Nearly 65 million Americans have reported a recent episode of back pain. Around 8% of all adults experience persistent or chronic back pain due to daily activities. Back pain can be a major contributor to how effectively someone can complete tasks or be present in important moments.

And while you may feel that a massage or laying down could solve your problem, it may only temporarily clear the pain. Treating the spinal pain at its core will help you recover and get back to the on-the-go life you're craving.

If you're suffering from back pain, it may be time to seek treatment from your chiropractor. Here's a guide on what chiropractic traction therapy is and when you should consider seeking treatment.

Are you looking for a chiropractor? Schedule an appointment with Excellence in Health today!

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What Is Traction Therapy?

Traction therapy is a form of spinal decompression therapy that relieves pressure on the spine. Getting traction therapy can help reduce stress on the spine and alleviate pain from joints, sprains, and spasms.

When your spine feels compressed, it can feel as though your back is stressed and leave you with an uncomfortable or painful feeling in your spine. This can often lead to hindered daily activities as it becomes increasingly more difficult to accomplish tasks including physicality.

Traction therapy can be performed manually or mechanically, depending on your needs. In manual spinal traction, your chiropractor will use their hands to put force on the joints to widen the spaces between the vertebrae. In mechanical spinal traction, you'll lie on the table as the chiropractor uses special tools, including ropes, slings, and pulleys, to have your body relieve pressure.

Before doing traction therapy, you should speak with your chiropractor to create a total-management plan that may include other therapies to enhance the effectiveness of the treatment. Although not usually required, they may also recommend at-home exercises before spinal traction.

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What Can Traction Therapy Treat?

Since traction therapy takes the pressure off compressed discs, this straightens the spine and improves the body's healing ability. People with spinal pain can benefit from this type of therapy for a variety of conditions, including:

• Slipped discs- a soft cushion of tissue between the vertebrae has been pushed out.
• Bone spurs- are bony projections that develop along the edges of your vertebrae.
• Degenerative disc disease- when changes to the discs in the spine cause pain.
• Herniated discs- a fragment of the disc nucleus has been pushed into the spinal canal through a tear or rupture in the annulus.
• Ruptured discs- when the spinal column tears open and the disc protrude outward.
• Disc tears- are caused by a traumatic impact on the disc and are a part of degenerative disc disease.
• Disc prolapses- when the outer fibers of the intervertebral disc are injured.
• Facet disease- a degeneration of facet joints in the spine.
• Sciatica- pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve path through the lower back, hips, buttocks, and legs.
• Foraminal stenosis- a narrowing of the space the spinal nerve roots exit caused by an enlarged joint or tissue hypertrophy in the spinal canal.
• Pinched nerves- when too much pressure is applied to a nerve by surrounding tissues such as cartilage, bones, muscles, or tendons.

These conditions can have painful symptoms that may make it hard to move. And for many, as time goes on, they become more painful and difficult to manage without proper treatment.

Seeing a chiropractor can be beneficial for these spinal conditions as they can help fix the root of the problem rather than prescribing pain medications. You can also see your chiropractor for multiple sessions that keep the pain mitigated and can help issues before they arise.

Are you experiencing back pain? Schedule your appointment with Excellence in Health today!

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What Are the Side Effects of Traction Treatment?

Some people may benefit significantly from traction therapy as it decompresses their vertebrae and relieves the tension they're feeling. It's also a great treatment plan for people looking for a non-surgical way to relieve pain and correct the problems in your spine. While it does have some side effects, traction therapy can offer consistent pain relief for most people.

Traction therapy results include pain relief, proper spinal alignment, and decompressed joints that allow you to return to daily activities. The therapy works to stretch the muscles and bones of the back or neck to combat the effects of gravity. If done correctly, it can help improve your life by allowing you to move and feel great throughout the day.

Realigning your spine or fixing the problem can allow your body to heal itself. When your spine is injured, it can take a long time to recover as it's not given tools to help heal itself. A chiropractor will help readjust your back and offer tips on mitigating the pain if it comes back. Some people may need traction therapy for a short period, while others may need it throughout their life.

Traction therapy has no long-term risks, but some side effects may occur during or after treatment. Many people experience muscle spasms after treatment and may have some pains in treated areas. Since a chiropractor is realigning your spine, you may experience some symptoms, including headaches, fatigue, or pain in treated areas.

Symptoms that come from traction treatments usually last less than 24 hours, and you'll be able to benefit from the treatment after that.

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Who Is a Good Candidate for Traction Therapy?

Overall, the benefits of traction therapy greatly outweigh the risks. Since it is a method to help decompress the spine, many people can benefit from this type of therapy. However, a few groups of people may not be a good candidate for traction therapy.

People who most likely are not a good candidate for traction therapy include:

• Older than 70
• Pregnant
• Severely obese
• Suffering from osteoporosis
• Being treated for types of cancer
• Experience nerve damage

If you are not within these groups of people, there is a chance that you'd be a good candidate for traction therapy. This solution should not be done without the help of a professional. Depending on the severity of your condition, you may have an extended treatment plan or you may only require a few sessions. If you're interested in getting traction therapy to help relieve spinal pain, you should consult your chiropractor to see if this is a good solution for you.

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How Can Excellence in Health Help You?

Excellence in Health is the chiropractic treatment you need. We offer excellent chiropractic care for painful spinal conditions such as sciatica, herniated discs, pinched nerves, and more.

Your spinal injuries may result from daily activities or a traumatic experience such as a car crash. At EIH, we specialize in car accident injuries, from concussions to bodily pain. If your spinal condition results from a car accident, we work with insurance companies to ensure that your treatments are covered, and we offer documentation for the injury you've sustained.

We also offer chiropractic massages to help your body relax and get you ready for your traction therapy. Don't wait for your pain to worsen, see how we can help you return to your normal life.

Are you ready to get your traction treatment? Schedule an appointment with Excellence in Health today!