Effects of Spinal Traction
Spinal traction opens up the spaces between the vertebrae and permits the discs to receive more nutrition. Because the discs are closely attached to the vertebrae immediately above and below them, traction pulls upon the fibers of these discs and directly stretches them, tending to restore them to their normal thickness. Some people have gained from one to three or four inches in height by the regular use of traction, the gain being in increasing the thickness of these discs—which normally comprise about nine inches (one-fourth) of the average adult spine. Traction opens up the spinal circulation channels, permitting a better flow of nourishing blood to the spinal cord, thus causing it to generate and transmit better and stronger nerve-impulses. Traction helps to restore the normal forward-backward curves in the spine so necessary to prevent irritating jars to the spinal cord and brain; it helps also to restore normal posture, and to elevate the ribs and make them more flexible—a condition necessary for full vigor. It stretches the muscles of the entire trunk, and the blood-vessels in these muscles, thus serving as a valuable exercise and as a means of securing better nutrition throughout the body. It makes possible more beneficial gen¬eral exercise, by limbering up the spine. It often directly “adjusts” the spine, making spinal manipula¬tion unnecessary by taking out one-sided tensions.