Spinal Decompression vs Chiropractic Adjustment: Which is the Best?

When it comes to making a spinal decompression vs chiropractic adjustment comparison, you need to have some knowledge about both these techniques. Besides, it’s also essential to consider factors like medical history and the specific condition of the patient before choosing any one of these therapies.

If you are interested in comparing these techniques, this article could serve the purpose well. Here, we have compiled the information, making it possible to draw a perfect comparison between chiropractic adjustment vs spinal decompression.

So, let’s see what we have got here!

What is Spinal Decompression?

Spinal decompression is a non-invasive therapy for treating back pain. It helps reduce the stress on a patient’s spine and improves blood flow. This refreshes the blood circulation and thoroughly hydrates the area. As a result, the required amount of nutrients reaches the affected area, which aids the healing process.

A chiropractor can start with a quick stretch and release of the spine. This helps rehydrate and reshape the discs. It also relieves any pinched nerves, which lowers the intensity of pain. Through a series of decompression sessions, a chiropractor can successfully create a kind of vacuum within the discs.

What is Chiropractic Adjustment?

This type of treatment involves the application of controlled force to a particular joint in the spine. It helps improve the movement of the joint and remove any kind of minor misalignments. Trained and skilled chiropractors perform this therapy by using their hands.

Usually, they use controlled and quick force to push the joint out of its regular range of motion.  At this point of the session, some patients could feel a crack or pop sound. This technique tends to be an effective method for treating neck pain or lower back pain.

Chiropractic adjustments can help alleviate the symptoms that affect the proper functioning of our musculoskeletal system. This therapy can help treat muscle pain, aches, muscle stiffness, or other similar conditions.

Some patients might prefer this therapy if they are looking for a non-invasive alternative to spine surgery. Besides, you can also seek long-lasting relief from pain or discomfort without any medication.

What are the Key Differences?

When it comes to spinal decompression vs chiropractic adjustment, these techniques can help lower spinal pain or discomfort. However, there are certain differences including:

Degree of Force: Chiropractic adjustment therapy relies on quick and controlled pressure. On the other hand, spinal decompression works with slow and gradual stretching. For patients not comfortable with forceful manipulations associated with chiropractic adjustment, spinal decompression could turn out to be a gentler alternative.

Conditions Treated: Both these therapies are quite effective in treating spinal disorders. However, spinal decompression proves to be more effective when treating chronic or severe conditions like bulging/herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disc disease.

Targeted Treatment: Spinal decompression targets spinal segments, while chiropractic adjustments focus on realigning the spine. Hence, spinal decompression might offer precise treatments for addressing localized pain.

Invasiveness: When compared to spinal surgery, both spinal decompression and chiropractic adjustments are non-invasive. This reduces the risk of complications to a great extent. However, spinal decompression is a more comfortable option as it does not involve any joint manipulations.

Conditions Spinal Decompression Can Treat

Spinal decompression therapy proves to be highly effective while treating the following conditions:

• Degenerative disc disorders
• Back Pain, Sciatica, or neck pain
• Diseased or injured spinal nerve roots
• Worn spinal joints

However, spinal decompression isn’t advised for patients with the following conditions:

• Broken vertebrae
• Pregnant women
• Spinal fusion
• Artificial disc installed

Conditions Chiropractic Adjustment Can Treat

Every patient who wants to seek chiropractic adjustment must have a reason for choosing this option. Patients can choose this treatment if they are struggling with the following conditions:

• Arthritis
• Frequent headaches
• Whiplash or recovering after an accident
• Neck pain
• Joint pain
• Lower back pain
• Sciatica

Advantages of Spinal Decompression

Listed below are the key advantages of this treatment:

Non-Invasive Therapy: Being a non-surgical treatment, spinal decompression is a non-invasive option. This could be the preferred option if you are trying to avoid surgery.

Promotes Disc Health: The treatment creates negative pressure, which causes the herniated discs to retract. This ensures a better flow of nutrients throughout the spinal discs, allowing them to heal and stay healthy.

Personalized Treatment: Both the duration of this treatment and the traction force could be adjusted depending on the specific needs of each patient.

