Spinal Decompression Therapy in Omaha, NE
Are back pain, sciatica, or disc symptoms getting in the way of daily life? Spinal decompression is a gentle, nonsurgical option that may help some people move more comfortably.
What is spinal decompression therapy?
Spinal decompression is a form of controlled traction. You lie on a treatment table while the equipment gently changes the pull on a selected part of your spine. The goal is to reduce mechanical stress for a period of time and see whether this approach fits your symptoms and examination findings.
At Life Source Chiropractic, Dr. Wiese considers your history, movement, and any relevant imaging before recommending decompression. The amount and position of traction can be adjusted to your comfort. It may be one part of a broader care plan.
Watch our original video to see what a decompression session looks like.
Why Choose Decompression Therapy?
Back pain and sciatica symptoms
When pain travels from the back into a leg, a disc or nerve may be involved. Decompression may be considered after an exam helps identify the likely source of those symptoms.
A nonsurgical approach
The treatment uses guided traction and does not involve an injection or operation. It is one conservative option to discuss alongside other care.
Movement and daily function
We look at more than a pain score. Changes in walking, sitting, sleep, and other everyday activities help us judge whether your plan is helping.
Care tailored to you
Dr. Wiese may pair decompression with chiropractic care or corrective movement through the Paragon Method when appropriate.
Posture and spinal support
We also assess posture and movement. When useful, corrective exercises can address these factors alongside decompression rather than relying on traction alone.
What is imbibition?
Spinal discs contain water-rich tissue. During normal daily loading, some fluid moves out of a disc; when the load eases, fluid can move back in. That return of fluid is called imbibition. It is part of the natural way discs maintain hydration.
Disc cells also need oxygen and nutrients. Those small molecules reach the center of an adult disc mainly by diffusion through nearby tissues, rather than by blood flowing directly into the disc. Imbibition and diffusion are related aspects of disc biology, but they are not the same process.
Decompression changes spinal loading during a session. Natural fluid exchange does not mean a treatment can rebuild a damaged disc, so we discuss possible benefits and limits for your individual situation.
What is decompression therapy used to treat?
Decompression may be discussed when an evaluation suggests that a disc-related problem is contributing to symptoms. These are common reasons people ask us about it at our Omaha office:
Bulging or herniated discs
Disc changes can sometimes irritate nearby nerves and cause back, neck, arm, or leg symptoms.
Sciatica and leg pain
Pain, tingling, or numbness traveling into a leg may have several causes. We evaluate the source before recommending treatment.
Recurring low back pain
For some people with persistent back pain and relevant exam findings, decompression may be one option in a broader plan.
Neck pain with arm symptoms
If symptoms travel into an arm, Dr. Wiese assesses whether the neck, a nerve, or another issue is involved. When appropriate, cervical decompression may be considered.
These symptoms do not automatically mean decompression is the right choice. An examination guides the recommendation, and some findings call for a different treatment or referral.
Why Life Source Chiropractic?
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Dr. Jason Wiese, DC has helped Omaha patients for more than 20 years. He takes time to hear how symptoms affect your life, examine what may be contributing, and explain your options in plain language.
Your first step is a conversation and focused evaluation. If decompression fits your findings, we explain what a visit involves and how your progress will be reviewed. If another approach makes more sense, we discuss that too.
Our office: 15475 Ruggles St, Suite 110, Omaha, NE 68116. We welcome patients from Omaha, Bennington, Elkhorn, and nearby communities.
Spinal decompression FAQs
Does spinal decompression work?
Spinal decompression is a gentle, nonsurgical option designed to ease mechanical stress on the spine. For patients whose symptoms and findings fit this approach, it may help relieve pain, improve movement, and make everyday activities more comfortable. At Life Source Chiropractic, treatment is adjusted to your comfort and considered as part of a plan tailored to you.
Decompression also aims to support disc health by briefly easing pressure on a spinal disc. When the load eases, fluid can move back into the disc through a natural process called imbibition, which helps maintain disc hydration. This is one reason we consider decompression for suitable patients.
Whether decompression works depends partly on what we measure. Supporting normal disc fluid exchange is a treatment goal; moving more comfortably or having less pain can also be meaningful progress. Total pain relief is a standard that is affected by different variants. Results may vary depending on the severity of the disc damage, the duration of the problem, daily wear and tear, age, genetics, and other individual factors. Read about the four factors that affect healing. Some studies report encouraging results for selected patients, while broader reviews show mixed findings. There is no single success rate for everyone. Here is the research you can read:
- Gose and colleagues (1998) reported that 71% of 778 patients reached a pain score of 0 or 1 on a 0–5 scale after VAX-D treatment. This was an outcomes study without an untreated comparison group.
- Gionis and Groteke (2003) reported immediate symptom resolution in 86% of 219 patients who completed a six-week lumbar treatment program. The study had no comparison group, and the program included other treatments.
- Choi and colleagues (2022) randomized 60 people with subacute lumbar disc herniation. The decompression group had less leg pain at two months and better disability scores at two and three months than the sham-treatment group.
- Cochrane review (2013) examined a broader range of traction treatments for low back pain and found little or no benefit overall.
Research offers useful guidance, but your results depend on your particular symptoms and findings. Dr. Wiese will explain whether spinal decompression is a good option for you and how it could fit into your care plan.
Does spinal decompression hurt?
You may feel a gentle pulling sensation while lying on the treatment table. The position and amount of traction can be adjusted to your comfort. Let us know if anything feels uncomfortable during a session.
Can decompression be used for neck pain?
Yes. Cervical traction is designed for the neck. Whether it fits your situation depends on what is causing your symptoms, especially if pain, tingling, or numbness travels into an arm.
How many decompression visits will I need?
There is no set number for everyone. It can depend on your symptoms and the severity of the damage. If decompression is recommended, Dr. Wiese will explain the proposed plan and review your progress along the way.
Is spinal decompression right for everyone?
No. Back or neck symptoms can have different causes. Your history and examination help Dr. Wiese decide whether decompression is appropriate or whether another approach or referral makes more sense.
Where can I get spinal decompression therapy in Omaha?
Life Source Chiropractic offers spinal decompression at 15475 Ruggles St, Suite 110, Omaha, NE 68116. Call (402) 934-4220 or use the form near the top of this page if you have a question. Ready to schedule? Use the gold $49 appointment button on this page.
Find out if decompression fits your needs.
Ready to schedule? Choose a time for your $49 new patient visit. Have a question first? Use the form near the top of this page or call (402) 934-4220.
Schedule Your $49 New Patient VisitPage updated September 2026. This page is educational and does not replace an individual evaluation.