Chronic back pain is a widespread condition affecting millions, often reducing productivity and quality of life. While surgery is sometimes recommended for severe cases, spinal decompression therapy offers a non-invasive, effective alternative. At Boardman Family Chiropractic, this cutting-edge treatment is helping patients find lasting relief without drugs or surgery.

Understanding Spinal Decompression Therapy

Spinal decompression therapy is a non-surgical treatment designed to relieve pressure on the spine and promote healing of injured discs. By gently stretching the spine, the therapy reduces pressure on spinal discs and nerves, creating a vacuum effect that allows bulging or herniated discs to retract and encourages the flow of oxygen, water, and nutrients into the affected area.

This process helps:

• Relieve nerve compression
  One of the primary goals of spinal decompression therapy is to alleviate pressure on spinal nerves. When nerves are compressed, they can cause radiating pain, numbness, or weakness. Decompression helps free these nerves, offering significant relief from chronic discomfort.

• Reduce disc bulging or herniation
  Bulging or herniated discs are common causes of back pain. By creating negative pressure within the spinal column, decompression allows these discs to retract naturally, reducing their impact on surrounding nerves and tissues.

• Promote natural healing
  As the pressure on the spine is reduced, essential nutrients, oxygen, and fluids can better circulate to damaged discs and tissues. This environment supports the body’s natural healing processes and enhances recovery without invasive procedures.

• Restore proper spinal alignment
  Misalignment of the spine can contribute to chronic pain and mobility issues. Spinal decompression therapy gently guides the spine into better alignment over time, improving posture, balance, and overall spinal function.

Conditions Treated by Spinal Decompression

At Boardman Family Chiropractic, spinal decompression therapy is a cornerstone of our non-surgical treatment offerings. This gentle, highly targeted therapy is particularly effective for a variety of spine-related conditions that cause chronic back pain, limited mobility, and reduced quality of life.

Below are the most common conditions we treat using spinal decompression, along with how this therapy helps manage and relieve symptoms:

Herniated Discs

A herniated disc, also known as a slipped or ruptured disc, occurs when the soft inner material of a spinal disc (the nucleus pulposus) escapes through a tear in the tougher outer layer (annulus fibrosus). This displaced material can press on nearby spinal nerves, leading to pain, tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness—especially in the lower back, neck, arms, or legs.

How decompression helps:
Spinal decompression creates negative pressure within the spinal column, allowing the herniated material to retract back into place. This relieves pressure on the nerve and promotes healing of the disc over time without surgery.

Bulging Discs

Unlike a herniated disc, a bulging disc doesn’t rupture; instead, it extends beyond its normal boundary, typically due to wear and tear or degeneration. While it may not always cause symptoms, bulging discs can compress nearby nerves and lead to chronic back or neck pain, stiffness, or sciatica.

How decompression helps:
By gently stretching the spine and relieving pressure, decompression allows the bulging area to retract and restores space between vertebrae, reducing inflammation and discomfort.

Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)

Degenerative Disc Disease is a condition caused by the gradual deterioration of spinal discs due to aging, trauma, or repetitive strain. Over time, the discs lose water content and elasticity, resulting in less cushioning between vertebrae. This leads to pain, instability, and sometimes nerve compression.

How decompression helps:
Although DDD is a progressive condition, spinal decompression can slow its progression and relieve symptoms by restoring disc height, improving circulation, and encouraging the flow of healing nutrients to the damaged discs.

Sciatica

Sciatica refers to irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the body, which runs from the lower back down to the feet. This often results in sharp or burning pain, numbness, or tingling sensations that radiate from the lower spine through the buttock and down the leg.

How decompression helps:
By targeting the source of nerve compression—often a herniated or bulging disc—spinal decompression helps relieve the root cause of sciatica, reducing pain and improving function in the affected leg.

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of spaces within the spine, which can compress the spinal cord and nerves. It often results in chronic back pain, tingling, leg cramps, or weakness—especially when walking or standing for long periods.

How decompression helps:
Decompression relieves the pressure on the spinal cord and nerves caused by the narrowed spaces. By improving disc health and spinal alignment, patients often experience increased mobility and reduced pain.

