Back Decompression Therapy: What is It | How it Works | Can it Help Back Pain

Kathe Sanz

Published on 7/2/21 at 8:13 PM

Back Decompression Therapy: What is It | How it Works | Can it Help Back Pain

July 2, 2021

Can Back Decompression Therapy Help Back Pain?

Dealing with back pain? You’re not alone. People of all ages can experience back pain due to a variety of causes. And although everyone experiences it differently, it’s undeniable that back pain can be intrusive in your daily life, goals, overall lifestyle and outlook — back pain is more than just a nuisance.

Finding ways to manage and relieve your pain is important in helping yourself live a healthy, happy lifestyle. While you may not be able to “cure” your pain for good, there are strategies that can certainly help you keep pain out of the way.

More specifically, Back Decompression Therapy can help you reduce some of your discomfort, so you can get back to doing the things that you love. Keep reading to learn more about how back decompression can work to help back pain sufferers!

What is Back Decompression Therapy?

Back Decompression Therapy refers to a natural and drug-free method of pain relief that involves stretching and repositioning the spine. Decompression Therapy has two main benefits for back pain sufferers:

1. The deep stretch elongates and repositions the spine, helping to take the pressure off of spinal discs, joints and other tissues found in the spine. It allows bulging or herniated spinal discs to retract and reposition themselves in order to alleviate pain symptoms.

2. Stretching the spine and alleviating pressure allows for more room in-between vertebrae for water, oxygen, blood and other nutrients to flow to spinal discs and promote healing.

Decompression Therapy is thought to help with the following over time:

- Stretching tight muscles in the back to temporarily ease back stiffness and muscle aches

- Promoting better flexibility and range of motion, which can lead to a more efficient recovery

- Elongating the spine — taking pressure off of tight muscles, relieving nerve compression and increasing local circulation

- Strengthening back muscles and the core to stabilize and support the lower back, which can help prevent flare-ups and back spasms

Back Decompression Therapy is often used by health professionals to help alleviate back pain symptoms.

Back Decompression Therapy is a practice that is often performed at back pain specialist and chiropractic clinics. The procedure usually involves either lying down or face-up on a mechanical table where the specialist fits you with a harness around the pelvis and lower back. From there, a device is used to gently stretch out the spinal discs and create negative pressure. Sessions can take 30-45 minutes each over the course of several weeks.

Healthcare professionals have used this non-surgical, spinal decompression method to address the following concerns:

- Back pain in the upper or lower back

- Sciatic nerve pain or pinched nerves

- Bulging, herniated disks or degenerative disk disease

- Worn spinal joints

- Spinal injuries

Try Back Decompression Therapy from the comfort of home!

All of that may sound complicated, but it doesn’t have to be; back pain sufferers can experience back decompression therapy from home without any of the hassle. There’s a wide variety of spinal decompression devices on the market that can help you find temporary relief from your back pain symptoms. Continue reading to find three back decompression products that you can try comfortably from home!

1. Back Stretcher

A simple, no-fuss way to theoretically get some of the benefits of spinal decompression is with a back stretching device. The user places the device on solid ground and arches their back over it, stretching out the spine. Some back stretchers can feature acupressure-like bumps that help with feel-good relief. While a back stretcher is easy to use and portable too, its ability to decompress the spine effectively may be questionable.

2. Inversion Table

Inversion therapy via an inversion table essentially uses the pull of gravity to help the user feel the effects of spinal decompression. The user straps themself into an inversion table and gently tips backward until their head is lower than their chest. In this position, the user should feel the stretch in the spine.

While this sounds easy enough, inversion therapy does not come without warnings and hazards. Those with heart or eye disease should not use an inversion table as it can cause an increase in blood pressure. It can also make the user feel dizzy or light-headed. What’s more, it’s recommended to have someone spot you for safety as you may not be able to tip back down on your own if you go too far.

3. DR-HO’S 2-in-1 Back Relief Decompression Belt

The Decompression Belt is a wearable, easy-to-use device that provides back traction and decompression to help relieve back pain. The belt is unlike any other support or back pain belt because it allows users to experience Decompression Therapy including Spinal Traction safely and comfortably from home.

Spinal Traction is a form of Decompression Therapy that helps relieve pain associated with spinal pressure. Individuals with herniated discs, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, pinched nerves and many other back conditions are likely familiar with this kind of pain.

When the decompression belt is inflated, it acts as a spinal traction device that gradually stretches the spine, creating more space between spinal discs and thus alleviating pain associated with this pressure. Also, wearing the belt when it’s deflated helps provide structural support for your spine and lower back. Best of all, the deflated belt fits comfortably underneath clothes so you can feel supported even as you go about your day.

Take steps today to feel better tomorrow.

We hope that this information on back decompression therapy helps you find a meaningful method of pain relief, so that you can start feeling more like yourself sooner!