Osama Muhammad, Afridi Sabah, Rathore Farooq Azam
Foundation University College of Physical Therapy (FUCP), Foundation University Islamabad (FUI).
Brainstorm Research (www.brainstormresearch.org);Margalla Institute of Health Sciences, Islamabad.
J Pak Med Assoc. 2025 Mar;75(3):514-517. doi: 10.47391/JPMA.25-24.
Lumbar disc disorders and herniation are leading causes of discogenic low back pain (DLBP) and lumbar radiculopathy, often resulting in spinal surgery. Lumbar traction is an effective conservative treatment for DLBP, shown to decrease pain, improve functional disability, and positively affect disc height and herniation index. While typically applied in the supine position, lumbar traction can also be administered prone. However, many practitioners are unaware of this alternative approach. Studies have demonstrated that prone lumbar traction can effectively alleviate pain and disability in persons with DLBP, lumbar disc herniation, and radiculopathy. Some research suggests it may be more effective than supine traction for certain subgroups. Despite these promising findings, additional research is needed to further explore the clinical and biomechanical effects of prone traction. Additionally, it is important to identify which patient subgroups are more likely to benefit from prone versus supine traction. This review explores the potential of prone lumbar traction as an underutilized yet promising alternative in the management of DLBP and lumbar radiculopathy.
腰椎间盘疾病和椎间盘突出是椎间盘源性下腰痛（DLBP）和腰椎神经根病的主要原因，常导致脊柱手术。腰椎牵引是治疗DLBP的一种有效保守疗法，已证明可减轻疼痛、改善功能障碍，并对椎间盘高度和突出指数产生积极影响。虽然腰椎牵引通常采用仰卧位进行，但也可以采用俯卧位。然而，许多从业者并不了解这种替代方法。研究表明，俯卧位腰椎牵引可以有效减轻DLBP、腰椎间盘突出症和神经根病患者的疼痛和残疾。一些研究表明，对于某些亚组患者，俯卧位牵引可能比仰卧位牵引更有效。尽管有这些有前景的发现，但仍需要进一步研究以深入探讨俯卧位牵引的临床和生物力学效果。此外，确定哪些患者亚组更可能从俯卧位牵引而非仰卧位牵引中获益也很重要。本综述探讨了俯卧位腰椎牵引作为一种未充分利用但有前景的替代方法在DLBP和腰椎神经根病管理中的潜力。
