Traction Therapy for Neck and Back Pain in Opelika When You Need Relief

Neck and back pain caused by compressed spinal discs and pinched nerves does not always respond to rest or medication. For many patients in the Auburn-Opelika area, mechanical and manual traction therapy at Herring Spine & Rehab has provided relief when other options fell short. Our dedicated traction and decompression room on Gateway Drive in Opelika is equipped to address cervical and lumbar conditions for patients who want a non-surgical path forward.

Since 1981, our practice has applied gentle and effective methods of pain relief to thousands of patients throughout East Alabama. Traction therapy has been part of that treatment approach for decades, and our doctors have extensive experience applying it to a wide range of spinal conditions in patients of all ages.

What Causes the Neck and Back Pain Traction Therapy Addresses

The spine is under constant load throughout the day. For many patients near Tiger Town and along the I-85 corridor between Auburn and Opelika, that load is compounded by long hours of sitting at a desk, demanding physical work, years of athletic activity, or the cumulative effects of past injuries that never fully healed.

When the discs between your vertebrae lose height or shift position, they stop doing their job as shock absorbers. A herniated disc, bulging disc, or degenerative disc condition can press against nearby nerve roots, producing pain, stiffness, and in some cases numbness or tingling that travels into the arms or legs. Conditions like cervical radiculopathy, lumbar radiculopathy, and sciatica all fall into this category.

Degenerative disc disease is particularly common in working-age adults throughout Lee County and the surrounding communities. The pain it produces often gets worse with prolonged sitting or standing, making everyday tasks difficult and reducing overall quality of life over time.

How We Diagnose Conditions That Respond to Traction

Before recommending traction therapy, our doctors perform a thorough evaluation that includes on-site X-rays with same-day results. Patients receive their reading and report of findings during the same visit — there is no waiting for imaging results from a separate facility. Our facility on Gateway Drive has a dedicated X-ray room staffed for exactly this purpose.

Our chiropractic physicians hold auxiliary staff privileges at East Alabama Health, which allows them to order MRIs, CT scans, and bone density tests when advanced imaging is needed to get a complete picture of the spinal condition. This connection between our chiropractic team and the broader medical community means your evaluation can go as deep as it needs to.

The evaluation examines spinal alignment, range of motion, neurological function, and the specific nature and location of symptoms before any treatment plan is built.

Mechanical and Manual Traction Therapy for Disc and Nerve Conditions

Traction therapy uses gentle, controlled force to stretch the spine, creating space between compressed vertebrae. This separation reduces pressure on affected discs and nerve roots, which can decrease pain, improve mobility, and allow the body’s natural healing process to work more effectively.

At our Opelika office, we offer both cervical traction for neck conditions and lumbar traction for lower back conditions. Mechanical traction uses specialized equipment to apply consistent, controlled stretching force to the target area of the spine. Manual traction is applied directly by the doctor’s hands, allowing for precise adjustments based on patient feedback and response during the treatment itself.

Both methods aim to relieve nerve compression, reduce disc pressure, and improve the space between vertebrae. The right approach depends on the location of the condition, the severity of symptoms, and individual patient factors that our doctors assess during the initial evaluation. Traction is also offered alongside intersegmental traction, which works the spinal joints along their full range of motion during treatment.

Traction is frequently combined with complementary therapies available at our facility, including ultrasound therapy, electrical muscle stimulation, deep moist heat, cold laser therapy, and spinal strengthening exercises. For patients whose conditions involve chronic pain or significant inflammation, our medical team at Tiger Town Wellness is available within the same practice to coordinate care.

Why Opelika and Auburn Patients Trust Herring Spine & Rehab

Dr. Ronald D. Herring has been in private practice in Opelika since 1981, and Dr. Rodney D. Herring since 1987. Both received Young Chiropractor of the Year honors from the Alabama State Chiropractic Association, and Dr. Rod Herring received the Chiropractor of the Year award from that organization in 2019. Dr. Tyler Wilburn, a Palmer College of Chiropractic graduate who grew up in the Auburn-Opelika area, adds additional clinical depth to the team.

The practice added medical services in 2005 with Dr. Ronald J. Herring, M.D., a Mayo Clinic-trained physician, and Nurse Practitioner Jeff Sanders of Troy University. Patients from across Lee County have relied on this practice for neck pain, back pain, and disc conditions over many decades. One longtime patient put it plainly: “The treatment has helped my neck and back more than any. State of the art equipment including computerized stretch is also very helpful.” Most major insurance plans are accepted, including BCBS, Aetna, Humana, United Healthcare, and Medicare. No long-term contracts are required.