Segmental Cervical Traction?

[Pompal 09.]

A client wants traction ONLY at c4-5. Does anyone have any ideas, techniques or resources to address this request?

 

[NYgirl]

Segmental Cervical Traction?

I believe that trying to isolate a single vertebral segment would be pretty tough to accomplish.

Did the client give you any idea as to why they want such specific treatment?

 

[Noah]

Segmental Cervical Traction?

Yes. She had a PT who previously isolated the most compressed vertabrae and "tractioned" it using his thumbs. He had told her that tractioning the whole neck would basically just stretch the weakest area.

Walt, since I know you know MFR, I do use the occipital hold.

 

[yacoool]

Segmental Cervical Traction?

I would disagree with the PT's response. Stretching the entire neck should focus on the tightest area, not the weakest. But, yes, the occipital hold would be correct. Gentle traction should free up the tight areas. Guide your patient into feeling the cervical area in question. See if she/he can look inside at that restriction and have them let you know when you've encountered that area. Gently traction and go with it.

 

[Laurie C]

Segmental Cervical Traction?

Well, I'll just go with that then. Thanks Walt.

 

[SJM]

Segmental Cervical Traction?

For some reason, this one's had me thinking.

While I'll defer to Walt's years of experience over my own, I think I understand the reasoning of the PT for such specific work.

He had told her that tractioning the whole neck would basically just stretch the weakest area.

Stretching the entire neck should focus on the tightest area, not the weakest.

The basic image that comes to my mind, is imagining the tight neck as a steel chain - it's tight, and the links need to be softened and released to get the appropriate give. If there's a weak link, imagine that link replaced with a thick rubber band. Tractioning the neck as a unit will cause the weak/rubber link to give, while reducing the effectiveness of the traction on the tighter steel links.

Now, I'm not here to say that one is right and the other is wrong, but since my brain is (sometimes it seems) hardwired to methodically work EVERYTHING in such a situation, I'd probably use some combination of specific work to the c4-5 area, as well as traction to everything.

t017

 

[Sparky G]

Segmental Cervical Traction?

JaeMarie's image makes sense.

I think that if I had a client request for this that I would defer to a DC or a PT and not attempt to address this specific request.
Kind, sorta out of scope of practice for an MT I would think.
Not that I think an MT is incapable of doing just this, I think that it puts the practitioner in a vulnerable position with regard to liability.