Decompression Therapy

It is said that if you only have a hammer, the whole world looks like nails. In other words, as it relates to chiropractic, if you only have one tool, you are limited in the number of patients you can help. We at Stoiber Chiropractic pride ourselves on offering multiple forms of treatments to better serve the health needs of our patients. The newest addition to our clinic is spinal decompression therapy.

What exactly is spinal decompression? Spinal decompression is a non-invasive treatment that aims to help patients that suffer from pain due to bulged, herniated or degenerated discs. It can also help patients with chronic neck and back pain that may not have responded to other forms of conservative treatment. A decompression treatment slowly and gently lengthens or releases pressure on the spine, while the patient lays on the table. These pressure changes cause the disc to be pulled back into proper position as well as to be fed with proper nutrients. Rehydration of the disc and surrounding tissues assists the body’s natural healing process. Research has shown that patient’s that have undergone a decompression treatment program may experience continued improvement up to four years following the program.

The spinal decompression treatment program takes place over multiple visits. Besides treatment on the decompression table itself, there are several other components to the program to ensure for positive, long-term results. The first component is pre-compression treatment or therapy. This is design to prepare the muscles prior to treatment on the spinal decompression table. Options include electric muscle stimulation, ultrasound and laser therapy. Another important aspect of the program is spinal adjustments or mobilization. This will help correct spinal misalignments and to restore proper motion to the joints.

Most patients that undergo decompression therapy (or chiropractic care in general) experience tight muscles in certain areas of the neck and back as well as weak muscles in other areas. The patient will be instructed on several exercises that they can perform at home, that will address these muscular imbalances. Finally, nutrition is also emphasized. Along with advice on how to eat an anti-inflammatory diet, certain supplements will be recommended. These supplements will not only address inflammation, but will also help to rebuild the soft-tissue structures in the area that is being treated.

As mentioned above, spinal decompression is a great treatment for chronic conditions as well as those stubborn conditions that have not responded to other forms of therapy. Ask your chiropractor to determine whether decompression is right for you.