What is traction? How does it help your spine? Is it the
same as decompression? Is an inversion table a form of
traction? The answer is - all are forms of traction.
There are many variations, but the basic concept is to
pull on the spine, and provide some pain relief.
Traction has been recommended for non-life-threatening spinal conditions.
Traditional traction is associated with a harness applying a pulling force on
the torso for the lower back or pulling on the
chin and back of the head for the neck. Decompression is associated with a
controlled force applied via a machine that stretches
your spine during application. An inversion table is a form of
gravitational traction with the force determined by the angle
of decline. Traction is based on several concepts
which have not been completely proven. Number one: injured muscles that contract
and spasm can be slowly stretched out the length
loosening the muscles and reducing spasms.
Conceptually, the muscle fatigues over time.
Eventually allowing retraction of the muscle tension and reduction of pain.
Number two: the discs are pulled apart stretching the annular fibers and
producing a negative pressure in the disc
causing disc bulges and herniations to go back
into the center part of the disc. Number three:
shortened ligaments cause increased pressure on the nerves.
Traction lengthens the ligaments making them thinner,
and less likely to kink or press on a nerve.
Number four: increasing the disc height by traction
will result in an increase in the foramen
giving more room for the nerves as they exit
the center part of the spine. While these concepts make
sense it's been hard to prove these changes
actually happen during traction. While recommended by more than 70 percent of
chiropractors, there's a wide variation in how the
forces are applied to the spine, how much force is applied to the spine,
and how long the force is applied. There's also wide variations in the
frequency of these treatments, and number of sessions needed to affect
relief. If we look at the attempts to do
research on spinal traction, unfortunately the results have been
inconclusive. In other words, the scientific community
cannot find a predictable benefit of using traction, but still its a
recommendation utilized by many in the United States. For some,
there's been a benefit. Although, the research cannot tell if the
improvement is because of the traction or because the natural course of most
back and neck pain is improvement over time regardless of
the type or lack of treatment. As a spinal
specialist, this is how I discuss traction with my
patients. It may or may not help you, but as long
as you're not injured while applying traction or
getting on the inversion table, I don't see a downside. It mainly comes
down to cost and time. If you want to try, please
do, but make sure you understand its cost. Some forms of tractions are low cost.
Other forms, including the decompression table
treatments, can be very expensive as the technology and regulation costs
to produce these tables are significant. Like all my
recommendations, as long as there are no risks, and the
patients understand the financial responsibility associated with the
treatment, I leave it to the patient. At the same
time, I must counsel that it may not provide any
benefit, but certainly can be a monetary stress
if you choose one of the more expensive options.
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