US Medical Term · procedures
Traction
Tracción
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Traction |
| Spanish (Español) | Tracción |
| Chinese (中文) | 牽引治療 |
| Korean (한국어) | 견인 치료 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Kéo giãn cột sống |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Traction |
| Portuguese (Português) | Tração |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | การดึงกระดูก |
| Japanese (日本語) | 牽引療法 |
What it means
Traction is a non-surgical treatment that applies a gentle pulling force to the spine or an injured limb to relieve pressure, reduce pain, and help restore proper alignment. Spinal traction — used for neck or back conditions such as herniated discs, nerve compression, or degenerative disc disease — may be performed manually by a physical therapist or using a mechanical device. Limb traction uses weights to hold a fractured bone in alignment while it heals. Sessions are typically short and are conducted by trained clinicians. Traction aims to widen the spaces between vertebrae or between bone segments to reduce compression and facilitate healing.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My physical therapist applied cervical traction to relieve the pressure on my pinched nerve.
Mi fisioterapeuta aplicó tracción cervical para aliviar la presión sobre mi nervio comprimido.
The orthopedic team placed me in traction to stabilize my hip fracture before surgery.
El equipo ortopédico me colocó en tracción para estabilizar mi fractura de cadera antes de la cirugía.
Is mechanical spinal traction covered as part of my physical therapy benefit?
¿La tracción espinal mecánica está cubierta como parte de mi beneficio de fisioterapia?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026