What is the difference between Traction and Spinal Decompression?

Spinal traction is a treatment option that is based on the application of a longitudinal force to the axis of the spinal column. In other words, parts of the spinal column are “pulled” in opposite directions in order to stabilize or change the position of damaged aspects of the spine. For example, You can have traction to the neck, to the low back, to your leg or your arm
Traction is helpful at treating some of the conditions resulting from herniation or degeneration but traction is unable to address the source of the problem. Research has shown that Spinal Decompression therapy creates a negative pressure or a vacuum inside the disc. This effect causes the disc to pull in the herniation and the increase in negative pressure also causes the flow of blood and nutrients back into the disc allowing the body's natural fibroblastic response to heal the injury and re-hydrate the disc. The DRX 9000 is the premier spinal decompression therapy unit to accomplish this.

Traction and inversion tables, at best, can lower the intradiscal pressure from a +90 to a +30 mmHg. The DRX 9000 is clinically proven to reduce the intradiscal pressure to between a -150 to -200 mmHg. Traction triggers the body's normal response to stretching by creating painful muscle spasms that worsen the pain in affected area. Spinal decompression takes the muscles out of the equation and focuses on the disc herniation.