Intermittent Pelvic Traction in the Treatment of the Ruptured Intervertebral Disk

Abstract

RHE PATIENT with a low-back problem is among the most frequently seen by the physical therapist in a nonspecialized clinic.In an analysis at the Mayo Clinic of 2,000 cases of back trouble, one half were diagnosed as degenerative disk disease (osteoarthritis) and intervertebral disk rupture. 1 Key reported that the most common cause of low-back pain with or without sciatica is the intervertebral disk lesion and that 90 per cent considered as idio pathic low-back pain are of this type. 2Hernia tion of the fibrous ring has been reported by Friberg to be common soon after puberty from sixteen to twenty years of age while rupture through to the periphery of the ring is seen in the thirty to fifty age bracket, the most fre quently involved areas being in the two lower most spaces. 3The purpose of this paper is to describe one method of conservative treatment for the ruptured intervertebral disk syndrome and to present an hypothesis to explain its suc cess or failure.