What is mechanical traction therapy?

Asked by: Mark Riley

Mechanical Traction – The specialized treatment technique of mechanical traction uses devices that work by stretching the spinal vertebrae and muscle. Manual Traction – With manual traction, our physical therapists use their hands to stretch the spinal vertebrae and muscles.

How does mechanical traction work?

Mechanical traction can be used for both the neck (cervical spine) and low back (lumbar spine) to treat chronic arthritic or degenerative conditions and disc herniations. Traction uses decompression forces in order to reduce weight and pressure onto the painful region of the spine helping to reduce pain.

What is the purpose of traction therapy?

Spinal traction is a form of decompression therapy that relieves pressure on the spine. It can be performed manually or mechanically. Spinal traction is used to treat herniated discs, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, pinched nerves, and many other back conditions.

How is traction therapy done?

In manual spinal traction, a physical therapist uses their hands to put people in a state of traction. Then they use manual force on the joints and muscles to widen the spaces between vertebrae.

What is the difference between manual and mechanical traction?

The characterizing difference between mechanical and manual traction is a simple one. Mechanical traction is aided and directed by the use of simple machines (weights, pulleys), while manual traction is chiropractor-assisted.

Is traction good for your spine?

Lumbar (low back) traction helps to separate the spaces between your vertebrae, the bones that make up your spine. In theory, slightly separating these bones can help take the pressure off pinched nerves (such as the sciatic nerve) to decrease your pain and improve your mobility.

What are the risks of spinal decompression therapy?

What Are the Risks of Spinal Decompression Surgery?

• Infection.
• Bleeding.
• Blood clots.
• Allergic reaction to anesthesia.
• Nerve or tissue damage.

Is traction an effective treatment?

In brief. Based on current evidence, traction as a single treatment is not effective for patients with low-back pain, with or without sciatica. There are very few high-quality studies in this field.

What are the complications of traction?

Some of the complications skeletal traction can cause include the following.

• Infection. In skeletal traction, a metal pin is inserted into your bone. …
• Pressure sores. …
• Nerve damage. …
• Misalignment of the bone or joint. …
• Stiff joints. …
• Wire malfunction. …
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

When is traction used?

Most often, traction uses devices such as weights and pulleys to put tension on a displaced bone or joint, such as a dislocated shoulder. The tension helps put the joint back in position and keep it still. Traction is also used to keep a group of muscles (such as the neck muscles) stretched to reduce muscle spasms.

What is mechanical traction chiropractic?

Mechanical traction is a non-surgical method effective for relieving pain associated with bulging discs, herniated discs, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, pinched nerves, and other back and spine issues. Many people associate mechanical traction and spinal decompression with inversion tables.

Is mechanical traction better than manual traction?

It is concluded that if patients of cervical radiculopathy treated with mechanical traction, segmental mobilization, and exercise therapy will manage pain and disability more effectively than treated with manual traction, segmental mobilization, and exercise therapy.

What is manual traction physical therapy?

Manual Traction: a technique where the therapist uses their hands to perform spinal decompression. Spinal decompression is a term that describes the relief of pressure on the vertebal segments of the spinal column. At OSPT we can perform spinal decompression both mechanically and manually.

What is mechanical traction chiropractic?

Mechanical traction is a non-surgical method effective for relieving pain associated with bulging discs, herniated discs, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, pinched nerves, and other back and spine issues. Many people associate mechanical traction and spinal decompression with inversion tables.

What is mechanical lumbar traction?

Lumbar traction is the process of applying a stretching force to the lumbar vertebrae through body weight, weights, and/or pulleys to distract individual joints of the lumbar spine.

How long does traction take to work?

Duration of cervical traction can range from a few minutes to 20 to 30 min, once or twice weekly to several times per day. Anecdotal evidence suggests efficacy and safety, but there is no documentation of efficacy of cervical traction beyond short-term pain reduction.

How do you use a traction machine?

Patient is made to lie down this traction system is used while lying. Down. The two strings from the head halter are pulled and hook to the slots in the cervical traction spreader. Bar. The weights

How often should you do traction?

How Long to Use Traction. In general, you should use the over-the-door traction for about 15 to 20 minutes each session. 6 You can perform several sessions per day. If your pain is increasing while using the over-the-door traction device, you must stop using it and consult your physical therapist or doctor.

How do you do traction at home?

Into the lower back hold this for 30 seconds. If you're able to relax. And then repeat it three to five times it should help relieve a lot of pressure into the lower back so give it a try.

What are the types of traction?

There are two common types of traction. These include skin traction and skeletal traction.

What is Orthopaedic traction?

Traction is a technique for realigning a broken bone or dislocated part of the body using weights, pulleys, and ropes to gently apply pressure and pull the bone or injured body part back into position.

Is traction good for spinal stenosis?

Traction has been prescribed to treat various spinal disorders, including radiculopathy, disk herniation, disk degeneration, foraminal stenosis, and nonspecific low back pain (Fig. 46.3).

What are the principles of traction?

Essential principles



The grip or hold on the patient’s body must be adequate and secure. Provision for counter traction must be made. There must be minimal friction on the cords and pulleys. The line and magnitude of the pull, once correctly established, must be maintained.

How do you nurse a patient on traction?

Traction care

1. Ensure that the traction weight bag is hanging freely, the bag must not rest on the bed or the floor.
2. If the rope becomes frayed replace them.
3. The rope must be in the pulley tracks.
4. Ensure the bandages are free from wrinkles.
5. Tilt the bed to maintain counter traction.

How do you apply traction to your legs?

You need to make sure that the patient is either sedated has a nerve block in place or have these well annulled Jesus is going to be a painful procedure. And you need a second person to help stabilize

When should you not use a traction splint?

A traction splint such as a Hare or Sager splint is used to reduce patient pain, secure the leg in an appropriate position and restore length to the femur (Figure 11-14). Relative contraindications to the use of traction splints include hip dislocation, fracture-dislocation of the knee, and concomitant ankle injury.

Which of the following injuries should you not use a traction splint for?

Traction splints should not be used for proximal or distal fractures of the femur, or where there are knee, lower leg, ankle or foot injuries, or in patients with pelvic fractures.

Is traction still used in hospitals?

Presently, with advancement in better treatment options, traction has been replaced by other methods of treatment. The role of traction in modern practice remains mainly in the treatment of fractures in children, as a temporizing method of splinting, manipulation of fractures or deformities during surgery.