Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Is NOT Traction And Why Traction Can Worsen A Herniated Disc

Many patients and even other physicians often comment that spinal decompression therapy is like old-fashioned from of traction.   THEY COULD NOT BE MORE WRONG.

Here’s why:

First of all, the goal of most spinal surgery is to achieve “decompression” or relieve pressure. It has been generally acknowledged that routine tractions methods, inversion tables and the like, have not demonstrated the ability to lower internal disc pressures or subsequently decompress spinal discs.   Extensive clinical studies, though, have clearly documented the ability of Vertebral Axial Spinal Decompression technology , in fact, to lower the internal pressure of the disc below zero or into the negative range, to unload and “de-weight” the disc  and  therefore actually achieve true disc decompression.  It can do so under precisely computer controlled and monitored conditions with out surgical intervention and no disruption of normal spinal biomechanics. It can do so in totally comfortable application to the patient.

This is precisely why traction is NOT decompression.  Non Surgical Decompression lower discspressures while traction does not.  The outcome of traction is NOT that of decompression techniques.  In fact, studies by many renowned researchers indicate that traction may actually increase intra – disc pressures thus making old fashioned forms of traction “contra-indicated” in case of disc herniation and may make the situation worse.

The development of methods to truly decompress discs without surgery should not be taken lightly.  This is a tremendous advance in the treatment of chronic and severe spinal pain. This a tool that can diminish the need for surgical fusions, discetomies, laminectomies and the like.  Patient risks are therefore minimized and costs savings are maximized.    (AMA statistics indicate a cost north of $154,000 for a spinal fusion).

So, don’t confuse Non Surgical Spinal Decompression methods with forms of traction.  While they may kinda’ sorta’ look alike, their outcomes are on opposite sides of the specutrum

Want to find out if you’re a candidate. Give us a call at  Waterfront Spine Institute for a no charge consultation  201-840-1980 or go to www.waterfrontspinerehab.com for more info>

Thank you so much for visiting my site. I encourage you to leave your questions and comments below. And for more information on Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression please fill out the form to the right or give us a call at 201-840-1980

About Dr. Podell, DC: Dr. Dave Podell, DC has been in active practice for over 25 years and has seen countless numbers of the most difficult and previously failed cases.   As the clinic director of the Watefront Spine Institute in Edgewater, New Jersey, just minutes from the GW Bridge, Lincoln Tunnel and midtown Manhattan, Dr. Podell, DC runs one of the Northeast’s most advanced and evolutionary multi-disciplinary clinics for the treatment of disc herniation and associated ailments.   Dr. Podell, DC sits on the advisory board of Spinal Aid Centers Of America and trains other health care providers in the science and art of non surgical spinal decompression in his Edgewater facility.  He continues to train and advance his clinic’s state of the art spinal rehabilitation programs and is known nationwide in his field.  He is additionally certified in neurodiagnostic evaluations, Spinal Manipulation Under Anasthesia and Disability Impairment rating.  In addition to NSSD, he had received advanced training in Spinal Chiropractic Biophysics, Active Therapeutic Techniques, MedX and Spine Force Spinal Rehabilitation, Extremity manipulation, orthopedics and neurology.

MRI Studies And Non Surgical Decompression: Are These Tests Necessary?

In a word – Yes.

While MRI is not quite the “Gold” standard everyone thinks it is (a test called a “discogram” is probably better  but more invasive) , it is a highly valuable diagnostic test when a patient presents to my office for decompression care.  Keep in mind, in order to be a qualified candidate for a program of Non-Surgical Decompression, there must be, logically, some tissue or anatomical structure “compressed” and  damage must be found.  That might include disc hernia, bulge, extrusion, degeneration or damage to the intervertebral joints.    If there are not any findings of a compressive injury or condition on an MRI, that patient is not going to be accepted for care and further investigation and studies must be done to determine the source of that patients pain.

Additionally, if there are compressive issues found on the MRI, they may vary from minimal levels of damage to multiple levels of degenerative decay, multiple herniations at one disc level, etc….. Thus, these findings would seriously affect the patients planned protocol of care and general plan of attack by your treating doctor.

Personally, I will not take on a decompression case without a relatively fresh MRI.   And a patient should be very wary and questioning of any so-called decompression doctor that would.

Also, it mandatory for a patient to have digital motion x-ray evaluation (done right in my office) to determine and areas of instability that may either affect a patient’s treatment regimen and outcome or even cause me to reject the case and refer for surgery as the instability found contra-indicated non-surgical decompression methods.

Thorough evaluation and diagnostic work-ups usually lead to much more effective …. and safer outcomes.

If a patient is interested finding out if her or she is a candidate for our decompression methods, we will be glad to refer them to a qualified and local MRI facility and take them through this process.

Want to find out if you’re a candidate. Give us a call at  Waterfront Spine Institute for a no charge consultation  201-840-1980 or go to  www.waterfrontspinerehab.com for more info

Thank you so much for visiting my site. I encourage you to leave your questions and comments below. And for more information on Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression please fill out the form to the right or give us a call at 201-840-1980

About Dr. Podell, DC: Dr. Dave Podell, DC has been in active practice for over 25 years and has seen countless numbers of the most difficult and previously failed cases.   As the clinic director of the Watefront Spine Institute in Edgewater, New Jersey, just minutes from the GW Bridge, Lincoln Tunnel and midtown Manhattan, Dr. Podell, DC runs one of the Northeast’s most advanced and evolutionary multi-disciplinary clinics for the treatment of disc herniation and associated ailments.   Dr. Podell, DC sits on the advisory board of Spinal Aid Centers Of America and trains other health care providers in the science and art of non surgical spinal decompression in his Edgewater facility.  He continues to train and advance his clinic’s state of the art spinal rehabilitation programs and is known nationwide in his field.  He is additionally certified in neurodiagnostic evaluations, Spinal Manipulation Under Anasthesia and Disability Impairment rating.  In addition to NSSD, he had received advanced training in Spinal Chiropractic Biophysics, Active Therapeutic Techniques, MedX and Spine Force Spinal Rehabilitation, Extremity manipulation, orthopedics and neurology.