A Review of Home Neck Traction Units

Several conditions respond well to cervical traction and many traction units are available for home use. Multiple claims are made as to which neck traction device is the best to treat cervical pain but what sets these neck traction units apart? Price, Comfort and function vary greatly among the Cervical traction units available for home use and the buyer should be aware of all the options available.

Cervical traction is beneficial for people suffering from neck pain as a result of osteoarthritis, whiplash injuries, loss of cervical curve and degenerative disc disease. Those with herniated discs, pinched nerves and chronic neck strains may also find relief from pain from a home neck traction unit. Headache sufferers may also benefit from cervical traction use.

As with any other medical product, it is strongly suggested that you consult a health care professional before using a neck traction device at home.

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Neck traction has several benefits:

• Reduce nerve impingement
• Reduce disc herniation
• Restore normal cervical curve
• Reduce joint irritation
• Elongate cervical muscles

Overhead or over the door traction devices are the basic option available. Often using weights or water, these devices work to distract the cervical spine and take pressure off the joints, nerves and discs.

They are the most cost effective of the cervical traction units but are also the least beneficial. These devices only pull the neck up, they do not help to restore the cervical curve because the line of correction is straight up.

Most Cost Effective

Least Therapeutic

• Pressure put on jaw and TMJ
• Force is not easily adjustable
• No cervical curve enhancement

• Portable
• Inexpensive
• Does not require much space

Comfortrac is a high end model of cervical traction that uses an advanced form of the overhead model. The Comfortrac features a sliding distraction system which lets the user control the amount of force applied through an air pump. This is advantageous in that as the muscles relax after initial contraction additional force can be applied to increase the length of the traction. It also features adjustable neck wedges and a memory foam pillow. 

The adjustable height provides the user to change the angle of the neck but it does not have any function which stresses the cervical curve. 

• Expensive
• Does not stress cervical curve
• Bulky

• Variable pressure
• Adjustable height
• Supportive cushion

The posture pump features an adjustable air bladder along with chin and head straps to stress the cervical curve and add support. This results in extension of the spine overall but with an accentuation of the cervical curve. Much like the Comfortrac it uses air to control the pressure only the Posture Pump increases the bladder lying in the curve of the neck rather than stretching the spine overall.

• Affordable
• Adjustable pressure
• Stresses cervical curve

• Slightly restrictive
• Fabric on bubble not washable
• Non adjustable neck height

The outdated over the door traction unit may help to alleviate neck pain for the short run but long term results may prove to be minimal. The Comfortrac is a sound unit but lacks the attention to restoring the cervical curve and is extremely expensive. The Posture Pump affords the best bang for the buck with its durable construction and emphasis on restoring the curve.

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