Abstract

A retrospective trial conducted in an independent clinic focused on the efficiency of a novel spinal decompression method and the dependence of its outcomes on patients’ age. Questionnaires of thirty-eight adult patients diagnosed with lumbar or cervical disc herniation treated with a spinal decompression (BTL Industries Ltd.) treatment program comprising 6 therapy sessions were reviewed. Oswestry low back pain questionnaire or Neck disability questionnaire and Numeric Pain Rating Scale obtained before the first and after the last treatment was assessed.

Significant improvement by 26% and 31% in the disability index and by 48% and 53% in pain perception was reported for disc herniation at the lumbar and cervical levels, respectively. While a significant correlation between patients’ age and Oswestry Disability Index obtained before and after the spinal decompression treatment program was observed, there was no significant association between age and the magnitude of therapy outcomes. Spinal decompression therapy demonstrated a significant impact in patients with herniated discs at both lumbar and cervical levels. No significant association between patients’ age and therapy outcomes was observed, predisposing this approach to becoming a universal tool in the treatment of back pain regardless of patients’ age, herniated disc location, or movement limitations.