Decompression

Spinal decompression therapy is a noninvasive/nonsurgical treatment method used to treat

many spinal related injuries and ailments. Using a specially designed table, the patient will lie
down and receive a twelve to fifteen minute computer-controlled treatment, which is further
subdivided into gentle, one minute increments. These treatments will decompress the ailing
area as well as alternate in cycles for relaxation. This treatment can be utilized for both the
neck and the back patient.

For more information on Decompression, check out our Informational Brochure: Cooper
Functional Services Decompression FAQ

This therapy has been shown to help those seeking healing that have the following conditions:

* Bulging discs
* Disc herniation
* Spinal stenosis
* Sciatica
* Degenerative Discs
* General back pain
* Numbness in various parts of your body
* Neck pain and more.

See the attached Condition Diagram for more information. Although the diagram is of the low
beck, the same principles apply to neck disorders. :<<Spinal Decompression Therapy
Diagram>>

If you are unsure whether or not Decompression Therapy will work for you, call our office for
more information.
Decompression Therapy FAQ

Decompression Therapy for your Neck and Back Pain?

Do you are suffer with low back pain or chronic neck pain? Is a spinal surgery possibly
looming in your future?

Decompression Therapy is an effective treatment for these conditions. It is very safe and less
expensive than many other treatments.

Decompression Therapy is the hottest new therapeutic device for

compression and disc syndromes!

The Decompression-Reduction-Stabilization therapy is an effective treatment for:

Herniated disc
Degenerative disc
Facet syndrome and Arthritis (with or without spurs)
Sciatica
Chronic post-surgical pain
Spinal Stenosis

Research indicates disc problems are responsible for a significant number of low back and/or
leg symptoms as well as neck and/or arm pain syndromes. Compression from injury, poor
posture and gravity increases pressure leading to disc degeneration and even disc herniation in
some cases. Since the disc has no capillaries inside it, it doesnt receive fresh blood and
oxygen with every beat of the heart. It requires diffusion created by motion and
decompression to restore nutrients and enhance healing.

Decompression is defined as reduction in pressure inside the disc. The act of lying down
decreases this pressure slightly in comparison to standing and sitting. However, focused,
computer-guided traction with the proper forces applied with the patient in the proper
position, decompresses the spine MUCH more effectively and has been shown to dramatically
enhance the healing response.

There is some suggestion in the literature that extruded nuclear material from inside the disc
may be drawn in by the reduction of intradiscal pressures. This concept however is not
uniformly accepted since the length of time the material stays drawn in has not been
established in controlled studies. However, a temporary reduction in intradiscal pressure can
still have a profound effect on the healing process through fibroblast migration.

The research calls these phasic effects. The disc is allowed to better imbibe its nutrient
fluids. Additionally, pain relief is enhanced neurologically by stretching the soft tissues of the
spine. The combination of decompressing the disc while simultaneously stretching the
muscles and connective tissues make decompression therapy a logical and powerful tool in a
spinal treatment program.

The Spinal Decompression Table in conjunction with appropriate physical therapy effectively
relieves the pain and disability resulting from disc injury and degeneration, by repairing
damaged discs and reversing dystrophic changes in nerves. Spinal Decompression addresses
the functional and mechanical aspects of discogenic pain and disease through non-surgical
decompression of lumbar intervertebral discs. Studies verify the significant reduction of
intradiscal pressures into the negative range, to approximately minus 150 mm/HG, which
result in the non-surgical decompression of the disc and nerve root. Conventional traction has
never demonstrated a reduction of intradiscal pressure to negative ranges; on the contrary
many traction devices actually increased intradiscal pressure, most likely due to reflex muscle
spasm. The Decompression Table is designed to apply intermittent distraction tension to the
patients lumbar or cervical spine without eliciting reflex paravertebral muscle contractions.

By significantly reducing intradiscal pressure, Spinal Decompression promotes disc healing

and facilitates influx of oxygen, proline and other substrates. The promotion of fibroelastic
activity stimulates repair and inhibits leakage of irritant sulphates and carboxylates from the
nucleus. The most recent trial sought to correlate clinical success with MRI evidence of disc
repair in the annulus, nucleus, facet joint and foramina as a result of treatment and found that
reduction of disc herniation ranged between 10% and 90% depending on the number of
sessions performed, while annulus patching and healing was evident in all cases.

Decompression is not a magic cure-all. Unfortunately, spinal pain syndromes are complicated
and are caused by many different factors. Spinal decompression cannot address all of these
factors, but it has been shown to play an extremely powerful role in the healing process of
multiple spinal conditions. However, Decompression therapy (done safely within established
protocols and a clear understanding of its limitations) can often dramatically enhance healing
and render rapid, effective and often amazing pain relief in a properly selected patient
population (many of whom have previously failed other treatments).
Indications and Use: Any non-acute (>1 week) low back or neck pain syndrome not related to
a disease process, canal stenosis or acute injury is theoretically treatable by decompression.
Disc and facet pain can often be relieved by early intervention with decompression. The acute
inflammation of injuries however should be reduced by other means, in most cases, prior to
beginning Decompression. Contraindications are similar to manipulative therapy, however
since mechanical stretch creates no impact, mild to moderate Osteoporosis may not be
contraindicated. (This holds true overall for frail and elderly patients who could potentially be
injured by manipulative thrusts. Disc fragmentation, calcification, severe arthritis and any
surgical spinal appliances are all relative contraindications.

