Exam 3: Traction Flashcards
What are the 5 effects of spinal traction
joint distraction reduction of disc protrusion soft tissue stretching muscle relaxation joint mobilization
Which effect of spinal traction can be described as the separation of two articular surfaces perpendicular to the plane of articulation
Joint distraction
Joint distraction (increases/reduces) joint compression and (widens/narrows) intervertebral foramina
reduces; widens
Joint distraction may reduce pressure on ______ surfaces, ______ structures or spinal nerve roots
articular; intraarticular
Joint distraction requires enough force. What percentage of body weight is needed for lumbar and cervical joints
lumbar joints: 50% BW cervical joints: 7% BW
Reduction of disc protrusion, which is an effect of spinal traction, requires sufficient force for the lumbar and cervical spine. What are the ranges of weight needed for reduction of disc production for the lumbar and cervical spine
Lumbar spine: 60-120 lbs or 30% to 60% of BW Cervical spine: 15 to 30 lbs
Soft tissue stretching and muscle relaxation are ___ ____ effects of spinal traction
soft tissue
Which type of effect of spinal traction may contribute to spinal joint distraction, reduction of disc protrusion, or increase in spinal ROM
soft tissue stretching
Soft tissue stretching may contribute to what three other effects of spinal traction
spinal joint distraction, reduction of disc protrusion, or increase in spinal ROM
Which type of effect of spinal traction is due to reduced pressure on pain sensitive structures or gaiting by intermittent traction
muscle relaxation
Muscle relaxation is due to reduced pressure on ____ sensitive structures or gaiting by _______ traction
pain; intermittent
Which effect of spinal traction occurs by high force traction or repetitive intermittent traction
joint mobilization
Joint mobilization mobilizes (one/many) joint(s) at a time
many
Manual joint mobilization techniques are more _____
localized
_____ joint mobilization techniques are more localized
manual
What are 5 clinical indications for traction
spinal disc bulge or herniation spinal nerve root impingement joint hypomobility subacute joint inflammation muscle spasm
Lumbar traction may (increase/decrease) the size of the herniated disc material by (increasing/decreasing) compression of spinal nerve roots
decreases; decreases
Are there more positive outcomes of improving disc bulge or herniation in lumbar traction or cervical traction
cervical
Spinal traction can be used in patients with nerve root impingements. What are 6 conditions that impingement is associated with and can be treated with spinal traction
disc bulge ligament encroachment, foraminal stenosis, osteophyte, nerve root swelling, or spondylolisthesis
Spinal traction can be used to treat patients with nerve root impingement and is best applied ____ after onset of symptoms and in patients with worse symptoms with spinal loading and decreased symptoms with decreased loading
shortly
How can traction help treat a patient with joint hypomobility
traction can glide and distract spinal facet joints to increase mobility that affects multiple joints
How does spinal traction treat patients with subacute joint inflammation
- The force reduces pressure on inflamed joint surfaces 2. Small movements may gate pain and help maintain normal fluid exchange in the joints
True or False: Studies show that there is great significant clinical benefit between the severity of a disc protrusion and the use of spinal traction to treat it
False
What are three causes of spinal nerve root compression?
bulging disc, bone spur/disc degeneration, and spondylolisthesis
In patients with hypomobility, increased flexion localizes force to upper and lower _____. While neutral/extension localizes force to _____ lumbar
thoracic; lower
Traction can be used to reduce muscle spasms. Which type of traction is used to interrupt pain-spasm-pain cycle
static or low-load intermittent traction
What are the two types of traction that are used to reduce muscle spasms
static/low load intermittent traction and higher load traction
Traction can be used to reduce muscle spasms. Which type of traction is used to reduce the underlying cause of pain
higher load traction
What are the 5 contraindications of traction
- When motion is contraindicated 2. Acute injury/inflammation 3. Joint hypermobility or instability 4. Peripheralization of symptoms with traction 5. Uncontrolled hypertension
What does peripheralization of symptoms with traction mean?
It means if you are performing traction, and their symptoms anywhere increase
True or False: If you are performing traction, and a patient’s severe pain fully resolves during the treatment, it means you have found where the problem is and have helped heal it
False, it means you probably were holding a nerve with enough pressure to cause a nerve block
What are different effects traction has on a lateral bulge versus a medial bulge
Traction will provide relief with a lateral bulge, but will aggravate a medial bulge
What is another name for a lateral bulging disc
a shoulder bulge
What is another name for a medial bulging disc
an axillary bulge
What are some precautions for cervical traction
TMJ problems and dentures
True or False: If a clinician is performing cervical traction on a patient with dentures, the patient should remove the dentures before traction begins
False, they need to leave them in
What are three adverse effects of performing traction
- Excessive force may increase symptoms 2. rebounding increase in pain 3. Lumbar radicular discomfort after cervical traction
What are some advantages of mechanical spinal traction
force and time is readily controlled, does not require continuous supervision, static devices are inexpensive and convenient
What are some disadvantages of mechanical spinal traction
time consuming set up, lack of patient participation, restriction by belt, mobilizes broad regions, expensive electrical devices
Self and positional spinal traction use ____ ____ to exert distractive force on the spine
body weight
Is self and positional spinal traction used for the lumbar or cervical spine
lumbar
When is self and positional spinal traction good to use?
on the lumbar spine and when low forces are required
Which type of traction should a patient with hypertension definitely not use
inversion traction
What is being depicted in this picture?
The of spinal traction to reduce a disc protrusion
This picture is showing three causes of………..?
Causes of spinal nerve root compression
Which one of the three causes of spinal nerve root compression is this picture showing?
bulging disc
Which one of the three causes of spinal nerve root compression is this picture showing?
Bone spurs and disc degeration
Which one of the three causes of spinal nerve root compression is this picture showing?
Spondylolisthesis
Describe what is being depicted in this picture
In figure A, a lateral bulge is present but is relieved when traction is provided–seen in figure B.
Figure C shows a medial bulge that is aggravated even more when traction is performed
What is this a picture of?
A mechanical lumbar traction machine
What is this a picture of?
A mechanical lumbar traction machine
What is this a picture of?
Lumbar traction belts/harness
What is this a picture of?
mechanical cervical traction machine
What is this a picture of?
Hip traction with resistance band
What is this a picture of?
Hip traction with a hiptrac machine
What is this picture showing?
A patient using self and poisitonal spinal traction to relieve pain
What is this a picture of?
Manual traction for lumbar spine
What is this a picture of?
Manual traction to the cervical spine
