Spinal Decompression
How does Spinal Decompression work?
SPINAL COMPRESSION
When a bulging or herniated disc slips out of alignment, it may compress nearby nerves. The compression can block the nerves from sending and receiving messages from the central nervous system and brain, leading to chronic pain. As long as compression continues, damaged discs seldom heal and patients will suffer pain and other symptoms.
SPINAL DECOMPRESSION
Spinal Decompression creates space between the different vertebrae, providing room for the bulging or herniated disc to be drawn back into its central position in the spine. This relieves pressure on the nerves and the surrounding soft tissues. By reversing the effects of axial load or compression in the spine, increased circulation occurs which facilitates the flow of nutrients, oxygen and fluids back into the disc which helps stimulate the body’s healing mechanism.
If you’ve been living with persistent neck, back, or sciatic nerve pain caused by herniated or degenerative spinal discs, you don’t have to take medication or resort to surgery to find lasting relief.
Spinal decompression therapy, a groundbreaking treatment that involves the meticulous mechanical stretching of your spine, is a gentle, nonsurgical way to instantly relieve disc-related pressure, stimulate blood flow through your spine, and promote long-term healing.
We offer spinal decompression to help many men and women overcome chronic disc-related pressure and pain, even when traditional chiropractic adjustments, massage, physical therapy, and other common treatment options have failed to provide full relief.
Here’s how spinal decompression works and what you can expect during treatment.
Spinal Decompression Basics
Spinal decompression is performed on a specialized traction table with the aid of advanced computer technology. It operates under the same basic principles chiropractors have been using for decades to stretch the spine and provide effective pain relief.
The therapy works by slowly, steadily, and gently stretching your spinal column to alleviate abnormal pressure on the discs that sit between your vertebrae. Using an exceptionally precise stretching action, it creates a negative pressure inside your discs that causes them to retract. This creates a reverse vacuum that helps draw protruding disc material back into place.
Spinal decompression also promotes increased blood flow to your spinal discs that encourages nutrient-rich fluids and oxygen to flow inside, where they promote cell renewal, tissue repair, and long-term healing.
The main goal of spinal decompression therapy is to provide immediate pain relief and promote an optimal healing environment for several spinal disc conditions, such as:
Bulging Discs
Spinal discs that have been pushed outside of their usual space in the spinal canal can put pressure on nearby nerves, causing localized pain or pain in other areas of your body. Left untreated, a bulging disc is likely to eventually rupture.
Herniated Discs
Spinal discs that crack and leak some of their soft interior gel have ruptured, or herniated. The gel from a herniated disc can irritate nearby nerves, and may even cause a burning sensation that radiates from your lower back into your legs.
Degenerative Discs
Discs that are affected by age-related degeneration may have low fluid or tears in their tough outer shell. They may also lead to the development of painful bone spurs that impinge on your spinal nerves.
An effortless, gradual process
Spinal decompression therapy is done on a motorized table. The upper half of the table remains fixed, while the lower half moves when it’s activated by a highly specialized computer. Your personal treatment protocol is based on a variety of factors, ranging from your body weight and spinal condition to the duration of your symptoms and your level of sensitivity.
To treat a disc problem that’s affecting your lower back, we fit a harness comfortably around your hips and attach the other end to the table, near your feet. After activating the table, the lower portion gently slides back and forth, slowly lengthening your spine and alleviating pressure.
During this slow, gentle treatment, you’ll feel your spine being alternately stretched and relaxed. Because the computer system continuously monitors your spinal resistance as well as any involuntary “guarding” response your body may have, it’s able to adjust the force as needed to keep you relaxed and help prevent muscle spasms.
Although spinal decompression is generally considered gentle and relaxing, patients with extensive disc trauma may experience mild discomfort during their first few treatment sessions. If you ever feel uncomfortable during the procedure, a patient safety switch allows you to stop the treatment at any point.
Advanced chiropractic care you can trust
Although you may experience significant pain relief after your first couple of sessions, most people can expect to obtain long-lasting pain relief once they complete their prescribed treatment cycle.
About Back On Track
4 Reasons Patients Love the Back on Trac Experience
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No scary restraints or belts: Unlike yesterday’s treatment solutions, Back on Trac offers therapy without all those cumbersome restraints and belts that patients hate.
