Effect of spinal decompression on the lumbar muscle activity and disk height in patients with herniated intervertebral disk

[Purpose] This study was conducted to clarify the difference in therapeutic effects between traction and decompression therapies, and their clinical therapeutic significance. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 31 patients aged 35 to 50 years who had unilateral or bilateral lumbar and radicular leg pain. An intervention program was implemented in 31 patients with lumbar herniated intervertebral disks. For the experimental group, 15 subjects were randomly selected to receive decompression therapy and trunk stabilization exercise. For the control group, 16 subjects were randomly selected to receive traction therapy and trunk stabilization exercise. [Results] Activities of the rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis, and external oblique muscles increased significantly in both groups. However, the activity of the erector spine muscle decreased, which was the only significant change in muscle activity among those of the other muscles in both groups. The disk herniation index in the experimental group decreased significantly in comparison with that in the control group, and the difference in the change in disk herniation index between the groups was significant. [Conclusion] Decompression therapy was demonstrated to be more effective clinically than conventional traction therapy as an intervention method for disk disease.