James M. Cox, DC, DACBR, FICC, HonDLitt, DIANM(H), developer of what is now known as Cox Technic Flexion Distraction Decompression, passed away on March 3, 2025. A longtime practicing doctor of chiropractic, speaker, author, clinical researcher, chiropractic advocate and more, Dr. Cox left an indelible impression on his colleagues and the profession.
The valedictorian of his 1963 graduating class at National College of Chiropractic, Dr. Cox spent his entire life in his hometown of Fort Wayne, Ind. – but that didn’t stop him from leaving a significantly larger footprint. The following is a summary of just some of his lifetime accomplishments taken from a tribute to Dr. Cox on the CoxTechnic.com:
Speaker
- Spoke at nearly every chiropractic school and state association in the United States, and several institutions / organizations internationally (Japanese Chiropractic Association, Danish Chiropractic Association, Swiss Chiropractic Academy, European Chiropractic Union, Collegio de Profesionistas Cientifico Quiropracticos de Mexico, IFEC Chiropractic University (Paris), the 9th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back and Pelvic Girdle Pain in Singapore, and the International Consortium on Manual Therapy).
- Presented with Dr. Terry Yochum at the Challenge of the Lumbar Spine, presenting chiropractic to the medical conference for the first time (1982; returned in 1986). Also presented to the American Back Society (1989).
Author
- Authored Low Back Pain: Mechanism, Diagnosis, Treatment textbook; privately published for first three editions, with 4th-7th editions published by Lippincott Williams and Wilkins (now Wolter Kluwers Health).
- Authored Neck, Shoulder and Arm Pain: Mechanism, Diagnosis, Treatment textbook; privately published and now in its 4th edition.
- Wrote research-/science-based patient booklets on spinal conditions.
- Recently completed a second draft of a patient book; in the hands of editor with future publication date pending.
Researcher
- Documented clinical cases and case series – all designed to “ultimately help ease human suffering due to spine-related disease.”
- Fought for federal funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), leading to two studies by NUHS and Loyola Stritch School of Medicine / Hines VA. A third study by Palmer and Loyola Stritch / Hines VA was funded by the National Institutes of Health.
- The Cox Fund supports ongoing research and publication at Keiser University College of Chiropractic Medicine.
Advocate
- Sat on the board that determined chiropractic’s coverage in Medicare.
- Served as president of the Indiana State Chiropractic Association (eight years) and legislative chairman (24 years), ultimately helping pass legislation giving Indiana DCs the right to diagnose.
Visit the CoxTechnic website for the full tribute to Dr. Cox and learn more about his contributions to the chiropractic profession.
