A headline that sounds too good to be true, especially for people with some serious back, neck and even knee pain. Decompression Therapy done correctly has come to be known as a saving grace for folks with not just pain, but herniated or compressed discs of the spinal column including the neck and bone-on-bone knee conditions.
Nearly 65 million Americans report a recent episode of back pain. Some 16 million adults — 8 percent of all adults — experience persistent or chronic back pain, and as a result are limited in certain everyday activities. Back pain is the sixth most costly condition in the United States. Back pain is a leading cause of work loss days and affects all ages and incomes. One in four adults with back pain is in fair or poor physical health and with that comes sadness or feelings of hopelessness. (Georgetown University, 2000).
Many people avoid treatment of back pain due to fear or concerns over the expense of invasive treatments or surgery. Health care costs and indirect costs due to back pain are over $12 billion per year. (Georgetown University, 2000).
Many people with back pain seek chiropractic care. Although people with back pain sometimes go to a physician first, back pain patients who see chiropractors report that they are more satisfied with their care than those who see medical doctors. Patients who see chiropractors are more likely to say that the chiropractor explained their treatment and provided advice on self-care post-treatment. (Georgetown University, 2000).
What is Decompression Therapy Exactly?
Decompression is the relief of pressure on compressed discs or vertebrae of the spinal column achieved through gentle stretching of the spine. Decompression is painless and clinical studies show it to be 86% effective in spinal correction. Decompression can also be used in the correction of knee problems and knee pain using the same gentle stretching.
After receiving a consultation for chronic back, neck or knee pain, the physician may recommend Decompression Therapy. Spinal Decompression Therapy works to stretch the spine and take pressure off the discs and vertebrae relieving the pain slowly and gently. Through proper positioning, spinal discs can be isolated. Distraction and relaxation phases are cycled through and a vacuum effect is achieved through this process so that material from a herniated disc can be pulled back inside the disc space taking pressure off pinched nerves. The vacuum effect also stimulates blood flow, drawing oxygen, nutrients and fluids into the disc inducing a healing response.
In the case of knee pain, Decompression Therapy gently opens the knee space, again infusing nutrients and oxygen to help increase the space and cushioning of the knee. Electrical muscle stimulation and other modalities, such as cold laser therapy and Shockwave(Pulsewave) therapy, can also be used to promote healing and further relieve pain.
How Then is Decompression Therapy so Effective?
Experts believe that Decompression Therapy stimulates the body’s ability to heal itself delivering hope for long term pain relief. A skilled doctor such as Dr. Tony Aboudib, DC of Michigan Health and Wellness, are the keys to the success of Decompression Therapy. Proper assessment, correct positioning, and the use of pre-programmed patterns of distraction and relaxation helps to reduce disc pressure allowing nutrients to accelerate disc healing.
Spinal Decompression is non-surgical, drug-free, effective, affordable, extremely safe and FDA cleared. It has helped many avoid surgery.
Who is a Good Candidate for Spinal Decompression?
Spinal Decompression is good for people of many ages from teens to seniors. It is very effective for teens who have suffered sports injuries, anyone involved in a car or bike accident or even seniors who have experienced a fall. Anyone who has back, neck, arm or leg pain caused by a degenerated or damaged disc may be helped with Decompression Therapy. Decompression is also helpful for people suffering from spinal stenosis, sciatica, facet syndrome, spondylosis, degenerative disc disease, pinched nerves, numbness in arms & legs or even failed back surgery.
What Should One Expect from a Chiropractic Decompression Session?
Post consultation patients receive a Decompression session that lasts approximately 20 minutes. The usual course of treatment consists of regular sessions over time depending on the severity of the condition. The treatments are painless. In fact, many patients fall asleep during their session!! Dr. Tony will discuss the number of sessions needed during your initial exam and consultation. X-rays are only performed if needed.
Treatment may be followed by electrical muscle stimulation, spinal manipulation, or cold laser therapy.
How is Decompression Therapy different from Traction?
Is Decompression Therapy the same as Traction or using an Inversion Table? The answer is NO, there is a big difference. When traction is applied, whether it is standard or using an inversion table, the stretch receptors in the skeletal muscles of the spine try to guard it from being over-stretched. They do this by producing a contraction reaction which can cause painful muscle spasms.
The vacuum achieved using Decompression Therapy creates a negative pressure in the disc. Because of the reaction of the stretch receptors, Traction does just the opposite, increasing the pressure in the disc. Many patients that have bulging or herniated discs will often be in more pain following a Traction session than they were before the treatment. The Decompression Therapy tables that we use are computerized and can be controlled to gently expand and contract the isolated disc space. Traction and inversion tables are not the same and cannot do this.
Spinal Decompression for You, Dr. Tony Aboudib, DC and Michigan Health and Wellness
Dr. Aboudib attended post-graduate studies at Carrick Institute for graduate studies in clinical neuroscience, American Functional Neurology Institute, Functional Medicine University, Institute of Functional Medicine and Kharrazian Institute for graduate studies. He has over 33 years’ experience in the treatment of chronic pain associated with disc herniation and spinal stenosis. He has treated thousands of patients and has been performing Decompression Therapy for over 20 years. To learn more call Michigan Health and Wellness for a FREE consultation. For more information call 231-421-5213 or click here to go to our Contact Us page to schedule a free consultation.
Disclaimer: The information provided in our blog posts is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. While we strive to share knowledge and insights on health-related topics, this content should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical concerns or decisions related to your health and well-being.
References
Health Policy Institute. Georgetown University. (2000). Chronic back pain. Retrieved from https://hpi.georgetown.edu/backpain/.
