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Cervical Traction Device Delivers Relief

By Debra Cooley


A lot people suffer from mild to severe neck pain due to a variety of reasons. They seek professional treatment from physicians and chiropractors who try a number of different remedies to relieve the discomfort. Many find that using a cervical traction device can often provide a respite from the often debilitating hurt of so many things from a headache to a herniated disc.

The concept by which these items work is a fairly simple one. It consists of a gentle, yet firm upward application of force to the head in order to stretch the vertebra, soft tissue and muscles in the neck which relieves pain and soothes spasms. There are several different ways to do this therapy either at home or in a practitioner's office.

The practice has been used to treat a myriad of issues such as bulging discs, muscle spasms, neck pains stemming from both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, hand and arm numbness, back pain, aching jaws, headaches and many more. It is considered one of the best methods for correcting and restoring proper posture. In numerous cases, it has been credited with relieve intense migraines in as little as twenty minutes.

A process that is believed to date back to the time of the Ancient Egyptians, this stretching method has only been used in a clinical setting since the 1930's. Though generally understood to be a perfectly safe practice, one should never begin this therapy without first consulting their physician. It could cause more issues if the patient suffers from any of several maladies such as a ruptured spinal disc, cancer, has certain infections or is pregnant.

The process entails stretching the spinal vertebra and their surrounding muscles and soft tissue in a gentle upward motion. Separating them removes compression on the discs and the nerves they protect. Proper realignment allows the important fluids to once again flow freely through the area, easing stiffness, numbness and pain.

Generally speaking, this process is only done for not more than fifteen minutes at a time. With at least two hours of rest between treatments, it may be administered several times a day as necessary for relief. Practitioners should be aware of their limits and heed their doctor's advice because overdoing this therapy can result in soreness that is actually counterproductive.

The first method by which the therapy is often administered is manual manipulation, where a trained practitioner gently supports and stretches the neck while the patient lies on a table. Another way is to place one's chin in a sling device that hangs over a door and uses mechanical means to apply an upward force along the jawline. The final tool is an inflatable collar that the wearer controls with a hand pump to evenly distribute pressure to extend the upper spine.

There are multiple reasons a person may suffer harsh pains in their backs, necks, hands and heads. A cervical traction device may be the perfect way to stretch the spine and relieve some of that pressure on vertebra that could be causing the aches. Though this treatment is gentle and considered safe, a physician should be consulted before applying because there are certain conditions that could worsen with such activity.




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