Don’t Want the Roller Table? How We Honor Consent in Car Accident Care

If you’ve been in a car accident and you’re researching chiropractic care, you may have come across something called intersegmental traction therapy—or the “roller table.”

Maybe you’ve seen photos of patients lying face-down while a table with moving rollers works along their spine. Maybe a friend told you it’s “required” after whiplash. Or maybe the idea of being strapped down or manipulated after a traumatic crash makes your chest tighten.

Here’s what you need to know right now: traction therapy is always optional. At Injury Recovery Center, we don’t pressure, surprise, or guilt patients into any treatment. You’re the boss of your body, and Dr. Ron works with you—not on you—to design a recovery plan that respects your boundaries and fits your unique needs.

This article explains what intersegmental traction therapy actually is, why so many car accident patients feel anxious about it, and how our practice treats every patient as an individual—not a case number.

---

What Is Intersegmental Traction Therapy (IST)?

Intersegmental traction therapy (IST) is a gentle, passive modality that uses a specialized table with moving rollers to create motion along the spine.

You lie face-up on a padded table. The rollers move slowly underneath you—up and down your back—creating a wave-like stretching motion. The goal is to promote spinal mobility, reduce muscle tension, and support circulation in the soft tissues that may have stiffened after a crash.

IST is not the same as spinal decompression machines or flexion-distraction tables. It doesn’t pull or stretch your spine with force. It’s a low-intensity therapy often used alongside manual chiropractic adjustments and therapeutic exercises.

Think of it as a way to “wake up” restricted segments of your spine in a controlled, predictable way. For some patients recovering from whiplash or soft tissue injuries, it can feel soothing. For others—especially those dealing with anxiety, PTSD, or hypervigilance after a collision—it can feel uncomfortable or triggering.

And that’s okay. Because it’s optional, and whether it’s right for you is something we figure out together.

---

Why Do So Many Patients Feel Anxious About Traction?

If the idea of lying on a moving table makes you nervous, you’re not alone.

Car accidents are traumatic. Even “minor” crashes can leave you feeling vulnerable, out of control, and on high alert. Your nervous system is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do: protecting you.

Here’s why traction (and other hands-on therapies) can feel especially scary after a crash:

• Loss of control. You’re lying down, sometimes unable to see what’s happening, and something is moving your body. After an accident where you couldn’t control what happened, that sensation can be overwhelming.
• Fear of re-injury. Many patients worry that any movement—especially around the neck or back—will make things worse.
• Past negative experiences. If you’ve had aggressive chiropractic care in the past (the “grip it and rip it” style), you may be wary of anything involving your spine.
• Anxiety or PTSD. Hypervigilance, startle responses, and panic are common after trauma. Being touched or having your body positioned by someone else can trigger those responses.

We see this in our practice every week. Patients walk in tense, guarded, and unsure. They’ve been told they “need” traction or that they “should” start treatment right away.

But here’s the truth: you don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for. Healing doesn’t happen on someone else’s timeline—it happens when you and your doctor work together to find what feels safe and effective for your body.

---

How Consent Works in Our Practice

At Injury Recovery Center, informed consent isn’t a checkbox—it’s a conversation.

Before any treatment begins, Dr. Ron explains what each modality does, why it might help in your specific case, and what alternatives exist. Then he asks a simple question: “Does this feel okay to you?”

If the answer is no—or even “I’m not sure”—we pause. We talk. We adjust the plan together.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

You’re Never Surprised

We don’t bring you into a treatment room and say, “Okay, hop on the table.” Every step is explained before it happens. If we think intersegmental traction might help, we’ll show you the table, demonstrate how it works, and let you ask questions. Then we let you decide if you want to try it.

You Can Change Your Mind

Consent isn’t a one-time thing. You can say yes today and no next week. You can try traction once, decide it’s not for you, and never use it again. There’s no penalty. Your file doesn’t get flagged. Your care doesn’t suffer. We simply work together to find a different approach.

We Check In During Treatment

If you do decide to try traction (or any modality), we’re not leaving the room. We check in. We ask how it feels. If something doesn’t feel right—physically or emotionally—you can stop immediately. No questions asked.

This isn’t just “nice to have.” It’s trauma-informed care, and it’s a core value of how we treat every car accident patient who walks through our door.

---

What Happens If You Say “No” to Traction?

Absolutely nothing bad.

Seriously. No guilt trips. No lectures. No withholding of other treatments.

Here’s what actually happens when a patient declines intersegmental traction:

1. We Build a Different Plan—Together

Traction is one tool in a toolbox. If you don’t want to use it, Dr. Ron sits down with you and asks: “What does feel okay? What are your goals? What does your body need right now?”

