IJPR.2025.106
Type of Article: Original Research
Volume 13; Issue 1 (February 2024)
Page No.: 4840-4846
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijpr.2025.106
Lumbar Traction- Effect of Position on Vertebral Separation
Josni Pandey
Professor, Department of Physiotherapy, Indian Institute of Health Education and Research, Patna, India. ORCiD: 0009-0009-2506-0257
Corresponding Author: Dr. Josni Pandey, Professor, Department of Physiotherapy, Indian Institute of Health Education and Research, Patna, India. E-Mail: josnipandey@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Aim: To investigate the effect of position of subject during lumbar traction on the amount of separation caused at three intervertebral segments, L3L4, L4L5 and L5S1. The three positions tested were supine, fowler’s and prone.
Material and methods: 45 healthy male volunteers in the age group 18 to 25 years were divided into three groups, supine, prone and fowler’s. They were positioned in the required position for 15 minutes. Lumbar traction with a force equal to fifty percent of body weight was applied for 15 minutes and after releasing the traction force, the position of rest was maintained for 10 minutes. Lateral view radiograph was taken before and after each intervention. Each subject served as a control for self for one position.
Results: All the three groups experienced intervertebral separations with traction as compared to the control, i.e. positioning only. Supine positioning during traction caused maximum posterior separation at L4L5 and maximum anterior separation at L5S1 while fowler’s position caused maximum posterior separation at L5S1 level. No such pattern was observed with prone position. Moreover after releasing the traction force, the effect of separation was sustained at the segments that experienced maximum separation during traction.
Conclusion: With proper positioning the effect of lumbar traction can be maximized to affect a particular intervertebral segment.
Key words: Lumbar Traction, intervertebral separation, Low back pain
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