Determination:

Molina Healthcare of New Mexico considers autotraction devices experimental and investigational because of a lack of evidence regarding their efficacy, particularly in comparison with other forms of traction.

Note: Brand names of autotraction devices include the Spinalator Spinalign Massage Intersegmental Traction Table and the Anatomotor.

Molina Healthcare of New Mexico considers home pneumatic lumbar traction devices (e.g., Saunders Lumbar Home Trac, Saunders Stx, Orthotrac Pneumatic Vest) experimental and investigational because they have not been demonstrated to be an effective treatment for low back pain.

Molina Healthcare of New Mexico considers axial spinal unloading (gravity-dependent traction) devices (e.g., LTX 3000) experimental and investigational for the treatment of low back pain because their effectiveness has not been established.

Background:

Traction is a widely used treatment for low back pain and it is often provided in combination with other treatment modalities. Types of traction include mechanical traction, manual traction (unspecific or segmental traction), autotraction, gravity-dependent ("anti-"gravity") traction, pneumatic traction, continuous traction, and intermittent traction. The exact mechanism through which traction might be effective is still unclear. So far, the proposed mechanisms have not been supported by sufficient empirical information.

References:

Hayes W. et al., Hayes Technology Assessment, Spinal Unloading Devices for Lower Back Pain, September, 2001.

Van Tulder MW, Koes B. Low back pain and sciatica (chronic). In: Clinical Evidence, Issue 9. London, UK: BMJ Publishing Group; June 2003.

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