Core Products PRO-990 Overhead Cervical Traction System, Pack of 1

Customer Reviews

Just what the doctor ordered.My doctor, who is a phenom, recommended I purchase one of these to ease the pain in my neck caused by a bulging disc. I was a little dubious, having previously spent $300 on a used Teeter Hangup Inversion Table, which hadn't solved my problem. My thinking was that, if a fairly sophisticated piece of equipment like my inversion table couldn't decompress my spine, then this low-cost, stone age gadget probably wasn't going to get it done either. On the other hand, at $23 delivered to my door, I figured, what the heck? I had nothing to lose but the pain in my neck, so I ordered one. And being a Prime member, I had it in my hot little hands within 48 hours, plus or minus. Thanks again, Amazon.Initial setup was a can-o-corn. In fact, I didn't see any need to consult the instructions - until I got to the part where I had to attach the harness to my head. And that's where this product lost a star, because those instructions are terrible! I might have mistaken the illustrations for something drawn by my grandson, but for the fact that he'd have done a better job. Nevertheless, I made a sensible interpretation of the instructions and strapped myself in, having filled the water bag halfway (to the 10 pound mark). What I learned, after 30-minute sessions on two consecutive days, was that I had, in fact, misinterpreted the instructions. And I knew that because both of my jaws felt as though I'd just done ten rounds with my wife. Fortunately, she's not only tougher than I am, but she's smarter, too. She got on the internet, found the instructions and strapped me in on day 3. What a difference that made! The take-away here is, if the harness causes discomfort, something's farkled.As to the amount of water one should add to the weight bag, I have no idea how to advise. Filling the bag halfway worked well for me, as long as I was sitting in a chair facing parallel to the door to which the device was attached. I tried sitting on the floor with my back to the door (which obviously required lengthening the line between the weight bag and the harness). But, for some reason, sitting on the floor didn't feel right. It didn't feel as though my neck was getting stretched enough when I sat on the floor, versus on a cushioned chair. It made me feel as though I needed to add more water to the weight bag, to get more stretch. So my advice is to fill the bag to the 10 pound level and sit on a well-cushioned chair, then adjust your water weight and your position as may be necessary to get the decompression you need.At bottom, it turns out this contraption is a medical marvel (at least, insofar as my affliction is concerned). In fact, I'm going to start using it as an adjunct to my inversion table and see what happens. If that produces noteworthy results, one way or the other, I'll come back and edit this review. Meanwhile, I can recommend this device to anyone who may be looking for low-cost relief of minor spinal compression issues. 4It's Helping!My spine doc said your head typically weighs 9 pounds so he suggested starting with 8 pounds of water and to gradually increase to 10 or 12. I have been using it almost every day for a month and am now at 10 pounds of water. I have severe cervical degenerative disk disease and this is making my neck feel more flexible than it has in years! I've tried massage, yoga, PT home exercise programs, etc. we'll wait to see how it helps on the cold wet dreary days, but so far I would reccommend it. 5Caution Hanger May Cut RopeCAUTION: The hole drilled in the adjustable metal bracket hanger that holds the neck harness was not deburred and has sharp edges. This eventually cut the nylon rope after minimal usage. The metal bracket hanger struck me in the head with significant velocity. Would like to have a replacement bracket that is properly demurred. 3worth a tryi bought this unit to help alleviate symptoms of cervical radiculopathy that had become chronic. turns out i have a large disc bulge according to my mri and the unit did help temporarily reduce nervey symptoms in my hand. i think that if my protrusion was smaller or more typically located it would have been more useful. the unit itself is solid...easy to put together and use. figuring out how to use the harness can be confusing at first, and for sure there is pressure on the jaw...dont use if you have tmj. depending on how you angle your head and the harness you can slightly reduce pressure on jaw.i stopped using this unit and switched to a very simple diy prone traction system at the suggestion of my pt. basically you use sport tape to tie together a smallish towel into a loop, tie a knot at the two ends of a very very firm theraband to also make a loop, hook the theraband through the towel and use a belt to hang the contraption from a doorknob. then you lie down, put your head in the towel and slide away from the door until you have enough tension. its more comfortable than the overhead unit and basically free. for more info just google diy traction and doorknob.overall i think the overdoor traction unit is great. its limitations are inherent in its design...anything that pulls you up from the jaw will obviously put pressure on the jaw, which could be a problem depending on the person. if you are okay with getting on and off the floor then give the diy version a shot first...just be careful to make sure the belt or rope wont slip off the doorknob when youve slid out. and obviously if you have osteoporosis of spondylosis, traction may not be a safe option....ask you doctor or pt.if youre reading this review then youre having some neck problems which can be miserable, i know. good luck and i hope you feel better! 