Mechanical Modalities
Specialized equipment that applies controlled mechanical forces to improve joint mobility and tissue function.
About Mechanical Modalities
Our mechanical modalities utilize various devices and equipment to apply controlled forces that help improve alignment, movement, and function.
These treatments can create space between compressed joint surfaces, improve circulation, reduce pain, and support healing in various conditions.
Each modality is applied with precision according to established protocols and is always tailored to your specific needs and comfort level.
Mechanical modalities use equipment to apply controlled physical forces to the body: traction to gently stretch the spine, intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) sleeves to rhythmically squeeze the limbs and move fluid, and continuous passive-motion devices to keep a joint moving after surgery. At Modern Physio in Vaishali Nagar, Jaipur, these tools are prescribed by Dr. Surabhi Bansal (BPT, MPT Ortho) after a proper assessment, never as a default.
Traction is the one patients ask about most, usually for a slipped disc, sciatica or a pinched nerve in the neck. It can temporarily reduce pressure on irritated nerve roots and give short-term relief in selected cases. We are honest that the research evidence for traction is mixed, major reviews show little average benefit for low back pain, so we use it as a short, monitored trial for carefully chosen presentations, not as a standing prescription.
IPC uses inflatable sleeves around the leg or arm that inflate and deflate in cycles, improving venous return and helping shift swelling. It is well established in hospitals for circulation support and is useful in clinic for post-injury and post-surgical swelling. You can read more on our dedicated intermittent pneumatic compression page. Where vacuum cupping is used for soft-tissue work, it is covered under our soft-tissue and instrument-assisted services.
Who This Helps
Cervical traction is considered for selected patients with neck pain radiating into the arm from a compressed nerve root, cervical radiculopathy, especially when a trial of manual traction during assessment clearly eases the arm symptoms. Lumbar traction may be trialled in some cases of sciatica or disc-related back pain where other measures alone are not settling symptoms, with the clear understanding that it is an adjunct.
IPC helps people with persistent swelling after ankle, knee or leg injuries, post-surgical swelling once the surgeon permits, and those needing circulation support during periods of reduced mobility. Continuous passive motion mainly serves early post-operative knees, where gentle machine-assisted movement helps prevent stiffness while the joint is too sore for full active exercise.
People whose imaging report mentions a disc bulge often arrive convinced they need traction. Sometimes they do benefit; often exercise and manual therapy work as well or better. The assessment, not the MRI report, decides.
What a Session Looks Like
- 1
Screening assessment: history and physical examination, including red-flag screening (weight loss, night pain, fever, bladder or bowel symptoms), neurological testing of strength, reflexes and sensation, and a check of bone-health and RA history before any traction is considered.
- 2
Trial before machine: for neck problems we usually apply gentle manual traction by hand first. If easing the head upward clearly reduces your arm pain, mechanical traction is worth trialling; if it worsens symptoms, we drop the idea there.
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Set-up: you lie on the traction couch and are fitted with a comfortable harness (cervical or pelvic). We explain the sensation to expect(a firm, gradual stretch, never sharp pain) and you hold a safety switch that stops the machine instantly.
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Treatment: the unit applies gentle intermittent pull for around 10–15 minutes at a carefully chosen force, while the therapist monitors your symptoms, especially any change in arm or leg pain.
- 5
For IPC sessions: the limb is inspected and measured, the sleeve fitted, and cycles of inflation run for roughly 20–30 minutes at a pressure set to your tolerance and condition.
- 6
Active follow-through: every mechanical session is paired with exercise(deep neck flexor work, nerve mobility drills, McKenzie-style movements or ankle pumps and elevation advice for swelling) because the machine buys a window of relief and the exercise uses it.
- 7
Response check: we record symptom change before and after, and this response, not habit, decides whether the modality continues next visit.
Safety & Contraindications
This treatment is not suitable for everyone. Tell your physiotherapist about your full medical history: it is screened for at your first assessment.
- •For traction: osteoporosis or significantly weakened bone: stretching forces through a fragile spine are unsafe, so we screen age, history and risk factors first.
