Non-surgical spinal decompression therapy for herniated discs, sciatica, and chronic low back pain — gentle, targeted, and built around your recovery at Spine & Joint Center.
Last Updated: May 2026
By Dr. Douglas Kellerman, DC · Medically Reviewed By Dr. Michael F. Petrie, DC · May 2026
Spinal decompression in Fort Lauderdale is a non-surgical therapy that uses a motorized traction table to gently stretch the spine, easing pressure on compressed discs and nerves. At Spine & Joint Center, a Doctor of Chiropractic delivers decompression in short, comfortable sessions to relieve disc-related back and leg pain.
Spinal decompression therapy works by creating a controlled, intermittent pull along the length of the spine. As the vertebrae separate slightly, pressure inside the affected disc drops — this negative pressure is thought to help retract bulging or herniated disc material away from nearby nerve roots and improve the flow of water, oxygen, and nutrients into the disc. The therapy most often targets the lumbar segments (L4–L5 and L5–S1), where disc injuries and sciatic nerve compression are most common, and the cervical spine when neck-related disc pain is present. Each session is mapped to your specific diagnosis, with the table’s angle, force, and hold-and-release cycle adjusted to your tolerance. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke notes that most low back pain is mechanical in origin and that non-surgical, conservative care is the recommended starting point for disc-related symptoms (NINDS). Decompression is frequently combined with chiropractic adjustment and rehabilitation to address the underlying mechanics.
Spine & Joint Center is located at 410 NE 44th St in Oakland Park, just minutes from downtown Fort Lauderdale, serving patients across Broward County. With 77 years of combined chiropractic experience and the same trusted Fort Lauderdale-area location since 1979, the practice has guided thousands of disc-pain sufferers toward conservative, non-surgical relief. Schedule your spinal decompression consultation to find out whether this therapy fits your diagnosis.
Living with disc pain or sciatica? Relief may not require surgery.
Talk with a Fort Lauderdale chiropractor about whether non-surgical decompression is right for you.
Non-surgical spinal decompression therapy in Fort Lauderdale targets disc-related pain at its source. These are the conditions most commonly evaluated for decompression care at Spine & Joint Center.
When inner disc material pushes through its outer wall and presses on a nerve, decompression helps reduce that pressure. Explore dedicated herniated disc treatment in Fort Lauderdale.
Decompression eases compression on the sciatic nerve, addressing the radiating leg pain, tingling, and numbness of sciatica. See how the practice approaches sciatica management.
A bulging disc extends beyond its normal boundary without rupturing. Decompression can ease the mechanical pressure a bulge places on surrounding spinal structures before symptoms worsen.
As discs lose height and hydration with age, decompression supports disc nutrition and spacing. Learn more about degenerative disc disease management.
When a spinal nerve is compressed by disc material or narrowed space, decompression helps create room. See pinched nerve treatment in Fort Lauderdale.
For persistent low back pain with a mechanical or disc-related cause, decompression is often paired with adjustment and rehabilitation as part of a conservative care plan.
Every spinal decompression therapy plan in Fort Lauderdale begins with a diagnosis — not a table. Here is how a typical course of care is structured at Spine & Joint Center.
Your Doctor of Chiropractic reviews your history, performs an exam, and uses imaging where appropriate to confirm whether your pain is disc-related and suitable for decompression.
You lie fully clothed on a motorized decompression table. A padded harness secures the pelvis and trunk so the traction force can be directed to the targeted spinal segment.
The table applies a gentle hold-and-release stretch in programmed cycles. Most patients describe it as a slow, painless pull — many relax fully during the session.
A typical decompression session lasts 20 to 30 minutes. Care plans commonly run a series of visits over several weeks, with progress reviewed at each stage.
Decompression is often paired with chiropractic adjustment, physical therapy, and targeted exercise so the spine is supported, not just stretched.
Your response is reassessed throughout the plan. If decompression is not the right fit, your Doctor of Chiropractic will recommend an alternative path.
Because decompression at Spine & Joint Center is paired with hands-on chiropractic care, treatment can also support related goals such as lasting back pain relief in Fort Lauderdale rather than short-term symptom masking. The practice serves patients throughout Broward County from its long-established Oakland Park office.
Spinal decompression is not appropriate for every back condition, and a proper diagnosis comes first. It may be worth discussing with a Fort Lauderdale chiropractor if disc-related symptoms have persisted despite rest or other conservative care.
Certain conditions — including severe osteoporosis, spinal fracture, certain implants or hardware, and some forms of advanced spinal disease — can make decompression unsuitable. That is why care at Spine & Joint Center always begins with an examination. If you have sudden loss of bladder or bowel control, progressive leg weakness, or numbness in the saddle area, treat it as a medical emergency and seek immediate care rather than booking a routine visit.
No, spinal decompression therapy is not typically painful. Most patients at Spine & Joint Center in Fort Lauderdale describe the sensation as a slow, gentle stretch, and many relax completely during the 20-to-30-minute session. The table’s force is adjusted to your comfort, and you remain fully clothed throughout.
The number of sessions depends on your diagnosis and response to care. Spinal decompression plans in Fort Lauderdale commonly run a series of visits over several weeks, with progress reviewed at each stage. Your Doctor of Chiropractic at Spine & Joint Center sets the schedule after an examination — there is no single fixed number.
Spinal decompression therapy is most often used for disc-related conditions, including herniated discs, bulging discs, degenerative disc disease, sciatica, pinched nerves, and chronic low back pain. At Spine & Joint Center in Fort Lauderdale, decompression is recommended only after an exam confirms your pain has a mechanical, disc-related cause.
Spinal decompression is a non-surgical, conservative therapy that may reduce the need for surgery in some disc-related cases, though results vary by individual. It is not a guaranteed substitute for surgery. A Fort Lauderdale chiropractor at Spine & Joint Center can help you understand whether conservative care is a reasonable first step for your diagnosis.
The right spinal decompression provider in Fort Lauderdale is one who diagnoses before treating and tailors each plan to your condition. Spine & Joint Center has delivered chiropractic care from the same Oakland Park location since 1979, with 77 years of combined experience and a 5.0-star Google rating. Schedule a consultation to discuss your case.
Spinal decompression cost in Fort Lauderdale varies with your diagnosis, the length of your care plan, and your insurance coverage. Spine & Joint Center reviews pricing and coverage with you before treatment begins, so you understand the plan up front. Call (954) 561-4700 to discuss your situation.
Coverage for spinal decompression therapy depends on your individual plan and diagnosis. Some policies cover it as part of conservative chiropractic care, while others do not. Spine & Joint Center in Oakland Park, serving Fort Lauderdale and Broward County, will help verify your benefits before you begin treatment.
Relief timelines vary by person and condition. Some patients notice eased pressure within the first few sessions, while disc-related conditions often improve gradually over a multi-week plan. Your Doctor of Chiropractic at Spine & Joint Center reviews your progress at each Fort Lauderdale visit and adjusts care accordingly.
Disc pain does not have to be permanent — and it does not always require surgery. Talk with a Fort Lauderdale chiropractor at Spine & Joint Center about a conservative, non-surgical path forward.
Get Directions →Medically Reviewed By Dr. Michael F. Petrie, DC · May 2026
This information is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individual results may vary. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before beginning any treatment program.