What is Traction?

Passive procedure in which mechanical power develops centrifugal tension in the backbone axis (tractions) or in extremity axis (extension). Pulling force affects mainly soft tissue of the locomotory apparatus (muscles, ligaments, sinews and articular capsules). Traction tension can be started manually by another person or mechanically. Manual tractions (called also hand tractions)can be a part of different techniques used in individual therapeutic physical training (especially hand tractions of cervical spine or hand tractions of low extremity in thighbone axis). In individual therapeutic physical training there can be used also so-called redress positioning, which means the force (of hand, a bag of sand or harness) is used right through the joint whose restricted mobility we want to improve this way. Mechanical tractions of cervical spine are performed by means of the "Posture Pump" which works by using the weight of the patient´s head itself caused by gravity. The traction of lumbar spine is performed with the use of blocks with the patient lying on their back or stomach while the pelvis is fixed (with a possibility of traction to flexion or to extension). In these mechanical tractions, the effect of pulling force is constant and continual.