The spine plays an important part in movement, posture and general health. Disk degeneration is a common problem that affects the lower part of the back medically known as the lumbar area. There are many causes of disk degeneration, but the main cause is the lack of fluid that is used to lubricate the spine.

This fluid known as proteoglycans reduces as we get older and also due to various activities such as sitting down for long hours. The result of a decrease in proteoglycans causes pain the lower pack and also poor posture. To reduce the problem, medical experts advice patients to undergo a procedure known as spinal decompression.

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So what is Spinal Decompression?

We went straight to the experts at Active Again, to get their definition of this treatment. Here is what they had to say:

“Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression, not to be confused with linear traction, slowly lengthens and decompresses the spine, creating negative pressures within the discs.

This reversal of pressure creates an intradiscal vacuum that helps to reposition bulging discs and pull extruded disc material back into place, taking pressure off pinched nerves. Spinal experts believe that nutrients, oxygen, and fluids are drawn into the disc to create a revitalized environment conducive to healing.”

How does spinal decompression help?

Reduce disk thinning
Disk thinning is a common problem that comes due to excessive disk degeneration. If the fluid responsible for lubricating the bones in the spinal column is no longer present, the area becomes dry, and this causes disk thinning.

Disk thinning comes about when friction becomes too much in the back. One of the ways to reduce friction and prevent the disks at the back from thinning is to undergo disk compression which is a very simple procedure.

Manage lower back pain
Lower back pain is a common occurrence to many people. Although it is impossible to identify the main cause, there are several possibilities of the pain. Some of the causes of lower back pain include sitting down for long hours or even physical injuries.

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Pain in the lower back can cause a lot of discomforts and make sitting down or sleeping very uncomfortable. Spine decompression works on the muscles at the back, and this causes relaxation of the muscles and the disks. This is a permanent solution for treating lower back pain compared to taking pain killers.

Prevent future back problems
Most of the back problems are very manageable as long as they are discovered early enough. To prevent back problems in future, it is always advisable to regular spine decompression and traction. The procedure if done by a qualified person will keep your spine in good health and prevent problems such as pain and also disk thinning.

Spine decompression allows distribution of fluid in the spine, and this encourages lubrication and prevents friction. The fluid is responsible for keeping the spine healthy. Spinal retraction also helps in keeping the muscles of the back in a good and healthy condition.

Prevent back surgery
Since the introduction of spinal decompression, it is now very possible to avoid spinal decompression surgery, which does not always have a great outcome (ref. surgical outcomes of spinal decompression). The doctor will access your condition and determine if spinal decompression can be used as a solution. In most cases, if the problem is not very advanced, it is always possible to conduct successful treatment without surgery.

The best thing with this treatment procedure is the fact that it is non-invasive and this means you don’t expect side effects that come with many of the surgical procedure. You don’t have to worry about a failed surgery or deal with the recovery time that comes with a surgical procedure. Spinal decompression is not a one-time procedure, but it provides long time effects.