Disadvantages of Spinal Decompression

Here are the most prominent cons of spinal decompression:

Not Suitable for Every Patient: This treatment might not be suitable for patients with severe medical conditions like fractures, osteoporosis, or spinal implants.

Time-Consuming: Treatment could take weeks or even months. This could be a con for those patients who find it difficult to pay regular visits to the facility.

Cost: Spinal decompression is relatively expensive. Hence, most insurance plans don’t cover the complete treatment cost.

Advantages of Chiropractic Adjustments

The following are the most prominent benefits of this treatment:

Immediate Relief: Most of the patients experience instant relief from discomfort or pain after having their first session of chiropractic adjustments.

Versatile Treatment: This therapy can treat a variety of conditions, including back pain, headaches, joint pain, neck pain, etc.

Holistic Approach: Chiropractors rely on a holistic approach while offering traditional adjustment therapy. This could lead to a comprehensive care regimen beyond just spinal adjustments.

Ensures Better Joint Mobility: This treatment can improve the range of motion, allowing you to move joints without pain or discomfort.

Disadvantages of Chiropractic Adjustments

Here are the reasons to avoid this therapy:

Limited Scope: While chiropractic adjustments could address numerous spinal disorders, this treatment might not be appropriate for herniated or bulged discs.

Discomfort: Chiropractic adjustment therapy involves using a good amount of pressure on the spine. This could lead to temporary soreness, causing discomfort or pain.

Relies on Practitioner’s Skill: A trained and experienced chiropractor is capable of offering effective and precise chiropractic adjustments. Hence, the outcome of such treatment might vary depending on the practitioner’s skill.

Frequent Sessions: As in the case of spinal decompression, better results can be achieved after regular sessions. Attending frequent sessions might not be possible for some patients.

Things to Consider When Making a Choice

When you have to choose between spinal decompression vs traditional chiropractic adjustment, here are the key factors to consider:

Severity of Condition: If you are suffering from a spinal disorder like a bulging or herniated disc, spinal decompression could offer you targeted relief. On the other hand, chiropractic adjustments could perform well if your symptoms are less severe. So, when comparing spinal decompression vs chiropractic adjustment, spinal decompression takes the lead by curing severe issues.

Medical History: Before making any choice, make sure to get your medical history analyzed by your healthcare provider. This could help you select the most effective and safer treatment, depending on your medical condition.

Personal Preferences: For some people, the mechanical aspects of the spinal decompression treatment are more appealing. Besides, a few patients prefer a hands-on approach utilized during chiropractic adjustments.

Which One is the Best Option for You?

When comparing spinal decompression vs chiropractic adjustment, it’s best to choose one that suits you depending on your condition and medical needs. In addition, you also need to consider the basic difference between these treatments before making a decision.

Spinal decompression treatment could be a better option for a variety of patients. It tends to be a viable choice especially if someone has tried chiropractic adjustment and couldn’t get the desired results.

If the MRI of a patient unleashes herniated discs that are causing nerve pressure, spinal decompression is the way to go. In addition, patients with spinal stenosis or sciatica could also seek benefit from this treatment.

Spinal decompression is a safe and effective method of treating various spine-related issues. It’s suitable for both young and old patients. However, this therapy might not be recommended for pregnant patients or those with artificial spine implants.

On the other hand, Chiropractic adjustment can be a suitable option for patients with conditions like joint pain, neck pain, muscle pain, etc. It would also be a good option if you are experiencing pain in different parts of the spine.

It’s also essential that chiropractors discuss the available options with their patients. This can help them make informed decisions and choose a more appropriate course. For maximum relief, you can even opt for the combination of both these treatments.

However, chiropractic adjustments won’t be advised for patients with medical conditions like asthma or high blood pressure.

Final Thoughts

By going through the above information, you are now in a better position to compare spinal decompression vs chiropractic adjustment. To choose the best option for you, it’s essential to understand the difference between both these therapies.

This is why we have explained the procedures of these treatments as well as their pros and cons. Whether you opt for spinal decompression or chiropractic adjustment, you can rely on the professional treatments offered at Thrive Health Systems.

For consultation or to book an appointment, just contact us today!