Download Cervical Traction - Therapeutic Modalities

Cervical Traction
Chapter 17
© 2005
Cervical Traction
• Tension must overcome weight of skull
– Approximately 8.1% of total body weight
– 14 pounds
• Tension: Supine and Seated
– Supine: Approximately 7% of body weight (10 lbs)
– Reclined: Approximately 20% of body weight (24 lbs)
• Treatment Time
– Depends on the pathology
– Approximately 5 to 20
– Use comfort as a guide
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Indications
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Degenerative disc disease
Nerve root compression
Disc herniation
Muscle spasm
Osteoarthritis or facet joint inflammation
Capsulitis of vertebral joints
Pathology of anterior or posterior longitudinal
ligaments
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Contraindications
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Pain of unknown origin
Acute injury
Unstable spinal segments
Cancer, meningitis, or other spinal cord/
vertebrae disease
• Vertebral fracture
• Extruded disc fragments
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Mechanical Traction
• Wall or door-mounted traction
– Sitting or Prone
– Uses water bags, sand bags, or weight plates
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Mechanical Traction
• Mandibular-occipital
harness
– Places pressure on the
TMJ which may cause
discomfort
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• Occipital harness
– Forcse on skull’s
occipital bone
– Can be used to
place spine in
varying degress
Mechanical Traction Application
• Assess body weight
• Remove material that may interfere with halter
• Adjust halter accordingly
– Bilateral = midline of body
• Secure and connect halter
• Align angle of pull to correspond with the
specific pathology
• Give patient Safety Switch
• Explain treatment
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Initiation of Treatment
• Set controls to zero and turn on unit
• Remove slack
• Adjust Ratio
– Normally 3:1 or 4:1
• Tension
– Approximately 10 pounds or 7% of body
weight
– First exposure use lower tension
• Duration
– Corresponding to pathology
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Termination of Treatment
• Tension
– Gradually reduce over 3 or 4 cycles
– Gain slack and turn unit OFF
• Remove halter from unit and patient
• Patient remains in position for 5 minutes
after the treatment
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Manual Traction
• Changes in tension, angle of pull, and
duration are more easily adjusted when
compared to mechanical traction
• Nondominant hand cradles the occiput
• Dominant hand under nondominant
– Pulls using bodyweight
• Can be administered in sustained or
intermittent modes
© 2005