Dynamic simulation of cervical traction therapy: Comparison between sitting and inclined positions

This research describes the construction of a mechanical cervical traction therapy simulation using a physics software engine. The model consisted of an anatomically correct human skeleton and two types of mechanical traction devices, each representing a unique traction position. While most of the movement in the skeleton simulation model was represented by simple hinges and ball-socket joints, the cervical spine was controlled by a spring-damper model to try to mimic its actual behavior in the human body. By varying the traction force, traction angle, and traction position in the simulation, the efficacy of the sitting and inclined traction was evaluated by comparing the anterior and posterior intervertebral separations each achieved. The simulation results suggested that the inclined position creates greater intervertebral separations on both the anterior and posterior sides than the sitting position. Our findings may serve as a reference for practitioners and medical equipment designers where cervical traction therapy is applied.