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What is traction therapy?

Pulling the joint apart by external force is called traction, for the purpose of using mechanical or non-mechanical devices for continuous or intermittent traction. Traction is not only effective for joints, but also helpful for the relaxation of tight muscles, tendons or ligaments, which can open the spaces between vertebrae, improve lordosis, widen the nerve holes, promote the blood circulation of soft tissues, and achieve the purpose of relaxing muscles, relieving spasms and alleviating pain. It includes cervical and lumbar traction.

What disease is traction therapy targeted at?

Traction pulls the joint apart with an external force, so it can relieve pressure on the nerve from intervertebral cartilage, osteophytes, or inflamed tissue. Lumbar traction uses the downward pulling force on the pelvis to indirectly open the intervertebral space and the perforating space of the nerve root of the lumbar spine, so thus achieving the purpose of relieving neuralgia. When the cervical nerve foramen is too narrow, the tension of the cervical retractor can enlarge the nerve foramen and relieve the compression on the nerve root. In patients with cervical syndrome, numbness and pain in the neck and arms are often resolved.

Precautions

Before traction, a hot compress is usually applied to the treatment site to allow the surrounding soft tissue to relax, thus enhancing traction. Besides traction, you need to do relaxation exercise, otherwise 15 minutes of traction cannot exhibit its effectiveness. In addition, the belt of lumbar traction is tied to the abdomen, so the best way to do lumbar traction is to avoid the time of just having a meal, at least one or two hours later. Because of the spine stabilizing force, to pull the spine apart, the traction pull force must be greater than the stabilizing force of the spine. But the spine is a very sensitive part, and we can't add weight quickly for the sake of fast efficiency. We must follow the doctor's instructions.

Contraindications

• Spinal infection, such as tuberculosis
• osteoporosis
• malignant tumor
• high blood pressure or heart disease
• senility or weakness
• pregnant women