What is spinal decompression therapy?
Spinal decompression therapy, although it has been known for decades, lacked an adequate technique that would make it widely available in medical practice, until recent years. Thanks to the advancement of computerized technology and the expertise of our team, spinal decompression therapy is now used successfully in the treatment of various diseases of the spinal column, with special emphasis on discs.
Our long-term experience, as well as the results of similar centers in America and Europe, clearly indicate a high percentage of positive outcomes in young patients with disc problems in the cervical or lower-lumbar spine. In recent years, research has confirmed what our team already knows – spinal decompression therapy can lead to healing in a large number of patients, with impressive success rates ranging between 86% and even 100%.
This innovative treatment works with the help of a vacuum that improves circulation around the disc and effectively treats inflammatory processes, providing patients with relief and a better quality of life.


The mechanism of action of spinal decompression therapy
Through the cyclic phases of distraction and relaxation, the spinal disc can be isolated and exposed to negative pressure, thereby causing a vacuum effect within the disc. The vacuum accomplishes two things. From a mechanical point of view, a bulge that has formed outside the normal boundaries of the disc can be pulled inside the disc by the vacuum created within that disc. The vacuum also increases blood flow and thus secondarily stimulates recovery. This leads to pain reduction and regeneration of the damaged part of the spine. Pain relief is also achieved neurologically due to the stretching of the receptors in the soft tissue and due to the distraction of the joints. Due to distraction and positioning, decompression of spinal discs and facet joints occurs.
Decompression can achieve spreading of apophyseal joints, reduction of disk protrusion, stretching of soft tissue, relaxation of paravertebral muscles, joint mobility. By distracting the apophyseal joints, the pressure on the joint surfaces is reduced, the intervertebral openings are widened, so that pinching and irritation of the roots of the spinal nerves and blood vessels is reduced and pain is reduced.
Vertebral decompression stimulates the relaxation of the paravertebral musculature. It is performed in a lying position on the back or stomach, with different durations, relaxation intervals, traction force. During intermittent decompression, the muscles, ligaments and fibroelastic tissue are stretched, which leads to a reduction in pressure on the nerves and blood vessels, and therefore to an improvement in vascularization and to the reduction of edema (swelling) caused by disc protrusion (mechanical inflammation). During decompression, a “small” negative pressure is created, which leads to the reposition of the prolapsed nucleus pulposus by aspiration mechanisms. Also, spinal decompression helps the damaged disc to get nutrients from the blood stream by placing the body in an abducted position on a certain spinal segment and “pumping” the disc – which the spinal vertebrae normally do to the disc when everything is in a normal state. This “pumping” of the disc leads to the release of toxins and allows nutrients to enter the disc from the capillaries.
This principle of action reduces pain and enables the treatment of discs without surgery.
When is spinal decompression therapy used?
- disc herniation,
- bulging disc – swelling of the disc,
- disc degeneration,
- polydiscopathy,
- pain after disc surgery,
- spinal injury,
- spondylosis and spondylarthosis,
- facet syndrome,
- lumbar and cervical chronic pain syndrome,
- a headache,
- dizziness
- spondylolisthesis I degree
- cervical myelopathy caused by disc


What does the course of spinal decompression therapy look like?
The first step is a neurological examination, which is performed at the NEUROMEDIC polyclinic. After the neurological examination, other supplementary imaging (EMNG, MRI of the spine, Evoked potentials, consultations of other team members, drug therapy) are determined, if necessary.
After completing all the necessary tests, the neurologist determines the decompression program and protocol for each patient separately.
According to the patient’s condition, the neurologist also indicates the application of a special high-power HPHS laser with specific phases and a specific protocol that is complementary to decompression.
The patient lies comfortably on a special bed, fixed with special belts across the chest and waist. It is connected to a machine with a certain computer program that pulls the spinal column with a certain amount of force.
The duration of the treatment is from 30 to 60 minutes. The length of treatment is determined by a neurologist. The therapy is painless, comfortable, without risk.
12 therapies are required, which are carried out from Monday to Saturday, and the further treatment protocol is determined by the neurologist depending on the patient’s condition.
You can learn more about diseases of the spinal column in our text “Diseases of the spinal column“.