The precautions of cervical traction

  1, traction mode: apparatus traction, such as electro-mechanical traction, occipito-mandibular sling traction, airbag traction; manual traction. Although manual traction has the advantage of flexibility and versatility, but the traction force is not continuous, time period.  2, traction position: sitting position, supine position. Generally take the sitting position, traction position has no significant effect on the efficacy of cervical spondylosis.  3, traction angle: traction angle research has been more, but no more than forward flexion, neutral, posterior extension debate, but one thing can be determined, regardless of the traction angle is to make the maximum traction stress concentrated in the lesion, more effective traction effect. Generally, most patients use 15-20 degrees of cervical forward flexion to traction at an angle with higher efficacy than vertical traction, and different angles are adjusted for different types of cervical spondylosis to improve the efficacy. Such as sympathetic cervical spondylosis, take the head back 15 degrees traction; early spinal cord type cervical spondylosis, it is appropriate to take a neutral position.  4, traction weight: clinically, there have been many different opinions on traction weight. Traction weight should start from a small weight with a short time, according to the patient’s adaptability and symptoms, and gradually reach the best traction force, in order to avoid unnecessary injury. Regardless of the weight should depend on the patient’s tolerance, traction and traction after the feeling, in order to safe and effective principle.  5, traction time: generally there are two kinds of interval traction and continuous traction. 20-30 minutes.  6, traction effect: restrict cervical activity, promote tissue edema and inflammation; increase the vertebral space and intervertebral foramen, reduce nerve root compression; release muscle spasm to restore spinal balance; restore cervical curvature, release synovial inlay, restore the normal sequence and interrelationship between cervical vertebrae; stretch the distorted vertebral artery, improve vertebral artery blood supply; flatten the yellow ligament folds, improve the symptoms of spinal cord compression.