Cervical Traction

For decades, cervical traction has been applied widely for pain relief of neck muscle spasm or nerve root compression. It is a technique in which a force is applied to the neck to reduce muscle spasms occurring in the neck by stretching soft tissues, and in certain circumstances separating joint surfaces or bony structures. Traction gently extends the neck, opening the spaces between the cervical vertebrae and temporarily alleviating pressure on the affected discs. Neck traction can either be done continuously or intermittently, alternating between short periods of pulling and resting.