Traction is a set of mechanisms for straightening broken bones or relieving pressure on the spine and skeletal system. There are two types of traction: skin traction and skeletal traction. They are used in orthopedic medicine. Techniques Traction procedures have largely been replaced by more modern techniques, but certain approaches are still used today: Milwaukee brace Bryant's traction Buck's traction, involving skin traction. It is widely used for femoral fractures, low back pain, acetabular fractures and hip fractures. Skin traction rarely causes fracture reduction, but reduces pain and maintains the length of the bone. Dunlop's traction – humeral fractures in children Russell's traction Skeletal traction Although the use of traction has decreased over the years, an increasing number of orthopaedic practitioners are using traction in conjunction with bracing (see Milwaukee brace). Harrison et al. (2005) found that mirror image (opposite posture) postural corrective exercises and a new method of lumbosacral tilt traction resulted in 50% reduction in trunk tilt and were associated with nearly resolved pain intensity in this patient population. These researchers felt that their findings warranted further study in the conservative treatment of chronic low back pain and spinal disorders. Spinal decompression Spinal traction as a means of spinal decompression is often applied without directly touching bones as other methods of traction do. This is sometimes isolated inside-out by inflatable girdles or use of the transversus abdominis muscle. It is also done in conjunction with thigh-supported flexed-hip traction (inversion chairs, back hyperextensions) or done in conjunction with whole-leg traction (boots, tables) via inverted forms of suspension. Traction of the spine (except the cervical) also occurs with upright suspension of the body from the arms, such as with pull-ups, dips, captain's chair, chinnings (chin up exercise) or other fitness movements with the feet dangling. Mechanical Traction in Physical Therapy Mechanical traction can be used for patients with cervical and lumbar spinal disorders such as cervical radiculopathy or lumbar spinal stenosis. It may be applied mechanically through the use of an apparatus with two different modes: intermittent or continuous. Physiological goals: Separation of vertebral bodies Movement of facet joints Expansion of intervertebral foramen Stretch of soft tissues When mechanical traction is combined with other physical therapy modalities such as passive mobilization, massage, stretching and active exercises, it is an effective treatment for pain reduction in cervical or lumbar spine disorders. Recent guidelines have been put forward for the use of