Spinal decompression basically refers to a cost effective, non-invasive and non-surgical treatment for disc pain in the back and neck. The treatment does not involve any needles or painful procedures. The treatment is very quick and painless. People suffering from back pain and neck pain will commonly experience pain, weakness, tingling, numbness and reduced function of the lower or upper limbs. In some cases the symptoms can be so severe that it may affect everyday activities like work and sleep.

When Do Extreme Symptoms Occur?

Extreme symptoms will normally occur when your central disc material will break through its protective disc rings and move into the area that is occupied by nerves travelling from the neck to your hand or arm or from your back to your leg and foot.

What is Spinal Decompression?

Spinal decompression is a treatment which is used by a large number of people today simply because they want to avoid expensive, painful and invasive spinal surgery. Spinal decompression can actually work quite well but the final results will depend on a large number of factors. Spinal decompression is basically the result of a traction when a negative pressure has been created in the disc during this traction.

Intersegmental Traction in Spinal Decompression

Various types of traction can be used. Intersegmental traction is one of the most common traction methods to be used. Physical therapists and chiropractors usually use this method. However, the first thing you should know that spinal decompression is actually not a therapy but the result of traction. To provide IST spinal decompression, the patient will be asked to lie on a table on their back. This table will have a roller bar which rolls up and down your spine gently. This will stretch your spinal joints and soft tissues passively. This kind of traction feels good and is beneficial for health but it does not lead to spinal decompression since it doesn’t create the required negative pressure in your disc. This treatment is also known as traction table or roller table.

How is Spinal Decompression Achieved?

Intersegmental traction is actually different from spinal decompression because the mechanisms they work with are very different and the results are also very different. To achieve effective spinal decompression the traction should be applied in a long extension axis. This means that your spinal segments should be pulled apart gently, continuously and systematically through a computerized, highly technological traction system.

With this technique a negative pressure will be created. This pressure will allow the disc material that has moved away from the central area towards the nerve to be drawn back or sucked back inside your disc. This will remove the pressure from your nerve. This will substantially result in reduced back and neck pain, leg and arm pain and will promote actual disc healing. This type of traction is known as spinal decompression because the traction created will help your spine to decompress. If you are experiencing chronic and severe back and neck pain, this can be an effective treatment.