Lumbar mechanical traction has been used by PT’s and Chiropractors for the treatment of lower back pain, sciatic nerve pain, and disc issues for decades. But is it effective? If you look at the literature, the answer is NO. To quote the authors of a study in the February 2016 Journal of Orthopedic and Sports PT “we cannot recommend adding traction in the treatment of patients with back pain and sciatica. Our results found neither beneficial nor detrimental effects from using mechanical lumbar traction”.
So what does the research say to do: Exercise :)
~Ed Deboo
Physical Therapy, Bellingham, WA
