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Treatment of osteochondrosis: traction therapy
Last reviewed: 19.10.2021
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Traction therapy is one of the methods of restorative treatment of injuries and diseases of DDS and their consequences (deformations and contractures of large joints, degenerative-dystrophic processes in the spinal column, etc.). With the help of short-term or long-term traction, muscle retraction is overcome or a gradual stretching effect on this or that area of the body is achieved with the purpose of eliminating contracture or deformation.
Distinguish between "dry" and underwater traction. "Dry" traction - traction on the usual functional bed (the head end is lifted to a height of 50-60 cm, the strap is carried through the patient's chest, axillary hollows and fixed to the headboard at the level of the trunk). Fixation is also possible with the help of two soft rings supporting the patient with armpits (used for traumatic spinal injuries).
For stretching, there are also special design tables with a roll on the rollers, which provides greater efficiency of the procedure as a result of reducing the loss of thrust on friction.
Underwater traction combines the physical effects of water (fresh, mineral, marine) with traction techniques. The action of water (36-37 ° C) on proprioceptors helps to reduce the tone of the striated musculature, thereby eliminating deformation or contracture.
Underwater traction can be vertical and horizontal.
Vertical underwater traction is carried out with the help of various simple devices (a circle of foam plastic, wooden parallel handrails) and more complex structures in a special treatment pool (water temperature 36-37C).
Horizontal underwater traction (with pathology of the spine) is carried out by longitudinal extension of the spinal column or sagging of the trunk in an ordinary or large bath on the traction shield.
Tractive treatment is widely used in the rehabilitation of patients with orthopedic trauma and neurological profile with the aim of reducing the protrusion of fragments of the intervertebral disc (with osteochondrosis of the spine); with disc displacement, curvature of the spine, contractures or arthrosis of large joints and with some reflex disorders.
Tractive treatment for diseases of the spine:
- performs unloading of the spine by increasing the spacing between the vertebral bodies;
- reduces the pathological tension of the muscles;
- reduces internal disk pressure, resulting in reduced protrusion;
- increases the vertical diameter of the intervertebral foramen, which leads to decompression of the nerve root and reduction of edema;
- eliminates the subluxation in the intervertebral joints, which gives a decompressing effect.
ATTENTION! Extension at the localization of pathology in the cervical region should be short-term and non-intensive (a small load!), Otherwise stretching capsules of the intervertebral joints and strengthening loosening of the intervertebral joints is possible.
Underwater vertical traction is recommended for patients in the chronic and subacute stage of the disease, horizontal traction - in the acute stage and with exacerbations.
After the procedure, the spinal cord is unloaded for 1.5 hours and the unloading orthopedic corsets are worn. Indication for the appointment of a corset is the cessation of pain during traction (in an upright position). Unloading corsets provide a reduction in the axial load on the spine as a result of the transfer of a part of the body weight to the ileum (for pathology in the lumbar-sacral region) and to the forelegs (with pathology in the cervical region).
ATTENTION! Wearing an orthopedic corset is necessarily combined with exercise LH and massage in order to avoid the progressive weakening of the musculature of the trunk, neck and shoulder girdle.
Extension of the extremities in water is carried out as an analgesic procedure for deforming arthrosis of large joints of the lower extremities (coxarthrosis, gonarthrosis), since it is possible to reduce the interaction of the altered articular surfaces by increasing the diastase between them. The effectiveness of this therapeutic effect is increased in warm water in connection with simultaneous improvement of blood circulation in the joint region and relaxation of painfully strained muscles.