Treatment
Cervical and Lumbar Traction for Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Nerve-Related Symptoms
Take pressure off the spine. Calm the nerve. Move better — without surgery.
Traction therapy at Potomac Valley Chiropractic uses gentle, controlled tension to take pressure off your spine and the nerves around it — helping calm pinched-nerve symptoms, stubborn neck or back pain, and disc-related discomfort. Combined with chiropractic and rehab care into one personalized plan.
The short version
Personalized traction therapy in Gaithersburg, MD — cervical traction, lumbar traction, and intersegmental roller-table traction for adults dealing with neck pain, lower-back pain, pinched-nerve symptoms, sciatic-type leg pain, disc-related discomfort, or whiplash recovery. Used as part of a personalized chiropractic and rehab plan — not as a stand-alone protocol. 25+ years of experience, 5,000+ patients treated, 5.0 stars across 189 Google reviews.
What this means for you
Mechanical and intersegmental traction therapy that takes pressure off your spine, calms irritated nerves, and helps relieve stubborn neck or back pain — combined with chiropractic and rehab care.
Traction therapy at Potomac Valley Chiropractic is for adults in Gaithersburg, Potomac, Rockville, Germantown, Bethesda, and the surrounding Montgomery County area dealing with neck pain, lower-back pain, pinched-nerve symptoms, sciatic-type leg pain, disc-related discomfort, or stubborn pain that isn't fully responding to other care.
We use traction when the exam suggests that nerve compression, joint compression, or muscle guarding around the spine is contributing to your symptoms — and when controlled tension on the spine is likely to give the tissue room to calm down.
We use traction therapy as part of a personalized chiropractic and rehab plan — not as a stand-alone or one-size-fits-all protocol. The goal is to take controlled, comfortable tension off the spine so the nerves, joints, and muscles around it can calm down and respond better to the rest of your care.
Important: We use **mechanical traction** and **intersegmental traction** — we do not offer non-surgical spinal decompression on a dedicated decompression table (such as the DRX9000 or SpineMED). If you've been told you need that specific device, we'll be upfront about it during your first visit and refer when appropriate.
Traction is most useful when the exam shows nerve compression, joint compression, or chronic muscle guarding around the spine. Common uses include:
Care starts with a personalized exam, a clear explanation of what's driving your symptoms, and a treatment plan. If the exam suggests traction will help, it becomes one part of that plan — alongside chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue therapy, dry needling, cupping, and therapeutic exercise as appropriate.
Most traction sessions take 10–20 minutes and are combined with other care during your visit. Mechanical traction is gentle, controlled, and adjustable — we set the tension to your tolerance and progress it as you respond.
Your first visit takes about 45 minutes and includes a thorough intake, an orthopedic and neurological exam, a clear explanation of what we found, and a personalized care plan. Many patients receive their first traction session that same day — when it's appropriate based on the exam.
We don't pressure patients into long, prepaid plans. Many patients reduce visit frequency as symptoms calm down and graduate to maintenance or as-needed care.
Our office is in Gaithersburg, MD, near Quince Orchard High School and the Kentlands area. We see traction patients from Gaithersburg, Potomac, North Potomac, Darnestown, Rockville, Germantown, North Bethesda, Bethesda, Derwood, Montgomery Village, Clarksburg, and Travilah.
What patients tell us makes the biggest difference: we use traction as part of a thoughtful, personalized plan — not as a standalone gimmick — and we pair it with adjustments, soft tissue work, and exercise so the relief actually holds.
Dr. Spiro Theodore, D.C. brings over 20 years of chiropractic experience and uses traction as part of a careful, personalized approach to neck and back pain. Dr. Marvin Diaz, D.C., M.S. brings a Master of Science in Applied Clinical Nutrition, a background in Exercise Science, and certified personal training experience — combining traction with rehab and movement programming for active patients.
We've treated 5,000+ patients over 25+ years, we're rated 5.0 stars across 189 Google reviews, and we accept most major insurance plans.
How it works
Every visit starts with a clear evaluation, a plain-language explanation of what's going on, and a personalized plan built around your symptoms, goals, and daily life.
Step 1
Personalized exam and neurological screening
We start with a thorough intake, orthopedic and neurological exam, and palpation so we understand exactly what's driving your neck or back symptoms — and whether traction is the right tool for it.
Step 2
Clear explanation and a personalized plan
We walk you through what we found, explain how traction works (and what it doesn't fix), and recommend cervical, lumbar, intersegmental, or manual traction based on the exam.
Step 3
Traction session
You're positioned comfortably, controlled tension is applied gradually, and we monitor your response in real time. Sessions typically last 10–20 minutes and are combined with other care during your visit.
Step 4
Combined with adjustments and rehab
Traction is paired with chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue therapy, dry needling, cupping, and therapeutic exercise as appropriate — so the joint, nerve, muscle, and movement pattern all improve together.
Step 5
Reassessment and progression
We reassess range of motion, neurological signs, and pain at each follow-up visit. Most patients see meaningful change within a few visits, and we adjust the plan as you progress.
Step 6
Graduation or maintenance — your choice
Many patients fully resolve and graduate. Others come in periodically for ongoing chronic-pain management or to stay ahead of recurring spinal symptoms. We don't lock anyone into a long, prepaid plan.
What the research says
Verified national data showing why traction therapy is one of the most recommended non-drug options for back pain, neck pain, and related musculoskeletal problems.
Lower disability + pain
A JOSPT randomized clinical trial found that adding mechanical traction to exercise for patients with cervical radiculopathy resulted in lower disability and lower pain, particularly at long-term follow-ups, compared to exercise alone.