- •For traction: any suspicion of spinal infection or malignancy (cancer) affecting the spine: red flags such as unexplained weight loss, night pain or fever are checked before any mechanical force is applied.
- •For traction: signs of spinal cord compression (myelopathy): clumsy hands, unsteady walking, or bladder and bowel changes need urgent medical referral, not traction.
- •For traction: rheumatoid arthritis affecting the neck: RA can loosen the ligaments of the upper cervical spine, making cervical traction dangerous; we do not apply it in this group.
- •For traction: pregnancy is a contraindication for lumbar traction; hypertension, hiatus hernia and recent spinal surgery also call for caution or avoidance.
- •For IPC: known or suspected deep vein thrombosis, acute infection or broken skin in the limb, severe peripheral arterial disease, and uncontrolled heart failure, where shifting fluid loads can be harmful.
- •Whenever any of these cannot be ruled out in clinic, we pause and refer for medical review first. That is non-negotiable.
Expected Timeline
Mechanical modalities show their worth quickly or not at all. For traction, we run a short trial of roughly four to six sessions over two to three weeks. If your radiating arm or leg pain is clearly retreating(less intense, or moving out of the limb and towards the spine) we continue while progressively handing the work over to exercise. If there is no meaningful change by the review point, we stop traction and adjust the plan; continuing an ineffective passive treatment wastes your time and money.
Nerve-root problems themselves are rarely quick. Most cervical and lumbar radiculopathies improve over six to twelve weeks with conservative care, and some take longer. Swelling managed with IPC typically responds session by session: the limb measurably reduces, but lasting control depends on the daily habits we teach: elevation, activity pacing, compression garments where appropriate.
Throughout, we watch for the signs that mean conservative care is not enough(progressive weakness, worsening numbness, or any bladder or bowel change) and refer you onwards without delay if they appear. Honest escalation is part of the treatment plan, not a failure of it.
Evidence Base
A Cochrane review concluded that traction, alone or with other treatments, has little or no impact on pain and function for most people with low back pain, with or without sciatica, which is why we position traction as a selective, monitored trial rather than a routine treatment.
Cochrane review CD003010, traction for low-back pain with or without sciatica (Wegner et al.)UK NICE guidance advises against offering traction for managing low back pain and sciatica, and centres care on exercise, staying active and self-management; our practice follows this by making active rehabilitation the core of every plan.
NICE guideline NG59, low back pain and sciatica in over 16sNICE recommends intermittent pneumatic compression as a mechanical method of improving venous return for venous thromboembolism prevention in hospital settings, evidence of its genuine physiological effect on circulation.
NICE guideline NG89, venous thromboembolism in over 16s: reducing the riskA Cochrane review of intermittent pneumatic compression for venous leg ulcers found it may improve healing in some circumstances, while noting the overall evidence base is limited, consistent with our use of IPC as a swelling and circulation adjunct with measured outcomes.
Cochrane review CD001899, intermittent pneumatic compression for treating venous leg ulcers (Nelson et al.)Frequently Asked Questions
Will traction cure my slipped disc?
No treatment "cures" a disc, and we will not promise that. Traction can temporarily ease pressure on an irritated nerve and reduce leg or arm pain in selected patients. Most disc-related pain settles over weeks to months with active rehabilitation; traction is at best an adjunct that makes that process more comfortable. Also worth knowing: many pain-free adults have disc bulges on MRI.
Is spinal traction safe? I have heard it can be risky.
Applied after proper screening, traction is generally safe: the risks come from applying it to the wrong spine. We do not use traction with osteoporosis, suspected spinal infection or cancer, signs of cord compression, rheumatoid arthritis of the neck, or lumbar traction during pregnancy. That screening is exactly what your first assessment is for, and you hold a stop switch throughout treatment.
My MRI shows a disc bulge: do I definitely need traction?
