Decompression

Neurovertebral Spinal Decompression in Paris 6

Neurovertebral spinal decompression is a mechanically assisted traction technique designed to relieve pressure on the intervertebral discs and compressed nerve roots. It is a non-surgical, non-invasive approach used in the management of disc herniations, bulging discs, sciatica, chronic lower back pain and certain cervical conditions. The practice at 9 Rue du Regard in Paris 6 has been equipped with a spinal decompression table since 2009.

Indications

Spinal decompression therapy may be indicated for the following conditions:

• Disc herniation — A herniated disc occurs when the inner gel-like material of the intervertebral disc protrudes through the outer fibrous ring, potentially compressing adjacent nerve roots and causing pain, numbness or weakness.
• Disc bulge (protrusion) — A less severe form of disc pathology where the disc wall bulges outward without full rupture, but may still irritate nearby nerve structures.
• Sciatica — Pain radiating along the sciatic nerve, from the lower back through the buttock and down the leg, often caused by disc herniation or foraminal stenosis.
• Chronic lower back pain — Persistent lumbar pain that has not responded adequately to conventional manual therapy or medication alone.
• Degenerative disc disease — Age-related wear of the intervertebral discs that leads to reduced disc height, loss of hydration and spinal stiffness.
• Cervical disc pathology — Disc herniations and protrusions in the cervical spine causing neck pain, cervicobrachial neuralgia or headaches.

How It Works

The patient lies on a motorised decompression table. A harness is fitted around the pelvis (for lumbar treatment) or the head (for cervical treatment). The table then applies a precisely controlled traction force, gently separating the vertebrae and creating negative intradiscal pressure.

This negative pressure has several effects:

• It encourages the retraction of herniated or bulging disc material back toward the centre of the disc.
• It promotes the diffusion of water, oxygen and nutrients into the disc, supporting tissue repair.
• It reduces pressure on compressed nerve roots, alleviating radicular pain.

Each session lasts approximately 20 to 30 minutes. The traction force is applied in cycles of pull and release, allowing the surrounding muscles to relax and maximising the decompressive effect.

Treatment Protocol

A typical course of spinal decompression therapy consists of 10 to 20 sessions, depending on the severity and chronicity of the condition. Sessions are usually scheduled 2 to 3 times per week during the initial phase, then gradually reduced in frequency as symptoms improve.

Spinal decompression is often combined with osteopathic manual treatment to address associated muscular tension, joint restrictions and postural imbalances. This integrated approach maximises the therapeutic outcome.

Contraindications

Spinal decompression is not suitable for all patients. The following contraindications apply:

• Spinal fracture or severe osteoporosis
• Spinal tumour or metastatic disease
• Cauda equina syndrome
• Spinal surgery with hardware (rods, screws, plates)
• Pregnancy
• Severe aortic aneurysm
• Acute inflammatory spinal conditions

A thorough clinical assessment is performed before any decompression session to ensure the treatment is appropriate and safe for the individual patient.

Clinical Evidence

Several clinical studies have investigated the effectiveness of spinal decompression therapy:

• Choi et al. (2022) — Demonstrated significant improvements in pain and functional disability in patients with lumbar disc herniation treated with mechanical decompression therapy.
• BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders (2022) — A systematic review that found spinal decompression to be a promising non-surgical intervention for chronic discogenic lower back pain, with improvements in pain scores and disc hydration.
• Feng et al. (2018) — Reported positive outcomes for patients with cervical disc herniation treated with non-surgical spinal decompression, including reduced pain and improved neck function.

While further large-scale randomised controlled trials are needed, the existing evidence supports the use of spinal decompression as a safe and effective component of a comprehensive treatment plan for disc-related conditions.