Newsgroup: it.discussioni.folli
Titolo: Traction treatments may worsen your spinal problems.

Traction treatments may worsen your spinal problems.
One of the techniques physiotherapists usually use for treating spinal
problems is traction. "Aggravations of the conditions of the patients
due to traction do occur in some cases and it was reported in one study
that the conditions of 10% to 29% of the patients, who received traction
treatments, were worse after traction while only 24% to 30% of the
patients were better." (pg. 174 and pg. 175 of Reference 1). It is also
stated that traction as a rule should not be administered until complete
workup has been carried out, a definitive diagnosis has been made, and
specific indications for traction has been established. Complete workup
consists of a careful history, physical examination, and diagnostic
radiographies of the spine, with anterior/posterior, lateral, and
oblique views. (pg. 187 to 188 and pg. 191 of Reference 1 in which some
of the contraindications for traction are stated.)
Some other medical experts also think that the effectiveness of traction
is dubious and/or it cannot be satisfactorily proved that traction does
help to relieve slipped-discs problems, which are spinal problems. Some
say that there are contraindications for traction.(pg. 238 and pg. 239
of Reference 2) It is suggested that many traction methods have one or
more of the shortcomings, which were listed in Pg. 211 of Reference 2.
However, I should point out that, in cases of bone fractures, traction
treatments may be necessary.
Can you file a complaint against your physiotherapist?
In 1997, I asked the Health and Welfare Branch of Hong Kong whether the
Physiotherapists Board would handle complaint against my
physiotherapist. It responded that, for physiotherapists, statutory
registration has just commenced with effect from 1 April 1997, and the
Physiotherapists Board is actively processing the applications for
registration in accordance with the Physiotherapists (Registration and
Disciplinary Procedure) Regulation and it is not yet in a position to
handle complaints against individual physiotherapists until statutory
control is in place. (The telephone number of the Health and Welfare
Bureau is 29738117 and its fax. no. is 28400467. The telephone number of
the Physiotherapists Board is 25278369 and its fax. no. is 28655540.)
In July, 1999 I filed my complaint to the Physiotherapists Board again.
Its reply letter reads as follows:
"The disciplinary offences based on which a physiotherapist may be
disciplined under the procedures in the Physiotherapists (Registration
and Discipliary Procedures) Regulation are set out in section 22 of the
Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance, Cap.359. Section 22 did not
come into effect until 1 July, 1999 by virtue of the Supplementary
Medical Professions Ordinance (Application to Physiotherapists) Order
1999. The provision does not operate retrospectively so as to make it a
disciplinary offence therunder any act or omission which was committed
before it comes into operation. That being the case, the physiotherapist
complained of in your case may not now be disciplined for his conduct in
199x on the basis of section 22. 
Having said the above, your complaint will therfore not be proceeded by
the Physiotherapists Board."
The Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association says that it handles complaints
against physiotherapist. But I don't know whether any physiotherapist
was disciplined. Maybe the Association should report this to the public.
I also lodged my complaint against my physiotherapist to the
Association, but it has not yet responded to me satisfactorily.
Reference 1.: "Manipulation, Traction and Massage", 3rd Edition, edited
by John Butler and Joyce Murphy
Reference 2.: "Mobilisation of the Spine", 4th edition 1984, reprinted
1986, author: Grieve, Gregory P.

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> Traction treatments may worsen your spinal problems.
che  cosa accade  quando una
forza irresistibile si scontra con
un oggetto irremovibile?
eli