DTS Spinal Decompression Therapy

What is Spinal Decompression Therapy?

Kernersville Rehab Specialists Aquatic Physical Therapy

Thousands of back pain sufferers have found relief from serious back pain, sciatica, and neck pain with DTS Spinal Decompression Therapy - an advanced, traction based procedure.

The symptoms associated with herniated discs, bulging and degenerative discs may be reduced or even eliminated entirely in many cases.

DTS Therapy is a leading, non-surgical alternative that gently decompresses the spine in a safe and controlled manner to greatly increase critical circulation to the discs and joints. If you suffer from neck or back pain, you owe it to yourself to look into DTS Therapy today.

We are proud to be one of over 1,000 clinics nationwide to offer safe and effective DTS Therapy utilizing the Chattanooga DTS System. Clinical advances in traction therapy have given hope to millions suffering from the debilitating pain of damaged or degenerative discs and pinched nerves.

Your comfort is our top priority, and we want your visits to be enjoyable and successful. Treatments are short in duration, most completed in under an hour. Most patients undergoing this treatment report improvements and a reduction in their pain after only a few sessions.

In order for you to achieve the best possible outcome, you will need to stay regular with your appointments and follow through with all prescribed in-office and at-home exercises. Since it took months or years for your condition to bring you to our office, it will take a comprehensive, multifaceted approach to promote a true, lasting healing process. Spinal discs can be very slow to heal and patience is important. Completing your treatment plan is critical.


The Spinal Decompression Treatment Plan

PHASE I: TREATMENT BEGINS

Computer controlled DTS traction delivers alternating gentle stretch and release to the spinal vertebra, allowing for accurate and focused treatment to the affected disc. Most patients report simply feeling a subtle and gentle stretching at their lower back or around their hips. Since DTS Therapy is a comfort-based procedure, patients usually report a sense of relief and relaxation during the session. Many patients even fall to sleep.

Imbibing the Discs
The gentle stretching and relaxing of the spine fosters a phenomenon called "imbibition". In the simplest of terms, this is the way a normal disc gets nutrition. This pumping action promotes nutrition intake into the discs, something often lost in damaged and degenerative disc conditions. In healthy discs, imbibition occurs naturally with daily motions and body positions and accounts for the increase of disc thickness in the morning and decrease at night. A disc with poor imbibition, fewer nutrients and hydration, is more likely to become injured and painful. Stretching, or tractioning the spine in a controlled, comfortable manner can help re-establish a more normal imbibition. This can re-supply the disc with nutrients and blood contact that help the disc heal from the inside out. Also the dramatic decrease of pressure in the disc (decompression) can foster the drawing in of a bulge and help take pressure off a "pinched" spinal nerve.

Re-Establish Structural Support
Although most patients report dramatic reduction of their pain within as few as five treatments, an injured spinal disc needs time to heal. This is why we urge you to be regular with your prescribed treatments and office visits. Research shows to completely heal some discs a regular program of home exercises, prescribed by your doctor will need to be followed. Spinal disc structures can take months to heal. Even though your pain may be gone, you must stay on the treatment plan in order to keep your spine healthy.

As you become more mobile and more able to return to your normal lifestyle, your increased activity is what your spine needs most. Now you will be imbibing the discs naturally, like people with healthy discs. Movement is life, and your spine depends on the muscle activity to support your spine, and create fluid movement to and from the discs.

PHASE II: STABILIZATION OF STRUCTURE

Pain is Under Control: Rehabilitate the Structures Supporting the Disc
Most patients feel significant pain reduction in as few as five DTS Therapy treatments. That however does not mean the healing process is complete, or that your pain won't return. During Phase II, our office will prescribe a series of rehabilitative measures in order to more fully heal your discs, and keep the pain from returning. Most low back pain sufferers have two compounding problems that have contributed to their disc injury and limited their natural healing abilities. These problems include:

  • Decreased spine flexibility
  • Poor muscle control

A program of focused rehabilitative exercise, with Biofeedback, may begin during or after your DTS Therapy course of treatment. Our rehabilitation program involves several clinically effective yet simple, pain-free activities including Biofeedback. Biofeedback allows you to monitor and control spinal motion and re-claim proper spinal movement patterns. Strengthening the muscles that support the spine, and regaining endurance in them, is also vital for spinal health.

All the body systems must work in concert for optimum health so nutritional and lifestyle advice may be given as well as an at-home exercise program. We can't over emphasize the importance of the at-home exercises. What you do at home is integral to the overall success we have. Studies show consistent stabilization and endurance exercises control back pain and reduce injury. At what point you start the exercise program is a function of your pain and overall progress based on our findings.

PHASE III: SUPPORT OF MUSCULAR SYSTEM

Pain is Under Control: Rehabilitate the Structures Supporting the Disc
Most patients feel significant pain reduction in as few as five DTS Therapy treatments. That however does not mean the healing process is complete, or that your pain won't return. During Phase II, our office will prescribe a series of rehabilitative measures in order to more fully heal your discs, and keep the pain from returning. Most low back pain sufferers have two compounding problems that have contributed to their disc injury and limited their natural healing abilities. These problems include:

  • Decreased spine flexibility
  • Poor muscle control

During Phase III, we'll structure an in-office and home-based exercise program that will help to bring your spine back to full health. This program may include in-office resistance training, at home exercise and resistance training, and other "core" exercises.

Regular and consistent home-based exercise is one of the keys to long-term relief. We have found through experience the simple home-based exercises we prescribe are the most effective. Introduction to the low tech movement exercises you can do to speed the healing process are one of the most important parts of the DTS Therapy System.