! If you want to see more, you can check out our Instagram Page as well!
The Y Strap Treatment may not be performed on your initial evaluation visit, this is up to the doctor’s discretion.