Traction vs Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy: What’s the Difference?

A Lau
3 days ago
2 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

If you’re dealing with persistent back pain, herniated discs, or sciatica, you may have heard of treatments like spinal traction and non-surgical spinal decompression therapy. While they may sound similar, they’re actually very different in how they work, the results they deliver, and the level of precision involved.

Let’s unpack the key differences between these two spinal therapies—and what the latest research says about which one works better.

What Is Spinal Traction?

Spinal traction is one of the oldest forms of spinal therapy. It works by pulling or stretching the spine using a harness and pulley system to temporarily relieve pressure on spinal discs and nerves. Common systems used in clinical settings is the inversion table, over-door cervical traction device, and pneumatic cervical traction collar, which allows for manual stretching in intervals. There are also some non-clinical traction methods however they can be very dangerous and cause more discomfort.

❌ Limitations of Traction:

May trigger muscle guarding or spasm
Often provides only temporary relief
Not targeted to specific disc levels or conditions

What Is Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy?

In contrast, non-surgical spinal decompression therapy—uses computed calculations and calibrated tension to create gentle, rhythmic distraction of the spine. This method lowers pressure inside the spinal discs (intradiscal pressure), which may help reposition bulging discs, draw in nutrients for healing, and alleviate nerve compression.

✅ Benefits of Spinal Decompression Therapy:

Precision-guided by computer
Proven to reduce disc pressure and rehydrate discs
Designed to minimise muscle tension and guarding
Higher reported success rates in chronic disc conditions

What Does the Research Say?

There’s growing evidence to support non-surgical decompression as more effective than traditional traction in many cases.

📊 A 2022 randomized controlled trial found that patients receiving spinal decompression saw ~15% greater improvement in pain and disability scores compared to those doing exercise and physiotherapy alone.

📈 A BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders study (2022) showed that decompression therapy significantly improved pain, mobility, and muscle endurance in patients with lumbar disc herniation—more than exercise therapy alone.

Should You Consider Spinal Decompression Therapy?

If you’ve had limited relief from other forms of traditional treatments including surgical/conservative, non-surgical spinal decompression could be a game-changer—especially for disc-related conditions like:

Herniated or bulging discs
Degenerative disc disease
Chronic sciatica
Facet syndrome
Post-surgical low back pain

Final Thoughts

Not all back pain treatments are created equal. While traditional traction still has its place, modern spinal decompression systems offer more accurate, targeted, and lasting relief—with stronger support from clinical research.