We at Back and Body Pain Relief NJ have written before about mechanical traction for patients suffering from neck pain, but we’ve never talked about the possibility of traction helping low back pain (lbp). Let’s take a look at what scientific literature has to say about traction for low back pain in particular.
A 2018 review focused on the use of traction on the lumbar spine in patients with acute, subacute, and chronic lbp patients; some with sciatica. The researchers found 37 randomized clinical trials which reported on five different types of traction: mechanical, auto-traction, manual, gravitational, and aquatic. Because of the variability in traction types, there were differences with each. There were also differences with force, rhythm, duration, and frequency of treatment.
Because there are so many different types of traction, the review did not make an overall conclusion of the effectiveness There have been other studies that proved otherwise. Let’s take a look at one of them.
This study involved inversion traction, and each participant had one herniated disc in their low back with sciatica. This traction can be performed at home, making it more cost effective, practical, and unique for patient and doctor. All of the participants were waiting for surgery, and were assigned to a group: either physical therapy only, or physical therapy with inversion traction. The study found that more than half of the participants in the PT plus inversion fully cancelled their surgery.
The participants who received PT only had a 22.2% rate of cancellation, and the PT plus inversion traction group had a 76.9% cancellation rate; that is ¾ of the group!
If you visit us at Back and Body Pain Relief in Springfield NJ, we will examine you and see how traction may be helpful to manage your lbp. We use many other treatments here based on your specific needs. These could be spinal manipulation, mobilization, nutritional advice, exercise recommendations, and more. Don’t hesitate! Come visit us today to end your pain.
If you’re in pain right now, if you don’t have to be. Give us a call or schedule an appointment online. We also accept insurance. You can Schedule an appointment here.
