What Is Spinal Decompression Therapy? Could It Work For Me?

A safe, affordable option for people seeking relief from chronic back and neck pain and conditions stemming from back injury.

Neck and back pain are the number one causes of disability in North America. Pain, weakness, and numbness in the back and neck can affect mobility, prevent you from working, and significantly impact your ability to participate in everyday activities and enjoy life. Spinal Decompression Therapy (SDT) is a safe, affordable option for people seeking relief from chronic back and neck pain and conditions stemming from back injury. Dr. Shephard is one of the select Alberta chiropractors certified in The Kennedy Decompression Technique and can assess your candidacy for this therapy and design a customized treatment to help you start living pain-free.

What Is Spinal Decompression Therapy?

SDT is an innovative, computer-aided technology to treat the symptoms and causes of back and neck pain. Using a table equipped with various straps and harnesses, your chiropractor will customize a program of oscillation and pulling motions to create a negative inter-discal pressure allowing herniated discs to be restored to their natural position. Your program will be tailored to your specific diagnosis, body weight, tolerance, and severity of symptoms.

Treatment programs can vary from one to five sessions each week lasting  20-30 minutes for as long as it takes for relief and healing to be achieved. Depending on your response to treatment and the severity of your injury, your chiropractor will customize your treatment length, frequency, and duration.

SDT should be a pain-free treatment, but you may experience some mild discomfort or achiness after a session. If you do feel any pain or discomfort during treatment you are in full control and can shut off the table movement at any time. Your doctor will supervise treatments so discuss your discomfort immediately.

What Can SDT Treat?

Spinal decompression is a non-invasive treatment suitable for a variety of conditions and injuries such as:

  • Acute/chronic neck pain
  • Acute/chronic low back pain
  • Disc herniation
  • Disc bulges
  • Facet syndrome
  • Sciatica
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Pinch Nerve
  • Arm pain
  • Leg pain
  • Post Surgical Pain

Who Should Not Receive SDT?

There are some patients who will not be suitable candidates for Spinal Decompression Therapy. These include pregnant women, patients with spinal fractures and broken vertebrae, patients with certain cancers, patients with artificial discs or spinal implants, and others. Your chiropractor will assess your injuries and conditions and decide if SDT is right for you.

Could Spinal Decompression Therapy Work For Me?

If your life is disrupted by chronic back or neck pain and other related symptoms, SDT could be an ideal treatment for you. Beginning with a thorough and comprehensive assessment that could include diagnostic imaging, physical examination, and health history, your doctor will be able to confirm your candidacy for spinal decompression therapy. Once confirmed, your goals for treatment can be set, your treatment protocol can be determined, and your journey to healing and a pain-free life can begin.

Certified Kennedy Spinal Decompression Therapy At Shephard Health

It is not necessary to lead a limited life, waylaid by chronic neck and neck pain. Spinal Decompression Therapy (SDT) is a safe, affordable, non-surgical treatment option for those seeking relief from debilitating pain.

Dr. Jay Shephard is one of only two Alberta chiropractors trained and certified in the Kennedy Decompression Techniques and is one of Calgary’s Top 3 Rated Chiropractors of 2021. The Shephard Health team has over 20 years of experience helping patients achieve whole health and wellness with services ranging from chiropractic care and physical rehabilitation to Active Release Therapy and Biomechanical Analysis. We are committed to providing personalized treatment solutions to our patients with thoughtful care and experienced competence. We offer a no-obligation, complimentary consultation to assure you that we are the right team to help you achieve your goals for wellness and pain-free living. Call us at 1-403-543-7499 to book your appointment.

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