What is Cervical & Lumbar Traction?
Cervical and lumbar decompression traction are non-invasive therapeutic techniques used to relieve pain and discomfort in the neck (cervical spine) and lower back (lumbar spine). These treatments are often employed by healthcare professionals, including chiropractors and physical therapists, to address conditions such as herniated discs, bulging discs, spinal stenosis, and other issues that can cause nerve compression and chronic pain in the cervical and lumbar regions of the spine.
Here's an overview of cervical and lumbar decompression traction:
Cervical Decompression Traction:
- Cervical decompression traction is a procedure designed to alleviate neck pain and related symptoms caused by conditions like cervical disc herniation, cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerve), or cervical osteoarthritis.
- During this treatment, the patient typically lies on a special table with their head secured in a device that gently stretches the cervical spine. This traction force creates a negative pressure within the discs of the neck, which can help reduce disc bulges or herniations and relieve nerve compression.
- The procedure is generally painless and is often performed over multiple sessions, with each session lasting around 15-30 minutes.
Lumbar Decompression Traction:
- Lumbar decompression traction aims to relieve lower back pain and associated symptoms resulting from conditions like lumbar disc herniation, sciatica, or spinal stenosis.
- The patient lies on a traction table designed for lumbar decompression, and a harness is placed around their hips and lower body. The table then gently stretches and decompresses the lumbar spine, creating a negative pressure within the lumbar discs. This negative pressure can help alleviate pressure on nerves and reduce pain.
- Like cervical decompression, lumbar decompression traction is typically performed over multiple sessions, with each session lasting around 15-30 minutes.
