Spinal decompression is a successful and popular chiropractic technique used to treat damaged joints within the spine to reduce the pressure on the discs and relieve pain.
What is spinal decompression therapy and how does it work?
Dr. Luke Stringer: Essentially it is a specific technique which focuses on degenerated joints within the spine and the damaged discs that sit within those joints. The whole idea of decompression therapy is to focus on those damaged joints, distracting that joint, and by doing so, you’re going to unload pressure on the disk and the nerve, which is really effective for pain relief, specifically pain that refers throughout the body.
How do you determine if someone needs spinal decompression therapy?
Dr. Luke Stringer: A thorough evaluation would have to be performed and some imaging, such as x-ray and/or MRI findings, would have to diagnose the issue. But essentially, any patients with degenerated joints and/or discs in their spine which creates pain, that could be pinpointed pain or can refer from one area to another. For example, pain originated in your neck, and then the next thing you know, you’ve got numbness and tingling to your arms, hands, fingers.
What can a new patient expect to experience during a treatment session?
Dr. Luke Stringer: Again, a new patient would first have to be evaluated through some imaging, such as x-ray and MRI. This would allow us to diagnose the joint and/or disc which is causing the issue within the body. This allows for a specific diagnosis. Following the diagnosis, we prescribe a treatment plan involving soft tissue work to break down the scar tissue that forms in and around those damaged joints, a specific adjustment to that joint to make sure it’s in alignment and that disc is stimulated, and then obviously we’d recommend some spinal decompression therapy of the affected area.
How long is a typical treatment cycle?
Dr. Luke Stringer: It’s all case-dependent, so there’s no definitive answer here. However, I would say more acute episodes would be around a 12 visit program, and a more chronic episode would be more towards a 24 or 36 program. Each session lasts about 40 minutes.
What other therapies do you recommend in addition to spinal decompression therapy?
Dr. Luke Stringer: Well, I recommend trigger point therapy which essentially focuses on the soft tissue within the body and the scar tissue that forms within that soft tissue. We would break that scar tissue up to improve joint mobility. We would then recommend stretches to improve the range of motion within those muscles and the joints, and then obviously adjustments to make sure that joint is in alignment and functioning. Following that, we would recommend some stabilizing and strengthening exercises to obviously stabilize and strengthen the joint now that it is moving and functioning better.
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If you are interested in speaking with Dr. Luke Stringer visit www.southloopchiropractor.com or call (312) 987-4878 to schedule an appointment.
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