Spinal decompression
Spinal Decompression
Spinal decompression (/spaɪnəl dɛkəmˈprɛʃən/) is a type of medical therapy used to alleviate chronic back pain and other problems associated with the vertebral column.
Etymology
The term "spinal decompression" is derived from the Latin words "spina" meaning "thorn" or "backbone" and "decompressio" meaning "a relieving of pressure".
Definition
Spinal decompression therapy involves the use of a traction table or similar motorized device to relieve back pain or leg pain. This procedure is called nonsurgical decompression therapy (as opposed to surgical spinal decompression, such as laminectomy and microdiscectomy).
Procedure
During nonsurgical spinal decompression therapy, the spine is stretched and relaxed intermittently in a controlled manner. This process creates a negative intradiscal pressure (pressure within the disc itself), which can help retract or reposition the herniated or bulging disc material. Additionally, it can create lower pressure in the disc that will cause an influx of healing nutrients and other substances into the disc.
Related Terms
- Disc (anatomy): A series of connective tissue pads that lie between the vertebrae in the vertebral column of many vertebrate animals.
- Laminectomy: A surgical procedure that removes a portion of the vertebral bone called the lamina.
- Microdiscectomy: Also known as microdecompression or microdiskectomy, is a minimally invasive surgical procedure performed on patients with a herniated lumbar disc.
- Vertebral column: Also known as the backbone or spine, is part of the axial skeleton and a defining characteristic of a vertebrate in which the notochord (a flexible rod of uniform composition) found in all chordates has been replaced by a segmented series of bone.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Spinal decompression
- Wikipedia's article - Spinal decompression
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