With the use of IMT, the patient is kept ambulatory and only the most severe cases must refrain from their regular employment. Cervical Traction T his type of traction can be used just as readily for the neck as for the low back. In cervical traction, the patient is reversed on the table, the sliding component of the table secured, the position of the motor head raised to produce the proper angle for the neck and then an appropriate neck halter and spreader bar are used to secure the patient. The hold period of traction pressure is usually reduced because the neck muscles are more sensitive than those of the low back and greater care must be taken to prevent a spastic reaction. The average low-back disc patient will notice improvement after the third or fourth treatment, though in some resistant patients, it may take six to eight treatments before observable improvement becomes evident.
Cervical patients are more variable in their response.
Some show improvement with the first traction, while some old whiplash patients may require up to ten treatments before real help is felt. Other Modalities T he usual form of therapy we use for low-back disc patients consists of diathermy to relax the musculature, intermittent traction to open the disc area and take pressure off the spinal nerves, and finally ultrasound treatments directly over the affected discs to stimulate their regeneration and reduce the inflammation always found in these areas. Recently, we have added the phenomenal MicroLight 830 to this program. This Low Reactive Light Laser Therapy has revolutionized the pain control of these patients in our Center. While at the time of this writing, this hand held wonder is still in the investigational stage, we have found it to be without peer in bringing long desired relief to many cervical and low back patients.