Indications and Contraindications of Cervical Traction

Cervical traction is indicated for the diseases of cervical disc, osteoarthritis, and for accelerated extension damages as long as there are no post-traumatic lesions.

For cervical disc disorders, traction can be used with or without root inflammations. For back bone disorders without extensive neurological effects, this procedure should be applied conservatively. It is also indicated for most neck injuries that resulted from traumatic motions.

The procedure of cervical traction is generally safe, and there are no reported major hazards concerning the use of traction devices. However, it is contraindicated for cases wherein patients have not undergone thorough orthopedic, neurological, and radiological examinations.

Cervical traction is not recommended for neo-plastic disorders, cervical spine injuries having serious post-traumatic lesions, or for patients experiencing serious cervicobrachial discomforts mostly associated with gross neurological deficit.

Neck pains and cervical tractions are inseparable.  For many years, doctors have used traction therapy to treat neck pains.  It is a non-invasive and conservative technique that can solve neck muscle and bone structure disorders.

The most common cause of neck pain is everyday stress and tension.  If you are under constant stress, your muscles may tighten, making it stiff and painful.  You may have slept in the wrong position, which can cause a stiff neck.  When you sit in front of your computer for extended periods, you may also experience stiffness and numbness of the neck muscles.

Your lifestyle can also cause neck pains.  You may have developed an improper posture, or you may have gained too much weight.  These could stress your spine, thus leading to neck and back pains.

Too much exercise, sports, and other physical activities can also put your spine under severe stress, thus giving you a nasty neck pain and muscle fatigue.

Other causes of neck pains are related to age.  As you grow old, certain disorders may develop, which can have a direct impact on your neck muscles and cervical spine.  These disorders include osteoarthritis, chronic disc diseases, and spinal stenosis.

Neck pains can also be caused by accidents or injuries.  When your head experiences sudden traumatic movement, the resulting rebound may cause neck injuries.  This is commonly known as whiplash.  The whipping motion of your head can jar every strand of muscle that supports your neck.  It can also dislocate or misalign the bone structure in your neck.  The result naturally is constant neck pain.

To alleviate pain and correct bone structure misalignment, cervical traction can be applied.  Cervical traction involves the use of a device that will attempt to pull your spine upwards to create spaces between your cervical discs.  This is also known as disc distraction.  Therapy using this method can correct the alignment of the spine, thus restoring proper posture and releasing tension in the spinal column.

Traction can also stretch the muscles.  The flexion of muscles releases built up tension around the nerves, thus mitigating another source of pain.

Although more studies and research are needed, there is clinical evidence that clearly shows the efficacy of cervical traction in eliminating painful episodes of the neck.  This is especially true for mild cases of neck pain and injuries.  For more serious cases, prolonged cervical traction therapy and additional orthopedic intervention may be needed to achieve compete treatment.

Indeed, the healing benefits of cervical traction can solve many cases of neck pains.  It can be used as an active therapeutic method or as a regular muscle and bone structure exercise to maintain the optimum condition of the spinal column.

A. Strength of Pressure

As a basic principle, the application of force to the cervical discs should not be too forceful.  That’s because the inter-vertebral cervical discs are small and relatively unstable.  So, at first application, the patient should properly determine the strength of force needed to alleviate pain.

If the minimum application of force does not mitigate the pain in the affected areas, it must be adjusted until the proper strength is achieved.  Needless to say, application of pressure and determination of appropriate force should be carried out gradually. This is to minimize adverse effects and to maximize the benefits of cervical traction procedure.

B.  The Direction of Traction

Constant cervical joint spasms can be felt especially if the patient is suffering from neck pains.  The spasm is mainly due to cervical spine extension, thus increasing root irritation.  The normal reaction to this is to flex the spine vertically to relieve the extension of the cervical spine.  The result is distraction of the spaces of the cervical spine and correction of posture, thus relieving the pain.

This maneuver is the one being replicated by cervical traction procedure.  By helping patients achieve proper spine posture and alignment, the pain is generally alleviated.  That is why the direction of traction is critical to obtaining relief from cervical spine misalignment.  Normally, patients are directed to sit straight while traction is applied vertically through a pulling motion.

C. Duration and Frequency of Therapy

Again, the duration and frequency of cervical traction procedure will primarily depend on its result.  If the patient cannot be relieved through short traction time, application may be extended until relief is achieved.

Cervical traction therapy should be frequent especially during the first stages of treatment.  Sessions can be reduced if episodes of cervical spine pains become more infrequent.  Later, traction may be used as needed only, or it can be discontinued if spinal pain does not reoccur.