What actually happens during decompression
You lie on a padded table, either on your back or front. For the lower back, a harness goes around your pelvis and another around your lower chest; for the neck, your head rests in a cradle. A computer-controlled motor then gently pulls, holds and relaxes in cycles, for about 20 to 30 minutes.
The force starts low and is adjusted to your body weight and condition. Because it rises and falls gradually, the muscles around the spine stay relaxed instead of guarding against the pull. You hold a safety switch the whole time and can stop it instantly.
Who it may help
Decompression is mainly used when pain is linked to the spinal discs or nerve roots: a herniated or bulging (slip) disc, sciatica down the leg, neck pain with arm symptoms, and some long-standing back pain. It is most useful as part of a plan that includes exercise therapy, not on its own.
Who should not have it
- Pregnant women
- People with recent spinal surgery, spinal fusion or metal implants in the spine
- Spinal fractures, tumours or infections
- Severe osteoporosis
- An unstable vertebra (significant spondylolisthesis)
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Anyone with numbness in the saddle area, bladder or bowel changes, or rapidly worsening leg weakness: these need urgent medical care, not decompression
Does it hurt?
It should not. Most people describe a slow, comfortable stretch, and some fall asleep. Mild soreness after the first one or two sessions, like after starting new exercise, is common and usually settles within a day. A clear increase in leg or arm pain, numbness or weakness is not expected and should be reported straight away so the plan can be changed.
How many sessions, and does it work?
Decompression is usually given as a course, often 10 to 20 sessions over 4 to 8 weeks, alongside exercises. Research on spinal decompression is still developing and results vary between people, so an honest clinic will review your progress after the first few sessions and stop if it is not helping.
Be cautious of any clinic that promises a guaranteed result or a “permanent cure”. No responsible physiotherapist can promise that for any treatment.
Questions to ask before you start
- Have you assessed whether decompression suits my condition, and why?
- What else will my plan include besides decompression?
- How will we judge whether it is working, and when?
- What should I do if my symptoms change between sessions?
This article is general information and does not replace an in-person assessment. If you are unsure whether it applies to you, ask a physiotherapist or doctor.