Source: Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy (JOSPT) — Mechanical Traction RCT for Cervical Radiculopathy (2014)
Effective add-on for radiculopathy
A 2018 systematic review and meta-analysis in Physical Therapy Journal found that adding cervical traction to physical therapy yielded short-term improvements in pain and disability for patients with cervical radiculopathy.
Source: Physical Therapy Journal — Cervical Traction Systematic Review (2018)
20.9% of U.S. adults
live with chronic pain, and 6.9% live with high-impact chronic pain that limits daily life — a population for whom multi-modal, non-surgical care (including traction when appropriate) is one of the most effective non-pharmacologic options.
Source: PMC / NIH — Chronic Pain Among Adults, United States, 2019–2021 (2023)
Improves cervical pain and disability
A 2025 systematic review found that cervical traction was effective at decreasing pain and disability in patients with chronic neck pain when used as part of a broader effective care plan.
Source: ScienceDirect — Use of Cervical Traction for Managing Neck Pain (2024 Review) (2024)
Real patients, real results
Verified word-for-word reviews from our Google Business Profile. We're rated 5.0 stars across 189 reviews.
★★★★★
“I've been seeing Dr. Theodore for about 4 years and the care has been a game-changer. He and his staff take the time to listen, explain everything clearly, and tailor each adjustment to what I need that day. My neck/shoulder pain has improved dramatically, and I always leave feeling better than when I walked in.”
★★★★★
“I could finally sleep through the night after only one visit! At 72, I've received massage, accupuncture and treatment from other places but have never had such immediate results. Your comfort and pain relief is their goal.”
★★★★★
“I've had a really positive experience with Dr. Diaz. They take the time to truly understand what you need and walk you through each step of the treatment so nothing feels unclear. I'd definitely recommend them to anyone looking for quality care.”
★★★★★
“Excellent and very friendly practice. Dr. Spiro takes his time to understand your individual needs and focus on resolving your issue. He is patient, kind and loves what he does. The office tries its best to get you in quickly and they also don't pressure you into making multiple, recurrent appointments.”
FAQ
Quick, plain-language answers about traction therapy visits, insurance, what to expect, and how we help in Gaithersburg and Montgomery County.
Traction therapy uses gentle, controlled tension on the spine to take pressure off the joints, discs, and nerves around it. We use mechanical traction (cervical and lumbar), intersegmental traction on a roller table, and manual hands-on traction depending on what your exam shows.
No. Non-surgical spinal decompression refers to specific FDA-cleared decompression tables such as the DRX9000 or SpineMED. We do not currently offer those devices. We offer mechanical cervical and lumbar traction, intersegmental traction, and manual traction — which can still be very helpful for neck pain, back pain, and nerve-related symptoms.
No. Traction should feel like gentle, comfortable stretch — never sharp or painful. We start with low tension, adjust to your tolerance, and progress carefully as you respond. Many patients find traction sessions relaxing.
Common uses include cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerve in the neck), lumbar radiculopathy and sciatic-type leg pain, chronic neck and back pain, disc-related discomfort, whiplash recovery, and chronic muscle guarding around the spine.
It depends on the condition and how chronic it is. Most patients see meaningful change within a few visits, and most plans combine traction with chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue work, and rehab exercises over several weeks. We don't lock anyone into long, prepaid plans.
Yes — when delivered after a careful exam and screened against contraindications, traction performed by trained Doctors of Chiropractic is considered safe. We screen every patient first, monitor in real time, and adjust tension as we go.
Often, yes. Cervical and lumbar traction can take pressure off compressed nerve roots, calm associated muscle guarding, and create the space for your nerve, joints, and surrounding tissue to settle down — especially when combined with adjustments, soft tissue therapy, and rehab exercises.
It can help reduce symptoms associated with disc-related discomfort by taking pressure off the affected segment — but every case is different. We start with a careful exam and imaging review (when available) to make sure traction is appropriate before it's part of your plan.
No. You don't need a referral from a primary care doctor. Most insurance plans cover chiropractic and traction care directly — we'll verify your benefits before your first visit.
Yes — we accept Blue Cross Blue Shield, CareFirst, Aetna, United Healthcare, Medicare, GEHA, Johns Hopkins EHP, Optum VA, and other major plans. We also work with personal injury and auto accident cases.
12105 Darnestown Road, Suite L-8, Gaithersburg, MD 20878 — near Quince Orchard High School. We serve traction patients from Gaithersburg, Potomac, Rockville, Germantown, Bethesda, and across Montgomery County.
Pair with
Most patients get better faster when traction therapy is paired with the right rehab, soft tissue, or recovery support — all under one roof.
Chiropractic Care
Hands-on adjustments that pair naturally with traction — so joint motion, nerve irritation, and muscle tone improve together.
Learn more →Rehabilitation Care
Movement-focused rehab paired with traction so the spine has both the space to calm down and the strength to stay healthy.
Learn more →Soft Tissue Therapy
Targeted muscle and fascial work when guarded tissue is contributing to neck or back symptoms.
Learn more →Auto Accident Care
Whiplash and post-collision care that often includes traction as part of a personalized recovery plan.
Learn more →Book a personalized traction visit with Potomac Valley Chiropractic. Same-day appointments often available. Most major insurance plans accepted.
https://www.potomacvalleychiro.com/treatments/traction-therapy
Get started today
Book online or call the office — we'll handle availability, insurance details, and the right first step for your symptoms.
