Patients who are treated with spinal decompression therapy for herniated disc, in my clinic, are first treated with ultrasound to heat up the connective tissue. This heating up process allows the decompression therapy to be more effective.

Patients with herniated disc of the lower back (lumbar spine) are treated either face up or face down on a table.

A cable from a computerized traction head is attached with a clip the lower harness. Then the pelvic portion of the table is released to allow sliding giving the decompression effect.

The computer traction head is programmed, for example, 50 pounds of traction for 45 seconds and then releases to 20 pounds traction for 25 seconds. Length of treatment is usually 10-15 minutes but is customized to the patient’s needs and comfort. Lumbar spinal decompression initially starts with about 30% of the patient’s weight and is increased to the patients comfort. However, the pounds of traction is limited to 90 pounds at the upper end. More traction is not always better. Rather the least amount of traction that cause the best result is the best choice.

Patients with herniated disc of the cervical spine starts with the patient lying flat of their back with their head in a sliding carriage that has two cushions placed below the base of the skull. Once the two cushions are tightened snugly around the sides of the neck, the patient’s head is strapped down to help keep the patient’s head in place so not interrupt the patient’s treatment.

Traction can be started with a pull tension of 15 pound but never to exceed 40 pounds of pressure. The pull pattern most often in the neck is 45 seconds of holding traction and relaxes to a resting traction 5 pounds of pressure for 25 seconds. Again treatment time is 10-15 minutes.

Patients treated with spinal decompression should allow for 30 minutes of treatment time in the clinic for one area and 45 minutes for both lower back and neck treatments.

Remember, spinal decompression is 1) extremely safe, 2) likely effective, 3) cleared by the FDA, 4) non-surgical, and 5) affordable.

Learn more about Herniated Disc Relief. Stop by John D. Carlson, D.C.’s site where you can find out all about Carlson Chiropractic-Austin and what we can do for you.