If you regularly experience neck and back pain, you are not alone. For many of us, walking around in some level of pain or discomfort is our normal. But is that normal? Not necessarily. While many times the pain may be associated with an underlying condition, oftentimes it may just tbe the compilation of poor posture, sitting in office chairs for hours on end, and gravity at work compressing our neck and spine.
For many, regular exercise and stretching can be helpful for alleviating some of this pain and discomfort, but for others it may not be enough. A common treatment used in physical therapy to treat neck and spinal pain Cervical Traction.
What is Cervical Traction?
Cervical Traction is a treatment used to help address and treat neck pain commonly associated with pinched nerves, tight muscles, or chronic neck pain. It is a simple treatment that works by gently stretching the spinal vertebrae and muscles to relieve pressure and pain around the neck and spine. This gentle stretching creates space between the vertebrae to release compression and relaxes the muscles.
Benefits of Cervical Traction
The goal of using a Cervical Traction Device is to reduce overall neck pain. When performed consistently, there are many benefits including:
These are just a few of the many benefits of cervical traction therapy. If you feel that you may benefit from using a cervical traction device, we always recommend consulting a doctor or physical therapist first. They will be able to give you a proper assessment and recommendation for the best cervical traction device for you.
Types of Cervical Traction Devices
Once you have decided that you would like to try a cervical traction device, now you need to decide what kind of cervical traction therapy is for you. There are three major types of cervical traction:
Manual Cervical Traction
Typically performed by a physical therapist, manual vertical traction is done while you are lying down. The therapy will gently pull your head away from your neck and hold. They will perform this motion repeatedly for a period of time.
Mechanical Traction
Also typically done by a physical therapist, mechanical cervical traction involves a machine or system of weights that the therapist straps you into. The machine applies traction force to pull your head away from your neck and spine. There are many different types of machines and devices for this. We will go more into detail about these later in this post.
Over-The-Door Cervical Traction
Ideal for at home use, over the door traction devices work by attaching your head and neck into a harness connected to a weighted pulley system connected to a door by a rope. You can either use the over the door device while sitting, leaning back, or lying down.
Our Top Picks For Cervical Traction Devices
When it comes to cervical traction devices, there are many on the market which can make it tricky to decide which one is best for you. As we mentioned earlier in the post, we absolutely always recommend consulting your doctor to see if cervical traction therapy is right for you and which device suits you best.
With that being said, here are our top recommendations for Cervical Traction Devices:
1. Saunders Cervical Traction Device
Our top recommendation and best selling cervical traction unit is hands down the Saunders Cervical Traction Device. The Saunders unit provides safe, comfortable, and effective cervical traction and comes ready to use. It has a compact and lightweight design and stretches and re-aligns the neck and spine with a hand pump to achieve your desired level of traction.
The Saunders Cervical Traction Unit comes with an easy to read gauge and has 3 adjustable angles to ensure a personalized experience. This unit also comes with a convenience case for easy storage and travel.
Get the Saunders Traction Device here for $348.00.
There are many things to consider if you are thinking of trying cervical traction therapy. Fyzical Supply proudly supplies the best cervical traction devices for sale. To shop through all of traction accessories for professionals here.
]]>If you are someone suffering from back pain, you most likely understand how debilitating it can be. Whether you feel the pain in your neck or your back, it can have a serious impact on your daily activities as well as your overall quality of life.
In this article, we will be discussing the causes of both cervical and lumbar pain as well as solutions to help reduce your neck and back pain with the use of decompression, otherwise known as traction.
There are many different causes for pain in the neck or back, from sleeping in a strange position which results in a stiff neck to a sports injury that results in a permeated disc. Here are some common causes of neck and back pain:
Poor Posture
Most of us are guilty of not having the most perfect posture. Many of us spend 8 or more hours a day sitting at a desk along with more time than we care to admit on our phones. Both of these can lead to hunching over which, overtime, can lead to neck and or back pain.
Herniated Disc
Likely due to injury, a disc within the spine may herniate, or slip out, of its place which can lead to sharp pain in the back and surrounding muscles and joints.
Muscle Strain
Even a slight muscle strain or injury can cause back pain. While these types of injuries typically heal themselves rather quickly, they can still cause significant and uncomfortable pain.
Arthritis
Arthritis can cause inflammation and degeneration of the joints all over the body, including the spine and back which can lead to bone spurs around the vertebrae. As you can imagine, this can result in significant pain.
The goal of a traction device is to stretch the distance between the vertebrae in the spine to reduce pressure and provide pain relief. This can be done by focusing on either the neck, lower spine, or both depending on your specific needs. While many turn to traction for the above indications, it can also help to relieve tension to reduce headaches and jaw pain.
