Non-surgical spinal decompression uses a computer-controlled table to apply gentle, precisely-cycled traction to the spine. The goal is to reduce pressure inside the disc so that bulging tissue can retract and nutrients can flow back into a structure that has very little blood supply of its own.
How it works
During a session, the table applies and releases traction in a controlled cycle. That cycling matters: sustained pull triggers protective muscle guarding, which defeats the purpose. Intermittent decompression works with the muscles instead of against them.
The intended effects are to:
- Create negative pressure inside the disc, encouraging herniated or bulging material to retract
- Open space at the nerve root, relieving the compression causing your leg or arm symptoms
- Improve nutrient exchange into the disc, supporting repair
- Reduce facet joint loading, which relieves a common secondary pain source
What it's used for
- Bulging and herniated discs
- Sciatica and radiating leg pain
- Degenerative disc disease
- Spinal stenosis in appropriate cases
- Facet syndrome
- Conservative care that has stalled but hasn't progressed to surgery
What a session is like
You lie fully clothed on the table with a harness positioned at the pelvis and trunk. Most patients describe the sensation as a gentle stretch, and many find it relaxing enough that they doze off. Sessions run about 20 to 30 minutes.
A course of care typically runs several sessions per week over a number of weeks, tapering as you improve. Decompression is almost always paired with rehabilitation, the decompression creates the window, and the rehab is what makes the result hold.
Who it isn't for
Spinal decompression isn't appropriate for patients with spinal fusion hardware in the treated segment, severe osteoporosis, spinal fracture, certain tumors, or abdominal aortic aneurysm. We screen for all of this before treating.
Come in for an assessment and we'll tell you plainly whether your imaging and exam make you a good candidate.