Spinal Decompression
Spinal decompression therapy, also known as non-surgical spinal decompression, is a practice that utilizes spinal decompression tables to relieve pain by allowing bulging or herniated disc tissue to move back into place and heal. Spinal decompression therapy aims to help patients who suffer from debilitating pain due to bulging, degenerating, or herniated discs. It can also be used for the pain management and treatment of many causes of sciatica, injured or diseased spinal nerve roots, and worn spinal joints. The therapy itself works to stretch the spine, using a spinal decompression table or other device, in order to create negative pressure and space within the disc to allow disc fluid to move back into place. This creates an environment in which the disc can receive more nutrients and therefore heal itself more quickly and effectively.
In an outcome study from 1998, spinal decompression therapy was effective in 71% of cases, with patients reporting a decrease in pain to either 0 or 1 on a scale of 0 to 5!
The ultimate goal of spinal decompression therapy is to relieve the patient’s chronic back, arm, neck, and/or leg pain, and to heal the source of that pain. Spinal decompression therapy is also referred to as non-surgical decompression therapy, since it is often used as a safe, affordable, and extremely effective alternative to spinal surgery.
Patients are strapped to the table using a harness, with other props such as pillows used to keep the patient comfortable and the spine in the correct position for decompression. Once the patient is in place, the table program is enacted and the two parts of the table begin to pull apart from one another. The poundage of the pull depends on the type of decompression as well as the physicality of the patient. It can range anywhere from just 5 pounds for a cervical decompression protocol to 100 pounds or more for lumbar decompression on a larger patient.
The difference between spinal decompression tables and other methods of decompression like inversion is the technology involved. The best spinal decompression tables include sensors that indicate whether a patient’s muscles are resisting the stretch being applied by the table. As the muscles resist, the table reduces the poundage of the pull until the muscles relax, then begins to pull again. By taking resistance into account, a decompression table is able to more effectively relieve pressure in the spine and ultimately provide relief. (Ours does this!)
The correct spinal decompression protocol for an individual will depend on the symptoms he or she is experiencing. Typically the protocol calls for 20-24 visits over 8-12 weeks consisting of pre-treatment, (Roller tables and/or electrical stimulation) chiropractic adjustment, spinal decompression, plus supplementation and exercise regimens. Some patients may need more or less than the suggested number of visits or may need periodic maintenance visits.
A patient’s initial visit should determine whether he or she would be a good candidate for decompression therapy. An initial analysis should include a review of the patient’s history, including any available imaging such as x-rays and/or MRI results. If the patient is a good candidate, the doctor can put together a recommended decompression protocol designed for that specific patient and diagnosis. Each spinal decompression table session is approximately 30 minutes in duration.
As with any medical treatment, results for spinal decompression therapy will vary depending on thepatient, the doctor, and the protocol used. Patients do not tend to feel a tremendous amount of relief after the first treatment, though some do. Rather, after several spinal decompression sessions, relief should be apparent. In some cases, patients may need to complete their entire treatment protocol before they feel complete relief from their symptoms.
Our office offers a variety of decompression packages to make the therapy more accessible to more patients. Patients may purchase single visits, packages of 3, 6, 12, and 24 visits. We have packages for individuals who would like us to bill their health insurance for the chiropractic portion of treatment (regular health insurance copays apply in addition to package costs) and for those who plan to pay completely out of pocket. Our packages are priced as such to encourage [patients to partake in the entirety of the treatment plan. Higher success rates have been reported in individuals who follow the protocol as prescribed. Given this information, patients still have the option to choose whichever package is right for them financially and at their own discretion.
