What is Spinal Decompression Therapy?

Spinal decompression therapy, also known as nonsurgical spinal decompression, most often has the patient positioned on their back, straps are applied around the lower back/pelvis, and bracing under the arms at the shoulders, to allow stretching the spine. The straps around the lower back/pelvis will apply motorized traction away from the bracing under the arms of the shoulders. This is a controlled movement with varying traction tension. Its primary aim is to give back, leg, or neck pain relief – produced by bulging, degenerating, or herniated discs.

Using a spinal decompression table or other equipment produces negative pressure within the disc and joints, and provides gapping, or an opening/widening within the disc. This allows the disc to take pressure off the nerve roots, as well as a decompressive force on the joints of the vertebrae themselves. The health of a spinal disc is derived through movement, and when a decompressive force is applied, it allows for increased movement to, and overall health of the disc, granted this is all limited by the current condition of the disc itself.

Spinal decompression takes advantage of the same fundamental principle of spinal traction provided by chiropractors and other professionals. The purpose of both is to relieve pain and create a condition that optimizes healing potential for bulging, degenerating, or herniated discs, as well as jammed and compressed joints of the spinal vertebrae.

Conditions That Spinal Decompression Therapy Can Correct

This treatment is strongly recommended for the following conditions:

• Chronic Neck or Back Pain or Sciatica
• Injured or Compressed Spinal Nerve Roots
• Degenerative disc disorders
• Posterior Facet Syndrome or Worn/Compressed Spinal Joints

But the treatment is not suitable for patients with the following conditions:

• Broken Vertebrae
• Areas/segments of the spine that are fused
• The segments with Artificial discs
• Patients who are unable to lay comfortably on their back or stomach.
• Spinal Infection
• Osteoporosis or with Osteopenia
• Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Spinal tumor
• Conditions that can compromise the spine

Treatment Time

The duration of using this kind of therapy varies according to a patient’s condition at the time of the office visit. Additionally, we will factor in the degree of pain, imaging studies, and whether a patient has previously been administered this kind of treatment, how it was applied, and what the outcome was.

On average treatment could take around 6-8 sessions before one can slowly notice long term effects and results. There are several factors that play into that. For example, age, family history, history of the injury/issue being addressed, and lifestyle factors.

A session of spinal decompression may take about 30 minutes. It’s not painful and more often than not it’s rather comfortable. Each treatment is tailored according to the patient’s condition and pain level. This therapy will always be accompanied by strength and rehab protocols that are tailored to the patient specifically.

As we’re done defining Spinal Decompression, let’s also discover Flexion-Distraction Therapy to clearly uncover their differences.

What is a Chiropractic Flexion-Distraction Technique

Flexion-distraction, while similar to and directly involving decompression, is more specific to the injured segments of the spine/disc levels. It is performed while the patient is on their stomach, not on their back. The patient will often have straps around the ankles, and the doctor will apply light headward pressure just slightly ahead of the areas of the spine that are problematic. The area of the table where the legs are laying, and ankles strapped, is pulled down and away from the injured segments of the spine/disc and moved around in various motions in a combination of movements which allow the disc and joints to open up with a light decompressive force, which takes direct pressure off of the nerve roots, spinal cord, and joints of the vertebrae. This method of decompression allows for phenomenal relief of back and neck pain, pain down the arms and legs, pins and needles, and numbness. Like spinal decompression therapy, it is also a non-surgical method.

Conditions Treated by Flexion-Distraction Therapy:

• Lumbar disc injuries like ruptured, bulging, or herniated disc
• Low Back Pain
• Leg Pain
• Arthritis
• General Lower Back Stiffness
• Spondylolisthesis
• Sprain or strain
• Scoliosis
• Sacroiliac syndrome
• Spinal Stenosis
• Failed Back Surgeries
• Ankylosing Spondylitis

So, What’s the Core Difference Between Spinal Decompression Therapy and Flexion-Distraction Technique?

We’ve uncovered that both spinal decompression therapy and flexion-distraction technique are very similar to one another, and aim to relieve pain and restore vertebral and disc function. The main difference is that Spinal Decompression Therapy applies overall spinal traction that is not necessarily specific to injured segments of the spine, but is quite effective in achieving pain relief over time. And Fexion-Distraction applies a multi-movement based decompressive force that is very accurate and specific to the segments of the spine that need to be addressed. Both of these techniques are effective in achieving the outcomes we are looking to get for each individual patient.

Which is the Best Treatment for You?

Again, the answer is either one! Both Spinal Decompression Therapy or Flexion-Distraction Technique can be best for you and it really comes down to what results are we getting in the shortest time possible, with the best long term outcomes.

The most appropriate response to whether which is the best treatment for you will be based on the conversations we have about your issue, an accurate diagnosis, and a treatment plan that leads to the most successful outcome.