Health article
What is non-surgical spinal decompression, and who is it for?
By Pamer Chiropractic Health Center, Akron, Ohio
Non-surgical spinal decompression is a conservative treatment in which a computer-controlled table gently stretches the spine to reduce pressure on spinal discs and nerves. It may help people with disc-related back or neck pain, sciatica, and chronic pain that has not settled, after an exam determines they are a candidate. At Pamer Chiropractic Health Center in Akron, the program is called LaserDisc Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression, and it pairs decompression with Class IV laser therapy. Patients from Green, North Canton, Uniontown, Cuyahoga Falls, Barberton and other communities across Summit, Stark and Medina counties are welcome at the Akron office.
How does spinal decompression work?
You lie on a padded table while it moves through a precise, repeating cycle of gentle stretch and release. The idea is that reducing pressure inside the disc space takes load off the disc and the nerves beside it, giving the tissue room to settle and the body time to do its own repair work.
The table does the work; you simply lie there. Sessions are usually short, and the stretch is adjusted to your tolerance from the very first visit.
Who may be a candidate?
Candidates often have bulging or herniated discs, sciatica, degenerative disc concerns, or chronic low back or neck pain that imaging and an exam tie to disc pressure. An exam and imaging review come first, because decompression is not a guess-and-go treatment.
Not everyone is a candidate. Depending on the exam, decompression may not be appropriate during pregnancy, with spinal fractures, advanced osteoporosis, spinal implants or recent spinal surgery, or with some tumors or infections. The exam decides, not a brochure.
Is decompression the same as traction?
Decompression and traction are related but not identical. Traction is an older, broader term for sustained stretching. Modern decompression tables use computerized cycling with precise force and release patterns, and at this clinic the decompression phase is paired with Class IV laser therapy in the LaserDisc program.
The practical effect is what matters: a comfortable, controlled stretch that is adjusted to you.
What does the research show?
A double-blind trial that added non-surgical spinal decompression to physiotherapy found improvements in pain, function and imaging findings, though the decompression group was not clearly better than physiotherapy alone. A 2024 study found decompression or motorized traction added to conventional physiotherapy produced greater improvements in pain and disability than physiotherapy alone, with decompression not clearly superior to standard traction.
The honest takeaway: decompression is a reasonable conservative option for the right candidate, and most people with disc problems improve with conservative care over time. No one can promise a specific result, and individual results vary.
What a decompression course looks like at the clinic
Care is planned as a series of sessions; the number depends on your exam and your response. Progress is reviewed at every visit, and the plan is adjusted if something is not working.
Pamer Chiropractic Health Center is Akron's only ReliefNow Laser Method provider, and the LaserDisc program is described in full on the LaserDisc service page.
What this means for you
If your back or neck pain has not settled and imaging points to disc pressure, decompression may be worth discussing with Dr. Pamer. The first step is an exam, not a treatment plan; if you are not a candidate for decompression, another service at the clinic may fit better.
When to see a chiropractor or doctor
Emergency symptoms always come first: loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin or saddle area, sudden leg weakness, or severe pain after a major fall or crash mean call 911 or go to an emergency room. For everyday disc-related pain that is not improving, an evaluation is a reasonable next step.
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Common questions
Does spinal decompression hurt?
Most people find decompression sessions comfortable, and the stretch is adjusted to your tolerance. If anything is uncomfortable, the table is adjusted or the session stops.
How many sessions will I need?
The number depends on your exam and response. Dr. Pamer outlines a plan after your evaluation and reviews progress at every visit.
Can decompression avoid surgery?
No one can promise that. Decompression is a conservative option that may help some people avoid surgery, but outcomes vary and not everyone is a candidate.
Is decompression safe?
For the right candidate, decompression is a gentle, non-surgical treatment. Candidacy is decided by the exam, and people with certain conditions or implants may not be candidates.
How do I find out if I'm a candidate?
Request an Appointment online or call (330) 724-9331. The first step is a consultation and exam with Dr. Pamer.
Last updated October 2026