Home Neck Traction
Neck traction is a commonly used method of pain relief for those who suffer from neck related problems.
There are many neck traction devices which are portable and easy to use at home. Most of these feature an air powered unit fitted around the neck like a collar which applies traction to the cervical spine for neck pain relief.
Although neck traction is considered to be a conservative form of treatment, visits to a distant physical therapy department are often impractical and inconvenient. The economic and practical disadvantages of prolonged treatment by this means would be overcome to a considerable extent if neck traction could be performed at home. Therefore, the use of neck traction at home can be an effective method to save costs associated with doctor and/or physical therapy visits along with providing the convenience of not having to leave the home for treatment.
The object of neck traction is to assist the patient in these pain relieving maneuvers. If it is strong and is applied in a vertical direction, traction will likely be successful. It is essential to bear in mind that neck traction is used to treat a symptom and not a disease. To relieve the user of pain with no attempt to cure disc disease or osteoarthritis. This actual mechanism by which traction relieves cervical spine related pain is not precisely known, however, studies indicate a widening of the disc space while relieving pressure from sensitive nerves, relaxing tight muscles and increasing blood flow to help with neck pain and pain radiating into the shoulder, arm or hands.
A home neck traction device should allow the user to modify the direction of traction to determine the optimal position during application of traction and use the device to tolerance.
Cervical intervertebral discs are small and unstable in comparison with the discs in the lumbar area. Therefore neck traction, when properly applied, need not be very forceful, but one should not hesitate to apply a stronger force if pain relief is not achieved within a reasonable time during the course of treatment. It is important to have a wide range of traction forces available and an easy method to reduce the force applied should discomfort result. Therefore, Because of the difficulty to modify the strength of traction, as employed in the home, caution should be used with neck traction units that use halters with weights or water bags for this purpose.
The relief of pain, particularly of discomfort in the area between the shoulders, should be almost complete while the traction force is being applied. If there is no relief within a period of five minutes, the direction or the strength of the traction force should be modified. On the other hand, the reappearance of the pain will determine the optimum duration of the period for which neck traction should be applied. The user will discover how long the traction should be applied to provide the longest lasting comfort. The first treatment should last approximately five minutes; as the user becomes accustomed to the traction unit and gradually prolong it until the optimal duration is found.
The frequency with which neck traction is applied will depend on the extent of its effectiveness for pain relief. Traction should be re instituted when cervical symptoms reappear. As time goes on, the periods of relief should become more prolonged and the use of home traction can eventually be discontinued entirely.
Neck traction products described below are designed to be performed at home by the user, preferably in a comfortable position and setting. Considerable time should be spent initially with respect to the direction of traction, the strength of traction, the duration of traction, and the frequency of treatments. The extent of pain relief during treatment will assist the user in determining the optimal direction and strength of traction; the reappearance of pain following cessation of traction will determine the frequency and duration of treatments.
TracCollar
The TracCollar is a home neck traction device operated by 2 hand held inflation bulbs. Each one inflates one side of the collar and then both combined create an upward or verticle pressure on the head, providing traction and relieving pressure from pinched nerves and sore muscles. You have complete control of neck traction with the level of inflation and, unique to TracCollar, you can precisely control the amount of traction for either the right or left side of the neck. This provides an advantage over other types of inflatable traction devices and allows more traction to be applied to a specific side. Place the TracCollar neck traction collar around your neck, fasten two straps in the back and it's ready to use. By inflating one or both of the two bladders inside the collar using the hand pumps, a custom level of neck traction is achieved. Air can be controlled and released from the TracCollar by simply pressing the release button on each pump. The TracCollar comes in 2 different sizes and is available at the TracCollar website.
Air Neck Traction
This is the original Air Neck Traction device. Air Neck Traction is intended for the user who is independent, capable of using good judgement, and who needs "fast" results when their symptoms exacerbate. It is highly portable, easily used and often very effective in reduction of muscle tension related neck discomfort and pinched nerves, arthritis or herniated discs. Simply place the Air Neck Traction unit around your neck and adjust to comfort with the fastening straps. Inflate with air using the hand pump to gradually raise the level to a comfortable stretch. When the air neck traction is inflated, it will elongate to support the weight of the head allowing tight neck muscles to relax. Further inflation will stretch the neck and shoulder muscles while taking pressure off the discs, joints, nerves and blood vessels. The original Air Neck Traction comes in 3 different models; the basic is available in a large and small size with one air inflation pump for ease of use. The Professional model has the advantage of 2 air pumps for controlling each side individually and is a one size fits all. They are available at the Air Neck Traction website. You should beware of cheaper imitations and copycat devices which are not built to high standards and are not as effective.
Neck Traction Collar
The Neck Traction Collar can be used in front of the TV, while using the computer, standing and traveling. It provides stability and therapeutic traction to help with neck pain, muscle spasm and pinched nerves. It is a popular air neck traction device made of lightweight pliable rubber with soft cloth contact areas at the top and bottom support areas. The Neck Traction Collar features safe, anatomically correct traction and gives the head and neck needed support, in full comfort as the pressure is distributed evenly and gently with a gradual release of traction pressure at the end of treatment. Simple to put on and convenient for older people as well as portable, lightweight and easy to travel with. The Neck Traction Collar is great for people that spend long hours doing paperwork, working at a computer, watching TV or any activity where the focus of your head and neck is bent forward for long periods of time. The collar can be used with the notch in front for powerful, yet gentle levels of traction or the collar turned with the flat side in front for support. The Neck Traction Collar.
The application of home neck traction to the cervical spine serves to stretch the posterior muscular, ligamentous, and connective tissue components of the cervical spine as well as separate the intervertebral joint space and thereby, open the intervertebral foramen (Colachis & Strohm, 1965; Harris, 1977; Jackson, 1979; Cyriax, 1982; Trestle, 1988; and Wong, et al, 1992). Pain relief from muscle spasm, nerve root compression, osteoarthritis, or facet joint dysfunction are examples of conditions that respond to cervical traction treatment (Matthew, 1972; Murphy, 1991; Rosomoff, et al, 1992).
Patients who have hypermobility or instability problems, however, may not respond well to traction as it may aggravate the symptoms. Contraindications: Severe rheumatoid arthritis, infections and inflammatory disease, fractures, extruded disc fragmentation, spreading and/or aggravation of symptoms, serious pathology or disease, malignancy, spinal cord compression.