Mechanical Traction Therapy in Austin, TX

Have you ever just wished you could reverse the effects of gravity on your spine? Thought about what it would be like to stretch and decompress your back muscles and bones? That’s what mechanical traction therapy in Austin is like.

Decompression mechanical traction uses forces to reduce the weight and pressure on the painful part of your spine, which helps reduce pain.

How Mechanical Traction Works

Mechanical traction uses weights to stretch muscles and ligaments in opposite directions. This increases the space between your vertebrae. This process is particularly helpful for pinched and compressed nerves, joint injuries, and muscle or skeletal disorders.

By providing these areas of your body with relief from the constant pressure, mechanical traction can help you live a more pain-free lifestyle in Austin, TX. 

Relieving pressure on your spine and alleviating joint, spasm, and sprain pain is just the beginning. Traction also helps relieve sciatica, herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, pinched nerves, and more. Lower back pain (LBP) is very common in Austin, TX. Lower back pain increases medical expenses and work absenteeism and is a leading cause of disability. Traction therapy can provide much-needed relief from lower back pain, so you can get back to comfortably living your life.

Traction alleviates pain by relieving pressure on your spine. Plus, mechanical traction improves blood circulation to injured or damaged tissues. Additional oxygen and nutrients in the blood are critical to healing, further easing your pain and other symptoms.

Mechanical traction for your neck (cervical spine) or low back (lumbar spine) treats herniated discs, chronic arthritis, and degenerative conditions. Cervical and lumbar traction are similar but have some differences. 

• Cervical traction – Gentle force pulls the head to stretch away from the neck to improve mobility and reduce pain from herniated discs, arthritis, or spinal stenosis. 
• Lumbar traction – Gentle force targets the lower back by gapping the pelvis from the lower back to relieve discomfort and pain and discomfort from sciatica, herniated discs, degenerative disc disease and lower back pain. 

Does Traction Therapy Hurt?

You may feel some discomfort during and after your traction therapy treatment. Only discomfort, though, not pain. How uncomfortable you feel is likely more about your condition and how much pain you are already in. 

• Your physical therapist uses specific treatment parameters of how and where to apply pressure to elongate your spine to relieve the pressure.
• Many feel the mild stretching or pulling sensation, but some feel nothing. Afterwards, you may have some mild stiffness or soreness, but it generally passes in a day or two.

The first step is always a comprehensive assessment from your physical therapist at the FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Centers - Brodie Lane.

In most situations, mechanical traction therapy is a component of a comprehensive recovery plan. Most back pain conditions improve more rapidly using a combination of treatments, including mechanical traction.  

If your back is bothering you, contact FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Centers - Brodie Lane, to find out if traction could benefit you!

Mechanical Traction in Austin FAQs

What is mechanical traction?

Mechanical traction uses devices that stretch the spinal vertebrae and muscles by gently pulling the vertebrae apart, which relieves pain. Mechanical traction eases the pressure on discs and nerves. This is especially helpful for herniated discs since it allows the disc to return to its proper place between the vertebrae.

What is mechanical traction therapy?

Mechanical traction uses a traction table that applies continuous or intermittent stretching, adding heat, massage, or vibration. The table may use software that applies the exact amounts of pressure required. Traction therapy uses force and counterforce that pull in opposite directions to relieve pain by inhibiting pain impulses and increasing the spaces between vertebrae.