When was spinal decompression therapy first invented?
Ancient Greek spinal decompression therapy
The Greeks were using traction devices from as early as 2nd century A.D. , to relieve pressure and therefore pain, from the spine. This spinal decompression therapy method of pain reduction is attributed to Galen of Pergamon, a prominent Greek physician, surgeon and philosopher at the time.
In medieval times, spinal decompression therapy beds were used to implement axial traction, which in turn led to the development of the inversion table for lower back treatments. Similar treatments were developed to alleviate pain from the neck due to muscle and nerve pressure where a patient’s neck is stretched by hanging an opposing weight via a series of pullies.
Whether these ancient techniques brought long term relief in most cases is debatable.
Over 30 million Americans (a tenth of the population of the United States) are afflicted by some type of back pain at any given time. With millions of people suffering from neck and back pain, Meditrac decided a whole new approach was required and came up with a winning concept: ‘Traction on the Move’ spinal decompression therapy was the outcome.
Would you like to learn more about how this therapy was developed? Click here!
