If you're suffering from neck pain and your chiropractor suggests traction, you might be wondering what the heck that is and if it will hurt... Right? It's really not as scary as it might sound. In fact, those who have undergone traction as a part of their therapy come to love how good it makes them feel.

What does traction for the neck (cervical traction) do?
Traction aims to minimize forces that compress the neck, alleviate pressure from the discs in your neck, and open space around the nerves along your spinal canal relieving any compressed nerves. As a bonus, traction also helps to stretch the neck muscles and joint structures.

What diagnoses does cervical traction treat?

• Herniated or bulging discs in the neck
• Neck arthritis
• Neck strains
• Cervical muscle spasms
• And more

How is cervical traction applied?
There are many different ways to apply traction to the neck. Your chiropractor will explain the best method for treating your specific concern.

Manual Traction: This type of traction is performed by your chiropractor, who holds your neck and head in their hands and then gently provides pulling force to your neck. Rhythmic periods of pulling and resting are standard, with each position being held for up to 10 seconds.

Mechanical Traction: Mechanical traction for your neck involves using a harness that attaches to your head and neck while you're lying down on your back. The harness attaches to a machine that provides a traction force. This machine typically has a control panel that allows your chiropractor to change the amount of force applied to your neck.

Over-the-Door or Wall-Mounted Traction: This type of traction can be used at home and involves strapping a harness to your head and neck while you're sitting in a chair or facing a wall. The harness is attached to a rope that's strung through a pulley system over a door or from a securely mounted wall system, and traction force is applied using the weight of your own body.

With this method, you'll want to hold the force for 10 to 20 seconds, and then slowly release, rhythmically pulling and releasing for 10 to 20 minutes in total. Traction can be applied several times throughout the day.

Be sure to work closely with your chiropractor to help decide on the best treatment regimen for your specific needs. At Pure Life Chiropractic, located in Eugene, Oregon, we use the Pettibon Wall Mount System for cervical traction and we'd be happy to show you how it works. Give us a call today at 541-343-5633 and start your journey to feeling better.