Waylonis G W, Tootle D, Denhart C, Pope Grattan M M, Wapenski J A
Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1982 Aug;63(8):388-91.
Overhead intermittent cervical traction is often utilized to control the symptoms of cervical radiculopathy associated with osteoarthritis. The long-term home use of presently available counterweight systems has often presented problems including: (1) lack of patient compliance, (2) difficulty with application by elderly or debilitated patients, (3) tensing of both the cervical paraspinalis and upper extremity muscles while maneuvering the counterweights, and (4) discomfort while using the device. A prototype home pneumatic traction device was developed, which has many of the advantages of the expensive hydraulic units in common use in physical therapy departments. The initial favorable responses of 17 patients led to the development of a prototype commercial unit in cooperation with the Jobst Company. Of 36 patients who used the pneumatic traction device at home, 29 (81%) preferred it to the conventional counterweight system. Typical reasons were that it was easier to use, more "workable" and provided a steadier pull with more gradual onset of traction. Disadvantages most commonly mentioned were minor air pressure loss in the hand pump model and the complexity of the unit. The most rational approach to the use of these new pneumatic devices would be to initiate a home traction program using conventional counterweight units and then to switch to the pneumatic unit for long-term patients or those who are unable to apply conventional traction systems unassisted.
头顶间歇性颈椎牵引常用于控制与骨关节炎相关的神经根型颈椎病的症状。目前市售的配重系统长期在家中使用时常常出现一些问题，包括：（1）患者依从性差；（2）老年或体弱患者使用困难；（3）操作配重时颈部椎旁肌和上肢肌肉紧张；（4）使用该装置时感到不适。研发了一种家用气动牵引装置的原型，它具有物理治疗科常用的昂贵液压装置的许多优点。17名患者的初步良好反应促使与乔斯特公司合作开发了一种商用原型装置。在36名在家中使用气动牵引装置的患者中，29名（81%）更喜欢它，而不是传统的配重系统。典型原因是它使用起来更容易、更“实用”，并且能提供更稳定的拉力，牵引开始更缓慢。最常提到的缺点是手动泵型号的气压有轻微损失以及装置复杂。使用这些新型气动装置最合理的方法是先用传统配重装置启动家庭牵引计划，然后为长期患者或那些无法独立使用传统牵引系统的患者改用气动装置。
