Every Tucson chiropractor has an array of techniques at his or her disposal. However, there’s one procedure that the entire chiropractic community is well-versed in: spinal decompression. In fact, spinal decompression—also known as spinal manipulation or adjustment—is the foundation of what chiropractors do. Read on to learn more about this popular procedure.

What is spinal decompression?

At its most basic level, spinal decompression is exactly what it sounds like: the reversal of compression. By relieving pressure on the discs, spinal decompression can treat everything from common issues, such as neck pain, to more severe conditions, such as slipped discs. As pressure is taken off of the spine, it allows more water, oxygen, and nutrient-rich fluids to reach the vertebrae, as well as the cushioning discs between them. This influx of nutrients and absence of pressure promote healing, though they need time to do so. That’s why clinics in Tucson typically perform a series of decompressions over time.

How is it performed?

Treatments can take several forms, but the most common involves a mechanized table that’s operated via computer. Tucson Chiropractic Center, for example, uses an advanced decompression-traction system that allows doctors to customize the angle, intensity, and timing of the pressure used to separate each vertebra. While most of the best chiropractors in Tucson use some form of computerized adjustment, many others perform decompressions the old-fashioned way: with their hands. They may also enhance the results of decompression with complementary therapies such as massages and corrective exercises.

Who invented this procedure?

Would you believe it was a group of enterprising medieval torturers who were looking to diversify their services? There’s actually some truth to that. The health benefits of spinal decompression have been observed in a variety of places, from medieval racks to the zero-gravity environments that astronauts train and work in. If you’re ever on Jeopardy!, however, the correct answer will most likely be Dr. Allan Dyer, who in 1985 invented a pneumatic treatment table very similar to the mechanized ones used today.