What should you know about lumbar manual traction?

During manual traction, a clinician positions the body and applies a gentle, measured force intended to reduce compression or make movement more comfortable. The effect can be temporary and varies with the source of pain. Lumbar traction is different from neck treatment for Neck Pain or conditions such as Cervical Spondylosis. A hands-on assessment helps identify whether traction is reasonable and whether another approach is more suitable.

Tell the clinician about osteoporosis, recent injury, surgery, pregnancy, cancer, infection, numbness, or changes in strength before treatment. During a session, report sharp pain, spreading symptoms, dizziness, or unusual weakness immediately. Notice how symptoms respond during the following hours rather than assuming that a stronger pull is more helpful. A clinician may combine manual traction with active exercise, education, and load modification. A Spinal Decompression Table or Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression is a different setup and should not be treated as interchangeable without discussion.

Pause treatment and seek advice if symptoms become more intense, travel farther down a limb, or produce new tingling or weakness. Urgent assessment is needed for new bladder or bowel difficulty, numbness around the groin, progressive leg weakness, fever with severe back pain, or significant trauma. Persistent symptoms should prompt a review of the diagnosis and treatment plan.

What problem is traction intended to address? How will you monitor my response? What symptoms mean the session should stop? Would active rehabilitation suit me better or work alongside traction? How does this compare with Traction Therapy or Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression?