If you’re suffering from chronic back pain or other back problems, receiving chiropractic care from a trusted chiropractor can be an effective solution. Depending on your healthcare needs, your chiropractor may utilize a range of treatments in addition to the standard chiropractic adjustments. Many patients with chronic back pain have benefited from a specific type of treatment called spinal decompression. This unique and evidence-based form of treatment utilizes a motorized traction device to gently stretch the spine of the patient to relieve pressure and reduce pain.
But if you’ve never received this type of care before, it’s natural to not understand how it works or what benefits can be experienced. In this blog, we’re answering these questions and more by taking a closer look at spinal decompression.
Governor’s Park Chiropractic is proud to be one of Denver’s leading full-service chiropractic offices. Serving patients throughout Colorado and the greater Denver area, our Denver chiropractic office offers a range of treatments. These include chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy, acupuncture, and spinal decompression. We’ve helped countless patients find relief from pain and improved mobility. With unmatched experience and dedication, the entire team at Governor’s Park Chiropractic is here for every step of your recovery. Together, let’s get you back to that life you love.
What is Spinal Decompression?
It’s important to note that there are two forms of spinal decompression therapy: surgical spinal decompression and nonsurgical spinal decompression. As the name suggests, the primary difference between these two types of treatment is that one involves surgery while the other does not. Surgical spinal decompression is much more invasive, and thus, recommended less and used more as a last result. Surgical spinal decompression may be recommended to treat various back problems, such as bulging or ruptured disks or bony growths along the spine.
Nonsurgical spinal decompression, on the other hand, is much more common and used to treat a wide variety of back problems and health issues. So, what exactly is this type of treatment? Spinal decompression therapy uses a motorized traction device that works to treat back problems and relieve pain. This process works by gently stretching the patient’s spine to correct the positioning of the musculoskeletal system that may be thrown out of sync due to injury, illness, or simply wear and tear over the years.
The gentle stretching gradually takes pressure off the spinal disks, which serve as important cushions between the vertebrae in your spine. This pressure on the disks is one of the leading causes of chronic back pain, and thus, spinal decompression can offer quick and lasting relief from pain. Following this type of therapy, it’s common for bulging or herniated disks to retract, which helps to relieve pressure on the spine and the rest of the nervous system. Since your central nervous system is based in the brain and spinal column, back problems can negatively impact the entirety of your nervous system.
When pressure is relieved and the spine is repositioned to its proper alignment, inflammation reduces and circulation increases. This means that water, oxygen, and nutrients can better travel throughout your body to nourish your muscles, bones, and organs. This promotes a naturally healing for the body that can reduce pain and also improve recovery. For many athletes and active individuals, spinal decompression can also boost your overall performance and improve your overall health and wellness.
How Does Nonsurgical Spinal Decompression Work?
Now that we’ve defined this type of chiropractic treatment, it’s time to take a look into how this process actually works. Nonsurgical spinal decompression can be performed at a doctor’s or chiropractor’s office and the sessions last less than an hour. Spinal decompression is performed with a specialized motorized table that serves as the key piece of equipment for this unique and effective form of care.
During spinal decompression treatment, the patient remains fully clothed and lies down on the motorized table. A harness is then gently placed around the patient’s hips and is then attached to the lower part of the table at the feet of the patient. During treatment, the upper half of the table stays in place while the lower half will begin to slide back and forth in a gentle motion. This swaying motion provides the traction that gently stretches the spine. Spinal decompression is rarely painful and most patients say that the sensation feels very relaxing.
Different types of nonsurgical spinal decompression may require the patient to lay down in slightly different positions. This, of course, will depend on the specific healthcare needs of the patient. Some types of spinal decompression have the patient lying prone on the table facing down while others will have the patient lying face up. As the spine slowly stretches, the patient should not feel any pain throughout the therapy session. Your chiropractor will be able to assess which approach is right for your needs and explain why they utilize a certain position.
Which Health Problems Can Be Treated with Spinal Decompression?
Spinal decompression can be an effective form of treatment for a variety of different health problems. In most cases, nonsurgical spinal decompression is used to provide pain relief, but it can also be used for additional health issues. As a noninvasive and safe approach to treatment, many patients prefer nonsurgical spinal decompression.
Spinal decompression can be used to treat many health issues, including:
- Chronic back pain.
- Auto injury treatment.
- Neck pain and stiffness.
- Sciatica treatment.
- Bulging disks.
- Herniated disks.
- Slipped disks.
- Worn spinal joints.
- Degenerative disk disease.
- Injured spinal nerve roots.
If you believe that you could benefit from receiving spinal decompression therapy, reach out to your chiropractor or primary care physician. They’ll be able to provide a thorough exam to diagnose your specific healthcare needs. From there, they can recommend the most effective treatment plan for your recovery.
Conclusion – How Does Spinal Decompression Work?
Whether caused by an injury, illness, or pressure on the spinal disks, back pain can make even the simplest daily tasks almost impossible. If you’re living with chronic back pain or any back health problem that is impairing the quality of your life, don’t wait any longer to find treatment. Visiting a Denver chiropractor or discussing a referral with your doctor can help you find a back pain treatment designed for you.
In some cases, your chiropractor may recommend spinal decompression therapy. This form of treatment uses a motorized table to gently stretch the spine to relieve pressure and help patients find relief from pain. Compared to other types of back pain treatment, such as surgery, nonsurgical spinal decompression is safe, noninvasive, and effective.
If you think you could benefit from spinal decompression, Governor’s Park Chiropractic is here to help. We know that every path toward recovery is unique, which is why we develop specialized treatment plans for each of our patients. Whether you need general chiropractic care, massage therapy, spinal decompression, or a combination of treatments, we have the experienced staff and resources to help you speed up your recovery and relieve pain. Proudly led by Dr. Ferdowsian, our lead chiropractor, our chiropractic office uses various noninvasive therapy techniques to provide holistic care for our patients. Just know that no matter your healthcare needs, Governor’s Park Chiropractic is on your side.
Contact us today here at Governor’s Park Chiropractic and discover what our full-service chiropractic care office can do for your healthcare needs.
