The Y-Strap is a method of manual spinal decompression of the cervical spine, born in the USA, and developed by an American chiropractor named Joseph Cipriano. It is performed using a strap. The latter is delicately placed under the patient’s chin. The first step consists of progressively pulling the cervical spine, in order to act on the elasticity of the tissues, and to allow the intervertebral discs and the capsulo-ligamentous elements of the posterior zygapophyseal joints to “deform”.

This results in better joint mobility on the vertical axis, thus relieving pain related to osteoarthritis, but also preventing compressions that can cause herniated discs in the last 2 levels mainly (C5/C6 and C6/C7), and/or degenerative disc diseases.

A high headrest, head flexed, chin tucked in, will favor an action on the IVDs, while a low headrest, head extended, chin up, will favor an action on the zygapophyses.

This vertical axis is essential to allow the intervertebral joints to regain range of mobility in the inclinations around the sagittal axis (by the frontal glides of the uncus), the rotations around the vertical axis and finally the flexion/extension around the frontal axis, and thus regain a normal physiological joint function.

The Y-Strap will also allow the opening of the intervertebral foramens, thus making it possible to act on the exit of the nerve roots, and thus reduce the pain linked to cervicobrachial neuralgia (paresthesia of the upper limb), when the intervertebral joint is subjected to a radicular conflict located at the level of the cervical spine.

Depending on the context, in particular the intensity of the pain, the age of the patient, patient, its morphology, a second step can be carried out, consisting of carrying out a vertical, fast and rapid impulse (thrust), causing a joint noise (“crack”, a phenomenon linked to the cavitation of carbon dioxide in the synovial cavity. The aim is to “surprise” the joint to be worked, by setting in motion the mechanoreceptors present within the ligaments, and thus act on the muscles around (SCOM, scalenes, trapezius), which will relax reflexively (myotatically), via the sensory neurons carrying the pain.