Today, many people are faced with diseases of the spine. They know very well how unpleasant and painful these pathologies are. To combat such ailments, many methods are used, one of which is traction, or, in scientific terms, traction. There are irrefutable facts that indicate that such procedures have been carried out for more than two hundred years. They provide an excellent result. However, along with such facts, there is other data. They indicate that such treatment does not always give a positive result. There were cases when traction was carried out without the proper involvement of professionals, and the results were very sad.
Consider underwater traction of the spine. What is the essence of the method, in which diseases it will bring maximum effect. In addition, we will analyze under what ailments it is worth giving up stretching.
The essence of the procedure
Underwater traction of the spine is a stretching of the vertebrae under the patient’s own weight. Sometimes, for better traction, weights are additionally used. If necessary, manual exposure may be included in the procedure.
There are several methods of traction. Traction can be:
- dry or underwater;
- horizontal or vertical;
- with vibration or warming.
But, despite the variety of methods, the essence of the procedure is the same: stretching the vertebrae. This allows you to relieve muscle spasm, reduce pain, and return discs in place.
How is the procedure
Underwater traction of the spine is performed as follows:
- The patient is securely fixed with special mounts (straps) on the rack in the form of a platform.
- Then the person with the whole structure is lowered into a pool filled with water, or into a deep bath.
- Belts begin to stretch. Due to this effect, stretching is manifested.
- The pressure on the intervertebral discs is significantly reduced. At this point, the spine is like a straight spring.
Underwater spinal traction is used to treat many different pathologies associated, one way or another, with human bones (fractures, hernias, osteochondrosis, rheumatoid arthritis).
Procedure Efficiency
However, in medicine, this method of treatment causes many conflicting opinions. Not one generation of scientists and doctors argue on this issue. Some doctors are sure that the process of spinal traction provides compression of nerves, relieves pain. Other doctors claim that traction is not able to eliminate the cause of the pathology. After all, traction cannot change the destructive processes that occur in the skeletal system.
In addition, doctors emphasize that underwater traction of the spine sometimes leads to quite serious complications:
- intervertebral hernia;
- muscle microcracks;
- lumbago.
According to the number of negative consequences, this treatment method is equivalent to manual therapy. The question arises: is this procedure effective or harmful?
No matter how much disputes there are, one cannot but agree with the positive effect of traction on the body. The procedure, which provides spinal stretching, provides the back muscles with elasticity. Therefore, the spinal column as a whole becomes stronger.
To achieve positive results from this therapy, it is necessary to make a lot of effort. And you should start by looking for a good specialist. It is very important that the traction occurs under the supervision of a competent physician. It is he who will carefully study your pathology and choose the right treatment technique. The effectiveness of this procedure depends on this.
When to apply this technique
Initially, it should be remembered that only a doctor can prescribe these measures, having carefully studied the examination analyzes.
Most often, under the following pathologies, underwater traction of the spine:
- with a hernia;
- osteochondrosis;
- spondylosis of a deforming type;
- lumbalgia;
- radicular compression;
- kyphoscoliosis;
- the initial stages of ankylosing spondylitis;
- lumbar ischialgia, which caused limited movement and impaired flexibility;
- compression radiculopathies.
Contraindications to therapy
Like any medical procedure, spinal traction has several limitations. Failure to do so or ignoring them can seriously harm the body, and sometimes even lead to disability. That is why it is necessary to remind once again, initially consult with an experienced doctor, and only after its approval, consider underwater traction of the spine.
Contraindications to this procedure:
- disorders of the cerebrospinal circulation;
- osteoporosis;
- spinal instability in the patient;
- sequestered hernia ;
- spinal inflammatory syndromes (epiduritis cicatricial commissure or arachnoiditis);
- pathologies in acute form, accompanied by severe pain;
- spinal fractures;
- overweight (over 100 kg) and old age (over 60 years);
- poor tolerance of traction (the procedure leads to increased pain);
- rehabilitation after laminectomy;
- prohibitions for balneotherapy and hydrotherapy (for tuberculous spondylitis, cardiopulmonary decompensation, tumors of the spine or spinal cord, predisposition to bleeding, skin diseases).
Underwater traction can occur in two ways:
- in horizontal position;
- in the vertical.
Let's look at both options.
Horizontal extension
This method is recommended by many experts. After all, it allows you to get excellent results by changing the load. Underwater horizontal traction of the spine, unlike other methods, is the safest procedure.
To use this therapy, patients are laid on a platform in a bathroom that is moving. The upper body is fastened with straps, and weighting is hung on the lumbar. Then the bottom of the platform is slightly lowered down (at an angle of 15-30 degrees).
Traction in vertical position
This method is not suitable for all patients. Underwater vertical spine traction is a more intensive procedure.
It passes in large pools. In addition, the patient is no longer lying, but is in an upright position. With this procedure, only the upper body is fixed. The head is also fixed with a reliable head holder. Legs should not touch the bottom of the pool when vertically stretched.
Special belts are put on the waist and hips, on which loads are placed. The weight of the weighting agents is selected by the doctor and can vary from 2 kg to 20. This method is good because it allows you to stretch the entire spine. For 20-40 minutes, while the procedure lasts, the patient can not move. After all, reliable mounts hold down any movement.
This method is almost never used in practice. After all, it is based on a rough selection of cargo. In addition, with this method, it is quite difficult to act on that particular area that needs a similar traction.
Disease-Based Recommendations
In addition to vertical and horizontal traction, the procedure can be intense or gentle. The choice depends on how severe the pain, at what stage the disease is. Correct diagnosis is very important here.
Distinctive features:
- Gentle method. It is a stretching that occurs under the influence of one's own body weight. Additional loads in this method are not applied.
- Intensive method. If you need a stronger traction, then the procedure includes loads (from 2.5 kg). The weight of the load depends on the weight of the patient. This increases the session time - up to 40 minutes.
If concomitant diseases are present, such as impaired venous circulation, the doctor may prescribe a special complex of underwater traction of the spine, supplemented with baths with sodium chloride. With radiculopathies, hydrogen sulfide or turpentine are recommended. And if acute pain torments, then appoint baths with radonium.
To improve the effectiveness of the method, it is often combined with hydromassage. This greatly improves the therapeutic effect.
The peculiarity of the therapeutic effect
What is the essence of the therapeutic effect of this procedure? The whole secret lies in water, or rather, at a certain temperature. It is very important that it be 36-37 C. It is at this temperature that you can achieve the necessary effect that will help in the fight against the disease.
A bath of underwater traction of the spine, in which the water reaches the above indicators, provides such effects:
- reduces muscle tone;
- reduces the sensitivity of nerve endings in the spine;
- the gaps between the disks become longer;
- expands the holes through which the nerve endings of the spinal cord pass;
- relaxes muscles, so the pain subsides;
- eliminates cramping.
So, gradually, the necessary ratio between the vertebrae is restored, the disk is unloaded, the pressure decreases and, of course, the spinal root is released.
Cost of procedures
Unfortunately, underwater spinal traction cannot be called a cheap procedure. The price on average varies from 1200 to 1600 rubles. A procedure may need 10-12.
Patient opinion
Despite the doctors' eternal debate about the effectiveness of the procedure, most patients report significant improvement after underwater spinal traction. Reviews indicate that the technique helps with hernias, scoliosis, spondylosis.
People note that pain discomfort significantly decreases after 3 treatments. A 5 session allows you to freely move.
However, do not forget that the choice always remains with the doctor. After all, only a doctor can evaluate the evidence, weigh the contraindications and decide how much the patient needs the spinal traction procedure.