Introduction: What is the Y-Strap adjustment?
The Y-Strap Y-Axis stretching tool has become quite famous over social media platforms through videos.
This spine stretching tool is sometimes being used by osteopathists and chiropractors to execute High-Velocity and Low-Amplitude movements, also known as “adjustments”.
Many questions arise when seeing this use of the strap, today we will talk about this topic.
Why is this tool called a Y-Strap?
The Y-Strap, or y-axis traction strap to be more specific, gets its name from the body axis (Y-Axis) where the force takes place.
The Y-Axis, also known as vertical axis is aligned with the spine, head and legs.
After fastening the Y-Strap to the user’s head size with the small adjuster, the two “arms” lead to the handle bar of the y-strap that is used to perform the y strap stretch in the y-axis of the user’s body.
How does the Y-Strap adjustment work?
The Y-Strap works by stretching the spine pulling the head in the Y-Axis of the body. This pulling force generates a decompression in the vertebral discs.
The Y-Strap is used for stretching purposes with slow and smooth stretching motion, but some therapists prefer to apply a HVLA (High Velocity, Low Amplitude) movement. This is when the Y-Strap applies an “adjustment” to the user.
This HVLA is the procedure used in many chiropractic and osteopathy videos available on youtube using our tool. The High Velocity Low Amplitude procedure generates a swift decompression within the vertebrae discs that generates vacuum that enables nutrients to flow into the discs.
As we previously discussed in our post Is the Y-Strap safe?, the great advantage in using the Y-Strap to mobilize the spine is the straight angle and non-existant torsion of the procedure to reduce spinal compression and muscle stiffness.
What is a chin strap and what is it needed for?
The Y-Strap works on its own with most users but, as the anatomic differences between humans are significant. Some users with less-pronounced occipital bone may find the Y-Strap to slip.
This is when the chin comes into play. The chin strap allows our customers to be able to perform the Y-strap stretch on any occipital anatomy.
The chin strap is an extra piece of padded strap that is attached to the main Y-Strap via a reusable velcro system over the user’s chin to firmly stabilize the user’s head within the Y-Strap.