How non-surgical spinal decompression can help the disc-injured athlete.'

By Dr. Alan Chong

Many an elite athlete has been afflicted with a spinal disc injury. Unrelenting shooting toothache-like pain in the buttock radiating to the posterior leg is characteristic of sciatica caused by a lower back disc problem. Similarly a problem disc in the neck causes persistent shoulder pain radiating into the arm that is often missed as not disc-related pain.

Spinal decompression is a safe and comfortable treatment for many spinal disc-related problems that athletes face. Many times the disc problem is temporarily disabling for the competitive and recreational athlete alike. Some athletes with spinal injuries do not respond to traditional chiropractic, physical, or medical treatment.

Often these athletes are challenged by a significant and persistent neck or back pain caused by bulging, herniated or advanced degenerative discs. Spinal decompression therapy has demonstrated to be a safe and effective treatment option for these athletes.

Non-surgical spinal decompression (NSSD) can be considered the evolution of traction therapy. Specific angulations of traction forces are used to target specific disc levels. In addition, sophisticated computerized feedback mechanisms are used to overcome the body’s natural tendency to resist with involuntary muscle activities when the spine is tractioned, differentiating NSSD from traction therapy.
The better the decompression system, the better the systems used to overcome muscle activity, especially when treating painful disc problems. To achieve spinal decompression it is essential for the equipment to achieve high levels of traction and negative pressures within the spinal disc. The therapeutic effect occurs when negative intradiscal pressures are repeatedly attained during treatment, reducing the disc bulge over a series of progressive treatments.

Leg pain (a.k.a. sciatica) due to herniated or bulging disc that lasts longer than four weeks, recurring pain from failed lower back surgery and persistent degenerative disc problems that do not respond to at least four weeks of conventional treatment are all indications for using spinal decompression therapy. The best results are achieved with properly qualified patients who comply with a complete decompression protocol. Most patients require 20 NSSD therapy sessions over six to seven consecutive weeks. The two most important benefits of NSSD leading to lasting relief from nerve irritation and pain are: negative disc pressure leads to disc retraction and disc rehydration.

“After the DRX 9000 (spinal decompression) treatments I cannot even feel any of the nerve symptoms down my leg that I lived with for years,” says Cynthia Chambers, a former competitive softball catcher.

But spinal decompression is not for everyone with back pain, particularly where there are questions about the integrity and stability of the spine. An athlete should always consult a qualified health care practitioner licensed to administer NSSD. Spinal X-rays are a minimum requirement with advanced imaging often recommended to determine if NSSD is the right option for each individual. Non-surgical spinal decompression should be considered when deciding on effective treatment options for a symptomatic spinal disc problem, which untreated, could lead to career-ending disc problems.
These problems including acute disc bulges, protrusions, and herniations that often accompany acute and persistent pinched-nerve symptoms such as sciatica in the lower limb and radiculitis in the upper limb.

When deciding on the best treatment for complex spinal disc problems, an athlete should obtain several professional opinions. Spinal decompression can offer an effective, efficient and definitive treatment for spinal disc problems.

Dr. Alan Chong, chiropractor, is the director of Calgary Spinal Decompression Centre and Centres for Chiropractic Care in Calgary.

September/October 2011