The Deal

• $125 for a chiropractic consultation and 12 spinal-decompression treatments ($525 value)

Spinal Decompression: Freeing the Gaps Between Your Bones

One of the techniques in in every chiropractor’s arsenal is spinal decompression. Learn what to expect with Groupon's guide.

At its most basic level, spinal decompression is exactly what it sounds like: the reversal of compression. By relieving pressure on the spinal discs, spinal decompression can treat back or neck pain, sciatica, bulging or slipped discs, and other spine-related conditions. Treatments can take several forms, but the most common involves a mechanized table that the doctor operates via computer. After patients are strapped into special harnesses, the table then gently separates vertebrae, creating a vacuum effect that not only reduces pain, but helps the offending discs begin to retract and recover. Over time, the process of relaxation and contraction floods the vertebrae with water, oxygen, and nutrient-rich fluids.

Though the concept behind spinal decompression is fairly simple, the history surrounding its development is a little more complex. Its roots can be traced to any number of sources, from the rack reportedly used in medieval medicine to the pain-relieving zero gravity experienced by astronauts. However, credit for the modern procedure belongs to Dr. Allan Dyer, who in 1985 invented a pneumatic treatment table very similar to the mechanized ones used today.