Cervical Traction For Neck Pain and Injuries

Sports Medicine And Physical Therapy Clinic Helping Treat People Suffering From Neck Pain And Injuries In Brooklyn, NY Using Cervical Traction

Cervical traction is a treatment often used in physical therapy to help treat neck pain and cervical radiculopathy. If you are suffering from neck pain or pain in your arm coming from your neck, Physical Medicine And Rehabilitation Doctor may refer you to a physical therapist to help treat your condition. Neck pain can limit your ability to turn your head, look up or down, or perform normal activities like sleeping or exercising.

What are the symptoms of neck pain?

Symptoms that often come from your neck include pain in the middle of your neck, pain in one side of your neck, or pain in one or both of your shoulder blades. Occasionally, symptoms coming from your neck may be felt as pain or numbness and tingling in your arm or hand. Since many different symptoms coming from your neck can be felt in many different places, it’s important to make an appointment to see a doctor or physical therapist to help determine the cause of your symptoms. Our team of medical providers will diagnose and decide on the best way to manage and treat your condition. During your visit, our team of medical doctor and physical therapist will perform an initial assessment and then prescribe treatments for your neck condition. One such treatment is Cervical Traction.

What Does Cervical Traction Do?

• Cervical traction can be used for decreasing compressive forces in the neck, which can help take pressure off of the discs that reside between the vertebrae (spinal bones) in the neck.
• It can also open up the spaces where nerves exit the spinal canal, which can help relieve pressure off of a compressed nerve.
• Traction can also help stretch the muscles and joint structures around the neck.

Common conditions that may benefit from cervical traction :

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

If you have any of these conditions or symptoms, Call Us Today (718)648-1234 To Schedule A Consultation with one of our medical providers to see if Cervical Traction is right for you.

What does the research show for cervical traction?

A recent meta-analysis published in the journal Spine examined 7 different cervical traction studies. The researchers concluded that neck traction can possibly offer short-term neck pain relief. The research is inconclusive when determining if traction offers long-term relief, and more studies need to be done on cervical traction to determine this.

What kind of Cervical Traction Treatments Are Available?

There are many different ways to apply cervical traction to the neck. Be sure to discuss the best way for you to use neck traction with your physical therapist.

• Manual Cervical Traction: This type of traction is performed by your physical therapist, who holds your neck and head in his hands and then gently provides a traction, or pulling, force to your neck. Rhythmic periods of pulling and resting are usually applied, with each position being held for up to 10 seconds.

• Mechanical Cervical 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 is attached to a machine that can provide a traction force, and the machine has a control panel so that your physical therapist can change the amount of force applied to your neck.

In general, a pulling force of about 20 pounds should be used when starting neck traction. The force should be held for 10 to 20 seconds, and then slowly released. Increased pulling forces up to 40 to 50 pounds can be used, and rhythmic pulling and releasing should be continued for 10 to 20 minutes. Traction can be applied several times throughout the day. Be sure to work closely with your physical therapist to help decide on the best treatment parameters for your specific condition. If your symptoms worsen at any time during your treatment, you must notify your physical therapist immediately. He or she can make adjustments to your treatment, or traction can be discontinued altogether, and an alternative treatment can be started to treat your neck pain. Stop living with neck pain. Book an appointment today. Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance offers non-surgical solutions for musculoskeletal conditions. We offer Physical Therapy, Sports Medicine, Interventional Pain Management and Acupuncture Treatments.

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