@article{article_692142, title={Clinical and Functional Effects of Traction for Lumbar Disk Hernia Patients}, journal={Acta Medica Nicomedia}, volume={4}, pages={4–10}, year={2021}, author={Kılıç, Çağrı and Öz, Bengi and Ölmez, Neşe and Günay Uçurum, Sevtap and Memiş, Asuman}, keywords={Lumbar disk hernia, Physical therapy modality, traction}, abstract={<p>Objective: In our study we performed continuous, intermittent and placebo traction treatment as physiotherapy modality for lumbar disk hernia and researched the effect on pain and functional status and superiority of the methods. <br />Methods: Our prospective, randomized, controlled study included 90 patients with lumbar disk hernia, randomly divided into three groups of 30 patients. Each group had heat pack and ultrasound applied before traction and, was taught isometric exercises. One of the groups underwent placebo traction, the second group had intermittent traction and the third group underwent continuous traction. Treatment was performed in fifteen sessions over three weeks. Patients were evaluated before treatment, after treatment and in the 3rd month after treatment. The visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry low back pain disability questionnaire, LANSS pain scale (LANSS), modified lumbar Schober, finger-floor distance (FFD), paravertebral muscle spasm and lateral flexion were evaluated. Patients were compared within and between groups. <br />Results: When all groups are compared before treatment with after treatment and 3 month check-up, the LANSS score did not have significant improvement. The VAS, Oswestry, lumbar Schober, FFD and paravertebral muscle spasm scores significantly improved but there were no statistically significant differences between the groups. <br />Conclusion: In our study, no statistically significant superiority was shown for intermittent traction using 25-50% of body weight over continuous application using 25% of body weight. Additionally, both types of traction did not have statistically significant superiority to placebo traction application using 10-20% of body weight. <br /> </p>}, number={1}, publisher={Kocaeli University}, organization={yok}