What is Spinal Decompression Therapy?

Non-surgical spinal decompression therapy (NSSD) is an effective non-surgical treatment for back pain, neck pain, sciatica and radiculopathy caused by facet syndrome, bulging, herniated or degenerative discs. Even post-surgical patients have reported significant pain relief from NSSD treatments.

NSSD slowly lengthens and decompresses the spine, which created negative pressures within the vertebral discs. This reversal of pressure created an intradiscal vacuum that helps to reposition the bulging disc and can pull extruded disc material off of an impinged nerve root. Spinal experts believe that NSSD stimulates the body's repair mechanism, providing the building blocks needed to reset the pain fibers in the facet joints and allow pressure relief on the impinged nerve root.

What to expect at your first visit

At your first visit, your doctor will conduct a physical exam and x-rays to make sure that you are a candidate for NSSD and to pinpoint the specific area of damage or discomfort. Your Doctor will then determine your course of therapy; a typical NSSD treatment program consists of about 20-25 sessions lasting 8-12 weeks. Some conditions require fewer visits and some require more.

At the beginning of each low back pain session, you will lie on the decompression table and be comfortably fitted with a pelvic harness that is designed to achieve optimal decompression of the lumbar spine. The table will be raised or lowered depending on your angle of pull and set for 50-70% of your total body weight. You will feel a slight pull on your pelvis as the table starts to slowly lengthen your spine and gradually decompress your discs to achieve negative pressure.

At the beginning of each cervical spine treatment, you will lie on the decompression table with your neck resting in a cushioned holster with a strap across your forehead to help hold you in place, you will then be set at 20-30 pounds of pull. You will feel a slight pull at the base of your skull as the table slowly starts to lengthen your spine and gradually decompress your discs to achieve negative pressure.

This treatment process is safe and relaxing. While some patients with extensively injured discs or low back pain have reported mild discomfort after the first few treatment sessions, their discomfort levels subside after subsequent visits. A shut of button is given to each patient at the beginning of the treatment session which allows you to stop the session at any given time if you feel any discomfort.