Question
What are the contraindications to decompression tables? Also, since a disc cannot reabsorb fluid why are they marketed that way?

Answer
Spinal decompression therapy is usually not recommended for pregnant women, or patients who have severe osteoporosis, severe obesity or severe nerve damage. Every patient is evaluated on an individual basis.  Spinal surgery with instrumentation (screws and metal plates or 揷ages? is also contraindicated.  Surgery to the discs without fusion or fusion using bony replacement is not contraindicated.

Spinal disc can and do reabsorb.


Decompression, when instituted properly, causes a wider spacing of the vertebral discs which, in turn, creates a negative pressure, thus the "vacuum effect" we call decompression. There are numerous reports and articles written showing that bulging disc material can actually be pulled back underneath the vertebra and off the spinal cord or nerves they are irritating. Degenerative discs that have lost their height can be opened up to near normal heights, creating increased movement and decreased nerve pressure.

Decompression is created by a progressive event--a combination of specific vertebral restraint, specific angle position by level of bulge or herniation, and equipment engineering. One can experience traction without decompression, but not decompression without traction. Traction can be a machine, or just weights attached to your feet hanging over a bed as done in the past at hospitals. Decompression is a progressive event that is obtained by utilizing negative pressure, by vertebrae, on a specific angle, to achieve the "Vacuum Effect" or the event known as decompression.

Decompression is an FDA Cleared technology that relieves pain by enlarging the space between the discs. The vertebrae are gently and slowly separated methodically by software built into the spinal decompression table. As the vertebrae are separated, pressure is slowly reduced within the disc (intradiscal pressure) until a vacuum is created within the disc. This vacuum effect literally "pulls" or "sucks" the gelatinous center of the disc back into the disc, thereby reducing the disc bulge or disc herniation, we call this the "Vacuum Effect." Thus, disc bulge reduction removes pressure off the spinal nerves and treats the cause of the problem. This suction or "vacuum effect" allows much needed oxygen, nutrients and fluid into injured and degenerated discs enabling the healing of the disc to begin.



Please visit my site www.drshoshany.com and visit the spinal decompression page, I have collected and posted years worth of studies and information.