What Spinal Decompression Therapy Treats
Nonsurgical spinal decompression therapy is an innovative treatment designed to alleviate upper, middle and low back pain discomfort and compressions. Spinal decompression is often suggested if you are experiencing pain, weakness, numbness or a limited range of motion.
Some of the main conditions spinal decompression may be used to treat include:
- Sciatica: Sciatica can cause pain that radiates along the sciatic nerves path, which stems from the lower back through the buttocks, hips and down the legs. Sciatica may only affect one side of the body, but it can occur on both sides of the body. Many people develop it when the nerve is compressed, resulting from herniated disks, spinal stenosis or bone spurs.
- Degenerative disk disease: While disk degeneration is a normal aspect of aging, degenerative disk disease refers to degenerated disks that cause pain, discomfort and other symptoms. Studies have found approximately 30% of people by the age of 35 will show signs of disk degeneration. One of the most common symptoms of degenerative disk disease includes pain that feels worse when sitting, bending, lifting or twisting.
- Spinal stenosis: Spinal stenosis is when the spaces within the spine are narrowed, applying pressure on the nerves that travel through the spinal column. In most cases, spinal stenosis develops in the neck and the lower back. While some people with spinal stenosis may not display symptoms, others may experience numbness, tingling, muscle weakness and pain.
What Is The Difference Between Surgical And Nonsurgical Spinal Decompression
Despite nonsurgical spinal decompression therapy being an effective treatment for many patients, some may require spinal decompression surgery or other spinal surgeries to effectively alleviate pain and tension. There are multiple types of surgical spinal decompression, including laminotomy, foraminotomy, laminectomy, discectomy and laminoplasty.
Something About Spinal Decompression Therapy
Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy is a motorized traction therapy that stretches the spine gently resulting in a change of force and position of the spine and turn relieves the spinal discs and nerves of the pressure causing the pain in the first place.
It creates a negative intradiscal pressure which promotes the repositioning of the herniated disc material. It may help reduce pain and inflammation in the lower back and prevent surgery from being necessary, especially if the back pain is stress-induced. This is of great benefit for people having chronic back pain that worsens with age.
As people age, the discs that sit between the bones of the spine lose fluid and as a result, the spine becomes compressed and there is less protection between each bone. The gentle forces of Spinal Decompression Therapy cause the spine to de-stress causing a lowered pressure in the disc.
This leads to improved blood flow and an influx of healing nutrients and their exchange to the injured area.
In non-surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy, the spine is stretched and relaxed intermittently using the accurate calculations of the computer to generate just the right amount of tension to achieve optimal results.
When the spine is stretched by the machine, fluids fill the discs that have been losing fluids that repair the spinal discs.
Spinal Decompression Therapy Program may also include other adjunctive treatment options to help accelerate the results of the therapy such as:
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Should Traction Be Eliminated From Lower Back Pain Treatment Protocols
The systematic review discussed above concludes that traction should have no primary role in clinical practice as a treatment for non-specific low back pain, a conclusion that we support, and that is also supported by other recent review studies . This conclusion strongly conflicts with the practice of numerous clinics where spinal decompression therapy is provided as the primary treatment for low back pain, and sometimes at an exorbitant cost.
However, many people receiving traction do experience temporary relief from lower back pain, as many of my own patients have anecdotally reported. Should the value of this outcome be entirely discounted? Of course not.
If temporary relief from lower back pain is desirable, and can be delivered quickly, safely, and at low cost through a few minutes of traction, then it is warranted.
The handful of studies included in the review that compared the effectiveness of physiotherapy with and without the use of traction suggested that there were no differences in patient outcomes. Nevertheless, it seems reasonable to hypothesize that temporary relief of back pain could still be beneficial for decreasing muscle tension and therefore aide the delivery of clinically-validated treatments such as exercise physiotherapy. Consequently, in our practice we continue to offer limited manual traction to interested patients suffering from non-specific low back pain as a secondary treatment alongside a clinically-validated exercise physiotherapy program.
Supine Twist Stretch Best For Sciatica
The second stretch is the supine twist. This stretch not only helps to stretch your lower back but also your glutes, which can tighten when youre experiencing low back pain ultimately causing more pain.
1. Begin by lying on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor, and extending your arms out to the side.
2. Keep your shoulders on the ground as you gently roll both knees to one side. Stay here for 20-30 seconds, then return your knees to the center and repeat on the other side.
3. Turn your head to the opposite side of your knees and breath deeply. If the stretch is too much for you, place a pillow or stack of blankets under your knees.
Heres how to do this seated:
Sit with your back straight. Move closer to the edge of the chair. Slowly start rotating your upper body to one side. Lift your chest towards to ceiling to enhance the stretch and breath deeply. Avoid pushing too hard to twist your body.
