A spinal decompression apparatus includes a horizontal base having left and right sides, a front end and a rear end and having an upper surface upon which a patient can lie on his back. Left and right horizontal guide rails are located adjacent the left and right sides of the base and left and right uprights are adjacent the rear end thereof. Left and right inclined rails have their upper ends movably attached to the uprights and their lower ends movable horizontally along the guide rails. A knee bar extends horizontally across the apparatus between the inclined rails and is positioned so as to permit a person lying on the base to place the back of his knees around the knee bar. A motor connected to the knee bar and operated by the patient moves the knee bar up or down the inclined rails. The angle of inclination of the inclined rails is manually adjustable.