Spinal Decompression

What is Spinal Decompression?

Chiropractic spinal decompression is a non-surgical procedure used primarily to treat herniated discs that involves stretching the spine in a safer and gentler manner than more traditional traction techniques. Stretching the spaces between the vertebrae restores herniated discs to their normal position and functioning and releases pressure from spinal nerves which are the root cause of acute and chronic pain. In severe cases, traction methods can be a painful procedure that induces muscle spasms, whereas spinal decompression ensures that muscles in the spine do not tighten during therapy. Certified and licensed Action Chiropractic and Sports Injury Center chiropractors use specialty decompression tables and equipment that monitor the body’s responses and adapts stretching to avoid painful spasms while still producing effective results.

When Should I Consult a Chiropractor for Spinal Decompression Therapy?

Whether due to injury, lifestyle habits, accidents or aging, discs can degenerate or become herniated and limit our range of motion and quality of life. Over time, pain may radiate down from the spine into the legs in addition to causing chronic lower back pain.
Action Chiropractic and Sports Injury Center practitioners provide complete evaluations for spinal decompression treatment plans for conditions that include:
  • Sciatica

  • Bulging and herniated discs

  • Degenerative disc disease

  • Posterior facet syndrome (worn down spinal joints)

  • Neck and back pain

  • Injured spinal nerves

What Can I Expect During a Spinal Decompression Therapy Session?

Action Chiropractic and Sports Injury Center chiropractors begin with a complete medical evaluation and full diagnosis during your initial visit. Therapy plans are carefully tailored according to your specific condition and requirements. Treatment sessions may be scheduled over a period of several weeks and progress from mild to more active depending on your injury or illness.
Sessions begin with patients comfortably fastened onto a large table with computerized controls. Using advanced technology, the spinal decompression table is able to “read” and target the specific disc at the root of your chronic pain. Initial treatments start slowly to ensure comfort with a gradual increase in intensity to achieve maximal results. Action Chiropractic and Sports Injury Center practitioners work closely with clients to ensure that they are relaxed and feel secure at all times during therapy sessions.
Sessions last for approximately 15-30 minutes and may be combined with exercise therapy and lifestyle recommendations. Action Chiropractic and Sports Injury Center specialists seek to not only heal your disc problem but also to improve muscle strength and proper alignment and support of the neck and back. Studies and actual clinical results have shown that when performed by a qualified and experienced chiropractor, spinal decompression therapy has proven to be effective for more than 75% of patients, providing them with long-term pain relief and improved overall functioning.

How Many Treatment Sessions Are Required?

Depending on the severity of the condition, a typical course of spinal decompression treatment sessions can range from weekly to daily treatment over a period of several weeks. Most patients are able to resume a normal lifestyle following therapy. Action Chiropractic and Sports Injury Center works in tandem with your doctor and other health care providers and will recommend further evaluations when necessary.
Contact Action Chiropractic and Sports Injury Center to learn more and find out whether spinal decompression therapy is right for you. ​

Service Areas

  • Aurora

  • Naperville

  • Wheaton

Dr. Norgaard’s first exposure to chiropractic was when he was a high school football player at Neuqua Valley in Naperville, Illinois. Nagging injuries led him to Action Chiropractic and Dr. Durnas. He was amazed with the results he got and knew that the treatments provided at Action Chiropractic were the best way to address his ailments.
After high school, Dr. Norgaard left Naperville and attended Central College in Pella, Iowa. While at Central, he majored in biology and played football, further piquing his interest in sports injuries and how to treat them. When he wasn’t in the classroom or on the football field, Dr. Norgaard spent his time volunteering at hospitals, and at various clinics. This is when he really developed a passion for helping people get better.
His experiences as an athlete, chiropractic patient, and volunteer shaped his decision to become a chiropractor.
After graduating from Central, Dr. Norgaard continued his education at Palmer College of Chiropractic.
While at Palmer, Dr. Norgaard took several extracurricular courses focusing on spinal diagnosis and therapy, soft tissue care, and diagnosis and treatment of the extremities. He completed a 4-month internship with Dr. Durnas at Action Chiropractic and Sports Injury Center and further developed his skills as a physician.
He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Palmer in October of 2021 and received the Academic Excellence Award.
After graduation, Dr. Norgaard joined the team at Action Chiropractic and Sports Injury Center. He currently resides in the Naperville area with his wife, Shannon, son, Parker, and dog, Alby.
“I chose to become a chiropractor because I was helped by chiropractic. I was in such discomfort it took me over 3 minutes to put on my socks. After seeing a chiropractor, and regaining the ability to tie my shoes, I realized that taking loads of NSAIDs did not address the fact that there was something causing the pain. The more I learned about it, I found that Chiropractic doesn’t just hide symptoms, like I was trying to do with pills, it fixes the origin of the problem.”
Dr. Durnas graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Biology and Bachelors of Arts degree in Chemistry. After graduation he worked in research and development for 3 years and dabbled in powerlifting and professional wrestling. That’s what lead him to chiropractic school. While at Palmer College of Chiropractic, he focused on learning how to best help the athlete. He took several extracurricular courses on how to address soft tissue injuries, how to adjust extremities, and how to better manage sports injuries. He graduated in June of 2012, where we were the Palmer Clinical Excellence Award winner and a keynote speaker at commencement.
In 2019, Dr. Durnas earned his Diplomate from the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians (DACBSP)®. He is only the 427th chiropractor in history to earn this designation, and only the 6th recipient in the history of Illinois. He completed over 300 hours of classroom and online courses focusing on in depth on the diagnosis and treatment of sports injuries, concussions, and emergency procedures, and had over 100 on the field hours with athletes that ranged from cross fitters, professional and high school football players, professional BMX and Motocross riders, triathletes, and runners. Dr. Durnas passed a 6-part practical exam and a 250 question Board exam and contributed a case study involving nerve damage in a professional athlete following a hit to the shoulder.