Non-surgical care
Spinal decompression, explained plainly.
Non-surgical spinal decompression is motorised traction. It is one option for selected disc-related back and neck problems. It is not a guarantee, and it is not for everyone.
What it is
You lie on a table built for spinal traction. Straps around the pelvis and the chest connect you to a computer-controlled motor. The program applies a gentle pull, eases off, and repeats. The aim is to reduce pressure inside a spinal disc, and to calm mechanical irritation of the nearby joint or nerve.
The table in this clinic is unique in one practical way: it works in three axes and can create rotation while decompressing. The pull does not have to stay in a single straight line. That is a feature of the equipment. It does not, by itself, decide whether decompression is appropriate, and it is not a promise of a better result.
It is different from someone simply pulling on your legs, and it is different from a chiropractic adjustment. Some people have decompression on its own. Some also have manual care, exercise and advice. The mix depends on the assessment.
How a session works
- 01
Assessment first
No one is placed on the table because they asked for it by name. A history and examination decide whether it is reasonable.
- 02
Setup
You stay in comfortable clothes. Straps are fitted around the pelvis and the chest so the pull is comfortable and aimed at the right level of the spine.
- 03
The cycle
A programmed series of stretch and release runs while you are observed. Because the table moves in three axes, rotation can be added during the pull when that angle is appropriate. Table time is often 15 to 30 minutes. You can stop it at any moment.
- 04
Review
We ask what you noticed, including anything that felt wrong. If a short trial is not helping, the plan changes or we refer you on.
Who it may be considered for
Decompression is considered for musculoskeletal problems where a disc is thought to be part of the picture. That can include:
- Low back or neck pain thought to relate to a disc.
- Leg or arm pain that fits with nerve irritation from a disc, once serious causes are ruled out.
- Some people with degenerative disc changes, when the examination supports a trial of care.
Research includes studies that report less pain and better function for some of these groups. Study quality varies. Improvement is not universal, and we will not tell you otherwise.
Who it is not for
Care is withheld or changed when traction would be unsafe. Examples include:
- Pregnancy.
- Severe osteoporosis, spinal fracture, infection or tumour.
- Cauda equina symptoms, such as saddle numbness or new bladder or bowel change. These need emergency care.
- Unstable spondylolisthesis, certain spinal implants, or a significant abdominal aortic aneurysm.
This is not a full list. The decision is clinical, made with you, and reviewed if your symptoms change.
What we will not claim
That a disc is guaranteed to move back into place.
That decompression replaces a surgical opinion when surgery is the safer path.
That a set number of sessions is required before you have been assessed.
This page is general information for people in and around Hervey Bay. It is not personal advice. A chiropractor or medical practitioner who has assessed you is the person who can say whether decompression is appropriate.
Ask whether decompression is even the right conversation.
Book an assessment first. If the table is not the right tool, we will say so and talk about what is.