Therapeutic traction uses manually or mechanically created forces to stretch and mobilize the muscles, ligaments, joints, and tissues of the spine. The goals of spinal traction are to relieve pain, improve nutrition, stimulate joint fluid production, and increase range of motion. These promote improved spinal function.
Clinical Application
Spinal traction may be a useful treatment for:
- Back and neck pain associated with radiculopathy and degenerative changes
- Herniated disc
- Osteoarthritis
- Nerve root compression
- Muscle tightness
- Joint stiffness
- Headaches
Note: Patients who exhibit symptoms of spinal instability, fracture, acute or traumatic injury, or any condition that may be made worse with movement are not candidates for spinal traction.
Refer to the device User's Manual for a complete list of indications and contraindications.
Home Traction
For patients that benefit from traction in the clinical setting, home traction can augment or replace ongoing clinical treatments. Home traction programs for chronic spinal pain patients encourage self-management. It allows them to resume previous activities while maintaining ongoing treatments as prescribed.
The Benefits of Home Traction:
- Maintain clinical gains in between clinic visits
- Save limited clinical visits for valuable one-on-one time
- Provides cost effective and drug free pain management
- Patients can benefit from multiple traction treatments per day
- Allows for on-going management of chronic conditions
- Can be used as part of a wellness program that includes exercise and patient education
Some traditional over-the-door water bag systems may put pressure on a patient’s jaw, causing compression or aggravation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The head harness may also pull a patient’s head into extension. This combined with the difficulty in use may hinder patient compliance.
The Saunders Cervical and Lumbar Traction devices effectively replicate clinical traction in the home setting.