7 Good Reasons To Try Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy

Spinal decompression is one of the most effective treatments for back pain. It is a therapy that involves wearing a harness that gently stretches your spine open to “decompress” the muscles, joints and nerves that make up your back and neck. It is usually completed in a laying position but it may also be done in standing.

If you’re considering spinal decompression here are 7 reasons to give it a try.

1.) Effective pain relief treatment

After spinal decompression therapy, your nervous system releases neurochemicals that have a pain killer-like effect but without the nasty sides effects of those medications.

2.) Can help heal spinal discs

Spinal decompression promotes a vacuum-like force on your spinal discs, which causes cells and other healing substances to help heal the damaged tissue.

Spinal Cord Injury courtesy of Concept Physiotherapy (Read the caption)

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3.) It helps (temporarily) lengthen the spine

If you look at the image below you will notice that between each of your vertebrae (the big bones in front), there is a small hole. You’ll also notice coming out of each of the holes, there is a spinal nerve root (the yellow structures in the diagram)

These holes are called foramen. The foramen are present at each vertebrae of the back.

Sometimes the foramen can change their shape which can pinch the nerve root coming out of it. This can cause severe pain and discomfort. With spinal decompression your spine can lengthen to open up the foramen to give the nerve roots more room. This can take the pressure off of the nerves, reducing your pain.

4.) Can help disc injuries

Bulging or herniated discs are often the cause of chronic lower back pain and nagging neck pain that just won’t go away.

Your discs are pieces of tissue that sit in between the vertebrae in your spine. They work to absorb shock when you complete movements, such as when you bend or extend your spine. You can think of the architecture of your spinal discs as a jelly donut. The center of your disc is a jelly-like substance called your nucleus and surrounding the nucleus is a cross fiber type substance called the annulus fibrosis. These fibers crisscross to hold the jelly-like substance of the nucleus together. When you suffer a disc bulge, these annulus fibres can sprain or tear, and create local pain. But when you herniate your discs these fibers tear enough that it leaves an opening for the jelly-like nucleus to break out. This causes inflammation within the tissues and also the nearby nerve roots. A disc herniation can also compress the nerves and tissue causing severe referred pain, pins and needles, numbness, and weakness.

Spinal decompression therapy can work to take pressure off of the discs and nerves, which can reduce pain and promote healing.

5.) Can Help With Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a degenerative structural disorder where the foramen in your spine become narrower over time. This condition can develop in any part of your spine, though it most often occurs in your lower back.

Spinal decompression therapy can help alleviate the pain caused by spinal stenosis by releasing tension throughout your spinal canal and restoring space to the crowded foramen and nerve roots caused by this condition.

Learn more about your spine courtesy of Elign Health Centre (Read the caption)

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6.) Helps with posture hygiene

Having poor bad posture habits is becoming more and more common now. It’s not our fault entirely because a lot of us have desk jobs and also like to sit and watch our favourite shows after work.

When you spend many prolonged hours sitting down, it’s stressing to keep your back upright which can cause you to slouch. Maintaining a slouched posture for prolonged times can cause pain and stiffness in the neck, mid back or low back.

That’s where spinal decompression comes in. It gently decompresses your spine and takes the pressure off of your discs, joints and muscles to reduce pain and allow healing. This improves the overall health of your spine. Additionally, spinal decompression can drive oxygen to your spine which can help reduce stiffness.

Completing spinal decompression will loosen your spine which will help you move out of disadvantageous sitting positions more easily. This will help you control the pain that you may be suffering from due to poor posture hygiene.

7.) Overall improvement in your Quality of life

There are many other positives from the effects of Spinal Decompression that can give you an amazing lift in your quality of life. Some of the improvements include:

Better sleep

If you have ever spent the night tossing and turning to find a somewhat comfortable position for your pain then you know it can be very frustrating. Using spinal decompression can reduce your pain and allow you to use more sleeping positions that may have been impossible before for a goods night’s sleep.

Healthier Digestion

Did you know that your spine can affect your digestion? The nerves in your back can affect digestion when irritated.

Spinal decompression can be one of the best ways to take care of your back, and maybe even your indigestion issues!

If you would like to find spinal decompression therapy near you just use the search box on this page to find a Chiropractor near you.

Thoracic Spine Mobility With Dr. E courtesy of National Spine Care and Sports Medicine (Read the caption)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does a compressed spine feel like?

Common symptoms you may experience are stiffness in your back, neck, and lower back. Also you may feel a burning sensation that can run down your legs or your arms.

Can hanging decompress your spine?

It may be beneficial if you sit a lot throughout the day, but it is not nearly as effective as spinal decompression.

Does decompression help sciatica?

Spinal decompression aids your body’s natural healing mechanisms and promotes the flow of nutrients and oxygen it needs to heal. This can help bring down the typical symptoms associated with sciatica.

About Taylor Sipos

Taylor is a physiotherapist at The Orthopaedic Therapy Clinic located in Toronto, Ontario. He treats patients with various musculoskeletal conditions using patient education, exercise therapy, manual therapy and acupuncture. His treatment philosophy involves giving his patient’s the means to self-manage their injuries. He does this through reassurance, education and health promotion. Taylor uses the same principles as a patient educator at Pain Hero. He aims to provide you with high-quality, easy to understand information to teach you about your condition and how to improve it.

Medical Disclaimer:

The information presented in this blog post is for educational purposes and should not be interpreted as medical advice. If you are seeking medical advice, treatment or a diagnosis, consult with a medical professional such as one suggested on this website. The Clinic Accelerator Inc. and the author of this page are not liable for the associated risks of using or acting upon the information contained in this article.

7 Good Reasons To Try Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy