Spinal decompression therapy is also referred to as non-surgical decompression management, as it is often used as a safe, affordable, and extremely effective alternative to spinal surgery. The distinction between surgical and non-surgical spinal decompression is an important one, as surgical spinal procedures are often considered the last option, while spinal decompression therapy is a safe treatment at any stage of back pain and neck pain. Spinal decompression works by mechanically stretching the spine. The physiotherapist carefully calculates the force and position of the spine while setting you up on the decompression table. The stretch in the spine change takes the 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. The ultimate goal of spinal decompression therapy is to relieve the patient’s chronic back, arm, neck, and/or leg pain, and to heal the source of said pain.
However, there are certain contraindications for decompression such as Pregnancy, Metastasis cancer, Spinal fusion, broken vertebrae, Patients with artificial discs or spinal implants, Osteoporosis, osteopenia and Spinal tumor. Hence, it is critical that our Physiotherapists at River Physio perform a full examination of your medical and health history prior to beginning treatment with a decompression table.
Although your doctor may suggest a specific choice of treatment, we will provide such treatments after being assessed by our physiotherapist and only if we find it to be beneficial for you.