Traction therapy is a non-surgical form of treatment. It uses either manual or mechanical means to stretch the spine for pain relief. Traction therapy, also called spinal decompression therapy, works by repositioning bulging or herniated disks to decrease pressure on the back.
Traction therapy is given manually or mechanically based on needs. Manual traction is where your chiropractor uses their hands to apply the treatment. They use their hands to gently widen the spaces between your vertebrae. Manual traction is a safe mode of treatment and is effective for some conditions.
Mechanical traction is the second type of traction. Unique devices make this specialized treatment possible. They work by stretching your back muscle and spinal vertebrae. Chiropractors offer mechanical traction on a traction table. This allows for intermittent or continuous stretching. They treat their patients with a combination of massages, vibration, or heat.
Each vertebra of your spine has a disc sitting on it. Discs are circular structures with a tough layer that surrounds their inner tissues. When a disc is under a lot of pressure, the tough outer layer gets damaged. Damage causes the soft tissues to project outside through the gap. Nearby nerves become pained because of the compression.
Traction helps separate the vertebrae from the disc by pulling it away. Pulling away allows the protruding parts of the soft tissue to return inside the disc. Pressure relief on the spine alleviates pain, and the traction helps rehydrate your discs.
Traction therapy uses a pulling force to stretch soft tissues and separate joint surfaces and bone fragments. Professionals apply force in the correct direction within the appropriate duration. Traction therapy benefits people with spinal problems and treats conditions such as:
Lumbar spondylosis
Herniated discs
Bone spurs
Degenerative disc disease
Sciatica
Facet disease
Cervical spondylosis
Pinched nerves
Foramina stenosis
When one goes through the traction therapy correctly, one can enjoy the following benefits:
Pain relief - Traction therapy causes your spine to stretch and alleviates pain by relieving pressure in the spine
Diversified treatment - Traction therapy treats several medical conditions such as spinal arthritis, herniated discs, and spinal stenosis
Non-surgical treatment – The treatment is non-invasive as it does not require a surgical procedure or medication
Works alongside other treatments - Traction therapy is safe to use alongside various treatments for a holistic recovery. Your physiotherapist can use therapies such as electric stimulation or ultrasound for treatment
General healing - The pressure applied to the discs releases natural healing nutrients, speeding up the body's natural healing process
It is advisable to contact your physiotherapist if you start developing any persistent back problems. You should also go back to your chiropractor if you develop any complications after the therapy.
For more on traction therapy, contact Waterbury Chiropractic Wellness at our office in Longmont, Colorado. You can call us at (303) 485-7117 to schedule an appointment today.