Then we design a treatment plan built around your answers. Options include:

• Manual chiropractic adjustments — Careful, hands-on treatment to restore movement and reduce pain (never aggressive or forceful).
• Therapeutic exercises — Gentle movements you can control, designed to rebuild strength and mobility at your pace.
• Shockwave therapy — A non-invasive option that activates your body’s natural healing response for persistent soft tissue pain.
• Referrals — If your injury requires physical therapy, neurology, orthopedics, or pain management, we coordinate that care.

Your recovery plan is built around your body, your comfort level, and your input—not around a pre-set protocol or what “should” work.

2. We Treat You as an Individual

At Injury Recovery Center, everyone is an individual. Two patients can walk in with the same diagnosis—whiplash—but have completely different bodies, pain levels, fears, and goals.

One person might be ready for adjustments and traction on day one. Another might need weeks of just education and gentle exercises before they’re comfortable with hands-on care. Both are valid. Both get excellent care.

Dr. Ron doesn’t treat “whiplash.” He treats you. And that means your plan is yours alone.

3. We Take Baby Steps—At Your Speed

Many patients who initially say no to traction eventually feel comfortable trying it—but only after weeks or months of building trust and seeing results from other treatments.

That’s how it should work. We start with what feels safe. We explain everything. We let you set the pace. And if you never want traction? That’s fine. You can recover fully without it, because we’re working together to find what actually helps your unique situation.

---

How We Build Trust First: Working Together on Your Recovery

Dr. Ron Losiewicz has spent over 20 years treating car crash injuries exclusively. Not wellness care. Not general chiropractic. Just car accidents.

And in that time, he’s learned something critical: patients don’t heal when they’re scared. They heal when they feel heard, respected, and involved in their own care.

That’s why our first priority isn’t treating your pain—it’s partnering with you.

What Your First Visit Actually Looks Like

When you come in for your initial consultation, we’re not rushing you onto a table. Here’s what happens instead:

• You talk. We listen. We want to know about your crash, your injuries, your fears, and your goals. What does “better” look like to you? What are you most worried about? What treatments have you tried before? Your file is second. You come first.
  
• We explain everything. Dr. Ron walks you through diagnostic findings, treatment options, and what to expect—in plain language, not medical jargon. He’ll show you why he’s recommending something, not just what it is.
  
• We build the plan together. This isn’t Dr. Ron handing you a treatment protocol. It’s a conversation. “Here’s what I’m seeing. Here’s what might help. What feels right to you? What doesn’t?” Your input shapes the plan from day one.
  
• We move at your pace. If you’re not ready for an adjustment on day one, we don’t do one. If you want to just talk through options and schedule treatment later, that’s completely fine. You set the speed.
  

A Collaborative, Individualized Approach

Every patient at Injury Recovery Center gets a personalized recovery plan co-created with Dr. Ron. We don’t use cookie-cutter protocols or one-size-fits-all timelines.

For some patients, that means starting with manual adjustments and exercises. For others, it means concussion testing first (we use the same VITAL CNS neurocognitive system that neurologists use) or immediate referrals to specialists. For a few, it means weeks of just building trust before any hands-on care.

And if traction eventually makes sense for your case? We bring it up as an option, explain exactly why Dr. Ron thinks it might help your specific injury, and let you decide. If you try it and don’t like it, we pivot. No ego. No pressure. Just two people working together toward the same goal: getting you back to your life.

You’re not a case number. You’re not a diagnosis. You’re a person, and we treat you like one.

What To Do Next

If you’ve been in a car accident and you’re feeling anxious, confused, or pressured about your treatment options, we’re here to help.

You don’t have to commit to traction—or any treatment—before you feel ready.

At Injury Recovery Center, we specialize exclusively in car crash injuries, and we understand that healing starts with partnership, not pressure. Dr. Ron takes the time to listen to your concerns, explain your options, and work with you to build a recovery plan that respects your boundaries, your body, and your goals.

Every patient is treated as an individual. No cookie-cutter protocols. No rushing. Just careful, trauma-informed care designed around what you need.

Call us today and speak with Dr. Ron directly. We serve patients across the Denver metro area with locations in Lakewood, Englewood, and Aurora. Whether you’re just starting to explore your options or you’re ready to begin care, we’ll meet you where you are—and we’ll take baby steps and build trust first.

📍 Lakewood: 2290 Kipling St Unit 6, Lakewood, CO 80215
📍 Englewood: 730 W Hampden Ave Ste. 250, Englewood, CO 80110
📍 Aurora: 14241 E 4th Ave Building 5, Ste. 5-354, Aurora, CO 80011

You’re the boss. It’s your body. Let’s work together to help you heal.

FAQ: Your Questions About Traction and Autonomy