Traction

Mechanical Traction can be used for patients with cervical and lumbar spinal disorders such as cervical radiculopathy or lumbar spinal stenosis. It may be applied mechanically through the use of an apparatus with two different modes: intermittent or continuous.

Physiological goals:

• Separation of vertebral bodies
• Movement of facet joints
• Expansion of intervertebral foramen
• Stretch of soft tissues

When mechanical traction is combined with other physical therapy modalities such as passive mobilization, massage, stretching and active exercises, it is an effective treatment for pain reduction in cervical or lumbar spine disorders.

Recent guidelines have been put forward for the use of cervical traction to treat cervical radiculopathy. Only low quality evidence has been released and the authors of these guidelines encourage researchers to intensify studies on tractions effect on cervical radiculopathy. Researchers have also demonstrated lumbar traction to be advantageous in treating low back pain. Three studies in 2017 confirmed an increase of nutrient and water flow into the intervertebral discs after traction treatment.

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