Is the mechanism of traction in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation effective?

Traction is an effective non-surgical method for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation. It mainly uses the principle of force and reaction in mechanics to achieve the therapeutic purpose by pulling in the opposite direction.

(1) Lumbar traction can increase the lumbar intervertebral space, mainly the intervertebral space of lumbar vertebrae 3, 4, 5 and sacrum 1. According to research, the lumbar intervertebral space after traction can be widened by 65438±0.5 ~ 2.5mm compared with that before traction.

The widening of intervertebral space can make it become negative pressure, and then tighten the longitudinal ligament, which is beneficial to the retraction of the protruding nucleus pulposus. The contracture ligament, joint capsule and narrow intervertebral foramen on both sides can be pulled apart, which can reduce or eliminate the oppression and stimulation to nerve roots.

(2) Traction can make the lumbar spine get a full rest, reduce the stimulation of exercise, which is beneficial to the absorption of tissue congestion and edema, and can also relax the muscle spasm of the lower back and reduce the intervertebral pressure.

(3) Traction is beneficial to restore the slight abnormal changes of the lumbar posterior joint to normal relationship, restore the impacted synovium of the posterior joint of the spine, or restore the slight dislocation of the facet joint.