Intersegmental Traction Therapy

Intersegmental traction therapy (ITT) is a specialized decompression treatment that gently stretches your spine to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and support healing. At CoreHealth Wellness Center in Dallas, we use ITT for patients with disc pain, nerve compression, chronic lower-back stiffness, and conditions that haven't responded to adjustments alone.

How intersegmental traction therapy works

You lie face-up on a specialized table that has rollers underneath. These rollers apply gentle, rhythmic traction—stretching and relaxing—moving slowly from your lower back up toward your mid-back and neck. The stretching motion creates negative pressure inside your spinal discs, which can help pull bulging disc material back in and take pressure off irritated nerves. The relaxation phase allows nutrients and fluid to flow back into the discs. The whole process is painless, relaxing, and takes about 15–20 minutes.

What conditions benefit from ITT

ITT works best for disc-related pain: herniated discs, bulging discs, and disc degeneration causing nerve compression or nerve pain. It's also helpful for facet-joint stiffness (the small joints between vertebrae), spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal), and sciatica. Chronic lower-back pain from postural stress or overuse responds well. ITT pairs especially well with chiropractic adjustment—the adjustment restores motion; ITT decompresses and reduces inflammation.

What a session feels like

Most people find ITT deeply relaxing. You lie on the table fully clothed. The rolling sensation is gentle and rhythmic—some describe it as similar to a massage. There's no pain, no jerking, no force. Many patients fall asleep during treatment. You emerge feeling looser, with reduced stiffness and often immediate pain relief. The relaxation often lasts for hours or longer, and effects compound with repeated sessions.

How many sessions do you need

A typical course is 8–12 sessions over 4–6 weeks, once or twice weekly. Some patients see significant improvement after just a few sessions. Others need the full course to get maximum benefit. We evaluate progress at regular checkpoints and adjust frequency based on how you're responding. Some patients benefit from periodic maintenance sessions—a few times a year—to prevent symptoms from returning.

ITT combined with other care

ITT is most effective when paired with adjustment (which restores motion), soft-tissue therapy (which releases protective muscle tension), and targeted exercise (which stabilizes the spine). We often use them together: massage to prepare the muscles, ITT to decompress, then adjustment to restore motion. This combination addresses the full problem—not just decompressing the disc.

Who should avoid ITT

ITT is safe for most people, but certain conditions require caution: severe osteoporosis, spinal fusion surgery (usually okay, but we check first), pregnancy (contraindicated), or active spinal infection. If you have any of these, we'll discuss alternatives. We can usually find a treatment approach that works for you.

If disc pain or chronic back stiffness is limiting your life, call CoreHealth Wellness at (214) 219-3300. We'll evaluate whether ITT is right for your case and design a treatment plan that includes it if indicated. Most patients notice meaningful improvement within the first month of consistent care.