Advanced non-surgical spinal care

Non-surgical spinal decompression in Christchurch

For back pain, neck pain, disc problems and sciatica, including symptoms that haven't improved as expected.

Spinal decompression offers another gentle, non-surgical treatment option. We start with a thorough osteopathic assessment to determine whether it's appropriate for you.

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registered osteopaths
OCNZ
consultations since 2016
80,000+
Google reviews
359+
handled in-house, no referral
ACC

Is this you?

Back pain, neck pain and spinal problems can show up in different ways

From pain and stiffness to sciatica, headaches, tingling or numbness, spinal problems can affect people differently.

Lumbar spine

Lower back & legs

  • Persistent lower-back pain Pain or stiffness that isn't improving as expected.
  • Sciatica Pain travelling from the lower back or buttock into the leg.
  • Tingling or numbness into the leg or foot Symptoms that may be associated with irritation of a spinal nerve.
  • Lumbar disc problems Including disc bulges and prolapses.

Cervical spine

Neck & upper body

  • Persistent neck pain Pain, stiffness or restricted movement that isn't improving.
  • Cervical disc problems Including disc bulges and prolapses.
  • Tingling or numbness into the arm or hand Symptoms that may be associated with irritation of a cervical nerve.
  • Neck-related headaches Headaches associated with pain or dysfunction arising from the neck.
Lorraine Herity guiding a patient into the treatment room with a reassuring hand on their back

When pain affects your life

We understand what you're going through

Back or neck pain can start affecting everyday life. Work gets harder. Exercise gets put on hold. Sleep can suffer. Even simple things can become something you think twice about.

When it doesn't settle as you'd hoped, it can be frustrating not knowing what to do next.

That's why we take the time to understand what's going on, what's important to you, and how we can help you move forward.

Our approach

We treat the root cause, not just the symptoms

We look beyond where it hurts to understand the problem, what may be contributing to it and what needs to change.

Your osteopath assesses your spine, movement, symptoms and the demands of your everyday life.

From there, we build a treatment and rehabilitation plan around you, with spinal decompression included when appropriate.

Why pain can persist

Why isn't my back or neck pain improving?

Your spine is involved in almost everything you do, from sitting and working to lifting, exercising and everyday movement.

When a joint, disc or surrounding tissue is irritated, the normal demands of daily life can continue to aggravate the area and slow recovery.

Understanding what may be contributing to your symptoms is an important part of helping you move forward.

The treatment

How spinal decompression works

Spinal decompression uses slow, computer-controlled movements to gently stretch and mobilise targeted areas of your spine.

This controlled movement stretches surrounding muscles, ligaments and fascia, while helping to mobilise stiff or restricted spinal joints.

It may also help reduce pressure around irritated discs and nearby nerves, creating a better environment for movement and recovery.

Anatomical illustration of the spine before and during decompression: a compressed disc pressing toward a nerve, then the vertebrae gently drawn apart with pressure reduced and space improved
A simplified illustration of the intended effect during treatment.
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How your care works

Your recovery pathway

No one goes straight onto the machine. Your care follows four clear stages, measured as you go.

  1. Assess

    Understand the problem

    A thorough 30-minute osteopathic assessment, a clear diagnosis, and an honest view on what should happen next.

  2. Treat

    Reduce pain and irritation

    A personalised course of treatment, which may include decompression, hands-on Osteopathy, or both.

  3. Rebuild

    Restore strength and movement

    Targeted rehabilitation, so improvements are more likely to last beyond the treatment room.

  4. Review

    Measure progress

    We review your outcome measures regularly, tracking pain, movement, and how your spine affects work, sleep and daily life.

What to expect

What a session is like

No anaesthetic, no needles, nothing invasive. You stay fully clothed and in control from start to finish.

  1. A patient lying comfortably on a treatment table while an osteopath reassures them

    Step 1

    You lie down, fully clothed

    No gowns, no needles, no preparation. You lie comfortably on the treatment table.

  2. The padded support harness fitted around a fully clothed patient on the decompression table

    Step 2

    The support harness is fitted

    A padded harness supports the area being treated, so the machine can work precisely where it needs to.

  3. The computer console showing the gentle traction cycles during a spinal decompression session

    Step 3

    Slow, computer-controlled cycles

    The table applies slow, gentle stretching cycles for about 20 minutes, monitored throughout. You stay in control and can stop at any time.