4Cheaply made. Inferior stitching.I purchased this item for a patient of mine. After about 2 months the stitches on the chin strap came split leaving a gaping hole in the chin. I called the Core Products and left at least 3 messages for Matt Nasca to inquire about replacing the chin harness. He would not call back leaving me to try to work out a different fix. This product is cheaply made and will fall apart. 1Poor contructionIt very hard to do it yourself especially when you need to do more the once a day. They should have used a s hook for the water bag. They have you tie it and when you are done you have to untie it then the rope flies out of the other reels. Very poor design to use by your self. Would not purchase again. 1It's not too bad... helps me when other efforts didn't.Ordered this at the recommendation of my chiropractor due to persistent neck pain that radiates down into my left elbow and numbs my fingers. The unit is pretty well made. (At least adequate for what it's intended to be used for. The door hanging frame and associated parts seem to be well made although this isn't rocket science. I wish they would ship with Qty-2 "S" hooks. It only comes with one which is intended to hang the bag on so it is easily removable. Since I use this unit while alone (something the MFG'r doesn't suggest... I suspect to avoid any liability lawsuits if used by someone that's IQ challenged)... I added a 2nd "S" hook of my own so both the T-Bar and Water bag can be easily removed. Makes getting the unit off and on easier. The head harness is a little confusing at first but by the 3rd time I used it I had the system worked out how to get it on with the right fit. It is generally pretty comfortable once on. I've been using this for two 20 minute sessions a day for two weeks now and I am on the side of it helping me get through the daily pain. I hope continued use will continue to relieve the pressure on the nerve in my neck, but for now I am satisfied with the investment I have in this handy traction system. 4OK, but needs some tweaks.Delivery arrived promptly. Materials appear to be basically good quality. I think the chin position on the head strap could be padded and better indicated on the strap itself. They tell you to "tie a secure knot" to both ends of the pulley line cord. For those of us not outdoorsmen, it would be nice to have a diagram showing how to tie a secure knot. There is no "s" metal link included to attach the traction cord to the water bag. That means you have to tie and untie the knot every time you want to empty/fill the bag. It seems reasonable for them to include an "s" link for this purpose. The head strap itself is not easy to fit and use each time. The instructions in the package for its use are insufficient for lack of detail and the diagrams included are not detailed enough. Overall, a decent value. 4Product is as describedThe product arrived promptly. It is easy to understand and easy to set up. Having an extra set of hands helps but it can be assembled by one person if you are not clumsy.The pros are it is very simple to assemble, simple to use. doesn't take up much space, can be used on any doorThe cons are it is a bit challenging to do this alone, it's better to have a friend help. the water bag was a challenge to fill, you should use a funnel. I used my watering can. Be careful to remove the system from the door before you open the door accidentally and scratch your wall.I have no similar product to compare it to.I does provide a gentle tugging that feels refreshing after having neck pain. It doesn't take away the neck pain but it does relieve some of the tension and pressure so it's like a good stretch 5Recommended or pinched nerveEasy to set up. My husband is using for a C7-T1 spondylolithesis (slipped disc causing pinched nerve). His daughter, a chiropractor recommended using this traction system such as they use at her chiropractic office several times a day. He is just starting with 5 lbs of weight. Some relief. He did add some S hooks to the cord to make it easier to hook up the bag each time he does his traction.Lets hope it gives some relief, he was having nerve pain from neck all the way into his hand. 4

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Core Products

Core Products PRO-990 Overhead Cervical Traction System, Pack of 1

Core Products PRO-990 Overhead Cervical Traction System, Pack of 1

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