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Lasting relief because ALL the important areas are targeted: Therapy is delivered through gentle stretching of the spine, joints, and a wide range of important muscles, including those in the back, neck, hips, and thighs.
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It's non-invasive and it works: Any time an effective solution can be found for chronic back pain, patients rejoice!
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It doesn't just work - it feels great: Patients start out seated and are gently leaned back with benefits of vibration and heat which puts patients in a relaxed state of mind and body!
What is the Back on Trac?
Back on Trac is a unique system that provides many different treatment options to help relieve pain and chronic back pain by offering a safe and effective stretch on the thoracic and lumbar spine along with other exercises!
It gently stretches the spine, joints and muscles in the back, neck, hips and thighs. It also has NO RESTRAINTS OR BELTS!
Features on Back on Trac:
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21 Treatment options
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Vibration Therapy
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Heat Therapy
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Starts in seated position and slowly lowers you back
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Handicap accessible
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Lateral/Bilateral Flexion
Are you suffering from any of the following?
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Low back pain
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Muscle Spasms
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Muscle Strains
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Bulging Disc
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Numbness/Soreness/Pain in your back
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Pain in Hips and Thighs
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Stiffness in neck
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Trouble with Flexibility and/or Mobility
List of Benefits from Back on Trac:
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Low Back Pain
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Facet Syndrome
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Herniated Disc
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Protruding Disc
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Extruded Disc
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Sciatica
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Spondylosis
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Spinal Fusion
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Degenerative Disc Disease
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Therapeutic Exercise
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Pain Management
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Pain Reduction
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Pain Elimination
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Neuromuscular Reeducation
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Spinal Stenosis Congenital and Degenerative
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Multimodal Sensory Stimulation
Bulging, Herniated and degenerative discs are often the root cause of many people’s neck or back pain. If you’ve been told you have one of these disc problems that’s causing your pain, you may also be looking for an alternative to drugs and surgery.
Non-surgical spinal decompression is a gentle and effective treatment for spinal disc problems. It may help you avoid injections, pain medications, and even surgery.
Research Proves it is an Effective Treatment
According to the Shealy-Borgmeyer study, non-surgical disc decompression was 92% effective in relieving pain due to a problem disc. The Odell Study revealed that 80% of people showed 50% or more pain relief 4 years after treatment with 92% resuming normal activities. More research studies are available on our website. The takeaway from these studies is that decompression is safe, effective, and a long term solution for disc related problems.
How Your Decompression Treatments are performed:
Your doctor uses your MRI, X-Ray, and examination findings to determine the disc that is the root cause of your pain. A harness system is used to specifically pull apart or “decompress” the problem disc. There is a programmed pull phase and rest phase that the computer will cycle through specific to your body type and disc problem. This allows fluid to re-enter the disc and reduce pressure on the nerve.
Our tables are comfortable and fully automated to make your session as pain-free as possible. A trained technician is available throughout the session to ensure comfort and safety. Many patients find the treatment so relaxing, they fall asleep during the session.
How long does a session take?
Your sessions are custom tailored to your condition. Treatment time can be anywhere from 15-25 minutes. Research indicates best long term satisfaction and pain reduction is achieved with 20-30 sessions over a 12 week period. Your treatment plan will be determined by your doctor.
Most patients notice an improvement within 3-6 treatments while some notice a change after only 1 session.
What can YOU expect?
Decompression therapy is most commonly a part of a comprehensive plan. Your care may include chiropractic adjustments to restore normal joint function, pain relief therapies such as laser and electric stimulation, and specific exercises to strengthen and stabilize your spine to give you the best chance of returning to normal activities. The healthier you and your spine are, the less likely the chance of problems returning.
Who can benefit from Spinal Decompression?
Anyone who has back pain or neck pain caused in whole or in part by a damaged disc may be helped by spinal decompression therapy. These conditions include herniated discs, protruding discs or bulging discs, spinal stenosis, sciatica, leg pain, leg numbness, and arm pain, arm numbness, or radiculopathy (pinched nerves) and certain types of headaches.
Decompression may also benefit those who've already had spinal surgery. Your doctor will determine your eligibility for the treatment. Certain conditions prohibit the use of decompression.