earticle

영어

Background: Manual traction with a belt is a physiotherapy treatment method that reduces disk pressure and widens the disk space. In clinical settings, it is applied to numerous patients with herniated intervertebral disk (HIVD). This study aimed to identify the effects of manual traction with a belt on the intervertebral space in patients with lumbar HIVDs. Methods: The intervention was performed on 17 patients with lumbar HIVDs who were divided into two groups: one with eight patients having HIVD at L4~L5 and another group with nine patients having HIVD at L5~S1. The participants received manual traction with a belt twice a week for 12 weeks, and radiographic imaging was used to visualize the intervertebral space and compare it before and after treatment. Results: Manual traction with a belt increased the lumbar intervertebral space at L4~L5 and L5~S1 in patients with L4~L5 HIVD. A significant difference was observed in the L4–L5 distance (p<.01); however, no significant difference was observed in the L5~S1 distance (p>.05). The intervertebral space significantly increased at both L4~L5 and L5~S1 in patients with L5~S1 HIVD (p<.05). Conclusion: Thus, manual traction with a belt increased the intervertebral space in patients with L4~L5 and L5~S1 HIVDs. These results are expected to guide studies on manual traction with belts in clinical settings in the future. Further studies using the present research as an objective study method are anticipated.