Spinal Decompression in Arlington Heights, IL

Quick answer: Spinal decompression is mechanical traction. A table gently separates the vertebrae to ease pressure on a disc or an irritated nerve root. At Forza Chiropractic in Arlington Heights it is one tool inside a measured care plan — never sold as a standalone package — and we only use it after an exam and digital X-rays show you are a candidate.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Drew Voelsch, DC — Palmer College of Chiropractic graduate, CBP® Certified. About Dr. Drew.

Disc or nerve pain flaring right now? Request an evaluation

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Three quick questions to start — that is all the first step asks. We verify your insurance and explain your options before any treatment begins, and we can usually see new patients the same week.

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What spinal decompression actually does

Your discs sit between the vertebrae and act as spacers and shock absorbers. When a disc bulges or loses height, it can press on the nerve root leaving the spine — which is why the pain often shows up somewhere else entirely: down a leg, into the shoulder, or as numbness in the hand.

Mechanical decompression uses a motorised table to apply a slow, controlled pull along the length of the spine, then release it, in cycles. The intent is straightforward: create a little more room at the segment that is under pressure, and give the area a chance to move fluid and nutrients in and out while it is unloaded.

It is a mechanical input, not a cure. What it can do is reduce pressure and make the segment easier to work with. What it cannot do on its own is change the posture, alignment or movement habit that loaded that disc in the first place — which is why we treat it as one component of a plan rather than the plan itself.

How we decide whether you are a candidate

Decompression is not right for everyone, and we would rather tell you that on day one than sell you a package you do not need. Your first visit is a real workup: history, orthopaedic and neurological testing, posture analysis, and on-site digital X-rays so we can see the actual spacing, curve and alignment rather than guess at it.

Some findings make decompression a sensible part of the plan. Others point us somewhere else entirely — a joint restriction, a pelvic issue, or a curve problem better addressed through Chiropractic BioPhysics correction. A few findings mean we refer you out instead. You get the imaging explained to you at a Report of Findings before any treatment begins.

Where decompression fits in a care plan

We use decompression the way a physical therapist uses a specific exercise: for a defined reason, at a defined point, for as long as it is useful. A typical plan pairs it with adjusting to restore motion, corrective work to change the posture driving the load, and home exercise so the change holds once you are out of the office.

The measurement matters more than the machine. We re-image and re-measure so you can see whether the spacing and curve are actually changing, instead of relying on whether you happen to feel good that week.

Problems we most often use it alongside

Decompression commonly appears in plans for a herniated or bulging disc, for sciatica where a lumbar disc is involved, for a pinched nerve in the neck, and for stubborn lower back pain that keeps returning after it settles.

The common thread is pressure on a disc or nerve root. If your exam does not show that, decompression is not the answer and we will say so.

What a session is like

You stay fully clothed. You lie on the table, we fit a harness, and the table applies a slow pull-and-release cycle for roughly fifteen to twenty minutes. Most people describe it as a stretch rather than anything sharp, and plenty find it relaxing enough that the hardest part is staying awake.

It is not a one-session fix. Decompression is used over a series of visits, and the number is set by your findings — not by a package bought up front.

Hours that work around a job

Most of our patients work full time. We schedule early mornings and late afternoons so care fits around your day rather than costing you one, and new patients can usually be seen the same week. Call (847) 472-1224 or use the form above.

Insurance and cost

We verify your insurance before your first visit and explain what is covered and what is not, in plain numbers, before any treatment starts. Coverage for decompression varies by plan, so we check yours specifically rather than quoting a general answer.

Frequently asked questions

Is spinal decompression the same as traction?

Mechanical decompression is a form of traction, delivered by a table that applies a controlled pull-and-release cycle rather than a steady pull. The terms get used interchangeably, and when someone says “non-surgical spinal decompression” this is generally what they mean.

Does it hurt?

It should not. Most people describe a stretch through the low back or neck. If a session is painful, that is information — tell us, because it usually means the settings or the plan need adjusting.

How many sessions will I need?

That depends on what the exam and imaging show, and we will give you a specific number at your Report of Findings rather than a vague range now. We would rather set expectations from your films than from an average.

Can decompression fix a herniated disc?

It can reduce pressure and relieve symptoms for many people, and it is well tolerated. We avoid promising it will resolve a herniation, because outcomes vary with the size and type of the disc problem and with what else is going on in your spine. The honest version: we measure, we treat, and we re-measure so you can see what actually changed.

Do I need an MRI first?

Not usually. On-site digital X-rays plus a thorough exam are enough to decide whether decompression is appropriate in most cases. If your findings suggest advanced imaging is warranted, we will tell you and help you get it.

Do you offer decompression on its own?

No. It is part of a care plan built around your findings. Buying traction sessions in isolation does not address why the disc was loaded, and we are not willing to sell something that skips the part that makes it hold.

Not sure where your pain is coming from?

Start with the free two-minute posture self-assessment — no email needed to see your score — or request an evaluation and we will work it out from your exam and films.