The biomechanical influence of traction on the cervical spine.

The effects exerted on the cervical spine by a traction of 150 N was studied by means of an improved radiographic technique. The technique is presented together with results from a study including fifteen test subjects with and without clinical symptoms of neck pain. In a minority of discs a widening not exceeding 1 mm was seen. This widening was not correlated to presence of roentgen signs indicating degenerative disease of the disc nor to clinical symptomatology.