Is anyone doing some form of PT neck traction? My guess is "Yes" ... Please share 1) method of PT neck traction (ie, towel/door method - see below; or manual traction by a practitioner, etc.), and, 2) results - good/bad/neutral . Sharing my method/results below..
This is the method that I have been using this week... (PT neck traction using a towel/door) My chiropractor recommended this and demonstrated in her office, and I found this video demo online that provides a good overview/visualization. However, my chiro's method is slightly different, and I think the distinctions are important so I'm listing them here...
results so far (2 days):
PROS
I do this before bed and sleep REALLY well... it makes me relaxed
decreases pain (shocking, but it's early so who knows)
CONS
I'm REALLY tired this week... I'm not sure if it's because of the traction or not... I've had a virus for 3 mos, and monday was the first day I felt like it was gone, but maybe there is residual fatigue??
This is the method that I have been using this week... (PT neck traction using a towel/door) My chiropractor recommended this and demonstrated in her office, and I found this video demo online that provides a good overview/visualization. However, my chiro's method is slightly different, and I think the distinctions are important so I'm listing them here...
- Lie flat; no pillow under head.
- Circle in towel should be snug, but not tight. Also, the circle in mine was created w medical tape, not rope, and this guy uses rope to attach the contraption to the door - please use resistance bands instead!
- Creating the Circle: The medical tape my chiro used is~ 2 inches wide and white. Sturdy, but not as strong as duct tape, although you could use duct tape... To make a circle in the towel. ie, fold the towel lengthwise, then fold it in half (as in the video.) wrap the medical tape around the middle so that the towel has a circle w "bunny ears" on top. The circle my chiro made for me is much snugger than in this video... the bottom of the circle is on the back of my neck, and the top (near the tape) is on my forehead... snug, but not tight.
- Attach to door by closing door on resistance tubing (knot on the other side of door). She used resistance tubing, which has some stretchy-ness and "give"... I think this is important because she told me to put the thing on (behind neck, knot-side on top of forehead), lying flat on back, then scootch away from the door until there's a GENTLE pull. I don't know how you easily / effectively do this unless you are using a rubber rope w some kind of give...
- doing this for 5 minutes a day for two weeks until my next appt...
results so far (2 days):
PROS
I do this before bed and sleep REALLY well... it makes me relaxed
decreases pain (shocking, but it's early so who knows)
CONS
I'm REALLY tired this week... I'm not sure if it's because of the traction or not... I've had a virus for 3 mos, and monday was the first day I felt like it was gone, but maybe there is residual fatigue??