chandler-chiropractic-lumbar-disk-decompression-ahwatukee-tempe
Lumbar Disk Decompression
Lumbar disk decompression therapy and rehabilitation has several specific goals
- Decrease pain
- Restore function
- Restore pre-injury activities
- Reduce risk of future injury
A lumbar disk has two distinct layers, the outside fibrous layer and the inside nucleus pulposus. The nucleus is pulposus is gel like. It is similar to a jelly doughnut, the thick outer layer surrounding the gel. Disk herniations is were the nucleus pulposus bulges the fibrous layer toward the lumbar nerve. This process can cause painful radiating lumbar or sciatic pain.
Lumbar disk decompression separates two lumbar bones by a few millimeters, which decreases the lumbar disk pressure. Decreasing lumbar disk pressure can reduce the mechanisms that cause back pain.
Traction or lumbar disk decompression can decrease back pain by improving the mechanisms that cause pain. Disk decompression decreases the pressure on the lumbar disk, facet joints, opens the neuroforaminal canal, and decreases the stress on the fibrous disk layer. All have been associated with low back pain.
Treatment is more than decompressing the lumbar spine. Disk decompression can decrease the pain, and then the strengthening and stabilization phase of treatment helps reduce future occurrences of low back pain.
The lumbar spine is controlled by a series of muscles that stabilize the spinal joints. With chronic back pain, weakness, and time the muscles often lose coordination and stabilization. Proper exercises can activate and strengthen the weak muscles to further improve the low back.
In addition to lumbar disk decompression, our treatment involves:
- Treating the pain with active and passive therapies. This can involve heat, ice, electric, ultrasound, cold laser, or massage therapy.
- Posture Training - correcting postural habits and postures that comprise the low back. This can include sitting, standing, and working postures.
- Stabilization - Core muscle stabilization and strengthening exercises. Improving lumbar muscle patterns, strength, and endurance of the lumbar spine muscles.
- Work, ADL, and Sport Specific exercises - Exercises to stabilize the lumbar spine for specific work, home, and sports activities. It is important to strengthen the low back to participate in your specific activities, whether it is sitting at the computer, golf, or sports with the kids.
We believe low back treatment should be comprehensive, involved, and thorough. Many people have improved their back pain with this combination therapy.
Testimonials:
I have had several bouts of horrible low back pain, and the exercises helped make the difference. - P.U. Ahwatukee, AZ
Disk decompression helped get rid of my low back and leg pain - A.R. Tempe, AZ
They were great and took excellent care of me. - S.P. Ahwatukee, AZ
The staff was kind, caring, and really knowledgeable! They made a big difference for me. - S.P. Tempe, Arizona