Musculoskeletal science & practice
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Musculoskelet Sci Pract · Jun 2017
Mechanical effects of traction on lumbar intervertebral discs: A magnetic resonance imaging study.
Although traction has long been used for treating patients with low back pain (LBP), its effects are still inconclusive mainly because of limited high-quality evidence. ⋯ Horizontal traction was evidently effective in increasing the disc height of lower lumbar levels, particularly in the posterior regions of the discs. Further evidence of the effects of traction of different modes, magnitudes, and durations on the change in disc height is required for proper control of traction applied to specific disc levels.