April 5, 2010
Spinal Decompression
Dr. William Booker D.C.
Dr. William Booker D.C. holds a
Doctorate of Chiropractic from the
Cleveland College of Chiropractic,
Los Angeles. He completed his
undergraduate studies at the
University of Virginia, where he
graduated with a major in
psychology and a minor in Biology.
After completing his internship in
Philadelphia, Dr. Booker relocated
to Arlington to open the first
Capitol Rehab inside of Gold’s
Gym. Dr. Booker established
Capitol Rehab-Arlington as the
flagship for what would be the
eventual opening of eight
additional Capitol Rehabs located
throughout Virginia, West Virginia
and Maryland.
Capitol Rehab of Arlington : 801 N. Quincy, Suite 130 : Arlington, VA 22203 : 703.527.5492 : @capitolrehab : drbooker@capitolrehab.com
Is Your Back Pain Or Sciatica Caused
By A Bulging Or Herniated Disk?
Signs Your Back Pain Is Caused by a
Bulging Or Herniated Disc and
What YouShould Do About It
By Dr. William Booker, D.C.
BACK PAIN CULPRIT: MECHANICAL PROBLEMS
Although there are several causes of lower back pain; injuries, arthritis, tumors
and infections, the overwhelming majority of lower back pain cases are the result
of mechanical problems.
Mechanical pain results from a lack of, or an excess of joint movement in the
spine, as well as, an imbalance of overactive and inactive muscles around the
spine. The most common result of mechanical problems is a condition called
intervertebral disk degeneration, which simply means the deteriorating of disks
between the vertebra of the spine as a result of improper wear and tear. As disks
wear down, they lose their ability to provide cushioning and shock absorption for
the spine, leading to increased pain from the disk.
When diagnosing lower back pain, it is crucial to rule out disk involvement
FIRST because of all of the mechanical back problems, a bulging, herniated or
rupturing disc is the one condition most likely to result in a visit to the emergency
room. In fact, should the disc actually rupture, surgery may be the only treatment
option.
I like to say that your body didn’t read the medical textbooks, so it can ultimately
do whatever it wants. That being said, the 3 most common signs of a herniated
disk are:
1. Sciatica or numbness, tingling, weakness or pain in the buttocks
back, legs or feet
2. Pain is typically worsened with sitting or any bending at the waist
3. Increased back or leg pain with coughing or sneezing
Spinal Decompression
(part 2 of 2) THE GOOD NEWS IS...

If you suffer from severe lower back pain, you are not alone. According to studies
Is Your Back Pain Or Sciatica in the Archives of Internal Medicine:
Caused By A Bulging Or
Herniated Disk? • 80 percent of Americans will suffer from lower back pain at some point
continued in their lives
• 1 in 4 American adults currently experience low back pain
• And while only 3.9% of the population reported having debilitating
back pain in 1992, the number had risen to 10.2 percent in 2006

THE BETTER NEWS IS...

There are now conservative, non-surgical treatment options that are highly
effective. Perhaps the most successful, yet least well known is Spinal
Decompression. Spinal decompression, not to be confused with traction, gently
lengthens and decompresses the spine, creating negative pressure within the
discs. This “reversal pressure” creates an intradiscal vacuum, that:

1. Takes pressure off of pinched nerves

2. Helps to reposition bulging discs and pull extruded disc material
back into place
3. Draws nutrients, oxygen and fluids back into the disc

RESEARCH RESULTS FOR SPINAL DECOMPRESSION

• Average pain levels were reduced from 7.41 to 1.57 on the 0-10
Visual Analog Scale
• 86% showed a 50% or better pain reduction at four years
• 52% of respondents reported a pain level of zero, 4 years after treatment

Spinal decompression should not be considered a “cure all” for back pain. In fact,
the most successful cases usually included spinal decompression in a
comprehensive program involving some form of rehabilitation of the spine,
physical therapy and chiropractic.

For more information feel free to visit us at our website,

www.CapitolRehabofArlington.com.

You may also call us directly at 703.527.5492 or send an email to

DrBooker@CapitolRehab.com.

Dr. Bill Booker is a member of the International Society of Clinical Rehabilitation

Specialists

Capitol Rehab of Arlington : 801 N. Quincy, Suite 130 : Arlington, VA 22203 : 703.527.5492 : @capitolrehab : DrBooker@CapitolRehab.com