Facet Syndrome (Facet Joint Dysfunction)

Facet syndrome affects the small joints between each pair of vertebrae. These joints can become inflamed or arthritic, leading to stiffness, pain during movement, and difficulty with twisting or bending motions.

How decompression helps:
Spinal decompression can reduce stress on these joints by improving spinal alignment and reducing disc compression. Combined with chiropractic care, it can restore joint mobility and reduce inflammation.

Pinched Nerves

A pinched nerve can occur when surrounding tissues—such as bones, cartilage, muscles, or discs—apply too much pressure to a nerve. This can cause shooting pain, weakness, or numbness in the affected area.

How decompression helps:
By alleviating the compression on the spinal nerves, spinal decompression therapy can relieve the symptoms of pinched nerves and restore normal nerve function.

Post-Surgical Back Pain (Failed Back Surgery Syndrome)

Some patients continue to experience back pain even after surgery, a condition known as Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS). Scar tissue, spinal misalignment, or unresolved disc issues can all be to blame.

How decompression helps:
For certain post-surgical patients (who do not have spinal hardware), spinal decompression may offer relief by addressing unresolved pressure on the discs and nerves and improving spinal function.

Chronic Lower Back and Neck Pain

Even in the absence of specific disc damage, chronic lower back and neck pain can result from poor posture, muscular imbalances, or long-term mechanical stress.

How decompression helps:
Spinal decompression gently stretches and repositions the spine, which can relieve muscle tension, improve posture, and ease chronic pain that may not be linked to a single injury or diagnosis.

What to Expect During Treatment

Here’s what typically happens during a spinal decompression session at Boardman Family Chiropractic:

1. Initial Consultation and Assessment
   A chiropractor will perform a comprehensive evaluation of your spine, symptoms, and medical history to determine if you’re a good candidate for the therapy.
2. Comfortable Positioning
   You’ll lie down on a motorized table designed specifically for decompression therapy. The lower half of the table moves while the upper half remains fixed.
3. Controlled Decompression
   Using gentle computerized traction, the table applies and releases pressure in controlled cycles, stretching and relaxing the spine to relieve nerve compression.
4. Session Duration
   Each session lasts around 20–45 minutes, and patients often need a series of treatments over several weeks, depending on their condition.
5. Additional Therapies
   In many cases, decompression is combined with chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy, or massage to enhance results.

Benefits of Spinal Decompression Therapy

Non-Surgical & Drug-Free Relief

One of the most compelling advantages of spinal decompression therapy is that it provides a completely non-surgical, drug-free alternative to conventional back pain treatments. Many patients turn to this option to avoid the risks of anesthesia, post-surgical complications, and reliance on potentially addictive painkillers. Instead of suppressing symptoms temporarily, spinal decompression addresses the underlying spinal disc issues—naturally and effectively.

Long-Term Pain Relief at the Source

Rather than offering a quick fix, spinal decompression works to correct the root cause of chronic pain. Whether you’re dealing with a herniated disc, bulging disc, or degenerative disc disease, this therapy helps reposition and rehydrate damaged discs. By reducing pressure on spinal nerves and encouraging proper disc alignment, it delivers lasting relief and helps prevent recurring flare-ups.

Improved Spinal Mobility and Flexibility

Chronic back pain often comes with stiffness, reduced range of motion, and muscle tension. Spinal decompression therapy gently stretches the spine and surrounding muscles, releasing built-up pressure and allowing for freer movement. Over time, patients experience increased flexibility in their lower back, neck, and shoulders—making daily tasks and physical activities much easier and more enjoyable.

Enhanced Natural Healing and Disc Regeneration

The decompression process creates a vacuum-like effect that draws oxygen, hydration, and nutrients back into the spinal discs. This improves circulation and supports cellular repair, especially in areas that suffer from poor blood flow due to compression. By enhancing the body’s natural healing response, spinal decompression helps regenerate disc tissue and slow down the degenerative process.

Safe, Gentle, and Comfortable Treatment

Unlike some spinal treatments that involve forceful adjustments or invasive procedures, spinal decompression is gentle, controlled, and precisely calibrated to your needs. The treatment is conducted using a specialized decompression table that applies light traction to the spine. Most patients find the therapy relaxing and even fall asleep during sessions. It’s safe for a wide range of individuals, especially when supervised by trained professionals like those at Boardman Family Chiropractic.

