Spinal Decompression/ Decompression Therapy/Mechanical Traction
Spinal Decompression, also known as decompression therapy, is a non-surgical way of relieving patients of pain in their lower back and neck. This is done by slowly stretching the spinal area while decompressing the vertebral discs. Stretching the spine allows a vacuum effect to occur within the discs. By doing so, it releases pressure off of the spinal nerves thus relieving pain from the patient.
In order to perform spinal decompression on a patient we need to use a specially designed table in either a face-up or face-down position. Once the patient is comfortable a physiotherapist will then prepare the machine by fitting a wrap-around harness around the patient. The patient will feel some restraint as the machine begins to pull on the spine and relieve pressure. In order for this to work the patients position, the harness and the angle of distractions allows for an accurate treatment for the patient. The machine is only programmed to perform gentle pulls on the spine so the patient doesn’t feel any pain during the treatment.
Spinal decompression is specifically for spinal pain and is a great way to treat patients with chronic pain or other syndromes.
Some conditions that patients can benefit from this method are:
- Sciatica
- Spondylosis
- Degenerative disc disease
- Herniated discs
- Soft-tissue
- Spinal stenosis
- Facet arthropathy caused by compression of discs