Spinal decompression.
A gentle, precise, non-surgical approach for herniated and bulging discs. FDA-cleared mechanical traction — the lab-coat version of creating space.
Specific force. Specific spot.
You lie face-up on a computer-controlled table. Harnesses secure you. The table cycles gentle traction and release — creating negative pressure inside the disc — for 20–30 minutes.
That negative intradiscal pressure promotes retraction of herniated disc material and passive diffusion of oxygen, water, and nutrients back into the disc space. It's a distinct mechanism from manual traction — reproducible through computerized table protocols calibrated to your specific disc level.
Most patients describe it as oddly relaxing. Some fall asleep on the table. Nobody describes it as painful.
A 45-minute first visit. History, imaging review if you have it, orthopedic screen, movement assessment. You leave with a clear diagnosis and a recommendation — not a 12-pack of sessions.
Non-surgical disc decompression for herniated discs, sciatica, and stenosis
Spinal decompression therapy is an FDA-cleared, non-surgical treatment for disc-related spinal conditions — including herniated discs, bulging discs, degenerative disc disease, sciatica, and spinal stenosis. It works by applying controlled axial traction to the spine, creating negative intradiscal pressure that promotes retraction of herniated disc material and passive diffusion of nutrients into the disc space.
Research published in the Journal of Neuroimaging demonstrated significant reduction in disc herniation size following a course of mechanical decompression, with studies in the American Journal of Pain Management showing pain reduction and improved function in patients with disc herniations. The mechanism — distraction of vertebral end plates to reduce intradiscal pressure below ambient — is distinct from manual traction and reproducible through computerized table protocols.
How a decompression session works
It starts with an evaluation and imaging review. We look at your MRI, X-rays, and exam findings to confirm your disc is a good candidate — not everyone is, and we'll be honest if you're not. Then comes table setup: you lie face-up on a padded, motorized table with a harness around your hips, configured for your exact disc level, whether that's L4/L5, L5/S1, or wherever the problem is.
For about 25 minutes, the table applies a controlled pull that alternates between stretch and relaxation. This cycling creates negative pressure inside the disc, drawing herniated material back in and promoting nutrient flow. Each session builds on the last: over 15 to 20 sessions the cumulative effect reduces disc pressure, takes the load off the nerve, and gives the disc space to heal. Most patients feel meaningful changes by week two or three.
Why patients choose decompression over surgery
Spinal surgery means weeks of recovery, serious risk, and no guarantee — failed back surgery syndrome is a real diagnosis for a reason. Decompression gets results without a single incision: you walk in and you walk out. It also treats the disc itself, the actual source of the problem, rather than relying on muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatories, or pain patches to mask symptoms.
Sessions take about 25 minutes with zero downtime — many patients come in on a lunch break and return to work. Our computerized, FDA-cleared table controls the exact angle, force, and duration of every pull, calibrated to your specific disc level. And most patients find it genuinely relaxing; the gentle stretch feels like traction relief, and some people fall asleep on the table. Surgery is sometimes necessary, but it should be the last resort — if decompression works, you've avoided a major procedure, and if it doesn't, surgery is still on the table.