Spinal decompression is a type of therapy that stretches the spine in order to relieve back or leg pain. The non-surgical spinal decompression therapy uses a traction table or similar device to achieve optimal results.
What is Spinal Decompression?
Spinal decompression is based on the same idea as spinal traction offered by chiropractors and other trained health professionals. The goal is to relieve back pain and to provide for quicker healing for bulging, degenerating, or herniated discs.
Spinal decompression gently stretches the spine and releases pressure from the spinal discs. The stretching creates a small vacuum within the targeted discs. The negative pressure can cause the bulging or herniated discs to improve. This also helps healing nutrients to reach the disc to speed up recovery time.
During spinal decompression the patient wears a harness around the pelvis and another around the abdomen. You lay on a table and the Doctor operates the FDA approved computer based system for your specific needs. Treatment can take 30-45 minutes. Treatments are often daily for the first two weeks then decrease to three times a week for two weeks and finished with two treatments per week for the final two weeks.
What can Spinal Decompression Treat?
Spinal decompression has been used to treat not only bulging, degenerating, and herniated discs, but it has also been used by doctors as a nonsurgical option for back and neck pain, sciatica, worn spinal joints, and diseased or injured spinal roots.
For patients looking for a noninvasive alternative to surgery or medication, spinal decompression may help relieve your back pain. It can also be used in conjunction with other treatments to maximize results.
You will want to check with your doctor before you undergo any forms of spinal decompression therapy to ensure that you are a candidate for this treatment. The cost for this treatment varies depending on your specific needs and you will want to check with your insurance provider to verify if this alternative treatment method is covered by your insurance.