Do Home Spinal Decompression
There are various home-use devices on the market that you can use to traction and decompress your lumbar spine. Traction is basically applying a force strong enough to slightly separate adjacent lumbar vertebrae, which stretches the ligaments that hold them together. This re-hydrates weak and recovering lumbar discs (when discs lose water content, they weaken) and expands the opening of neural canals — the passageways where nerve roots pass, thus reducing pressure to spinal nerve roots and eliminating radiating pain down the leg.
Do not do home decompression on an acute disc bulge, as it could make it worse. Wait until the pain has subsided somewhat. It is best to check with a professional who has treated you, to get his/her opinion first.
The home Spinal Decompression devices I recommend are:
- PosturePump™ Elliptical Back Rocker (easy to use; portable)
- Back Bubble™ (requires hardware and set-up; not really portable)
- Gravity Inversion Table (not recommended if you get nauseous/ vertigo when upside down)
I will address each one, and the advantages and disadvantages of each:
NEXT: PosturePump
