What Is the Consensus on Mechanical Spinal Decompression?

Is spinal decompression a valuable treatment for back pain? In theory, distractive force applied to the lumbar spine that is significant enough will create negative pressure to the center of intervertebral discs.

This negative pressure creates a vacuum that reduces pressure on sensitive nerves and allows for nutrients and water to enter the void. After the spinal decompression is completed, theory holds that replacing the void with liquid reduces the pain from vertebrae compression.

Because intervertebral discs are known to have poor circulation, the decompression increases the opportunity for it to take place. Theory holds that this can improve such problems as lower back pain, disc degeneration, sciatica, disc herniations, and disc bulges. It has been documented by patients who have tried other treatments unsuccessfully that it improved their condition.

Origination of Spinal Decompression Treatment

Dr. Allan Dyer who holds both a PhD and an MD is the creator of a table he devised in the 1980s for his own herniated disc problem. He claimed to be completely free of pain after using his invention and introduced the Vax-D prototype in 1991. The original table worked with a pneumatic pump that applied and released traction.

In 2004, the system was upgraded to include computer control of an electrically driven system, which replaced the pneumatic pump. Other doctors and inventors have come forth to created similar devices that follow the same general theory. IDD (intervertebral differential dynamics) is a similar product.

How Effective is Mechanical Spinal Decompression

As with anything that doesn't have a long history of use, there are conflicting views of how much good comes from the use of the Vax-D and other inventions of a similar type. One study shows better than a 68% success rate, but the results were on a very limited number of individuals. Other studies have not been nearly as conclusive.

In both 2004 and 2005, reviews of the Vax-D and other powered traction devices did not indicate that they were effective in treating lower back pain for any of the known causes.

Again in 2006, a cumulative study, which took into account the ones of the former years as well as other sources for the use of motorized traction extending back to 1975, concluded that nothing had been proven. The report called for better testing methods and better standards by which to rate results.

While some patients claim they have had vast improvements in their physical situations, the scientific community as a whole does not currently embrace this assumption. For those who have experienced an improved condition, it is promising that further studies will reveal more positive information.

Because testing remains inconclusive, the implementation of improved standards for measuring results is warranted since the success rate is reported to be so high among individuals who have undergone spinal decompression treatment.