DRX9000 Military Medicine Study: What 267 Patients Revealed About Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression

In 2025, Oxford University Press published the largest peer-reviewed study on non-surgical spinal decompression in nearly three decades. The study, which appeared in the International Journal of Military Medicine, evaluated 267 patients treated with the DRX9000 system and found that 90.5% reported measurable improvement in pain and function. Here is a detailed look at what the research found and what it means for patients considering treatment.

Study Overview

The study was a retrospective chart review conducted across nine clinical sites in the United States and internationally. It was approved by the University of South Florida Institutional Review Board (STUDY004354) and funded in part through the Florida High-Tech Corridor in partnership with Excite Medical, the manufacturer of the DRX9000.

Researchers reviewed the medical records of 267 patients diagnosed with lumbar intervertebral disc lesions, radiculopathy, myelopathy, spondylosis, and sciatica. Patients received a median of 20 non-surgical spinal decompression (NSSD) treatments using the DRX9000 system.

Key Findings

The study measured both objective clinical outcomes and subjective patient-reported outcomes. The results were significant across multiple categories:

• 90.5% of patients reported a reduction in pain following treatment.
• 77.6% showed improvement in dermatome testing, which measures the function of specific spinal nerve roots.
• 74.8% demonstrated improvement in myotome testing, which evaluates muscle strength associated with specific nerve levels.
• 60.9% showed improvement in reflex testing.
• 40% to 79.8% reported improvement across all activities of daily living (ADLs), including walking, standing, sitting, and bending.

Why This Study Matters

Several factors distinguish this study from previous research on spinal decompression. First, the sample size of 267 patients makes it the largest published study on non-surgical spinal decompression in approximately 30 years. Second, it was published in a peer-reviewed journal by Oxford University Press, one of the most respected academic publishers in the world. Third, the study evaluated both objective neurological measures (reflexes, myotomes, dermatomes) and subjective pain reports, providing a more complete picture of treatment outcomes.

The researchers concluded that these results "demonstrate convincing evidence for utilizing NSSD as a first-line treatment approach before consideration of other long-term therapeutics such as injections, discectomies, and fusions."

Conditions Treated in the Study

The patients in the study were diagnosed with common lumbar spine conditions that frequently lead to surgical referrals:

• Lumbar intervertebral disc lesions (herniated and bulging discs)
• Radiculopathy (nerve root compression causing radiating pain)
• Myelopathy (spinal cord compression)
• Spondylosis (age-related spinal degeneration)
• Sciatica (sciatic nerve pain radiating into the leg)

Treatment Protocol

Patients in the study received a median of 20 non-surgical spinal decompression sessions using the DRX9000 system. The DRX9000 uses computer-controlled traction to create negative pressure within the affected disc, which helps draw herniated material back toward the center of the disc and promotes the flow of oxygen and nutrients into the damaged area.

Each session is approximately 30 minutes in length. Patients are positioned on a treatment table, and the system applies precisely calibrated decompressive forces to the targeted spinal level. The treatment is non-surgical, requires no anesthesia, and patients are able to return to normal activities immediately after each session. It is worth noting that clinics equipped with the full DRX9000 Combination System, which includes the DRX9000C cervical attachment, can treat both lumbar (lower back) and cervical (neck) disc conditions using the same technology.

How This Research Informs Clinical Practice

For practitioners who integrate spinal decompression into their clinical protocols, this study provides peer-reviewed validation that the DRX9000 system produces measurable outcomes across a large patient population. The breadth of diagnoses represented in the study also supports the use of non-surgical spinal decompression for a range of disc-related conditions, not just isolated herniated discs.

It is important to note that individual results vary based on the severity and nature of each patient's condition. A thorough clinical evaluation, including imaging review, is always necessary to determine whether a patient is an appropriate candidate for spinal decompression therapy.

Full Study Citation

Steilen S, Loisel L, Morales GA, Smith ND. Treatment Outcomes of 267 Patients with Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Lesions Using Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression: A Retrospective Chart Review. Military Medicine. 2025;190(Supplement_2):134-141. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of AMSUS. The full study is available at Oxford Academic.