[Traction and kinesitherapy in the management of painful syndromes of the cervical spine].

Painful cervical spine syndromes caused by discopathy become ever more frequent. Conservative treatment of cervical discopathy includes mainly traction, kinesitherapy, thermotherapy, massage and electrotherapy. Traction treatment and kinesitherapy are particularly important. The author carried out investigations in 90 cases of cervical discopathy divided into 3 groups of 30 cases in each. In each group cervical traction was applied using Glisson's loop at different traction force and duration of traction. It was observed that three factors were of decisive importance for the end-result of traction: a) a proper position of the patient during the procedure and a proper direction of traction force, b) a proper duration of traction, c) a properly selected weight. Electromyography demonstrated bioelectric activity in the trapezius muscle and deltoid muscle on the affected side before treatment. After application of traction the bioelectric activity of these muscles was significantly reduced at rest. It is concluded that cervical traction and kinesitherapy are effective methods in treatment of cerival spinal painful syndromes.