In this article, we will discuss about the Effect of Manual Cervical Distraction for Cervical pain relief. So, let’s get started.
Effect of Manual Cervical Distraction for Cervical pain relief
Manual cervical distraction is a low-velocity variable amplitude spinal manipulation technique, for this technique the patient lies in the prone position on a load instrumented table with a moveable headpiece and the clinician places his one hand and grabs the posterior part of the cervical spine making a wider base of support between the base of thumb and index finger (contact hand) at specific/affected vertebral level and controls his contact hand with the other hand (control hand). Then with the contact hand, the clinician applies superior traction at the single/affected vertebral level along with gentle movement using the contact and control hand. The goal of this technique is to create a slow rhythmic axial distractive motion/movement.
Four types of traction forces are applied neutral, moving flexion and traction, fixed flexion and traction, and generalized traction.
The resulting traction-induced intersegmental motion of the cervical vertebrae opens the intervertebral foramen and decreases the intradiscal pressure thus helps in relieving cervical pain.
Studies show that moving flexion and traction reduces more intradiscal pressure followed by neutral, fixed flexion and traction, and generalized traction.
The amount of tractional force required is determined by body weight. Distraction/Traction force intensity should be greater than 50N in high force (weight) group of individuals, 20N-50N in medium force (weight) group of individuals, and less than 20N in low force (weight) group of individuals and dosing should be 3 sets of 5 repetitions with contact hand on the affected cervical vertebral level and 3 sets of 5 repetitions with contact hand on the occiput.
