Effects of Intermittent Traction Therapy in an Experimental Spinal Column Model

Abstract

Traction therapy, which is known to be a treatment method for scoliosis, one of many muscles disease, has been used since Hippocrates introduced it. However, the effects of traction therapy are still not clear. In addition, the meridian sinew theory, which is related to muscle treatment and is mentioned in the book on meridian sinews in the Miraculous Pivot of Huangdi's Internal Classic, has not been the subject of much study. For these reasons, experimental spinal models were made for this study to observe and analyze the lengths of vertebral interspaces after intermittent traction therapy, which is known to be excellent among muscle treatment methods, with various tensile forces. The results showed that the effects of intermittent traction therapy were unclear and that it might be harmful, especially when the pain was induced by muscle weakness. Because the results of this study on intermittent traction therapy were different from those expected from osteopathy or craniosacral theory, better studies of the subject are necessary.

Medicine in the Hippocratic and post-Hippocratic age

“…In the section On joints, from the book Mohlikon, nasal injuries and the procedure of repositioning the nose were described 9 . Traction therapy of scoliosis is still used today in the form in which it was proposed by the Hippocratic school 10 . The treatment of lower jaw dislocation was taken over from the Hippocratic School 11 .…”