Therapist-applied, hands-on spinal decompression that reduces disc pressure, calms pinched nerves, and restores pain-free movement - without a machine or a clinic visit.
Manual traction is a hands-on physical therapy technique in which your licensed therapist uses carefully controlled force to gently separate vertebrae or peripheral joint surfaces. By creating space between the bones, traction reduces the compressive load on spinal discs, takes pressure off irritated nerve roots, relaxes the surrounding paraspinal muscles, and allows inflamed tissue to begin recovering. Unlike mechanical traction tables, the force is entirely delivered and controlled by your therapist's hands, allowing instant adjustment based on your real-time comfort and symptom response.
Manual traction can be applied in sustained holds, rhythmic oscillations, or progressive loading patterns, each producing different therapeutic effects. Sustained traction is particularly effective for reducing acute nerve pain and muscle spasm, while rhythmic traction is useful for improving joint mobility and fluid exchange within the disc. Your therapist selects the technique, angle, force, and rhythm that best match your diagnosis and how you respond in each session - a level of individualization that no machine can replicate.
Your licensed therapist positions you comfortably - lying on your bed or a treatment surface - and applies traction with precise hand placements that target the specific spinal level or joint responsible for your symptoms.
We review your diagnosis, imaging if available, and screen for any contraindications before selecting the appropriate traction approach.
You are placed in the resting position that best opens the affected spinal segment, with your body fully supported and comfortable.
Your therapist applies sustained or rhythmic traction force, monitoring your response closely and adjusting force, angle, and duration in real time.
Decompression is paired with targeted stabilization exercises to support the spine and help maintain the gains achieved during traction.
Cervical radiculopathy causing pain, numbness, or tingling down the arm from a pinched neck nerve.
Lumbar disc herniation or bulging disc with sciatica radiating into the buttock or leg.
Degenerative disc disease with chronic low back or neck pain worsened by prolonged sitting or standing.
Lumbar spinal stenosis producing leg heaviness or pain with walking that eases when you sit.
Muscle spasm and protective guarding locking the neck or lower back in a fixed, painful posture.
Facet joint compression causing sharp, localized pain with extension or rotation of the spine.
Your therapist feels your tissue response and adjusts force angle and rhythm the moment you need it - far more adaptive than any traction machine.
Sitting in a car compresses the very discs we are trying to decompress. Treating you at home means traction begins at your best baseline, not after aggravating the commute.
After traction your spine benefits from rest in a neutral position. At home you are already there, protecting the gains instead of loading the spine again on the drive back.
For people managing disc-related pain or nerve compression, the journey to a clinic can undo much of the benefit of the very treatment they are receiving. In-home manual traction eliminates that cycle entirely. Your therapist arrives at your home, applies the decompression technique while you are fully relaxed, and leaves you to rest comfortably afterward - the optimal sequence for lasting relief.
Our in-home manual traction therapy is covered by Medicare Part B with no homebound requirement, and we serve Monroe Township, Freehold, East Windsor, North Brunswick, Manalapan, and Princeton. We verify your benefits before your first visit so care begins without billing uncertainty.
Manual traction is a hands-on technique in which your therapist uses carefully controlled force to gently separate vertebrae or joint surfaces, reducing the compression that presses on spinal discs and nerve roots. Unlike mechanical traction tables, force is applied by the therapist's hands and adjusted instantly based on your real-time response.
Manual traction is generally safe and well-tolerated by older adults when performed by a licensed physical therapist. Your therapist screens for any contraindications beforehand and uses only the force and duration appropriate for your spine's health and comfort.
Yes. In-home physical therapy that includes manual traction is covered under Medicare Part B with no homebound requirement. Focus Rehabilitation verifies your benefits before your first visit so there are no billing surprises.
A traction table or inversion device applies a fixed, programmed force that cannot adapt to your body's real-time response. Manual traction is entirely therapist-controlled - force, angle, duration, and rhythm are adjusted instantly based on your comfort and symptoms, making it more precise for complex spinal conditions.
Schedule your free consultation today. We'll verify your insurance and answer every question before care begins.