Mechanical Traction: An Updated & Evidence Based Approach

Course Description

Course Description:

Mechanical traction has been a part of physical therapy interventions for neck and back pain since the 1940s when James Cyriax introduced this modality. It is still in common use today – a recent survey found that approximately 60% of orthopedic physical therapists use mechanical traction to treat neck and back pain. But what does the evidence say about its effectiveness?

This course will look at the best and most recent research regarding the effectiveness of mechanical traction for neck and back pain. The main focus will be on identifying the subgroup of patients that have been shown to benefit from its use. Objective findings and special tests to help clinicians determine how and when mechanical traction might help them get their patients better are presented.