Not necessarily. MRI findings correlate poorly with pain: disc bulges are common in people with no symptoms at all. We treat your examination findings, not the scan. Some patients with nerve-root symptoms respond well to a traction trial; many do just as well with exercise, manual therapy and time. We test your response and let the result decide.
What does traction feel like? Does it hurt?
A firm, gradual stretching sensation along the neck or lower back: most patients find it comfortable, and some feel their arm or leg pain ease during the pull. It should never cause sharp pain. Forces start low and increase only as tolerated, and you can stop the machine yourself at any moment with the hand-held switch.
What is intermittent pneumatic compression used for?
IPC sleeves inflate and deflate around the limb in cycles, pushing fluid back towards the heart. In clinic we use it mainly for post-injury and post-surgical swelling in the leg or arm, and for circulation support in people who are less mobile. Hospitals use the same technology to prevent blood clots. It is not used over a suspected clot, infection or broken skin.
Should I see an orthopaedic doctor first or come straight to physiotherapy?
For most back and neck pain, you can come straight to us, no referral needed. Dr. Surabhi Bansal holds BPT and MPT (Ortho) degrees with 14+ years of experience, and every mechanical treatment follows a screening assessment. If we find red flags(progressive weakness, unexplained weight loss, bladder or bowel changes) we will send you to a specialist promptly, and tell you why.
How many traction sessions will I need, and what do they cost?
We run a defined trial, typically four to six sessions over two to three weeks, and continue only if your symptoms are measurably improving. The in-clinic session fee is ₹400, paid per visit, with no package to buy. We are open Mon to Sat 07:00-21:00, and Sunday mornings 07:00-13:00, at 73 East, Giriraj Vihar Rd, near Shalby Hospital, Bhairav Nagar, Vaishali Nagar.
Can I use a home cervical traction kit from the market instead?
We would rather you did not start with one. Over-door kits apply meaningful force to a neck that has not been screened for RA, bone weakness or cord involvement, and poor set-up can worsen symptoms. If a supervised trial in clinic clearly helps you, we can then advise whether a home device makes sense for your case and teach you safe parameters.
Why do you combine traction with exercise instead of just doing traction?
Because the evidence says traction alone changes little. Reviews of traction for low back pain show minimal average benefit, and UK guidelines recommend exercise as the core treatment. The honest model is: mechanical relief opens a short window of comfort, and the exercises done inside that window build the lasting change.
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Medically Reviewed
This content was reviewed for medical accuracy by Dr. Surabhi Bansal, BPT, MPT (Ortho) with 14+ years of clinical experience.
At Modern Physio, all medical content undergoes a thorough review process to ensure accuracy and alignment with current physiotherapy standards. Our content is created to educate and should not replace professional medical advice. Learn more about our review process.
Our Mechanical Modalities Services
Cervical & Lumbar Traction
Manual or mechanical stretching of the spine to relieve pressure on compressed nerves and discs.
Intermittent Pneumatic Compression
Inflatable sleeves that apply rhythmic pressure to improve circulation and reduce swelling.
Continuous Passive-Motion (CPM) Devices
Machines that gently move joints through a controlled range of motion to prevent stiffness and promote healing.
Other Service Categories
Assessment & Education
4 services available
Therapeutic Exercise & Movement
5 services available
Manual Therapy Techniques
4 services available
Electro-physical Modalities
5 services available
Thermal Modalities
4 services available
Soft-Tissue & Instrument-Assisted Tools
4 services available
Aquatic & Respiratory Programmes
3 services available
Pelvic & Women's Health Services
4 services available
Neurological & Vestibular Rehab
4 services available
Post-Surgical & Prosthetic Care
3 services available
Preventive / Workplace & Digital Add-Ons
4 services available
Explore Other Service Categories
Assessment & Education
Comprehensive evaluation and educational services for understanding your condition and rehabilitation process.
Therapeutic Exercise & Movement
Customized movement therapies designed to restore function, build strength, and enhance mobility.
Manual Therapy Techniques
Hands-on treatment approaches to relieve pain, reduce muscle tension, and improve tissue mobility.