Our website gives the complete facts about Spinal Decompression Therapy including PUBLISHED STUDIES that support its effectiveness. You will be better able to make an informed decision about what you should do for your condition. Our fees are a fraction of what some other clinics charge. Click Here For Research Articles
If you need any additional information, please call our office at (770) 979-2731 and feel free to ask to speak to Dr. Sandels in order to help you make the right decision.
WHAT IS SPINAL DECOMPRESSION THERAPY? Spinal decompression therapy is FDA cleared and has a high success rate for pain associated with herniated or bulging discs...even after failed surgery. It is a non-surgical, traction based therapy for the relief of back and leg pain or neck and arm pain. During this procedure, by cycling through distraction and relaxation phases and by proper positioning, a spinal disc can be isolated and placed under negative pressure, causing a vacuum effect within it.
HOW DOES NEGATIVE PRESSURE AFFECT THE DISC? During spinal decompression therapy, a negative pressure is created within the disc. Because of that negative pressure, disc material that has protruded or herniated can be pulled back within the normal confines of the disc, and allow healing to occur.
WHAT SYSTEM IS USED FOR THIS TREATMENT? After a significant amount of research, our office chose the DynaPro Spinal Health system manufactured by the Dynatronics Corporation, the premier manufacturer of physical medicine equipment.
HOW IS SPINAL DECOMPRESSION THERAPY DIFFERENT FROM TRACTION? The Dyna Pro computer is the key. It controls the variations in the traction pull allowing for spinal decompression and eliminating muscle guarding that is typical in conventional traction devices. The preprogrammed patterns for ramping up and down the amount of axial distraction allows for higher levels of spinal decompression and disc rehydration.
ARE THERE CONDITIONS WHERE DECOMPRESSION THERAPY IS NOT RECOMMENDED? Spinal decompression therapy is not recommended for pregnant women, patients who have severe osteoporosis, severe obesity or severe nerve damage. Spinal surgery with instrumentation (screws, metal plates or “cages”) is also contraindicated. However, spinal decompression therapy after bone fusion or non-fusion surgery, can be performed.
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM SPINAL DECOMPRESSION THERAPY? Anyone who has back pain or neck pain caused in whole or in part by a damaged disc may be helped by spinal decompression therapy. These conditions include herniated, protruding or bulging discs, spinal stenosis, sciatica or radiculopathy (pinched nerves).
ARE THERE MEDICAL STUDIES THAT DOCUMENT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SPINAL DECOMPRESSION THERAPY? Yes! One study documented by MRI up to 90% reduction of disc herniations in 10 of 14 cases and other studies reported that the majority of ruptured disc patients achieved "good" to "excellent" results after spinal decompression therapy.
The February 2007 issue of “To Your Health” magazine features an article about Spinal Decompression Therapy that discusses the safety and effectiveness of this non-surgical treatment for spinal herniated discs.
ARE THE SESSIONS PAINFUL, HOW MANY WILL I NEED AND WHAT WILL IT COST? In almost all cases, the treatments are completely painless. In fact, some patients fall asleep during the spinal decompression session.
The specific treatment plan will be determined by the doctor after your examination. Based on current research, the best results have been achieved utilizing 20 sessions ($100.00 each) over a 6 to 8 week period.
Based on that most common protocol, the total cost of the spinal decompression sessions would only be $2,000.00... which is a small fraction of the $5,000+ amounts that some other doctors are charging.