There are two main types of traction devices: cervical and lumbar. A cervical traction device focuses on the neck, whereas a lumbar traction device works on the lower back.
There are different types of traction devices and techniques that can accomplish traction therapy. These techniques range from a massage from a physical therapist, to gravity tables, manual traction devices, and more.
To use a typical at home traction device, you will secure it to the area of treatment, either by placing yourself in the device, or securing it around your body. Once the device is secured, you will either use a pump or hand control to inflate or expand the device. The expansion will gently pull at your neck or back to expand the space between the vertebrae, releasing any existing pressure.
Below are the best devices that can be used for at home treatment for both cervical and lumbar traction.
Saunders Cervical Traction Device
Our top choice for all things traction, Saunders makes some of the best traction devices on the market. The Saunders Cervical Traction device has everything you’re looking for: it’s lightweight, effective, and comes fully assembled in a carry bag with a DVD video instruction manual.
It features 3 adjustable angles with an easy to read pressure gauge along with a hand-held pump making it simple and user friendly for anyone. If that doesn’t sell you, read through the our 600 five star reviews on our website!
Shop the Saunders Cervical Traction Device here for $348.00.
Saunders Lumbar Traction Device
Just as the Saunders Cervical Traction Device is our top choice for cervical traction, the Saunders LumbarTraction Device gets our top pick for lumbar traction as well. The Saunders Lumbar device delivers up to 200 lbs of force to reduce compression and tension in the spinal lumbar area.
It features a pneumatic pump for ease of use and comes complete with a convenient carrying case. Its split table design allows you to experience clinical level treatment, right at home.
Shop the Saunders Lumbar Traction Device for sale here for $369.00.
If you find yourself suffering from spinal pain or even chronic headaches and jaw pain, a traction device may provide you with some relief. Contact your medical provider to find out if traction therapy might be a good option for you.
Benefits of Using a SanctBand
Developed with the assistance of a sports physio-therapist, Sanctband offers a wide variety of resistance bands to aid in recovery and strength training. These lightweight, portable bands allow for use anywhere making keeping up with your exercising simple and convenient.
SanctBands are specifically designed with reduced protein which reduce the incidence of latex allergies. Additionally, the bands are power free and come in a variety of colors and resistance levels.
Here are the top Sanctband resistance band exercises for the shoulder:
Shoulder Abduction
This exercise helps to target the muscles that bring your arm out to the side and above your head.
To begin, secure one side of the band about 1 foot above the ground. You can secure it to a door, or leg of a table. Standing with the targeted shoulder on the opposite side of the anchor point, hold the band in your hand with your arm straight down at your side and your fist facing forward. Slowly, begin bringing your arm out to the side and above your head. Hold and repeat.
External Rotation
This exercise helps to target the muscles in the shoulder that allow your arm to twist out to the side.
To complete this exercise, affix one end of your Sanctband to a door handle. Standing with the targeted shoulder opposite of the door handle, hold the band in your hand. Keeping your elbow tucked close to your torso, begin to swing your hand out and to the side. Hold and then repeat.
Internal Rotation
This exercise helps to target the muscles in the shoulder that allow your arm to twist inwards towards the body.
To complete this exercise, affix one end of your Sanctband to a door handle. Standing with the targeted shoulder closest to the door handle, hold the band firmly in your hand with your palm facing up and your elbow at a 90 degree angle and your forearm facing forward. Keeping your elbow tucked into your torso, slowly start to bring your hand inwards towards your body. Hold and repeat.
Chest Press
This exercise helps to promote shoulder stability by working your deltoid and pectoral muscles.
To complete this exercise, begin by sitting in a chair. Secure the band behind your chair and bring each end of the Sanctband forward to hold in your hand with your palms facing down. Begin with your shoulders tucked into your torso at slightly more than a 90 degree angle. Slowly push your arms straight out in front of you keeping your shoulders tucked. Hold and repeat.
Row
This exercise helps to target your posterior deltoid muscles to help increase shoulder stability.
To complete this exercise, begin by securing the middle of Sanctband out in front of you. You can decure t to a door, just make sure the center point is about belly button height. Holding one end of the Santband in each hand, stand back from the door so that your arms are straight out in front of you. Begin to slowly slowly pull the band, bringing your hands towards your body. Keep your elbows tucked in, stopping once your elbows have reached a 90 degree angle.
If you are looking for a resistance band option that is reliable and easy to use, the Sanctband is a great option. Available in multiple resistance levels, there is a band option that works for anyone at any fitness level!
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