Spinal Decompression: A Non-Surgical Option for Back Pain and Sciatica
About this service
Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy
Non-surgical spinal decompression is a treatment that uses a computer-guided table to apply gentle, alternating cycles of stretching and relaxation to the spine. The goal is to reduce pressure inside the spinal discs and relieve pressure on the nerves those discs press against, without surgery, injections, or medication.
Hornback Chiropractic & Wellness offers decompression at all three of its offices, in Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota at Waterside, and Palmetto at North River, using the Kennedy Decompression protocol with sessions that run up to 15 minutes:typically about 10 minutes for cervical treatment and 15 for lumbar.
How It Helps
How does spinal decompression work?
During a session, you lie on the decompression table positioned for the spinal region being treated. The table applies controlled cycles of gentle pulling and release. The cycling matters: unlike traditional traction’s single steady pull, alternating distraction and relaxation aims to reduce pressure within the disc while keeping the surrounding muscles from guarding against the stretch.
At Hornback Chiropractic & Wellness, every decompression plan follows the Kennedy Decompression Technique, a structured protocol that matches table positioning and treatment parameters to your exam findings and imaging. Dr. Cynthia Hornback, the practice founder, is certified in the Kennedy Decompression Technique, and the protocol runs identically at all three offices.
Treatable Conditions
Which conditions is decompression used for?
- Herniated and bulging discs , including cases with pain radiating into the hip, leg, or arm
- Sciatica that flares with sitting, driving, or standing
- Degenerative disc disease and age-related disc thinning
- Chronic low back pain that has plateaued with other conservative care
- Neck and arm pain patterns related to cervical discs, treated with cervical decompression at all three offices
Care often works in combination
Many times the doctor may recommend a combination of therapies to maximize your response to decompression. Both chiropractic adjustment and SoftWave® (shockwave) therapy may benefit you: spinal misalignments, addressed with chiropractic adjustment, can put additional pressure and strain on adjacent discs and nerves, and tendonitis or ligament injuries, addressed with SoftWave® therapy, are commonly involved with disc injuries.
Compare Treatments
How does decompression compare to other options?
| Approach | How it works | Invasiveness |
|---|---|---|
| Non-surgical decompression | Computer-guided cycles of distraction and relaxation, parameters tailored to your exam and imaging under the Kennedy protocol | Non-invasive. No incisions, injections, or medication. No downtime for most patients. |
| Traditional traction | A steady, sustained pull applied to the spine, generally with fixed settings | Non-invasive. No downtime for most patients. |
| Injections | Medication delivered to the affected area to reduce inflammation and pain | Minimally invasive. Performed by a physician; effects and duration vary. |
| Spine surgery | Structural correction of the disc or vertebrae | Invasive. Recovery time varies from weeks to months depending on the procedure. |
None of these is universally right. Decompression’s place in that lineup is as a low-risk conservative option to evaluate before the invasive ones, which is exactly how the doctors at Hornback treat it.
Research Findings
What does the research say about spinal decompression?
This page describes the evidence plainly rather than overselling it. A retrospective cohort study in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders associated disc height restoration through non-surgical decompression with reduced discogenic low back pain, though the study was small and had no control group. A systematic review in Pain Practice concluded that the efficacy of decompression via motorized traction for chronic discogenic low back pain remains unproven and called for stronger randomized trials. A head-to-head study in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science found that both decompression and conventional traction significantly improved pain, disability, and straight leg raise in disc herniation patients, with no significant difference between the two approaches.
In plain terms
Decompression is a low-risk, non-surgical option that many patients evaluate before injections or surgery. Early studies are encouraging, the strongest claims are not yet supported by large controlled trials, and no responsible provider promises a specific outcome. What Hornback Chiropractic & Wellness commits to instead is a careful evaluation, a protocol matched to your condition, and a plan that changes if your results are not following.
Treatment Cost
How much does spinal decompression cost?
Cost depends on your plan of care, which is set after your exam rather than off a rate card, and three factors drive it: what your exam and imaging show, which spinal regions are being treated, and the length of the plan your doctor recommends. The front desk can give you a range by phone, and your exact costs are quoted at your visit, once the doctor has examined you and made recommendations, before you commit to anything. The price of care is never a surprise.
On coverage and payment: the practice is in-network with Aetna, Meritain, Medicare, MultiPlan/PHCS, and the VA Community Care Network (VACCN). As of August 1, 2026, the practice is out-of-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield; Cigna and UnitedHealthcare are already out-of-network. HSA and FSA funds, CareCredit, payment plans, cash, and major cards are accepted at all three offices, and the practice offers a direct-pay wellness membership program with more than 600 members. Full details are on the insurance and payment options page.
First Visit
What happens at your first visit?
Before any decompression happens, you receive an exam and a review of your history and any imaging you bring. If imaging is required, X-rays can be performed in office. If decompression fits your condition, your doctor builds a plan of care around it and tells you what it will involve and cost. If it does not fit, you will hear that too. Once care begins, sessions run up to 15 minutes on the decompression table, and most patients describe the sensation as a comfortable, rhythmic stretch. Your progress is reviewed as care proceeds, and the plan adjusts based on how you respond.
Bring to your first visit:
A photo ID, your insurance information, and any recent spine-related imaging: X-rays on a disc or CD so the doctor can review them, and reports only for MRI or CT studies. If you have no imaging, the practice will discuss whether it is needed, and if imaging is required, X-rays can be performed in office.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
What is non-surgical spinal decompression?
Is there spinal decompression near me in the Sarasota area?
How long does a session take?
Is decompression painful?
Who should not have spinal decompression?
How much does it cost?
Is decompression the same as traction?
Does insurance cover it?
Locations
Spinal decompression at three offices
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Three locations.
One standard of care.
Lakewood Ranch
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Mon, Wed & Thu: 8:00am – 6:00pm
Tue & Fri: 8:00am – 1:00pm
Sat & Sun: Closed
Sarasota · Waterside
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Mon, Wed & Thu: 8:00am – 6:00pm
Tue & Fri: 8:00am – 1:00pm
Sat & Sun: Closed
North River · Palmetto
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Mon, Wed & Thu: 8:00am – 6:00pm
Tue & Fri: 8:00am – 1:00pm
Sat & Sun: Closed
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