Low back pain is one of the leading causes of disabilities. Most people experience it occasionally, but for many individuals this kind of pain is a chronic and debilitating condition that affects every aspect of life. For most of the 20th century there was little alternative but surgery or chiropractic treatment to relieve the pain associated with degenerative spinal disc disease, bulging discs, herniated discs, sciatica, arm pain or pinched nerves. Today, however, medical advancements on spinal decompression and back pain therapy have widened the scope of treatment choices for pain sufferers.
Spinal decompression therapy is an overall term for a specific treatment providing relief of pressure on nerves that may be pinched by the spinal column. It is a type of non-surgical, non-chiropractic therapy that is approved by the American Food and Drug Association. This therapy often utilizes a traction device connected to a computer for accuracy, and allows greater control of the force, angle and length of disc distraction. It is usually received while lying on a table, and is non-surgical and non-invasive.
Standard treatment involves gently strapping the patient to the decompression table. The table is actually a computer-controlled platform, and its movements are not random, but carefully calibrated. The process is designed to create a small elongation of the area that is a source of pain. This method of disc distraction actually makes a small space between the bones that will not pinch or compress nerves, and usually ends existing compression. Most patients require more than one treatment for lasting pain relief.
This type of treatment originated in the late 1980s. It has a success rate ranging from moderate to high, and has provided relief for many people who sought a form of treatment that didn?t involve the need for surgery or daily pain medication. Because it is relatively new, spinal decompression treatment methods are evolving, and are making use of new aspects of therapy that were not previously available.
In the beginning, decompression was accomplished by utilizing a software controlled system of pulleys on a table. Similar to traditional traction devices in physical design, these systems were computer controlled to some extent, but could not pinpoint pressure as accurately as desired. In addition, due to physical limitations some back patients had difficulty in participating in such procedures, and the early models excluded the neck area.
Newer machines and advanced software have allowed critical improvements in treatment. They utilize the same principles as traditional controlled traction, but are able to pinpoint the treatment more accurately, and are designed to address problems of the neck as well. These devices are able to isolate individual spinal joint segments, and increase and decrease the speed of joint distraction. The direction of the treatment is now able to be controlled, making the experience more easily accepted by patients who may be unable to maintain a straight posture.
This allows treatment that is virtually pain-free for most patients. In addition, those who may need a slightly different approach are now able to make use of what are called gravitational protocols, which utilize the natural weight of the lower body to help pull the spine back into a proper structure. These protocols are now included in the latest decompression units, adding to their overall effectiveness.
Such biotechnological achievements in the realm of multi-directional treatments are enhanced by the continued development of improved and more effective software. While medical advancements on spinal decompression and back pain cannot absolutely guarantee a 100% reduction in back pain for all patients, the statistical results of several years of treatment are good. Today, it may allow those who suffer to experience lasting pain reduction without the inherent dangers of any surgery or long-term use of pain medication.
Want to discover more information about back pain, then New Century Spine Centers site on how to choose the best chiropractor for your needs.
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