What is Spinal Decompression?

Spinal decompression done by a chiropractor is a type of traction therapy. It’s used in lieu of surgery to reduce pain in the neck, back or legs. Chiropractors perform spinal decompression to stretch the spine and manually position it to reduce pressure off discs and nerves.

The traction therapy creates a negative space between the discs to help retract herniations or bulging spinal discs. Once the spine is re-positioned it lets water, oxygen, and nutrients into the discs to help them heal. Spinal decompression works to relieve pain associated with herniated, bulging, or degenerated discs and sciatica.

Does Spinal Decompression Work?

Spinal decompression is a non-surgical way to alleviate pain in the spine. The process is meant to place space between discs to reduce pressure and promote natural healing. Once pressure from the area is relieved or decreased, it often returns to the normal position and stops the pain.

Many patients have seen results from one spinal decompression treatment. Approximately 80% of patients with back pain have experienced complete relief after having spinal decompression therapy.

Depending on the area that needs to be treated it could take six to eight sessions before pain is lessened. Consistent decompression therapy can help with long-term pain relief by improving posture and spinal alignment.

What Are the Benefits of Spinal Decompression?

Aging, disease or injury can cause a breakdown of the cushioning between the vertebrae. This treatment can be an effective alternative to spinal surgery. Spinal decompression therapy is beneficial for conditions like sciatica pain, arthritis, spinal stenosis, and ruptured or herniated discs.

Benefits of spinal decompression include:

• Pain relief
• Restores spinal alignment
• Relieves pressure on nerves and joints
• Prevents disc degeneration
• Promotes healing of disc tissue
• Restores spinal fluid

Who Can Undergo Spine Decompression?

Because spinal decompression is a gentle, non-invasive solution to ongoing pain it can be used as an alternative therapy for people of all ages. Anyone with chronic back pain, sciatica, disc herniation or disc bulge can be a candidate for spinal decompression therapy.

While nonsurgical spinal decompression is a safe form of healing, there are some conditions in which this form of treatment would not be appropriate. These include:

• Pregnancy
• Tumor
• Metal spine implants
• Advanced osteoporosis
• Fracture
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm

What is Spinal Decompression Treatment Like?

The process can depend on the patient’s needs and how far along the symptoms of spinal issues are. During a therapy session, patients lay on a table and has and adjustable harness placed around the area in need of the process. The equipment goes through several traction and distraction cycles that last up to five minutes followed by a relaxation period.

Patients feel a deep stretch and mild release of pressure during the cycles. But unlike other treatments there is no discomfort or pain. The computerized treatment tables have sensors which tell when muscles are resistant to stretching. The chiropractor can then adjust the amount of pressure on the traction to produce the desired results.

Most spinal decompression sessions last around 30 minutes. It typically takes several sessions to receive all the benefits spinal decompression can provide. Depending on the cause of the spinal pain, anywhere from four to six weeks of therapy with 15 to 30 sessions may be needed.

Spinal Decompression in Burnsville, MN

This non-invasive pain relief procedure is an effective and affordable option for patients in Burnsville, MN. Spinal decompression therapy is effective at long-term pain relief and is a simple alternative to surgery. If you would like to find out if spinal decompression is the right option for your specific condition, contact our staff today to determine whether spinal decompression therapy is right for you.