Spinal Decompression

(adapted from an article by Thomas A. Gionis, MD, JB, MBA, MHA, FICS, FRCS and Eric Groteke, DC, CCIC)

With recent advances in biotechnology, spinal decompression has evolved into a cost-effective nonsurgical treatment for herniated and degenerative spinal disc disease, one of the major causes of back pain. this non surgical treatment for herniated and degenerative spinal disc disease works on the affected spinal segment by significantly reducing intradiscal pressures. Chronic low back pain disability is the most expensive benign condition that is medically treated in industrial countries. It is also the number one cause of disability in persons under age 45. After 45, it is the third leading cause of disability. Disc disease costs the healthcare system more than $50 billion a year.

Spinal decompression has been shown to decompress the disc space, and in the clinical picture of low back pain, is distinguishable from conventional spinal traction. According to the literature, traditional traction has proven to be less effective and biomechanically inadequate to produce optimal therapeutic results. In fact, one study by Mangion et al, concluded that any benefit derived from continuous traction devices was due to enforced immobilization rather than actual traction.

Research confirms that tradtional traction does not produce spiinal decompression. Instead, decompression that is unloading due to distraction and positioning of the intervertebral discs and facet joints of the lumbar spine, has been proven an effective treatment for herniated and degenerative disc disease, by producing and sustaining negative intradiscal pressure in the disc space.

The clinical outcomes study, which was performed to evaluate the effect of spinal decompression on symptoms of patients with herniated and degenerative disc disease, showed that 86% of the 219 patients who completed therapy reported immediate resolution of symptoms and 84% of those remained pain free 90 days post treatment. Physical examination findings revealed improvement in 92% of the 219 patients who completed therapy.

For more information about spinal decompression, call us at 401-944-2221.