Authors: Andrzej Myśliwiec, Edward Saulicz, Michał Kuszewski, Michał Klapuch

Published online: 21 November 2014

Background: The vast majority of pain dysfunctions of the cervical spine is underlain by prolonged overload and one effective therapy is traction. The aim of this study is to assess the influence of cervical spine traction on changes in heart rate and arterial blood pressure in people with arterial hypertension and normotension.

Material/Methods: The study involved a total of 168 patients, in whom chronic cervical spine pain syndrome of low intensity, with no radiation of symptoms and with no significant functional limitations occurred. The subjects were intentionally allocated into a group with arterial hypertension and a group with normotension.

Results: The analysis of the obtained results showed that cervical spine traction does not strain the cardiovascular system. In the group of subjects with arterial hypertension, a linear value reduction of all the heart hemodynamic parameters measured in the successive trials was observed. The most significant difference between the initial and final test was observed in patients, in whom the traction procedure was only simulated.

Conclusions: Cervical spine traction performed according to D. Saunders’ method does not constitute any threat to patients with arterial hypertension.