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Spinal Decompression

Tennessee Chiropractic Alliance is pleased to offer spinal decompression therapy which is the leading non-surgical treatment for someone suffering from a bulging or herniated disc. Spinal decompression therapy can also be a successful treatment for relieving Low Back Pain, radiating arm or leg pain, Facet Syndrome, Spinal Stenosis, Disc Degeneration and Sciatica.

Research to develop the spinal decompression procedures and equipment were conducted by prominent physicians, engineers and technicians at major teaching hospitals. Spinal decompression is an FDA approved therapy and has been clinically proven to provide pain relief and decrease symptoms associated with herniated and/or bulging discs.

Studies have shown that spinal disc injuries are responsible for a significant number of lumbar/ leg pain and neck/arm pain syndromes. Excessive compressive forces from daily activities increases the amount of internal disc pressure which can lead to spinal disc protrusion, herniation, and bulging of disc material.

What Are Treatments Like?

The patient may be placed on his or her back or stomach on the decompression table to be properly fitted in a supportive harness system. The support system helps to stabilize the body. The advances computer-controlled system will be adjusted appropriately to the current needs of the patient. The computer automatically adjusts to the proper pulling (distraction), allowing us to target specific spinal discs that are causing your pain and symptoms. The distractive forces utilize a computer controlled pull to avoid a reflex response that would create muscle spasm in the dysfunctional area of the spine. The split table design decreases friction and allows decompression of the spinal disc.

Spinal Decompression Therapy

While lying down on the spinal decompression table, the computer simulates an anti-gravity effect on your spine that helps herniated spinal disc material to move towards its normal position, thus, reducing spinal disc pressure and pain. Patients describe the treatment as a gentle, painless, intermittent pulling sensation. Most patients are relaxed enough to fall asleep during this treatment.

Is Spinal Decompression A New Type of Treatment?

Although traction therapy has been around for thousands of years, spinal decompression therapy is relatively new. It has been used in the health care field for the 10-15 years. Our doctors have been using spinal decompression since 2008 on the majority of their patients. Advances in equipment and procedures have dramatically improved the effectiveness of the treatment. Continual improvements in traction / spinal decompression systems and regular updates in protocol keep this system in the forefront of non-invasive disc therapy. Each year over 50,000 patients are treated with this type of therapy with that number continuing to grow daily.


Treatments are often times followed up with chiropractic care, soft tissue work and/or kinesiotaping as needed to help the healing process. Why would soft tissue work be needed?