Functional Spinal Decompression Therapy (F.S.D.T.) the way it is practised in Back Pain and Posture Clinic Drogheda is the quick and effective treatment method for those who suffer from nerve-based back pain or sciatica—particularly, those with a herniated or bulging disc.
Two thousand years ago, Hippocrates, the “Father of Medicine,” used the first form of spinal decompression therapy to help patients with back pain. Since that time, literally millions have used variations of this approach to reduce or eliminate their lower back pain. Yet, it’s very unlikely that your doctor has ever recommended it.
The fact is that most doctors just don’t know about many of these natural or “alternative” treatments. And then there are some who will instantly dismiss them either because of their simplicity or because of misinformation. Either way, millions of people suffer with back pain and never learn of these proven treatments.
What Is Decompression Therapy?
As the name states, decompression therapy actually “decompresses” the spine. There are several ways this can be performed, in our Drogheda clinic we use spinal decompressive exercise regimen. This spares the patient from having to hang upside down trying to decompress their spine, which is particularly important for the patients with the blood pressure issues, vertigo, migraine headaches, and eye problems. It also eliminates the need for the patient to spend hundreds of euros on the inversion swing.
The idea behind decompression therapy is to reverse the effects of gravity and back muscles’ tightness.
Spinal compression
The spine is made up of a series of bones called vertebrae that are stacked one on top of the other. In between these bones are doughnut-shaped discs—gel-like structures that are filled mostly with water and serve as the body’s shock absorbers.
Muscle imbalances can create postural dysfunctions that pressure the spine, in essence “squishing” the discs in uneven ways. A combination of tight and weak muscles can literally tilt the stack of vertebrae too far in any direction, greatly increasing the stress on one side of any particular disc.
As muscle imbalances—and gravity—apply uneven pressure on a disc, the disc bulges to one side. This is what happens in the case of a herniated disc. The disc has actually developed a hernia, or bulge, at one end. This bulge then often compresses a nerve, which causes Sciatica – the sharp, radiating leg and foot pain of this condition.
Eventually, if the problem is not corrected, the disc can burst, losing its water content and its ability to absorb any shock at all. Even if we don’t have muscle imbalances adding to the issue, which we all do, gravity by itself creates a daily compression on our spines.
Decompression therapy literally reverses the compression caused by gravity and muscle tightness—and in part, muscle imbalances. Instead of compressing your discs and making you shorter, decompression therapy actually stretches the spine out, as well as the muscles supporting the spine and torso, giving the discs room to reabsorb fluids and move back into their proper positions—eliminating pressure on nearby nerves.
Space gives injured discs room to heal
With the increased spaces between the vertebrae that decompression therapy creates, discs are suddenly relieved of pressure and have room to breathe, so to speak. Even the slightest increase in spacing can create a mild suction, which can encourage a bulging disc to return to its normal position. In essence, space gives the disc the room it needs to heal.
What does this mean to you?
Pain relief !
If a disc is pressing on a nerve, decompression therapy often will relieve that pressure, easing sciatic pain almost immediately.
According to many clinical studies, Functional Spinal Decompression Therapy is one of the most effective and fastest ways to increase space between your vertebrae. At our clinic we’ve actually had clients with back pain, which had plagued them for decades, and totally disappeared with just a few 20 minute sessions of decompression therapy.
Other cases completely reversed themselves with just a week of decompression therapy — 20 minutes of therapeutic exercise per day. If you need to get back to work and you suspect a herniated disc could be the source of your pain, decompression therapy may be the best way to recover.