Spinal Decompression

What is Spinal Decompression?

Spinal decompression is a tool we love to use in our Frederick office when we are treating neck or low back pain.  It is similar to the effects of an inversion table in that there is pressure relieved from the disc and nerves.  Unlike an inversion table though, there is not the danger of increasing intra cranial pressure from hanging nearly upside down, because our decompression tables pull from a horizontal angle.  It is also similar to flexion-distraction technique, but there is a greater degree of axial decompression (pulling in the direction that would make you taller if you measured while it was pulling) with our decompression table, which helps increase space for the exiting nerves.  Our machines cycle through rhythmic periods of pulling and relaxing, relieving pressure on discs and nerves, and thus relieving pain.  The spinal decompression machine also helps with low back and neck tightness, as it stretches the paraspinal muscles.

Who can spinal decompression help?

Because of the pulling and decrease in disc pressure, spinal decompression is ideal for anyone with neck and/or back disc injuries: slipped disc*, bulging disc, disc herniation, and pinched nerve* from disc herniation (*disclaimer: discs can’t actually “slip,” and nerves don’t get “pinched” the way you would think, but they are such common, but misused terms that we thought we should include them)