Spinal Decompression Overview


Spinal Decompression treatment is extremely safe, likely effective, FDA-Cleared, and very affordable. Preferred Pain has a State-of-the-Art table (the Kennedy Decompression Table) which has allowed many patients to avoid surgery and relieve pain with Spinal Decompression Therapy in Phoenix and Scottsdale. Our pain management treatment center is located in Phoenix Arizona.


Our Phoenix Pain Center was recently featured in this video with numerous patient testimonials describing how patients got their lives back with the spinal decompression treatments.

Patients are often able to return to work, play with their kids again, avoid surgery, and ENJOY LIFE AGAIN!





The Kennedy Decompression Table is the ONLY table on the market allowing patients to be treated in either the prone (belly down) position or the supine (belly up) position. Why is this important? Because depending on the patient's diagnosis, it may be painful to lay one way and prohibit the treatment. By having both available, treatment is more comfortable and therefore more efficacious.



The Kennedy Decompression Table is extremely comfortable. During treatment many patients actually fall asleep. The frequency and oscillation of the treatment allows enhanced blood flow and oxygen to enter the problem areas which frequently reduces pain and allows patients to sleep better at night, play with their kids, enjoy social activities more often, get back to work, essentially getting back their lives!



The table at Preferred Pain Center allows for patients to be treated for neck issues as well as back problems. As you can see above and below, our table allows for comfortable positioning that is "dialed in" and customizable for any patient height or weight.





Why didn't Preferred Pain Center purchase a DRX-9000? Very simple, we researched ALL the tables on the market to see which one is best for patient outcomes while maintaining cost-effectiveness. By deciding on the Kennedy Decompression Table, patients receive State-of-the-Art treatment with first-rate outcomes while at the same time ensuring an extremely competitive cost structure.






by David Greene, MD, CEO
Spinal Decompression Therapy is a non-surgical traction based treatment that can effectively treat back, neck, arm, and leg pain. Both Neck Decompression and Lumbar Decompression work extremely well for treating herniated or bulging discs in the neck and lower back along with degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, facet arthritis, failed back surgery syndrome, sciatica, and radiculopathy.

The FDA cleared spinal decompression therapy in 1996. It's extremely safe, affordable, and revolutionary.

How Does Spinal Decompression Treatment Work?

The treatment is traction-based, with gradual application and release of traction forces designed to "trick" the para-spinal muscles so they do not guard or spasm. This creates a negative pressure on the spine, which then allows increased blood flow bringing along substantial oxygen and nutrients. This allows the protruded or herniated disc to be pulled back within the normal confines of the disc, which permits healing to occur.

What Conditions Benefit from Lumbar and/or Cervical Spinal Decompression?

Herniated Discs Neck & Back · Bulging Discs · Degenerative Disc Disease · Failed Surgery · Sciatica · Radiculopathy · Spinal Arthritis · Spinal Stenosis · Facet Syndrome

Is Spinal Decompression Therapy Painful? How Many Sessions are Needed?

For the vast majority of patients, treatment is completely painless both for cervical decompression and lumbar decompression. With our Phoenix Spinal Decompression, patients are able to relax during treatments and a considerable amount of patients actually fall asleep during the sessions. Based on research and our providers' clinical experience, the best results are achieved with 20 cervical decompression or lumbar decompression sessions over a six-week period. To reduce inflammation and assist the healing process, supporting structures sometimes are treated with passive therapies (ice/heat/muscle stimulation), chiropractic adjustments (when indicated) and/or active rehabilitation in order to strengthen the spinal musculature.

Are there Clinical Trials that Document the Effectiveness of Spinal Decompression Therapy?

There are quite a few actually, although none are Level 1 studies. In a study published in the Journal of Neuroimaging in 1998, Eyerman found in 20 patients that utilization of spinal decompression therapy resulted in disc herniation reduction and disc rehydration in over half of the patients. This study was for lumbar decompression, not cervical decompression.

A study in the American Journal of Pain Management by Shealy et al in 1997 showed that 86% of ruptured intervertebral disc patients achieved good to excellent results with decompression. Sciatica and back pain were relieved substantially and of the facet arthrosis patients, 75% obtained good to excellent results with spinal decompression.

One of the most well known studies on decompression therapy was published in the Orthopedic Technology Review in 2003 by Gionis et al. Out of 219 patients, 86% who completed treatment reported immediate resolution of their symptoms, while 84% remained pain free 90 days post-treatment. Physical examination findings showed improvement in 92% of the patients and remained intact in 89% of the patients 90 days after treatment.

Are there Conditions where Spinal Decompression Therapy is Not Indicated?

Decompression Treatment is not recommended for pregnant women, people with severe osteoporosis, or post spinal surgery with instrumentation. Spinal fusion surgery without instrumentation is okay as well as spinal surgery without a fusion.

Patients who are pregnant still benefit from other treatments at Preferred Pain including chiropractic treatment, PT, rehab, delicate spinal manipulation (such as with an Activator), or a TENS unit.

Do Patients Also Receive Physical Therapy and Rehab Exercises?

Typically yes. To reduce inflammation and to assist in the spinal healing process, physical therapy along with rehab is usually added to strengthen the paraspinal musculature. Also passive therapies like ice (cryotherapy),heat, muscle stimulation, and chiropractic adjustments are added to the mix as well. Our Phoenix chiropractic doctor, Sky Moore, DC, has been successfully treating patients in pain for over 15 years. He is certified in cervical decompression and lumbar decompression treatment and oversees PT, rehab, and passive therapy for patients receiving spinal decompression to maximize a successful outcome.

How Much Does it Cost and does Insurance cover it?

The cost for 20 sessions at Preferred Pain Center costs $1495, which is very reasonable considering the cost and potential adverse outcomes associated with spine surgery. Cheaper decompression does not necessarily mean less effective decompression.

It's debatable whether insurance covers spinal decompression. Some practices advertise that it does but it can be potentially deceiving. There are some codes for vertebral traction but spinal decompression is not pure traction, it's a "traction-based" treatment. Most Phoenix and Scottsdale Spinal Decompression Doctors offering spinal decompression therefore offer it as a cash based fee for service treatment. This includes both cervical decompression and lumbar decompression.

The Bottom Line

Spinal decompression therapy has saved many people from spinal surgery. According to a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, surgery is no more effective than non-invasive treatments, including chiropractic care, for patients with lumbar disc herniation causing sciatica. Spine decompression (neck decompression and low back decompression) is extremely safe, FDA cleared, affordable, and very effective for many conditions such as back, neck, arm, and leg pain.

At Preferred Pain Center serving Phoenix, Scottsdale AZ and surrounding areas 50% of our patients receive cervical decompression (neck decompression) and 50% lumbar decompression (low back decompression). The results have been impressive for both.

For a No-Cost No-Obligation consult at the Center with one of our Pain Doctors