A cure for neck pain: Let's learn about Cervical Traction in simple terms!

Is your neck stiff and sore after working in front of the computer all day or sleeping incorrectly? Sometimes this pain even goes down your arm, and it feels like your arm is tingling, right? Today we are going to talk about a special treatment method for this kind of neck pain and related problems. This is called Cervical Traction. You may not have heard of this name, but this is a treatment that brings relief to many people.

What exactly is cervical traction?

Simply put, this is a very gentle, gentle pull on your head, creating a small space between the vertebrae in your neck. Think of it like moving two books a little apart. When you move the bones in your neck a little apart, the pressure on the nerves that run through them decreases, and the tightness in your neck muscles also relaxes. This is sometimes called spinal traction.

This treatment can be done by your doctor or a physiotherapist. There are also devices that some people can do at home, with medical advice. However, the main goal is to reduce pressure between the vertebrae in the neck, reducing pain and other symptoms.

A little introduction to our spine

To understand this, it's helpful to have a little idea about our spine. Our spine is divided into three main parts.

• Cervical spine: This is the part of our neck. It is made up of 7 vertebrae. The 'cervical traction' treatment we are talking about today is performed on this part.
• Thoracic spine: This is the part of our upper back. It extends from the neck to just below the rib cage.
• Lumbar spine: This is our lower back, that is, the lower third of the spine.

So, cervical traction treatment involves gently moving the vertebrae of the upper cervical spine apart.

What conditions is this treatment good for?

Cervical traction is a treatment used to treat many conditions that cause neck and back pain. It not only relieves the pain in the vertebrae, but also in the nerves and muscles around them.

Let's look at some of the main uses of this treatment below.

What happens before the treatment?

Before your doctor recommends this treatment, he or she will carefully examine your symptoms. They may also order an X-ray or MRI scan. After these tests, they will decide that cervical traction is appropriate for your condition.

There is no special preparation you need to do before this treatment. You can do it at a physical therapy center, in your doctor's office, or at home with instructions.

How does this treatment work?

There are two main methods for performing cervical traction.

1. Manual cervical traction

In this method, the doctor or physical therapist uses their hands to grasp your head and very gently, but carefully, pull it away from your body. This is usually done while you are lying on a bed. They will rotate and bend your neck at different angles to perform this traction. This allows the treatment to be directed exactly to the problem area.

2. Mechanical cervical traction

In this method, a special device is used. While you are lying down, a strap is placed around your head and neck and secured to this device. Then, the device pulls your neck with a very controlled force. The advantage of this method is that the treatment can be done in the same way and with the same force for a longer period of time than with the manual method.

Devices used at home also fall into this category. Some are pulley systems that are hung over a door, while others are pneumatic devices that are placed around the neck and used to stretch the neck.

What are the benefits of this treatment?

Cervical traction is a relatively simple, easy-to-perform treatment, and if it's appropriate for your condition, it can provide rapid relief from symptoms.

• Pain relief: Pain in the neck, shoulders, and arms can be relieved quickly.
• Muscle relaxation: The stiffness and tension in the neck muscles are relieved, and the neck becomes free.
• Ease of movement: The difficulty in turning and bending your neck becomes less, and your neck's range of motion increases.
• Reduction of nerve compression: Symptoms such as numbness are reduced as the compressed nerves are released.

Some studies have shown that cervical traction is more effective when combined with other physical therapy exercises, but this may not work for everyone.

Risk factors and who should not have this treatment

Cervical traction is a relatively safe treatment because it uses very gentle force on the neck. However, it is not suitable for some people and those with certain medical conditions.

You should avoid this treatment if you have the following conditions:

Another thing is that the relief from this treatment can sometimes be temporary. That means the pain may return after a while. That's why doctors advise doing things like neck strengthening exercises along with this treatment.

When should you see a doctor?

Before you use a traction device at home , you should definitely consult a doctor or physical therapist. They will explain which device is right for you and how to use it, for how long, and how often.

If any of the following symptoms occur during or after treatment, stop treatment immediately and see your doctor.

• New pain or worsening of existing pain.
• Numbness or loss of feeling in the hands, feet, and fingers.
• Changes in vision, feeling like you can see stars even during the day.
• Headache .
• Dizziness or nausea.

If you are experiencing these symptoms, you may be doing the wrong treatment, or this treatment may not be right for you. Therefore, it is very important to seek medical advice.

cervical traction, neck pain, neck pain, back pain, physiotherapy, physical therapy, spinal traction, pinched nerve, nerve compression, neck pain sinhala