  4. A patient walking comfortably out along the clinic walkway after a session

    Step 4

    You walk out and carry on

    There is no anaesthetic and little or no downtime, so you can get on with your day.

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In experienced hands

Experienced care you can trust

After helping thousands of Christchurch patients over the past decade, we introduced spinal decompression to provide another non-surgical option for carefully selected people with persistent back and neck problems.

Every treatment is overseen by our registered osteopaths, and combined with thorough assessment, ongoing review and personalised rehabilitation.

  • The South Island's first Spine MT Core spinal decompression machine
  • Cervical and lumbar treatment at our Fendalton clinic
  • 416 Ilam Road, Christchurch
  • ACC handled in-house, no GP referral needed
Lorraine Herity, Clinic Director and Registered Osteopath at Better Health Osteopathy

Lorraine Herity

Clinic Director and Registered Osteopath

"Bringing spinal decompression to the South Island is how we keep raising the bar for the people we look after."

Free suitability check

Could spinal decompression be an option for you?

Answer five quick questions to tell us a little about what you've been experiencing. If you'd like, one of our team will get back to you. We'll also email you our free spinal decompression guide.

Question 1 of 5

How long have you had this pain?

Patient experiences

Real stories from Christchurch patients

There is no better measure of our care than the experiences of the people we have helped. These are recent Google reviews from patients who have had spinal decompression with us.

  • "After a lot of apprehension, I decided to give the spinal decompression machine a go … The team took the time to explain the entire process and what to expect before treatment began, which really helped ease my nerves and made me feel comfortable. The treatment itself was surprisingly relaxing. I could have easily fallen asleep!"
    C H Google review

  • "I have been receiving Spinal Decompression Treatment using Better Health's new motorised, computer controlled machine which gently stretches the spine. Before my first treatment I was sceptical, but during the treatment it felt great … I couldn't wait to get back for my second treatment and I will continue to go."
    Hamish McKenzie Google review

  • "I'd had five fantastic osteo treatments with Lorraine … and then several sessions on the spinal decompression machine with Kevin … I'm genuinely impressed and grateful."
    Andrew Stevens Google review

  • "I've been having Spinal Decompression with Betterhealth … can't recommend the team highly enough"
    Varun J Google review

These are individual patient experiences. Individual results vary, and suitability is always confirmed at an assessment.

Common questions

Your questions, answered

These are the questions we're asked most often. If something on your mind isn't covered here, just ask us.

Can spinal decompression help a disc bulge, prolapse or sciatica?

Spinal decompression is commonly used for disc and nerve-related problems in the lower back and neck. Your osteopath will assess your symptoms first to determine whether it is appropriate for you.

Can spinal decompression help persistent back or neck pain?

It may, for carefully selected patients. Because back and neck pain can have many causes, we assess you first to understand your problem and whether decompression should form part of your treatment.

Does spinal decompression hurt?

Most people find spinal decompression very gentle and comfortable. Treatment is slow and computer-controlled, with no forceful movements. Many patients become so relaxed during treatment that they fall asleep.

How many treatments will I need?

This depends on your condition and how you respond. Following your assessment, we'll recommend a treatment plan and review your progress regularly.

Is it covered by ACC?

If your problem is ACC-eligible, your first consultation is $95 including GST, with ACC covering the balance. A private assessment, where ACC doesn't apply, is $120 including GST. We handle ACC in-house, so there's no paperwork burden on you and no GP referral is needed. We'll confirm exactly what applies to your case when you come in.

Is spinal decompression suitable for everyone?

No. Spinal decompression is not suitable during pregnancy, or for people with cancer or osteoporosis. Other spinal and medical conditions can also make it unsuitable. This is all determined after a detailed osteopathic assessment.

Want to read more before deciding?

Ready to take the next step?

Book a comprehensive osteopathic assessment and we'll determine whether spinal decompression is the right option for you. If it isn't, we'll explain why and recommend the treatment that's more appropriate.

Prefer to talk first? Call 0800 67 77 00

Your assessment includes:

  • A thorough osteopathic assessment and spinal examination
  • A clear diagnosis and personalised treatment plan
  • Honest advice about whether spinal decompression is appropriate
  • ACC handled in-house for eligible injuries, no GP referral needed
Book your assessment

Individual results vary; suitability is assessed before any treatment.

Where to start

Book an assessment Take our free suitability check

Call 0800 67 77 00

Individual results vary. Suitability is assessed first.