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What Causes Back Pain
Numerous conditions may contribute to or worsen back pain. Understanding what is causing your back pain can help you determine what treatments may help you relieve spinal tension, pain or discomfort. The spine is a complex part of our body and contains many bones, nerves, muscles and ligaments. If any of these spinal components become compressed or damaged, pain is likely to occur.
Some of the most common causes of back pain include:
Spinal Decompression For Lower Back Pain
Spinal decompression needs further research, but thus far, it seems like an effective method of physical therapy. Due to the lack of research, its difficult for doctors to determine who benefits from spinal decompression, so not everyone who goes through the treatment will find pain relief.
Non-surgical spinal decompression isnt invasive, so its a good starting point for patients in need of pain relief and, if it doesnt work, theres no harm done. However, patients struggling to find relief might consider speaking to their doctor about surgical spinal decompression.
About the author
McKenzie Hyde is a Certified Sleep Science Coach and a full-time writer focused on sleep health and the mattress industry. She currently writes articles on a variety of topics, ranging from sleep hygiene to the newest trends in the mattress and bedding industry. Just some of the topics she has covered include best sleep practices for students, the consequences of going without sleep, and choosing the right bed if you suffer from back pain. McKenzie Hyde holds a Master of Arts degree from Utah State University where she studied literature and writing. While there, she taught argumentative writing and wrote a variety of articles and analyses for literary and academic journals.
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Why Do People Have Spinal Decompression Therapy
Your spine provides support for your body. It consists of bones called vertebrae, with ligaments and spinal disks that keep it flexible. Your spinal column provides a nerve pathway that runs down the middle of these bones, ligaments and disks.
Spine injuries or degeneration to your spine can cause pain. You might feel pain from compression in your spine that puts pressure on your spinal cord or nerves. Spinal decompression seeks to relieve the pressure to ease the pain.
What Spinal Decompression Is
Spinal decompression is a form of mechanical spinal traction, which refers to the separation of the bones, joints, and discs of the back. It is theorized that this separation relieves pressure on the nerves in the back and helps decrease pain, and thus, improve function.
Many spinal decompression systems are operated by the use of a computer, allowing the healthcare provider to adjust the amount of traction force, the angle of traction provided, or the amount of time the traction force is applied. Common trade names of spinal decompression devices are the VAX-D System, the SpinalAid System, and the DRX-9000 System, among others.
Some spinal decompression units require that you lie on your stomach while treatment is rendered others have you lie on your back.
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What Is The Typical Treatment Protocol
A typical spinal decompression treatment protocol consists of about 1220 sessions over four to six weeks. Some conditions require fewer visits some require more. Many patients report relief from their pain and other symptoms during the first few treatment sessions, and most experience dramatic pain relief after completion of their prescribed treatment program.
The Risks Of Spinal Decompression
A review of the published data for the use of spinal decompression reveals very little risk associated with treatment. One study reported on a patient who developed severe pain while on the unit. A follow-up MRI of the spine revealed that this patients lumbar herniated disc had increased in size. The patient subsequently had lumbar surgery and it was reported that the patient recovered fully. Other studies report some increase in pain for a few participants.
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How Spinal Decompression Works
With spinal decompression , the spine gets stretched and relaxed. It’s intermittent, so there are periods of relaxation and stretching, and the process is controlled. The theory here is that the motion can create a negative pressure within the discs. With spinal decompression, there are two benefits:
Spinal decompression can pull the bulging or herniated disc materials back into it.
Healing nutrients are allowed to pass into and through the area to provide a healing environment with spinal decompression therapy.
Decompression Therapy Gently Stretches Your Spine
When your spine is compressed, it’s difficult to get parts back where they belong. Decompression therapy stretches your spine, temporarily expanding the area around it so that discs can return to their correct places. This also encourages fluid circulation in areas that were previously restricted, so your body can deliver much-needed nutrients to damaged or diseased parts of your spine.
Spinal decompression therapy is performed while you lay on a flat table. In some cases, we can put a pillow under your knees to relieve pressure while you relax.
While you rest, you are carefully buckled into a harness connected to a gentle yet effective machine. We input custom data about your condition, then let the machine work its magic for up to 45 minutes per session. We may also combine other treatments, such as cold laser therapy or electrical stimulation, with your decompression.
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When Surgical Spinal Decompression Is The Best Choice
The decision to undergo spinal decompression surgery is something you and your physician can determine most accurately, as the solution will be different for each patient. In some cases, patients may not be eligible for nonsurgical spinal treatments or may require spinal surgery to improve their symptoms. Its typically recommended for patients to undergo nonsurgical treatments first to see if they provide relief.
If patients experience severe pain or do not respond to nonsurgical treatments, they may want to consider spinal surgery as a potential treatment modality. More complex spinal injury cases or damage may need spinal surgery to appropriately address the underlying cause of pain.
Dts Spinal Decompression Therapy In Milton On
IMPACT Chiropractic and Rehabilitation Centre is excited to provide spinal decompression or to our patients!
