As a chiropractic physician my recommendations are made based on a variety of factors including spinal biomechanics, research evidence and practical considerations such as ease of advice implementation and cost particular products. I would like to disclose that, although I may get a referral fee from some of the items advertised or reviewed, this will never impact the integrity of my reviews or recommendations. I hope you find my recommendations useful; however, if you have a specific spinal problem or condition, and have not yet done so, it is recommended that you contact your qualified health care provider for recommendations that may apply to your particular case.
Peter C. Spathis, DC
The Best Home Lumbar Traction Device
When traction forces are applied to the lumbar spine (lower back) there is usually some drop in pressure within the spinal discs - the fibrocartilage spacers between each of the spinal bones (vertebrae). This can help reduce disc bulges and herniations as well as relieve pressure on other spinal joint structures and help with associated lower back pain and lower extremity symptoms. In cases where pressure on lumbar spinal nerves can be relieved, symptoms such as leg pain, numbness, tingling or even weakness can be reduced or eliminated. Of course, the degree of improvement will depend on each individual case and this should be discussed with a qualified health professional to see if this would be an appropriate intervention.
In addition to helping relieve the pain and symptoms of some acute conditions, people with chronic conditions such as spinal disc degeneration ("degenerative disc disease") may also benefit from a traction based treatment. Not only does relieving pressure on spinal joint structures help relieve pain in these cases but this may even improve the flow of nutrients to the spinal discs and minimize the degree future spinal degeneration.
Although spinal traction devices may be of significant benefit to some people, it is important not to "self diagnose" as individual requirements vary and what may be a great management option for one condition may be a bad choice for another. Assuming you have had appropriate testing by a qualified provider and any necessary professional treatment for your particular condition, you have discussed how appropriate a home traction unit would be in your particular case and in was determined that you are a good candidate for such a device, I hope you find my review of the following products helpful.
Although this unit cannot fully replace the type of spinal traction device that may be found in a professional chiropractic or physical therapy setting, it may be an affordable alternative for some. Lumbar traction in the supine (lying face up) position is usually preferred and is especially useful for those that cannot tolerate inversion tables - perhaps due to hypertension and stroke risk or discomfort with hanging upside down. Although most of the reviews for this device are positive, the fact that some negative reviews do exist reflects the varying degree of requirements from person to person in this product catagory. However, the axial traction provided may be helpful for those with certain types of lumbar disc bulges and herniations, spinal disc degeneration, as well as other types of mechanical joint pain in the lumbar and thoracic spine as well as the hips. As this type of traction is not appropriate for every type of condition, please discuss your specific requirements with your qualified health care provider.
Compared to other home lumbar traction devices, I believe this one most closely replicates the axial traction provided by units typically found in professional settings. This is the usually the preferred type of traction most effective for the majority of conditions for which it would be used such as herniated discs, spinal disc degeneration, spinal stenosis and other types of mechanical joint pain. This unit also provides more control and reproducability of the traction forces applied to the spine, an important consideration for best long term results. However, as would be expected to keep the price down, the quality of material and durability of the device is not quite what you would find in a professional unit but should be sufficient for most home use purposes.
Although this product does not provide true long axis traction, it can still provide a decompression effect to lumbar discs. Due to the nature of spinal anatomy, by accentuating the natural lumbar curvature (lordosis) while in the supine (face up) position, spinal disc pressure is reduced as disc spaces try to open up. This may help reduce bulging or herniated discs and improve disc nutrition to control pain and improve function associated with spinal disc degeneration. However, I would not recommend this product for lumbar stenosis as extending the spine backwards may cause more pinching of nerves that exit from openings in the spine that are already compromised.
As far as inversion tables, I believe this to be one of the best units for the price - almost as good or just as good as some similar units that are much more expensive. These units may be helpful for certain types of lumbar disc problems as well as relieving pressure on spinal joints. I do not advise people with acute disc herniations to use these units as I do not feel there is enough control of the forces going through the spine in this phase of a disc problem and I would be concerned about making the condition worse. I believe these would be more useful after receiving professional care for the acute phase (talk to your provider to see if they may be appropriate for you) to help maintain disc health over time or in helping provide some relief of chronic back pain. However, not every person is a good candidate for an inversion table. I would not advise the use of inversion tables for those with high blood pressure, certain eye problems, people on blood thinning medication or anyone at an increased risk of stroke for other reasons - in my opinion, even if the spine may benefit, the increased pressure in the head with being inverted is not worth the increased stroke risk in these cases. If in doubt, talk to your health care professional about how appropriate this product may be in your particular case.
This product offers an interesting approach to reducing lumbar joint and disc pressure and can be used in a variety of positions and postures. The advantage of this device is that it may provide some relief of spine related symptoms while sitting or standing - positions where the spine is "loaded" but sometimes cannot be avoided. It works by using a hand pump to inflate the belt and provide some degree of traction and support to the lumbar spine. Talk to your qualified health care provider for details about proper use of this product for your specific spinal condition.
