Traction?

Pompal 09. · Jan 27, 2012

I started this as a new topic after reading jdcan's topic "doctors note?" although I have ?'s about RA and diabetes this one is about traction.Being new in this field I have many ?'s and want to learn as much as I can (I love this board!!) In school we are taught joint physics, even on the neck. Accomodation, traction, shake, shearing, ect. When it came to the neck we told to ask if there are any neck problems (bone spurs ect) if they do have bone spurs do not do accomodation but traction is ok. Traction is ok for "just" about everyone. I know in class when we did our practicals on almost everyone who did accomodation on me I went home with a head ache. So therefore I have not done accomodation on anyone. I guess I feel I got a headache and i have no problems in my neck (bones or muscles) and i dont want anything to happen to my patients. not just that but there are too many nerves you compress (even though you traction after) so therefore I do not feel comfortable doing it. Now traction on the other hand i have no problems doing and almost everyone I have done it to likes it. They can feel the pressure come off, ect. So I guess I would like opions on how everyone else feels about traction and under what CI's have you been taught not to perform it? I love my school and what they teach and feel I am learning quite a bit (compared to some schools I checked into) but hearing other MT's and what they have learned I feel like, ok now I need to go to other schools after this to learn more of what I might not of here. I just want to be knowledable in what I do to do the best for my patients. AAAHHH!!!

The Stubborn One · Jan 28, 2012

Sometimes the different schools just have different words or ways of describing techniques. Trust what you've been taught to do.I do at least some light traction on almost everybody I see. There are exceptions - like my client that had neck surgery to fuse C5 and C6 last October.Katykangaroo

Nekhtet · Jan 28, 2012

It is true, all schools are taught by different MT's with different backgrounds in the field, so your education will vary from school to school.However, if you are comfortable and secure in performing traction - then stick with it! It is always better to stick by what you feel comfortable doing, than what is required by a school during your time there. Any MT will tell you that there are certain things taught to us in school that we hardly ever do in our own practice.Also, if you are really interested in expanding your knowledge and practice in traction, you should look into Thai Massage. I have had one, and it was awesome! It deals with a "push-pull/traction" technique on many major muscle and ligament intersections. I hope this is helpful to you in your search!

Olive Crayon · Jan 28, 2012