What is Spinal Decompression Therapy? Intervertebral disc pathology is one of the primary causes of back and neck pain. The discs are prone to degeneration, traumatic injury and are continuously undergoing compression and twisting forces throughout daily activities. As a disc degenerates, the gel-like center called the nucleus pulposis and the elastic outer rings called the annulus fibrosis lose hydration thus reducing the disc height. This leads to joint and nerve irritation such as facet syndrome, degenerative joint disease, lateral foraminal stenosis, sciatica and peripheral radiculopathy. Furthermore, the reduced hydration causes the pliable outer coating of the annulus to become brittle and susceptible to cracks and tears that can lead to disc herniations. Bulging and herniated discs often press on the spinal nerves causing severe pain. Damaged intervertebral discs seldom heal because they remain under constant pressure, even while a person is at rest. It is widely accepted that the ideal environment to improve disc pathology is to decompress, or reduce the intradiscal pressures within the damaged disc. Spinal Decompression is a process of creating within damaged intervertebral discs a state of negative intradiscal pressure. This favorable pressure status is responsible for many simultaneous changes to take place. First, an enhanced osmotic diffusion of fluids and nutrients occurs across the vertebral endplates. It is this transfer of fluids into the damaged spinal discs that creates both a refilling expansion of the degenerative discs as well as providing greater quantities of nutrients to be available for the repair process. Secondly, research shows that achieving a state of negative intradiscal pressure, is responsable for the success in, drawing the displaced central nucleus pulposus portion of a herniated disc, back into the proper anatomic center location. Once this is achieved, marked relief from painful pressure on compressed spinal nerve roots is felt. Thirdly, by creating a condition of negative intadiscal pressure decompression is able to promote and allow for, the approximation and repair of damaged (torn and seperated) outer annular disc fibers. This avoids surgery and provides a long term benefit. |