What is a common contraindication to cervical traction?

What is a common contraindication to cervical traction?

• A. Recent ankle sprain
• B. Severe osteoporosis
• C. Asthma
• D. Low back pain

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is safety when applying cervical traction. Traction pulls on the cervical spine, and if the bones are very weak, such as in severe osteoporosis, they can fracture under the force even if it’s gentle. That fragility makes cervical traction unsafe, so severe osteoporosis is a contraindication. The other conditions listed don’t inherently create a risk of fracture in the neck or undermine the safety of cervical traction: an ankle sprain involves the lower limb, asthma is a respiratory condition, and low back pain relates to the lumbar region. None of these by themselves would typically contraindicate cervical traction.

The main idea here is safety when applying cervical traction. Traction pulls on the cervical spine, and if the bones are very weak, such as in severe osteoporosis, they can fracture under the force even if it’s gentle. That fragility makes cervical traction unsafe, so severe osteoporosis is a contraindication.

The other conditions listed don’t inherently create a risk of fracture in the neck or undermine the safety of cervical traction: an ankle sprain involves the lower limb, asthma is a respiratory condition, and low back pain relates to the lumbar region. None of these by themselves would typically contraindicate cervical traction.