Most people experience chronic back pain at some point in their lives. Veterans are especially predisposed to back injury and chronic pain due to the nature of their jobs and the demands of military training. In a recent study, over 80% of veterans surveyed reported back pain lasting more than one year (Belitskaya-Levy, 2020). Whether injured in combat, repetitive stress on the back or strain from everyday life, veterans must learn how to manage back pain.
Treatment options for chronic back pain range from medication to surgical to complementary therapies. For many clinicians, having clients on long-term pain medications, especially if surgical relief is not an option, is not ideal. Helping clients find ways to cope with their pain without the need for medication can improve client pain scores and improve client outcomes.
NONPHARMACOLOGIC INTERVENTION: TRACTION
Many veterans seeking pain relief have already tried traditional methods such as pain medication, physical therapy, psychotherapy, and surgical intervention when applicable, among others. However, when pain is not relieved by these techniques, veterans seek additional help to make their pain more tolerable. Traction devices may provide veterans that much-needed relief for long-term management of their back pain while helping to avoid the need for pharmacological interventions.
Traction devices work by applying mechanical or manual forces to different parts of the body to relieve tension and to stretch the musculoskeletal system. It is used to reduce muscle spasms, relieve pressure, reduce stress on affected areas, and improve mobility. Traction is frequently used in conjunction with physical therapy or chiropractic services. Traction can provide the relief veterans are seeking with fairly low side effect risk when used properly. The most common side effect of traction is nerve injury related to excessive weight application.
TYPES OF TRACTION
Two main types of traction devices exist. These two primary categories of traction include skeletal traction and skin traction. Skeletal traction involves the use of surgical pins and hardware to apply weight to the injury. This is commonly used in fractures in a hospital setting. Skin traction works to improve healing and therapy to the muscles and soft tissues. It is non-invasive and works with braces or tape applied to the affected area and then connected with the traction device.
Traction devices can be designed for clinical or at-home use. While traditional traction machines can be used in professional clinics, long-term management encourages the use of home machines to provide the same relief with more independence in the treatment process.
HOME MANAGEMENT
When looking at traction options for veterans with chronic low back pain, skin traction is often the preferred form of traction therapy. Therapists and clinicians can teach veterans how to use these devices in the comfort of their own home. Home-based skin traction devices can significantly improve a client's pain and reduce the need for additional pharmacological interventions.
Several home traction machines exist. Each has a specific role that can provide relief for different disorders. Three of the machines recommended by QB Medical include the Saunders ® Cervical Traction, Saunders ® Lumbar Traction, and HipTrac™ Hip Traction systems. The Saunders ® Cervical Traction system is designed to help relieve neck and upper back pain. The Saunders ® Lumbar Traction system works to address lower back pain and increase spinal range of motion. The HipTrac™ Hip Traction system focuses on the hip and leg. These machines are designed to be portable and user-friendly, maximizing relief to veterans, regardless of their location.
SUMMARY
Numerous veterans suffer from quality of life-limiting chronic back pain. Nonpharmacologic management of chronic pain improves outcomes and quality of life. Skin traction devices such as the Saunders cervical traction, Saunders ® lumbar traction, and HipTrac hip traction systems can help to provide veterans the relief they seek. To learn more about non-pharmacologic pain management options for veterans, please visit our Home Traction and Electrotherapy Program.
Reference
Belitskaya-Levy et al, “Treatment Preferences for Chronic Low Back Pain: Views of Veterans and Their Providers,” Dovepress (study), December 15, 2020, https://www.dovepress.com/treatment-preferences-for-chronic-low-back-pain-views-of-veterans-and--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JPR.