Spinal Decompression is a comfortable spinal distraction (stretching) therapy on a specially designed table with an advanced computer module attached to it. This helps relieve neck and back pain by gently stretching the spine. Stretching the spine takes pressure off the joints and nerves, allowing bulging or herniated discs to retract back into their correct position. Changing the position of spinal discs will help take pressure off of nerves and other spinal structures that may be responsible for your pain.
The traction (stretching) creates a gentle vacuum effect inside your spinal disc and allows the herniated or protruded disc material to be pulled back into the disc and into alignment. This also helps promote the movement of water, oxygen and nutrient-rich fluids into the discs so they can heal.
Spinal decompression can be used to treat:
During spinal decompression, you will be fitted with a specialize harness for your neck or your low back. These harnesses are hooked up to the treatment table and a computer module operated by your doctor, who will execute your customized treatment plan. The computer tells the harnesses to traction your spine at a specific angle and strength in order to safely stretch and decompress spinal structures. When the spine is tractioned, injured discs are gently stretched apart, producing a suction force inside the discs. This suction force works to draw bulging and herniated discs into place and allows and healing substances like oxygen, water and nutrients to flow toward the center of the disc. Spinal decompression is designed to apply precisely-controlled tension to your spine so that you may attain correct alignment and restore proper function to an injured disc.
This varies from person to person, but depending on your condition, we anticipate positive results within 3-4 sessions. The complete treatment protocol can be from 12- 24 sessions of actual treatment, with the main focus progressing to active stabilization and rehabilitation exercises. Maintenance care may be recommended in some cases after the treatment schedule has been completed, in order to maintain existing improvements and add additional stabilization exercises. All patient conditions are unique and vary depending on severity of injury, how long you have had complaints, how much degeneration has occurred, etc. A maintenance treatment may be as little once a month to once every few months.
The main stabilizing forces for the spine are the muscles and must also be treated in addition to the injured disc and spinal structures. Spinal decompression therapy is best supported by a comprehensive, strength and training program for the supporting muscles to limit the chances of your complaints coming back. We offer a wide range of therapies to limit inflammation and pain including; TENs therapy, therapeutic cold laser, cryotherapy (cold), and acupuncture. With injuries of the spine, supporting muscles and tissues become tight and inflexible as they guard the area of injury. As you continue to improve and gain more spinal flexibility, re-introducing strengthening to condition the supporting muscles plays a vital role in your complete recovery. Focused exercises are the best course of action for rehabilitating these structures.