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Directly measured (in vivo)
Estimated / inferred
Caution — may increase pressure

Pressure comparison

Sitting, slouched forward

Nachemson 1966

0.83 MPa

Upright standingbaseline

Nachemson 1966 · baseline

0.50 MPa

Conventional horizontal traction

Anderson et al. 1983

0.55 MPa

Computerized spinal decompression

Ramos & Martin 1994

−0.10 MPa

Sources

Nachemson A (1966). The load on lumbar disks in different positions of the body. Clin Orthop Relat Res 45:107–122.

Wilke HJ et al. (1999). New in vivo measurements of pressures in the intervertebral disc in daily life. Spine 24(8):755–762.

Ramos G, Martin W (1994). Effects of vertebral axial decompression on intradiscal pressure. J Neurosurg 81:350–353.

Anderson GB et al. (1983). Intradiscal pressure during traction. Spine 8(2):146–154.

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This is not an argument against physical therapy

Physical therapy is one of the most valuable conservative interventions available. This comparison exists to explain why patients with identified disc-level problems may need something PT alone can't provide — not to diminish PT's essential role in spinal health and recovery.

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