Traction of the spine is nothing new. History reveals that the Greek physician Aristotle used different forms of spinal traction to relieve various musculoskeletal ailments. The medical community has employed classic medical traction for many years to attempt to remove pressure on nerves in the neck and back. In the 1980s Dr. Donald Harrison PhD, D.C. introduced spinal traction as a means to correct scoliosis and other forms of spinal misalignments.
The term “non-surgical spinal decompression” is actually a relatively new term describing a similar concept. The nerves in and around the spine only have so much room to function normally. Pressure on these nerves can cause sciatica, radiculopathy, nerve pain, and even mimic muscle pain. Pressure typically occurs when the nerve is compressed by bone, herniated discs or even swelling and inflammation. Spinal decompression is effective by removing the pressure from the nerve by specifically targeting the misaligned bone or disc.