Reduces the Need for Invasive Interventions

For many patients, spinal decompression serves as an effective first-line treatment that delays or completely avoids the need for spinal surgery. It can also reduce the frequency and dosage of medications required to manage pain, allowing individuals to take control of their health with a more holistic, proactive approach.

Supports Postural Correction

Poor posture, especially from long hours of sitting or improper ergonomics, can lead to spinal compression over time. Spinal decompression helps restore proper spinal curvature and alignment, which not only relieves pain but also prevents further postural strain. Improved posture also contributes to better balance, stability, and reduced muscle fatigue throughout the day.

Customized for Your Condition

Every patient’s spinal condition is different, which is why spinal decompression at Boardman Family Chiropractic is never a one-size-fits-all approach. Your therapy is tailored based on diagnostic imaging, physical examination, and your comfort level—ensuring optimal outcomes with minimal risk.

Compatible with Other Therapies

Spinal decompression works seamlessly with other chiropractic and rehabilitative services, including manual adjustments, therapeutic exercises, massage therapy, and lifestyle coaching. This integrated approach enhances overall results and speeds up your recovery process.

Is Spinal Decompression Safe for You?

Spinal decompression therapy is safe for most individuals, offering a gentle, non-invasive solution to chronic back and neck pain. However, like any treatment, it is not suitable for everyone. Certain health conditions or medical histories may make this therapy inappropriate or less effective for some patients who:

• Are pregnant
  Spinal decompression is generally not recommended for pregnant women due to the pressure applied during the procedure and the sensitivity of the spine and pelvis during pregnancy. Other supportive and less invasive chiropractic techniques are usually recommended instead.

• Have had spinal fusion or metal implants
  Patients with surgically implanted hardware or spinal fusion may not be eligible for decompression therapy. The stretching and pressure changes involved in the treatment can interfere with surgical sites or destabilize the spine where metal implants are present.

• Suffer from severe osteoporosis
  Osteoporosis weakens the bones, increasing the risk of fractures. Spinal decompression involves gentle stretching, which may still be too much for bones severely compromised by osteoporosis. Alternative chiropractic approaches may be better suited for these patients.

• Have fractures or tumors in the spine
  Active spinal fractures or spinal tumors are contraindications for spinal decompression. Manipulating the spine under these conditions could worsen the injury or interfere with ongoing treatment for the tumor.

The team at Boardman Family Chiropractic conducts a full assessment
Before beginning spinal decompression therapy, our experienced chiropractic team conducts a comprehensive evaluation of each patient’s health history, imaging, and physical condition. This ensures that treatment is not only effective—but also completely safe for your unique needs.

FAQs About Spinal Decompression Therapy

Q1: Does spinal decompression hurt?
A: No. Most patients find the treatment relaxing and experience a gentle stretching sensation.

Q2: How many treatments will I need?
A: While it varies by case, a typical plan includes 10 to 20 sessions over 4–6 weeks.

Q3: How soon will I feel relief?
A: Some patients feel relief after just a few sessions, while others notice gradual improvement over the course of treatment.

Q4: Will the pain come back?
A: When combined with proper posture, exercise, and chiropractic care, many patients enjoy long-lasting results.

Q5: Can spinal decompression help after surgery?
A: In some cases, yes—especially if hardware is not present. A full evaluation will help determine your eligibility.

Conclusion

Back pain doesn’t have to control your life. With spinal decompression therapy, you have a safe, non-surgical solution that addresses the root of the problem. Whether you’re dealing with a herniated disc, sciatica, or general lower back pain, this advanced treatment offers a path to real healing.

At Boardman Family Chiropractic, your care is always personalized. Our experienced chiropractors use spinal decompression therapy in combination with holistic approaches to help you live pain-free and regain your quality of life.

Don’t let chronic back pain keep you from doing what you love. Discover if spinal decompression therapy is right for you.

Ready to Say Goodbye to Chronic Pain?

Address: 10235 S. 51st St. #170 Phoenix, AZ 85044 Phone: 480-704-1954

Website: https://ahwatukeechiropractic.com/Email: info@ahwatukeechiropractic.com

Feel better without surgery. Discover the power of spinal decompression at Ahwatukee Chiropractic.