Lumbar Traction Protocols

ACUTE LOW BACK PAIN

Lumbar traction may be used for acute low back pain as long as the lumbar spine has been cleared for any of the contraindications mentioned within the General Guidelines section. Traction may also be more beneficial when used with other modalities such as cold, heat, ultrasound, etc. to reduce pain.  Initially, apply tension only up to patient tolerance as aggressive stretching of the lumbar spine may create muscular spasm and pain in this condition.*

SUGGESTED SETTINGS

GENERAL:
Tension: 30 – 50 pounds* (may be increased up to 40%-50% of body weight)
Tension type: Sustained tension
Treatment Time: 10-15 minutes
Position: Supine

VARIATIONS:
Intermittent tension setting: 2:1 up to 4:1 ratio of tension to rest (e.g. 2-4 minutes on, 1 minute rest)
Position: Prone (patient must have someone to assist them when getting into and out of the traction device)

SESSIONS PER DAY: 1-3