TL;DR: Neck pain that keeps coming back, pain that travels into the shoulder or arm, tingling in the hands, headaches that start at the base of the skull, or stiffness that is worse after a day at a desk are the patterns that often respond to cervical traction. Cervi-Trac is a gentle, non-invasive way to take pressure off the discs and nerves in the neck. It is not right for everyone, and some symptoms need a doctor first, not a device.
What Cervi-Trac actually does
Cervi-Trac is a cervical traction system used here in Brooklyn as part of Cervi-Trac therapy. It applies slow, controlled traction to the neck, which gently increases the space between the vertebrae. That takes mechanical pressure off compressed discs and irritated nerve roots, and lets blood and oxygen move back into tissue that has been under load.
It is not a massage and it is not a manual adjustment. Nothing is forced. The pull is measured, repeatable and comfortable, which is why it suits people who are wary of being cracked or manipulated.
Signs it may be worth asking about
1. Neck pain that keeps returning
Pain that settles with rest, then comes back within days or weeks, usually means the underlying pressure was never addressed. Repeated flare-ups in the same spot are a pattern worth investigating rather than riding out.
2. Pain that travels into the shoulder, arm or hand
Pain that starts in the neck and runs down the arm often points to nerve irritation at the root, the kind seen with a herniated disc or a pinched nerve. Traction is aimed directly at that mechanism.
3. Tingling, pins and needles, or a heavy arm
Sensations that come and go with head position, and that ease when you lift your arm over your head, suggest the nerve is being crowded. Position-dependent symptoms are a strong clue.
4. Headaches that start at the base of the skull
Cervicogenic headaches begin in the neck and refer upward. If your headaches track with neck stiffness rather than with light, noise or nausea, the neck is the place to look.
5. Stiffness that is worse after sitting
Hours at a screen load the lower neck. If mornings are tolerable and evenings are not, sustained posture is doing the damage, and decompression plus a plan for how you sit usually beats stretching alone.
6. You have tried rest, heat and painkillers without lasting change
Medication can quiet symptoms. It does not change the mechanics. When the pain returns every time the medication wears off, that is a mechanical problem asking for a mechanical answer.
Signs that need a doctor first, not a device
Some symptoms are not a traction problem. Get assessed promptly if you have any of these:
- Weakness in the arm or hand, dropping objects, or a grip that has clearly changed
- Numbness that is constant rather than coming and going
- Neck pain after a fall, a car accident or any significant impact
- Fever, unexplained weight loss, or night pain that wakes you
- Any change in bowel or bladder control, or unsteadiness on your feet
These point to causes that need imaging and a medical decision before any mechanical therapy is considered.
What a session looks like
An evaluation comes first, so the cause is understood before anything is applied. If traction suits your case, you sit or lie supported while the device applies and releases tension in cycles. Most people describe it as a steady, mild stretch. There is no recovery time afterwards, and you can drive yourself home.
Cervi-Trac is often combined with physical therapy so the muscles that hold your posture are retrained while the pressure is off. Decompression buys the window; the rehab keeps it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Cervi-Trac hurt?
It should not. The traction is gradual and adjustable, and it is set to a level you tolerate comfortably. Tell the clinician if anything sharpens, and the settings are changed.
How many sessions will I need?
It varies with the cause, how long symptoms have been present and what else is in your plan. Cervical traction is usually delivered as a course over several weeks rather than as a single visit, and progress is reviewed as you go.
Is it safe if I have a herniated disc?
Disc-related nerve compression is one of the main reasons traction is considered. That said, it depends on your imaging and your symptoms, which is why an evaluation comes before treatment.
Who should not have cervical traction?
People with certain fractures, instability, some inflammatory or bone conditions, recent neck surgery, or specific vascular problems. Tell the clinician your full history and current medications so this is ruled out properly.
Can I do traction at home instead?
Home devices exist, but they are not set from an examination and the force is not controlled the same way. If your symptoms involve the nerve, get assessed first so you are not applying pressure to a problem that needs something else.
Talk to someone in Brooklyn
If your neck pain keeps returning, or it has started travelling into your arm, an evaluation tells you which of these patterns you have. Call (718) 576-2001 or request an appointment at our Brooklyn office on Bay Parkway.
