One of the goals of spinal decompression therapy is to take pressure off of the spine without triggering counter productive muscle spasm. This is usually attempted using high-tech tables.  Some of the new tables are computerized systems that do not use harnesses, straps, belts, ropes, or pulleys.  The use of safer and more efficient methods of decompression allows for a broader base of patients to quality as candidates.

Apart from use of tables, there are other ways of achieving spinal traction and decompression. One way is to use an FDA-approved spinal brace (orthosis) orthosis. Specialized braces have been designed to apply distractive forces along the spine. These are primarily used to treat the low back. These devices can be worn during the day in an attempt to provide gradual and controlled traction of the spine. Use of this type of brace may potentially reduce harmful loads translated through intervertebral discs and spinal joints during the normal day.

There are a variety of specialized traction and decompression tables on the market that were designed for physicans to use to treat back problems. Some of these tables have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Most of these tables were designed to provide gradual, physician controlled distraction along the length of the spine (spinal axis). The use of these specialized tables are proposed as a non-operative treatment option for the relief of low back pain associated with disc protrusion, disc herniation, degenerative disc disease, facet syndrome, or radiculopathy.  The devices are engineered to apply persistent, intermittent, and dynamic cycling distraction forces to designated areas of the spine.

On some devices (tables) the patient wears a pelvic harness and is positioned on a table which restricts torso movement in some fashion. Some tables distract by each end of the table slowly moves in opposite directions. The distraction cycle is followed by a gradual decrease of tension. Several cycles of distraction and release of tension is performed. This method can provide stronger distraction forces than static methods. Each treatment session last an average of 20-30 minutes in duration. Each treatment session may consist of 3-20 decompression and relaxation cycles depending on the device and the protocol chosen. The number of sessions will vary depending on the technology used, the spinal condition treated and the response to decompression therapy.  It is not uncommon for a treatment regain to include 10-20 sessions over 2-4 weeks.