Commonly asked Questions about CycleTrac

1.  I do not feel the pull force.   

As a reminder, you will feel the pull force only when the knees are bent; this is the Traction ON position. You will not feel any pull force if your leg is extended while in the unit.  An extended leg is the Traction OFF position.

To eliminate drag between the headrest and the floor, the headrest assembly must be lying on a cloth like surface, i.e. carpeting or a towel.

 If you still do not feel the pull force, refer to pages 7 and 8 of the User’s Guide and repeat steps 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. Be sure that the rope is taut (NO SLACK) per step 9 and pay close attention to steps 10, 11, 12 and 13. These steps can also be seen demonstrated in the instructional video.

If you have the pull force set below 20 pounds you may not feel a strong pull force. Review question number 2 below. You may need to work your way up to a weight setting that is comfortable and effective.

 

2.  What weight setting should I use?

You should always ask your doctor or health care provider.  As a general guideline, based on our Case Study results and customer feedback start at 15 Lbs. and work up to a weight setting that is comfortable and effective. However, many patients find the 22.5 or 25 pound setting to be the most effective.

 

3.  When and how often should I use CycleTrac? We recommend that you consult your health care provider.

Based on our Case Study results and customer feedback, the most effective results occurred when at least one traction session was performed immediately prior to the patient going to sleep. The patient was then able to sleep more comfortably.

Why perform traction immediately prior to going to sleep? By performing the traction before sleeping, the patient stayed in the supine or horizontal position throughout the night (approx. 8 hours). This allowed spinal separation to last much longer than daytime traction because immediately following such daytime traction, the patients tend to stand or walk in an upright, vertical position. In the vertical position, the force of gravity immediately begins to reverse the spinal separation achieved during traction therapy.

Additional daytime traction therapy was performed when the patient felt the pain returning. Depending on the severity of the problem, the patient performed traction 1 to 3 times per day. The number of times per day was dependent on the patient’s need to stay out of pain and the Health Care Provider’s recommendation.

Treatment was performed daily for a minimum of 4 weeks. Depending on the severity of the problem, some patients continued daily treatment for an additional 2 to 8 weeks. Then CycleTrac was used on an as needed basis, i.e. once every 6 months.

Each CycleTrac traction session lasted 20 minutes, or 20 segments of 50 seconds Traction ON 10 seconds Traction OFF. The patient was guided through the 20 minute session using the CycleTrac audio mp3 file. This audio mp3 file prompts the patient when to cycle the weight ON and OFF and can be found at www.cycletrac.com/audio.

 

4. How much room do you need for the unit?

To properly operate CycleTrac, you need 4 feet of length plus your body height of unobstructed carpeted floor space from the door. For example, if you are 6 ft. tall, the total floor space required would be 10 feet (4 ft. + 6 ft. = 10 ft.).

 

5. How does the CycleTrac unit perform intermittent traction?

 When the leg is extended (knee straight), the pull force is transferred from the patients’ head to the foot or the Traction OFF position.  When the leg is in the retracted position (both knees bent), the pull force returns to the patients’ head or the Traction ON position.

 

6.  When using CycleTrac, I feel discomfort where the V-Blocks come into contact with the back of my head.

For some patients, the initial use of CycleTrac may cause minor discomfort where the V-Blocks come into contact with the back of your head. Typically the discomfort is not an issue by the third or fourth day of treatment.

 

7.  What do I do if I’m uncomfortable while lying on the floor?

To make the unit more comfortable while lying on the floor, use an exercise matt. But, be sure to lay a towel between the exercise matt and the headrest assembly. Do not use an exercise matt without a towel between the headrest and the matt. Without the towel the headrest will not slide freely resulting in reduced pull force.

 

8.  Is CycleTrac covered by insurance? 

It depends on your insurance coverage.  PT Products LLC (manufacturer of CycleTrac)  is an approved DME Provider.  At this time we prefer payment in advance and the patient can submit the bill along with prescription to their insurance.

If you have a doctor’s prescription for cervical neck home traction unit, present that prescription along with your CycleTrac receipt to your insurance for possible reimbursement.

 

9.  Can I use my Flexible medical spending account for CycleTrac? 

Yes, just submit your receipt. For details on current rules, see Publication 969 , Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans.

 

10. How do you adjust the headrest assembly for patient head/neck size variation?

The blocks on the headrest assembly lift away from the Velcro and can be positioned to fit any patient.  The blocks must be placed symmetrical to the base.

 

11. What type of warranty comes with CycleTrac?

The original purchaser is entitled to a one-year warranty. For more details, see Section D on page 12 of the User’s Guide.

 

12. Why doesn’t the unit come with a head strap restraint?

CycleTrac was designed to operate without a head strap restraint. The CycleTrac V-Blocks were designed to comfortably keep the head in the unit without the use of an uncomfortable head strap restraint.  This allows all the traction force to be directed to the occiput or the back of the patients head.

Units which require head straps to hold the head down during treatment may be less effective because some of the traction force is used to hold the head down. Therefore, less force is applied to the occiput or back of the head.

 

13. How do you remove yourself from the unit?

If at any time during traction therapy you want to remove yourself from traction, simply lift your head and slide the unit out of the way.

 

14. Can people with hip, knee, or leg problems use this product and will elderly people have the leg strength to lift the weight?

That decision will have to be made on a patient -by- patient basis.  Typically, the weight pushed by the leg during traction therapy is a fraction of the weight that a leg is capable of pushing.

• If you have any other questions, contact PT Products, LLC @ info@cycletrac.com.