What Is Spinal Traction?
Spinal traction is one of the most commonly used forms of decompression therapy for the management of pressure on the spine. Decompression therapy helps reduce pressure on the spine and can be performed both manually and mechanically. Different devices have been introduced in the healthcare field for spinal traction, such as lo- bak trax (apparatus with dual traction design for spinal traction for alleviating back pain). Spinal traction is used in the management of different conditions, such as:
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Sciatic nerve disorders (compression of the sciatic nerve).
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Management of a herniated or slipped disc (injured intervertebral disc).
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Degenerative disc disorders.
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Management of pinched nerves.
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Back pain management.
What Are the Types of Spinal Traction?
Spinal tractions can be performed both manually and mechanically, depending on the patient's condition. It can be performed either intermittently (repeating after every 10 seconds) or continuously (holding the position for around 20 minutes), depending on the patient's comfort. Types of spinal traction are:
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Manual Spinal Traction: It is done by the trained physiotherapist by using their hands to manually exert forces on the muscle and joints for the widening of the intervertebral spaces (spaces between the vertebrae).
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Mechanical Spinal Traction: With trending technologies, various mechanical apparatus have been developed for stretching the spine using mechanical tools.
How Does Spinal Traction Work?
Spinal tractions work by relieving pressure from the compressed disc by stretching the spine (for around 20 to 60 minutes). Straightening the spine helps the body recover.
Who Are the Suitable Candidates for Spinal Traction?
Spinal traction is recommended for patients with:
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Bone spurs.
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Degenerative disc disorders.
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Facet syndrome (degenerative disease of the spine).
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Foraminal stenosis (narrowing or constriction of the cervical disc resulting in compression of the spinal nerves).
What Are the Complications of Spinal Traction?
A few complications associated with spinal traction are:
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Worsening of Pain: Spinal traction can sometimes result in the worsening of pain (mostly joint pain in the neck region), so it should be used only for the selected patients recommended by the certified physiotherapist. Physiotherapists usually refer patients to specialists for further management in such cases.
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Lumbar Disc Protrusion Progression: In a few cases, spinal traction may result in further progression of lumbar disc protrusion (bulging or herniation of the spinal disc in the low back region in between the bony area of the spine). It mostly occurs if the spinal traction procedure is not performed properly.
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Shortness of Breath: Spinal traction may result in breathing difficulties in patients due to pressure on the spinal muscles.
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Increased BP (Blood Pressure): Spinal traction can result in increased blood pressure in a few cases where the forces applied during spinal traction are greater than the recommended range. Forces applied during spinal traction should ideally not exceed more than fifty percent of the body weight. Exceeding more than the recommended force can result in the shooting of blood pressure, especially in patients with underlying uncontrolled hypertension.
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Muscle Spasm: Spinal traction may result in painful muscle spasms, which may end up worsening the conditions.
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Spinal Nerve Damage: Exceeding more than the recommended pressure during the spinal traction procedures can result in unwanted pressure on the spinal nerves, which may result in spinal nerve damage. The feeling of numbness and tingling sensations in the area are a few symptoms associated with spinal nerve damage. Physiotherapists usually refer the patient to a specialist in the event of any signs of traction-induced spinal cord compromise.
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Risk of Fractures: Excessive and long-term forces exerted on the spine may result in a fracture of the spine. So it is advised to maintain the spinal traction posture within the recommended time limits of around 20 to 30 minutes. It is recommended to take a complete medical history of the patients to rule out any underlying metabolic bone disorders before starting with spinal traction in such patients. Absolute and relative contraindications of spinal traction should be considered by healthcare professionals before initiating spinal traction in patients.
How to Avoid Complications Associated With Spinal Traction Procedures?
As spinal traction is a technique-sensitive procedure, so there are a few protocols that need to be followed by healthcare professionals and trained physiotherapists to avoid complications associated with spinal traction procedures, such as:
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Avoid excessive forces while providing spinal traction to the patient to avoid complications like hypertension and shortness of breath (traction forces should be limited to fifty percent of the body weight of the patient).
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Avoid long-term spinal traction position, especially in patients with spinal infections like osteomyelitis (inflammation of bone and joints) and osteoporosis (disease-causing weakening of the bones), as it increases the risk of fracture. Spinal traction should be avoided in such patients to avoid complications like spinal fractures.
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Avoid spinal traction procedures in patients with:
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Spinal malignancies (spinal tumor).
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Spinal diseases like spinal osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.
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In patients with systemic diseases like hypertension, heart diseases, and respiratory (lung) diseases.
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In pregnant females.
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In patients with spondyloarthritis (arthritis of the spine).
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In patients with vertebral-basilar artery insufficiency.
All the above-mentioned factors, along with relative and absolute contraindications of spinal traction procedures, need to be followed while choosing the candidate before starting with the spinal traction procedure to avoid any unnecessary complications associated with manual or mechanical spinal traction.
Takeaways
The effects of spinal traction may vary in different patients with different medical conditions. It is advised that patients thoroughly discuss and understand the potential risks and benefits with their healthcare provider before enrolling in spinal traction procedures.
Conclusion
Spinal traction is a widely used procedure for the management of lower back pain by reducing the pressure on the spine. However, there are several complications associated with spinal traction procedures. So it is advised to perform spinal tractions only for the recommended patients after thoroughly examining the patient's medical condition before selecting a suitable candidate. As spinal traction is quite a technique-sensitive procedure, trained physiotherapists should follow all the recommended guidelines for spinal traction applications, both manually or mechanically, to avoid any complications associated with spinal traction in the near future.
