Goals of traction
- reduce radicular signs - reducing nerve impingement
- reduce muscle guarding via prolonged stretch
- reduce joint pain
- increase range of motion
- promote fracture healing
Theory of Therapeutic Effects
Herniation of disc material
Pressure on intradiscal components of the involved disc(s) are reduced. Negative pressure pulls disc material back into the disc, decreasing the size of herniated disc material
Degenerative joint disease
Pressure on facet and foraminal space is temporarily decreased, resulting in nerve compression and decreased nerve root irritation and/or secondary swelling from progressive joint changes
Muscle spasm or guarding
Benefit is due to low load prolonged stretch of surrounding soft tissues of the cervical and lumbar spine
Joint hypomobility
Benefit is due to
- moving articular structures on each other
- distracting articular structures to free up motion
- increase synovial fluid production and nutrition to cartilagenous structures
- increase activation of mechanoreceptors to inhibit the pain response
Specific joint mobilization techniques or unilateral manual traction approaches are more specific to increasing segmental joint mobility
Facet Impingement
Benefit is due to decompression of facet capsular structure which can become impinged with compression
Value: 1
Value: 1
