Clinical Corner: Traction!

TRACTION!! Most of you have noticed by now that we no longer have our in office traction chairs. As you know, traction is an integral part of our treatment here and is necessary in restoring the natural curve (Arc of Life) to our neck and it is essential that you keep up your traction with your home traction device. If you have questions or are experiencing problems with your traction, please let us know - we can help.

Here are the instructions for traction that may refresh your memory:

A normal healthy posture when viewed from the side should reveal a position where the ear is balanced over the shoulder and the neck maintains a forward curved position. The normal neck curve is commonly reduced or altered due to trauma or poor posture habits. To return the neck curve toward a normal healthy position it is necessary to strengthen the muscles in the back of the neck and to stretch the damaged ligaments of the neck. The ligaments of the neck will “creep” toward a normal position just as the teeth do with braces.There are three important factors to consider when attempting to change the ligaments that maintain the curves of the spine.

Duration: The amount of time the ligaments of the spine are held in a stretched curved position. The longer you hold a stretched curved position in the spine, in a given session, the more ligament “creep” will occur, resulting in better curve correction.  Each stretching session should last from ten to twenty minutes.

Intensity: The more tension you place on the spinal ligaments, the better curve correction you will create. Always try to tolerate as much tension as possible.

Frequency: The more sessions you apply a stretch to the spinal ligaments, the greater curve correction that will take place. You should stretch the spinal ligaments at least once a day. Stretching the spinal ligaments several times a day should be encouraged.

We suggest that you consider all these factors with each stretching session. You can vary these factors within each session.

Do not confuse this type of neck stretching with the neck traction method used with physical therapy. The important difference with this method of stretching is to reestablish a curve in the neck where other methods straighten the neck.

A word of caution: Correcting of the curves of the spine is a very important part of regaining your health and evaluating many troubling symptoms. As with any physical activity that causes a body to go through change, some initial soreness and discomfort may occur. Begin your curve correction program slowly and communicate with your us throughout this curve correction program.  Do not get discouraged if some symptoms of pain or discomfort develop while implementing this curve correction program. Some pain and discomfort can actually be a good sign as it usually indicates that the body is changing, as with any new exercising program. On rare occasions the following symptoms could occur: nausea, dizziness, pain or tingling that extends into the arms or hands. Should any such symptoms develop you should discontinue the program until checking with your Doctor.