Our clinic invests in the technology that is sound and works to get you better!
We are pleased to offer the Triton Decompression Traction System 600, which is used for spinal decompression therapy, an advanced form of spinal traction. Spinal decompression therapy can be a successful, non-surgical alternative treatment for relieving low back, neck pain, and radiating arm and leg pain. Spinal decompression therapy is an effective treatment for:
- Protruding Discs
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Decompression Therapy Can Help Your Spine Heal From Chronic Pain
Some treatments only address acute flare-ups, but spinal decompression also tackles chronic pain. That’s because it addresses the cause of your pain, not just the symptoms. This helps your body heal itself without surgery or other invasive procedures.
When bulging discs retract, it’s easier for your body to distribute oxygen and other nutrients to your spinal area. These nutrients help your body repair damaged nerves and muscles by reducing swelling and inflammation.
Inflammation is often responsible for pain in the spine, so decreasing inflammation also decreases the symptoms of a misaligned spine.
What Is Nonsurgical Spinal Decompression
Nonsurgical spinal decompression is a type of motorized traction that may help relieve back pain. Spinal decompression works by gently stretching the spine. That changes the force and position of the spine. This change takes pressure off the spinal disks, which are gel-like cushions between the bones in your spine, by creating negative pressure in the disc. As a result, bulging or herniated disks may retract, taking pressure off nerves and other structures in your spine. This in turn, helps promote movement of water, oxygen, and nutrient-rich fluids into the disks so they can heal.
Doctors have used nonsurgical spinal decompression in an attempt to treat:
- Back or neck pain or sciatica, which is pain, weakness, or tingling that extends down the leg
- Bulging or herniated disks or degenerative disk disease
- Worn spinal joints
- Injured or diseased spinal nerve roots
More research is needed to establish the safety and effectiveness of nonsurgical spinal decompression. To know how effective it really is, researchers need to compare spinal decompression with other alternatives to surgery. These include:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
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Spinal Decompression Therapy: In
If you are like many people, your work might have you spending hours a day sitting at a desk hunched over a computer or upright on your feet. This can put a tremendous strain on the muscles in the lower back, neck, shoulders, and joints. If not treated properly, this can lead to a more severe injury down the line, such as sciatica, herniated disc, and nerve damage. In many cases, this pain can be managed by a simple daily routine of using spinal decompression at home.
Can Spinal Decompression Cause More Damage
Non-surgical spinal decompression has no known risks. Your chiropractor will need to determine if you are an eligible candidate as some patients with other issues, such as osteoporosis, prevent them from using this type of treatment.
Those who are not good candidates for this treatment are:
- If you have osteoporosis
- Those who have had prior back surgery
- If you have metal rods or other types of metal pieces in the spine or neck
- If you have had spinal fusion
- If you have an artificial disc or other types of implants
- Those with broken vertebrae
- If you have spinal stenosis
- An infection in the spine
- A tumor in the spine
- If you are taking blood thinners
- If you suffer from ankylosing spondylitis
- Any condition that compromises the integrity of the spine
Non-surgical spinal decompression is FDA approved and has been used successfully to treat thousands of patients over the years.
This isnt to say that there are no side-effects, however. As with any medical treatment, a few people experience unpleasant side effects such as
- Pain or discomfort when lying on the table due to the injury
- Shooting pain down the arms or legs
If you should experience any of these problems, inform your chiropractor immediately so they can reposition the table or change the settings on the program.
Otherwise, there are no known cases of adverse effects or damage that was caused by the decompression machine.
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Cost Of Spinal Decompression Treatments
The cost of a spinal decompression treatment can range in price from $30 to $200. You will want to check with your insurance company to see if they cover spinal decompression treatment to help save you money on the expense of the therapy.
It is important to note that it is not always in your best interest to go with the least expensive option. Be sure that you speak with your doctor and find a practitioner that makes you feel comfortable and has your best interests in mind.
Is Traction Therapy Supported By Clinical Research
A large number of studies have examined the effectiveness of various forms of traction for acute, subacute and chronic forms of lower back pain, with or without concomitant sciatica. The majority of lower back pain studies were small in size and inadequately designed to draw meaningful conclusions.
Far from providing clarity, the abundance of low quality back studies have instead muddied the waters with conflicting accounts and low-quality data, making it possible for proponents of traction and non-surgical spinal decompression therapy to find independent clinical research that appears to bolster their claims.
In the absence of large and appropriately designed clinical trials, a systematic analysis of the body of currently published trials is the most valid approach to generating robust conclusions. Systematic reviews of the likes published in the Cochrane Library are well recognized as the most reliable. Last month a new Cochrane review of the use of traction for lower back pain was published .
Four primary outcome measures were examined by the authors: pain intensity, functional impairment, overall improvement,and return to work. The authors concluded that:
Further to this, the authors also point out that one of the highest-quality studies they examined demonstrated that traction in patients without sciatica is not better than sham treatment.
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