It’s been a proper all-rounder of a week for me in the best way.
I’ve been out coaching Kit’s Under-7s cricket team in Blackheath (some serious talent in those little arms!), squeezed in a driving range session at Hoebridge with the team on Friday night to welcome Dr Bobbie and Charlie, some questionable swings in action. Topped it all off by watching the British & Irish Lions bring home a win on Saturday. Can’t ask for much more!
But between all of that, I’ve been diving into some fantastic research on one of our clinic’s most powerful tools for disc injuries: spinal decompression therapy.
If you or someone you know is dealing with a slipped disc, bulge, or chronic lower back pain, what I’m about to share could be a total game-changer.
What is Spinal Decompression Therapy?
Spinal decompression therapy is a non-surgical treatment that gently stretches the spine using a specialised machine. This process:
- Reduces pressure inside the disc-the bit in the centre of the jam doughnut
- Helps draw fluid and nutrients back into the disc
- Creates space for the disc to heal, rehydrate, and even regain height
It’s completely pain-free, and many of our clients say “it feels like the first real relief they’ve had in months”. They can often feel the pain in their leg reducing whilst they are on the machine.
The Research Is In And It’s Impressive
If you look at these clinical studies. This isn’t just theory there’s solid evidence behind what decompression therapy can do.
Study 1: Complete Disc Herniation Resolution
A 50-year-old with a large L5/S1 disc herniation had 95% symptom relief after 8 weeks on spinal decompression therapy. A follow-up MRI 7.5 months later showed complete resolution of the herniation (Kocack et al., 2017).
Study 2: 13 Patients with Disc Lesions
Patients underwent 20 sessions of decompression and saw:
- 80% pain reduction
- 50% disability reduction
- 75% recovery in daily activity
- Actual disc height increases of up to 1.6mm and canal diameter improvements of over 2mm
(Connolly at al, 2025)
Study 3: 94 Chronic Disc Pain Patients
Pain dropped from 6.05 to 0.89 after 8 weeks and most people-maintained improvement at follow-up (pain level around 1.7) with high satisfaction rates (Macario et al., 2008).
Why Does It Work So Well? (The Science Bit)
Decompression therapy works by:
- Creating negative intradiscal pressure (up to -100 mmHg), which draws the bulging disc back inward, creating a vacuum effect.
- Improving nutrient diffusion so the disc can heal
- Stimulating muscle relaxation and hydration of spinal tissues
It’s not just about “stretching the spine” it’s a calculated, therapeutic movement that taps into your body’s own healing capacity.
Who’s It For?
We see brilliant results in patients with:
- Disc bulges or herniations
- Sciatica
- Chronic lower back pain
- Degenerative disc disease
- Spinal stenosis
It’s a great option for people who want to avoid surgery or who haven’t had much success with injections or painkillers.
What Happens in a Session?
You lie down fully clothed on the decompression table. We strap you in comfortably, and the machine applies gentle traction cycles over about 25 minutes. Most clients describe it as a relieving, almost meditative stretch.
We combine this with:
- Soft tissue work
- Chiropractic adjustments
- Core rehab to stabilise and strengthen
Ready to Find Out if It’s Right for You?
If you’ve been told you have a disc problem or you suspect that’s what’s causing your back pain or sciatica don’t leave it to chance.
Book on to one of our workshops, the next one on Monday 30th June is fully booked, but if you put your name down we will email you with priority space for the next one. Book here
References
Connolly at al, 2025- CLINICAL AND IMAGING OUTCOMES OF NON-SURGICAL SPINAL DECOMPRESSION FOR LUMBAR INTERVERTEBRAL DISC LESIONS: A CASE SERIES
Kocak et al., 2017- Comparison of the short-term effects of the conventional motorized traction with non-surgical spinal decompression performed with a DRX9000 device on pain, functionality, depression, and quality of life in patients with low back pain associated with lumbar disc herniation: A single-blind randomized-controlled trial
Macario et al., 2008- Treatment of 94 outpatients with chronic discogenic low back pain with the DRX9000: a retrospective chart review
If you are wanting to chat more about the information above then why not book a call with me and we can go into more detail? Click here to book or if you want to get an assessment then Book a consultation with a Chiropractor here
If you do know someone who wants more advice, please send them our details. You can send them this assessment as well to diagnose their back pain. It is a great tool to understand where your back pain is coming from, it is free and takes 60 seconds. Click here for assessment
