How Spinal Decompression Can Help Your Back Pain

Being able to enjoy everyday pleasures, like lifting your child or hugging a friend, is part of what makes life wonderful. If you experience back pain, however, you might find that such activities bring more discomfort than joy.

If back pain regularly bothers you, you are not alone. It’s one of the most frequent complaints Americans report to their doctors. For instance, nearly 80-90 percent of the population suffers from persistent spine-related back pain that limits their everyday activities.

The great news is that there are effective, non-surgical solutions for the condition. One of such is spinal decompression. Find out how it works below.

How Spinal Decompression Works

The spine, or backbone, consists of small bones, called vertebrae. The vertebrae are precisely stacked on top of one another in a way that protects the spinal cord and connecting nerves. When vertebrae become too closely compressed together – for example, because of a traumatic accident – you may experience back pain due to the pressure on the nerves and soft tissue.

Spinal decompression can help. Also called Intervertebral Differential Dynamics Therapy, or IDD Therapy®, it offers a more modern and precise version of what chiropractors call traction therapy. With IDD, a computerized system pinpoints compressed parts of the spine and then applies a precisely measured force to draw apart these targeted segments of the spine.

The decompression draws apart vertebrae that have been jammed together closer than they are meant to be. This gives relief to nerves that may have been pinched, causing pain and numbness, and alleviates pressure placed on muscles, ligaments, and other surrounding soft tissues.

By relieving pressure on the vertebral joints, IDD Therapy also allows for a steadier, stronger flow of blood and oxygen to the tissues surrounding the spine. According to researchers, this promotes self-healing and reduces inflammation. Spine decompression can, therefore, prove especially useful after traumatic injuries, like a car accident.

Who Can Benefit from This Chiropractic Care Technique?

IDD Therapy® can help many forms of back and neck pain. This cutting-edge technique has been successfully used to address the following conditions:

• Herniated or slipped disc
• Sciatica
• Limited range of motion
• Spinal stenosis
• Back, neck, hip, and arm pain

These are just some of the back and neck pain problems that IDD Therapy® can be used for. A chiropractor can determine whether spinal decompression is an option for you based on the exact nature and cause of your discomfort.

What to Expect from IDD Therapy for Back Pain

If your chiropractor does decide IDD is for you, you’re probably wondering what the actual process is like. The great news: it’s pain-free. You are placed in a harness that wraps around your pelvic area and torso. This provides the points for traction. Then, a computer-driven device applies traction through these points.

A single treatment takes about 15 to 30 minutes. In most cases, a full course of treatment entails approximately 20 sessions. In the end, the therapy can help you regain pleasure in life’s simple joys, without aches and pains holding you back.