According to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017, back pain leads the list of worldwide disabilities. In fact, back pain is a common reason for losing days at work and costs the US economy nearly $635 billion. Here are some other statistics about back pain:

• 540 million people around the world suffer from back pain every day.
• 5% of the global population experiences lower back pain.
• 80% of Americans will suffer from back pain during their lifetime.
• About four in ten office workers will experience lower back pain.
• 5% of those who struggle with back pain will develop chronic back pain.
• Low back pain is especially prevalent in women, people over 30, and the obese.
• Those who have physically demanding jobs, certain physical and mental conditions, and smokers are at much greater risk of suffering from back pain.

As the world’s aging population increases, the need for successful treatments grows, too. One of those treatments is chiropractic decompression of the spine, a safe, drug-free remedy for spinal issues.

Spinal decompression is a non-invasive procedure used to relieve back and neck pain and focuses on intermittent traction force to the spine. Traction therapy in this context means “the deliberate and prolonged pulling of a muscle, organ, or the like, as by weights, to correct dislocation, relieve pressure, etc.” This pulling stretches the spine, taking pressure off the discs and nerves and has provided relief for those with herniated discs, pinched nerves, scoliosis, sciatica, and degenerative disc disease.

Spinal decompression is particularly helpful for:

• Women who experience symptoms of back pain during pregnancy
• Children and teenagers who have a diagnosis of scoliosis and are still growing and developing along the spine
• Athletes who want to improve their spinal health and strength
• Elderly patients who have other medical problems and a low immune system
• Active adults who suffer from chronic pain but don’t want to take painkillers or other drugs

Spinal decompression therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses a traction device to gently stretch the spine, creating negative pressure in the discs to reduce pressure on the spinal nerves and alleviate pain. This therapy helps to reduce pressure on the spine, allowing the discs to rehydrate and become more flexible, which helps to improve range of motion, reduce inflammation, and promote healing in the affected area.

The patient lies down, fully clothed, on a computer-controlled traction table. A harness is placed around the pelvis with another one around the midsection of the body. The chiropractic doctor operates the force exerted by the table to stretch the spine, which is customized to the patient’s individual needs.

The chiropractor may also choose to use the following either before or after each session:

• Ultrasound: Sound waves that generate heat to aid in healing
• Electrical stimulation: Electric current that causes muscles to contract
• Heat or cold therapy: Heat increases the flow of blood and nutrients to the affected area of the body while cold reduces swelling and pain.

An average treatment plan involves 20-28 treatments over five to seven weeks. Each treatment lasts around 30-45 minutes.

There are many benefits when patients choose spinal decompression from their chiropractor:

• Improved spinal nerve functioning
• Improved range of motion
• Reduce spinal pain and inflammation
• Prevention of back problems
• Few side effects

Many patients experience amazing health benefits from spinal decompression treatment. When used as a preventative measure, spinal alignment back pain is reduced.