An Overview On Cervical Traction Therapy

Introduction

As part of the musculoskeletal system, the neck makes sure that the head stays upright and can move around. The neck is just like the lower back of the body as it is made up of ligaments and soft muscle tissues that can succumb to injuries and muscle strain. When this happens to the neck, the cervical area of the spine also gets affected, and it can cause pressure on the cervical nerve roots from herniation. This will cause the individual to suffer neck pain and muscle stiffness while also trying to find some relief. Thankfully, treatments that help alleviate neck pain have been effective by relaxing the tense muscles and taking the pressure off the cervical nerve roots. Today’s article will look at the neck’s function in the body, how neck pain affects the body, and how cervical traction can relieve many individuals suffering from neck pain. By referring patients to qualified and skilled providers specializing in spinal decompression therapy. To that end, and when appropriate, we advise our patients to refer to our associated medical providers based on their examination. We find that education is the key to asking valuable questions to our providers. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer

Can my insurance cover it? Yes, it may. If you are uncertain, here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-09

The Neck’s Function To The Body

Since the neck is part of the musculoskeletal system, it is essential to know that the ligaments, soft tissue muscles, joints, nerve roots, and discs are located in the cervical area of the body. The neck can keep the head upright while also making it move around, turn, and rotate without feeling any pain. Sometimes the neck joints make a “popping sound” when the head is tilted on either side, causing a sense of relief. The neck structure has two primary regions that make up the neck: the anterior and posterior cervical regions. Research studies have shown that the posterior cervical region is located at the front and sides of the neck that encompasses the lymph nodes and blood vessels that provide motor functions for the jaw to move. 

Research studies have stated that the anterior cervical region of the neck is located on the side and back of the neck where the cervical area of the spine is located. The anterior cervical region provides lymphatic drainage and various roles for the cranial nerves and protects them from injuries. These two regions help the structure and functionality of the neck and head as they’re responsible for providing a supportive connection to the brain and cervical spine, regulating metabolism, and amongst other necessary functions for the body; as other research studies explained, the neck’s purpose to the body. 

Neck Pain Affecting The Body

While the neck’s purpose in the body is to keep the head upright and keep a supportive connection to the brain and the spine, it can succumb to injuries like the lower back. Research studies have found that neck pain is considered a multifactorial disease that affects many individuals with numerous risk factors that contribute to its development. Some risk factors can be ordinary, like poor posture due to reading a book, looking at the phone, or being hunched over on the computer during working hours. In comparison, other risk factors are psychological, like stress and anxiety, where a person’s shoulders and neck muscles are tense, causing pain and disability to the body. Other research studies have stated that other factors for neck pain can be non-specific and usually on a postural or mechanical basis like cervical spondylosis or traumatic like whiplash. When these risk factors cause problems to the neck and shoulders, they can turn chronic over time unless it gets treated right away. Fortunately, some treatments can alleviate acute neck pain and relieve tense neck muscles.

An Overview Of Cervical Traction-Video

Are you feeling muscle stiffness around your neck and shoulders? How about waking up with a crick in your neck? Have your shoulders and neck strain while being hunched over while working at a desk? If you’ve been with any of these symptoms of neck pain, then cervical traction therapy could be the answer. The video explains how cervical traction can help restore the compressed spinal disc in the cervical area of the spine. What traction does is that it stretches the cervical spine and helps take the pressure off the cervical nerve root. The other beneficial factor is that cervical traction allows the tense neck muscles to loosen up while increasing the disc height of the neck. Many individuals suffering from neck pain will find relief after several cervical traction therapy treatments. Suppose you want to learn more about cervical traction or decompression and how it can benefit you? In that case, this link will explain what decompression does for the cervical area in the spine and provide neck pain relief.

What Is Cervical Traction Therapy?

The neck is part of the musculoskeletal system and can succumb to injuries like the lower back with tense muscles and herniated discs that press on the nerve roots. Many treatments can help alleviate neck pain: cervical traction therapy when this happens. Cervical traction can help improve the spinal curvature and relieve tense neck and shoulder muscles causing neck pain. Research studies have mentioned that cervical traction therapy has allowed the cervical vertebra to be separated from the facet joints while decreasing the pressure on the discs or the nerves, causing neck pain. Other research studies have found cervical traction therapy is a non-invasive procedure that provides instant relief for various cervical pathologies associated with neck pain. Cervical traction therapy can help alleviate neck pain and offer many individuals to get back to their daily activities without worrying about being in pain again.

Conclusion

The neck is part of the musculoskeletal system where its primary job is to keep the head upright while also providing it movement. Like the lower back, the neck can get injured through many risk factors that can turn into chronic neck pain over time. Sometimes, the risk factors could be ordinary, like poor posture or a simple muscle strain that affects the neck, while psychological factors like stress or anxiety could cause the neck muscles to tense. Treatments like cervical traction therapy allow the neck muscles and cervical spinal disc to decompress and provide relief to the symptoms caused by neck pain. When people utilize cervical traction therapy on top of other treatments provided in their wellness journey, they can feel no pain in their neck and continue doing their daily activities.

References

Abi-Aad, Karl R, and Armen Derian. “Cervical Traction – Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 13 Aug. 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470412/.

Binder, Allan I. “Neck Pain.” BMJ Clinical Evidence, BMJ Publishing Group, 4 Aug. 2008, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2907992/.

Kazeminasab, Somaye, et al. “Neck Pain: Global Epidemiology, Trends and Risk Factors.” BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, BioMed Central, 3 Jan. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8725362/.

Roesch, Zachary K, and Prasanna Tadi. “Anatomy, Head and Neck, Neck.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 26 July 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542313/.

Shah, Aaisha, and Bruno Cunha. “Anatomy, Head and Neck, Anterior Cervical Region.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 31 July 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557475/.

Stathakios, James, and Michael A Carron. “Anatomy, Head and Neck, Posterior Cervical Region.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 27 July 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551521/.

Xiao, Liang-Xing, et al. “Effect of a Traction Exercise Neck Brace on Cervical Spondylopathy Radiculopathy: A Clinical Study and Finite Element Analysis.” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : ECAM, Hindawi, 13 Apr. 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8060117/.

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