- Anatomy of The Spine
- Back Pain in Children
- Caring for your Spine
- Emerging Spinecare Trends
- Evaluation of Spinal Disorders
- Exercise and The Spine
- Intervention - Spinal Disorders
- Intervertebral Disc
- Non Surgical Options
- Nutrition and Spinecare
- Options for Spine Treatments
- Pregnancy and Back Pain
- Prevalence of Spine Disorders
- Sleep and the Spine
- Spinecare Introduction
- Spinehealth and Disease
- Surgical Interventions
- Treatment with Medications
- Understanding Back Pain
Spinecare Topics
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Spinal Traction
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Spinal Traction
There are a number of mechanical traction devices that can be used to treat the cervical spine. Some patients may be instructed in using a traction system at home. The attending physician or therapist should instruct their patient how to set the system up, attach the supportive straps or headrest, apply the desired force correctly, and determine the duration of traction treatment. Depending on the system, the patient may be able to perform the traction while sitting, reclining, or laying supine.
Lumbar traction usually requires distracting the spine in the long axis with the equivalent of approximately one quarter to one half of the body's weight. A number of traction tables have been developed to assist the physician or therapist in the application of adequate low back traction. Mechanical traction may incorporate the use of a motorized traction table. This type of table usually requires that the patient be placed in a pelvic harness secured to one end of the table. The tabletop can be set to slide in a horizontal plane, resulting in axial traction. Some motorized units are computerized and elaborate such as the AntalgicTrac or the DRX 9000. The devices have sophisticated controls and settings enabling the therapist to program the patient's session of therapeutic traction. The Antalgictrac is capable of multiple axes of rotation, allowing for complex and specific decompression of the spine.
Intersegmental traction is a type of passive motion therapy that gently stretches the spine without the use of a harness based traction system. The intersegmental traction device has contoured rollers that roll up and down the spine. This is performed with the patient supine or face up on the table. A pair of rollers is then set to travel a set horizontal distance over the spine. The vertical roller height can also be set influencing how much movement is induced across the spinal segments. Intersegmental traction is a form of continuous passive motion therapy (CPM). Another type of CPM is commonly used as a postoperative treatment for knee and hip surgeries in physical therapy facilities.
Flexion-distraction is a type of traction using a table device capable of traction in multiple axes such as long axis traction and flexion or rotation. Examples of this specialized device include, the Cox Flexion-distraction table or the Leader/Leander table. The table has a pivoting section for the pelvis and torso, allowing traction in multiple directions to facilitate decompression.
There are absolute and relative contraindications for spinal traction. Contraindications include but are not limited to instability and an actual loss of spinal structural integrity. Examples include conditions such as osteoporosis, infection, spinal segment instability, tumor, and cervical rheumatoid arthritis. Physical conditions such as pregnancy, cardiovascular disease, hernia, and in some cases TMJ, may limit the type and duration of traction used.
Lumbar traction usually requires distracting the spine in the long axis with the equivalent of approximately one quarter to one half of the body's weight. A number of traction tables have been developed to assist the physician or therapist in the application of adequate low back traction. Mechanical traction may incorporate the use of a motorized traction table. This type of table usually requires that the patient be placed in a pelvic harness secured to one end of the table. The tabletop can be set to slide in a horizontal plane, resulting in axial traction. Some motorized units are computerized and elaborate such as the AntalgicTrac or the DRX 9000. The devices have sophisticated controls and settings enabling the therapist to program the patient's session of therapeutic traction. The Antalgictrac is capable of multiple axes of rotation, allowing for complex and specific decompression of the spine.
Intersegmental traction is a type of passive motion therapy that gently stretches the spine without the use of a harness based traction system. The intersegmental traction device has contoured rollers that roll up and down the spine. This is performed with the patient supine or face up on the table. A pair of rollers is then set to travel a set horizontal distance over the spine. The vertical roller height can also be set influencing how much movement is induced across the spinal segments. Intersegmental traction is a form of continuous passive motion therapy (CPM). Another type of CPM is commonly used as a postoperative treatment for knee and hip surgeries in physical therapy facilities.
Flexion-distraction is a type of traction using a table device capable of traction in multiple axes such as long axis traction and flexion or rotation. Examples of this specialized device include, the Cox Flexion-distraction table or the Leader/Leander table. The table has a pivoting section for the pelvis and torso, allowing traction in multiple directions to facilitate decompression.
There are absolute and relative contraindications for spinal traction. Contraindications include but are not limited to instability and an actual loss of spinal structural integrity. Examples include conditions such as osteoporosis, infection, spinal segment instability, tumor, and cervical rheumatoid arthritis. Physical conditions such as pregnancy, cardiovascular disease, hernia, and in some cases TMJ, may limit the type and duration of traction used.
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