If you have chronic back pain, it tends to be a condition that is difficult to ignore. If you are constantly fixated on pain emanating from your back, then you are almost certainly diverting attention away from all of the other essential aspects of your life. If you are seeking back pain relief, Spinal Decompression Therapy is an emerging means of treatment that you may wish to consider.

Spinal decompression therapy targets back pain by specifically treating the discs that are located inside your vertebrae. Under normal circumstances, these gel-like discs act as cushions between each bone in your spine. Their presence prevents chafing and contact between each of your vertebrae, and they also help absorb shock when your body encounters opposing force. In the event of an accident, or sometimes just over time, these discs in your spine can fall out of alignment, become herniated, or bulge out of place. This is a familiar source of several types of back pain for many. Spinal decompression therapy attempts to relieve pressure on these discs by gently stretching the spine. By taking this force off of the discs, this theoretically allows them to retract back into place or become less inflamed. Additionally, this relieves pressure on the nerves in your back, and also promotes a healthier flow of oxygen, water, and healing nutrients to your spinal region.

The basic set up of a typical spinal decompression therapy session utilizes spinal traction. You may have observed the practice in use by chiropractors and other medical professionals in a variety of different therapies for the body. In the case of spinal decompression therapy, the fully clothed patient lies either face up or down on a special motorized table, depending on the doctor’s direction. The upper half of the table is in a fixed position, while the lower half of the table can extend and retract. The patient’s upper body is held in a fixed place with the top half of the table, sometimes with a harness. An additional harness, usually around the waist area, then fixes the lower part of the patient’s body to the lower, mechanized portion of the table. The doctor then operates the table, manipulating the lower half to alternatingly provide traction and relaxation to the patient’s spine. While this method will produce a tactile stretching sensation to the spine, the process itself should be painless.

Spinal decompression therapy is generally recommended as an alternative treatment for lower back pain. Sciatica in the legs is a common malady believed to be relieved through this therapy. And naturally, neck and back pain that occurs due to herniated, bulging, or degenerated discs are specifically targeted by spinal decompression.

The process unique to spinal decompression therapy is not appropriate for certain patients. Pregnant women should not be subject to the treatment. Patients with complicated injuries or medical history on their back are also at risk. This can include patients with broken vertebrae, have artificial discs or other spinal implants, or who have undergone spinal fusion surgery in the past. It is vital that a medical professional is consulted to determine your eligibility for spinal decompression therapy.

It is worth mentioning that as a relatively emergent form of treatment, spinal decompression therapy has been subjected to comparatively fewer studies and peer review than other conventional therapies. While the general theory behind it has been widely accepted as sound, there is still ongoing research meant to determine the effectiveness of the therapy and its place in the overall options of medical treatment.

Back pain is one of the most challenging obstacles in any person's life. In your search for relief, consult your doctor to determine if spinal decompression therapy may be a means to get yourself back on track.