Our clinical findings suggest Decompression will create a relatively rapid initial response.
Many patients tend to feel a sense of relief (which can be direct pain cessation, a decrease in
referred pain or reduction in sharp pain to an ache or stiffness) within two to six sessions. Full
relief, if attainable through this passive treatment will usually be in 8-12 sessions. We treat
every case individually and recommend appropriate treatment duration according to our
experience and published research. Typical treatment frequency is 2-3 times per week.
Modalities like cold laser, ultrasound or electrical stimulation are often applied to reduce
muscle spasm and increase circulation. If spinal muscle tightness is reduced, the pressure on
the spine is reduced as well. Specific exercises will be applied to individual programs. Our
experience also suggests Decompression is also an excellent supportive or maintenance
treatment for those cases where pain relief is complete but prone to exacerbations.

Decompression therapy is very affordable and cheaper than surgery. Spinal Traction is highly
recommended by scientific studies. In one study it was found that out of 778 cases of patients
receiving spinal decompression 92% said that they showed improvement (Neurological
Research; Volume 20, Number 3, April 1998).

Spinal Disc Decompression, utilizing Decompression-Reduction-Stabilization, is a unique,

non-surgical therapy developed for the treatment of chronic spinal pain of multiple causes. It
has been shown to be effective for:
Disc syndromes (bulging, herniated or degenerated)
Arthritis (with or without spurs)
Facet syndrome
Sciatica
Chronic post-surgical pain (pain that persists in spite of surgery)
Chronic post-traumatic pain due to soft tissue injuries

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Spinal Decompression Therapy?
Spinal decompression therapy is a non-surgical, comfortable traction therapy for the relief of
back and leg pain or neck and arm pain. During this procedure, by cycling through distraction
and relaxation phases and by proper positioning, a spinal disc can be isolated and placed
under negative pressure, causing a vacuum effect within it. The vacuum within the disc
stimulates a healing response. This results in pain reduction and healing on a cellular level.
Must I pay for treatments in advance or buy a PACKAGE of treatments? No. Dr. Cooper
has never believed in that concept. Most patients will know in 2-4 visits if they will respond
to this therapy. The cost is charged per visit. It usually requires around ten visits, which are
NOT paid in advance.

What machine is used for this purpose?

Dr. Cooper began studying spinal traction when he was the Spine Therapist at the Methodist
Hospital Physical Therapy Department in Lubbock, Texas in 1981. He used Chattanooga
traction tables then and has stayed with the same manufacturer due to their long history of
research, development and state of the art equipment.

Who can benefit from Spinal Decompression Therapy?

Spinal decompression therapy is designed to unload the spine. Any back pain or neck pain
caused in whole or in part by a damaged disc or arthritis may be helped by spinal
decompression therapy. These conditions include herniated, protruding or bulging discs,
spinal stenosis (in some cases), sciatica, arthritis or radiculopathy (pinched nerves).

Are there conditions where Spinal Decompression is not indicated?

Spinal decompression therapy is usually not recommended for pregnant women, or patients
who have severe osteoporosis, severe obesity or severe nerve damage. It is not recommended
for patients over 70. However, every patient is evaluated on an individual basis. Spinal
surgery with instrumentation (screws and metal plates or cages) is also contraindicated.
Surgery to the discs without fusion or fusion using bony replacement is not contraindicated.
How often do I take treatment sessions? How long does each session last? Each session
includes decompression therapy and may or may not be accompanied by adjunctive
treatments ordered by Dr. Cooper. Sessions last around 20 minutes. Core strengthening
exercises are often required for the best long term results. Spinal decompression is usually
performed 2 or 3 times a week for 6 to 15 sessions.

What are the results of Spinal Decompression Therapy?

Over 70% of patients have significant and long lasting pain relief.
I have had spinal surgery, but continue to have pain. Can I try Spinal Decompression
Therapy? Spinal decompression therapy can help people with back pain after failed spinal
surgery. It can be performed in most patients who have not been left with an unstable spine
after surgery or do not have fusion with metal implants.

How can I be scheduled for Spinal Decompression Therapy?

Simply call our office at 817-267-6222 and tell the receptionist that you are interested in
decompression therapy. An initial consultation can usually be scheduled within 48 hours.

Dry Needling
 While Dr. Cooper is trained in both
acupuncture and dry needle therapy, there are some differences that should be pointed out.
Dry needling got its name from the premier trigger point researcher, Janet Travell, M.D.
When she was performing her research to ascertain which solution is best to inject into trigger
points, her control groups received a dry injection (one without any solution at all).

To her surprise, many of these patients got significant relief. When Dr. Cooper read her text
25 years ago he began placing acupuncture needles into tender points in symptomatic muscles
and observed significant success in many cases. Although dry needling and acupuncture both
utilize acupuncture needles to effect the treatment, dry needling does not attempt to treat
internal organ dysfunction or balance acupuncture meridians as traditional acupuncture does.
After he was trained and certified in acupuncture he began combining both techniques as the
individual case required. Shortly afterwards, he attended all of the Neural Therapy seminars
taught by Deitrich Klinghardt, M.D., Ph. D.

Now Dr. Cooper combines all three techniques in order to achieve the highest healing
response possible and may put needles into muscles, tendons, ligaments, connective tissue,
acupuncture points or scar tissue as the patients condition warrants. The combination of these
techniques has proven effective in most orthopedic diagnoses.