Apparatus for effecting traction on the spine and method of using the same

A method for effecting traction on a spinal column of a patient, said method comprising:

• placing the patient in a vessel containing liquid at a level sufficient to float at least one patient therein;
• engaging a floatation device with a portion of the body of the patient for creating a buoyant force for buoyantly supporting the patient in the liquid contained in the vessel;
• applying a body-tensioning force to one or more portions of the patient's body, the body-tensioning force having a component acting in a direction opposite to the buoyant force created by the floatation device;
• and
• raising and lowering the mean level of the liquid within the vessel so as to effect variations of the body-tensioning force exerted on the patient's body as the floatation device responds to variations in the level of the liquid within the vessel by seeking new buoyant equilibrium positions within the liquid for each variation in the level of the liquid within the vessel.

An apparatus for effecting traction on a spinal column of a patient, said apparatus comprising:

• a vessel containing liquid at a level sufficient to float at least one patient therein;
• a floatation device to be engaged with a portion of the body of a patient for creating a buoyant force for buoyantly supporting the patient in the liquid contained in said vessel;
• a body-tensioning device constructed and arranged to be attached to one or more portions of the patient's body and to exert a tensioning force on the patient's body having a component acting in a direction opposite to the buoyant force created by said floatation device;
• and
• means for varying the level of liquid within said vessel by alternately displacing and replacing a volume of liquid within said vessel to raise and lower the mean level of the liquid within said vessel by an amount corresponding to the volume of liquid displaced and replaced so as to effect variations of the tensioning force exerted on the patient's body by said body-tensioning device as said floatation device responds to variations in the level of the liquid within the vessel by seeking new buoyant equilibrium positions within the liquid for each variation in the level of the liquid.