Non-Surgical Treatment
Spinal Decompression Therapy
Gentle motorized traction that creates space between compressed discs, relieves nerve pressure, and restores mobility, without surgery, injections, or high-force manipulation.
What is spinal decompression?
Spinal decompression is a non-surgical therapy that uses gentle motorized traction to stretch the spine, reducing pressure inside the intervertebral disc. This negative pressure draws herniated or bulging disc material back toward the centre, relieves nerve compression, and promotes nutrient flow into the disc for natural healing.
Who It Helps
Conditions we treat with decompression
Disc Herniation
A displaced disc pressing on nerves causes radiating pain. Decompression gently pulls the disc away from the nerve, reducing pressure and inflammation at the root.
Sciatica
Pain radiating from the lower back down the leg, usually caused by disc pressure on the sciatic nerve root. Decompression targets the L4, L5, or S1 level directly.
Chronic Lower Back Compression
Accumulated spinal load from running, cycling, or desk work compresses the lumbar discs over time. Decompression restores disc height and offloads the nerves.
Neck Pain & Cervical Compression
Forward head posture from cycling or desk work loads the cervical spine unevenly. Cervical decompression relieves pressure on the discs and nerve roots of the neck.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Loss of disc height reduces the space nerves pass through. Decompression temporarily restores that space, relieving nerve irritation and slowing degenerative progression.
Post-Run & Post-Ride Recovery
Regular decompression after high-mileage weeks offloads cumulative spinal load before it becomes an injury. Dr. Lee uses this protocol in his own training.
The Treatment
What happens during a session
Assessment
Dr. Lee identifies the specific spinal levels under load using movement screening and a brief history of your symptoms and training load.
Positioning
You lie comfortably on the motorized table. A padded harness is fitted around the pelvis to guide the traction precisely to the affected disc level.
Decompression
The table gently cycles between stretch and release over 15–25 minutes. Most patients find this deeply relaxing. Many doze off. There is no sharp force or cracking.
Post-Session
You get up feeling lighter. There is no soreness or recovery period. Most patients run or ride the same day. Progress is assessed at every visit.
Comparison
Decompression vs. Traditional Chiropractic Adjustment
Spinal decompression and chiropractic adjustment address different structural problems. Decompression targets the intervertebral disc and nerve root through sustained traction. Adjustment targets the facet joint through a quick, high-velocity thrust. At Shift, we use decompression because it suits the compression patterns we see most in runners, cyclists, and desk workers.
| Feature | Spinal Decompression | Traditional Adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| Force type | Gentle, motorized cyclical traction | High-velocity, low-amplitude thrust |
| Primary target | Intervertebral disc and nerve root | Facet joint and surrounding musculature |
| Cracking sound | None | Common (joint cavitation) |
| Sensation | Slow rhythmic stretch, most find it relaxing | Quick structural release, can feel startling |
| Ideal for | Disc herniation, sciatica, chronic compression | Acute joint restriction, mobility lockouts |
| Session length | 15–25 minutes | 5–15 minutes |
Common Questions
Answers before you book
No. Most patients describe the sensation as a gentle pulling that becomes progressively relaxing. The table cycles between a stretch phase and a rest phase. There is no sharp force and no cracking sound. Patients with severe nerve pain occasionally feel mild discomfort in the first session as the disc begins to shift, but this typically resolves by session two or three.
Most patients notice meaningful improvement within 6–10 sessions. Dr. Lee will give you an honest estimate at your first visit based on the duration and severity of your symptoms. Chronic conditions typically require more sessions than acute or post-activity flare-ups.
Spinal decompression is billed under chiropractic care, which is covered by most extended health plans in BC. We don't direct-bill, but we handle all the paperwork for you. A detailed, itemized receipt is automatically emailed after every visit — forward it to your insurer's app or portal and you're done. Most reimbursements arrive within 2–5 business days.
Yes. Decompression does not cause the post-treatment soreness that some manual therapies do. Most of our patients are runners and cyclists who train the same day. Dr. Lee will advise you if any specific loading patterns should be avoided temporarily during your treatment course.
Decompression is not appropriate for patients with certain types of surgical hardware, spinal fractures, severe osteoporosis, or during pregnancy. Dr. Lee reviews your history before beginning any treatment to confirm it is safe and appropriate for your situation.
"I had been dealing with sciatica for eight months. Three weeks of decompression at Shift and I was back running pain-free. Nothing else had worked."
— Trail Runner, North Vancouver