Decompression Therapy

What is decompression therapy?

It is a non-invasive therapy which utilizes traction to decrease neck and low back pain.  It also is used to treat radicular arm symptoms, scapular pain or leg and buttock pain. Decompression is the “outcome” of the traction. Decompression therapy differs from traditional traction with the use of higher traction forces and the ability to adjust the treatment to multiple settings and patient positions. These settings allow a gradual, gentle ramping up, increasing comfort; therefore, decreasing muscle guarding and decreasing the necessary traction load to achieve the desired effect. Decompression has been theorized to improve circulation and allow diffusion transfer of nutrients to promote healing of the damaged disc.

How does it work?
A gentle gradual distractive force is administered to your neck or low back/pelvis region while you are lying down. This distractive force has been reported to create a negative intradiscal pressure. The negative pressure has been reported to decrease/reduce the disc derangement, increase the osmosis of nutrients to the disc, and decrease the sensory input contributing to the pain syndrome. This force is determined by your physician or physical therapist to isolate a specific level in your spine which is the origin of the pain and inflammation.

How do I know if it is appropriate for me?
Decompression/traction therapy is effective for treating pain of disc origin or spinal stenosis. Diffuse neck or low back pain of mechanical or postural causes have been documented to respond more effectively to other means of treatment i.e. manual therapy, core stabilization, and flexibility exercises. 

How many treatments are required and will I need a maintenance decompression sessions as time passes?
This varies in the literature and there isn’t a randomized controlled study that indicates a specific number of sessions based on specific diagnosis. It is commonly recommended by chiropractors, medical and osteopathic physicians, and physical therapists that 20 sessions of 10-30 minutes. Our recommendation is 10-12 sessions of 15 minutes in conjunction with exercise emphasis on core trunk stabilization, stretching exercises to include neurodynamic technique mobilization, manual therapy, and patient education on proper body mechanics with activities of daily living and lifting. If pain or function has not improved at that time, we recommend additional diagnostic testing or minimally invasive injections. These injections are diagnostic and therapeutic to determine the origin of the pain and most effective treatment starting with the most conservative and progressing through the treatment algorithm.

The DTS traction device above is located in our facility.