The Saunders cervical traction device has three angle settings: 15°, 20°, and 25°. The angle adjuster’s top position is 15°, the middle is 20°, and the bottom is 25°. Use the angle and traction force specified by your healthcare provider; changing the angle is not a substitute for adjusting the prescribed force.
This guide helps you repeat the setup demonstrated by your clinician for the Saunders Cervical Home Traction Device, model 199594. Read the instructions supplied with your unit before treatment. Your home program should identify the force, angle, session length, and treatment schedule.
Stop treatment if symptoms worsen. Release the traction and contact your healthcare provider if you develop increased pain, dizziness, nausea, swelling, or another unusual reaction during or after use. Do not restart until you receive guidance.
Before your first home session
Ask your clinician to demonstrate the complete sequence, including how to release the force while you are lying in the device. Then practice the setup under supervision so questions about fit and controls can be resolved before home use.
Keep your instructions beside the unit:
| Setting to confirm | What your home instructions should say |
|---|---|
| Traction angle | Which adjuster position to use |
| Force | Your target gauge reading and maximum permitted force |
| Session length | How long to maintain traction |
| Treatment schedule | How often to use the device |
| Sustained or intermittent treatment | Whether force is held continuously or changed in prescribed intervals |
| If intervals are prescribed | Force levels, hold and relax times, and total treatment time |
| Follow-up | When to report your response and have the program reviewed |
If an instruction is missing or unclear, ask the prescribing clinician. Do not fill the gap with another person’s settings or a generic online routine.
Saunders traction angles: 15° vs. 20° vs. 25°
| Angle-adjuster position | Angle | How to use the setting |
|---|---|---|
| Top | 15° | The position the manual specifies when no angle has been given |
| Middle | 20° | Use when selected by your clinician. |
| Bottom | 25° | Use when selected by your clinician. |
Set the angle before lying down. Squeeze the tabs on both sides of the adjuster, slide to the required position, and confirm that it locks securely.
A larger angle does not automatically mean a better treatment. The angle changes the direction of pull; the pump controls the applied force. Do not move from 15° to 25° simply because you want to feel more stretch.
The manual’s default position also does not establish a complete treatment plan. You still need instructions for force, timing, and frequency. A diagnosis such as a herniated disc does not, by itself, tell you which angle to choose.
How to set up Saunders cervical traction
1. Prepare yourself and the treatment area.
Remove jewelry, neckwear, and bulky collars that interfere with positioning. Avoid a bun, braid, or clip behind your head that prevents it from resting evenly on the pad.
Place the unit on a carpeted floor or another firm surface with enough space to lie comfortably. Check that the hose is free rather than trapped underneath the base. Keep the pump within reach and prepare a separate timer for your prescribed session.
2. Reset the carriage and open the supports.
The neck carriage should begin against the base. If it remains extended, turn the pump’s gauge housing to RELEASE so it can return.
Loosen the forehead strap. Turn either adjustment knob to separate the neck wedges enough to fit your neck between them. Stop at the adjustment limit; forcing the knobs can damage the mechanism. Set your prescribed angle before getting into position.
3. Check neck and head placement.
Lie on your back with your head on the pad. Position the wedges around the narrower middle portion of your neck, approximately halfway between your earlobes and shoulders.
Adjust the wedges until they make firm, comfortable contact on both sides. They can rotate slightly to accommodate your contours. Fasten the strap across your forehead just above the eyebrows so it fits snugly.
Before pumping, check that you can reach and operate the controls without shifting out of position. If you cannot obtain a comfortable fit, have your clinician check the setup before continuing.
4. Apply only the prescribed force.
Turn the gauge housing to PUMP. Use slow, full strokes while watching the gauge. When you reach your prescribed force, select HOLD and begin timing the treatment.
Relax in the device. A pulling sensation can occur, but traction should not cause pain. Do not chase a stronger sensation by adding more force.
5. Release before getting up
At the end of treatment, select RELEASE. Keep your fingers away from the space between the moving carriage and the base.
Once the force has released, undo the strap and rest briefly. Make small, comfortable head movements before getting out of the device slowly.
What PUMP, HOLD, and RELEASE do
| Control | Purpose | Practical check |
|---|---|---|
| PUMP | Adds air to increase traction force | Watch the gauge and stop at the prescribed reading. |
| HOLD | Maintains the selected force | Use during the prescribed holding period. |
| RELEASE | Let it air out to reduce traction. | Use to end treatment or release excessive force. |
These controls require your attention. The home device does not automatically alternate treatment and rest periods. If intermittent traction is prescribed, ask your clinician to demonstrate the exact control sequence and timing.
Why does the Saunders traction gauge drop?
A small decrease can occur as you relax or shift slightly. The manufacturer’s instructions describe a drop of approximately 10% during relaxation and allow a return to the prescribed force.
Continuous pressure loss needs a different response. Do not compensate by repeatedly pumping to a higher reading.
| What you notice | What to check or do |
|---|---|
| Small gradual decrease while comfortable | Restore only the prescribed force, then return to HOLD. |
| Gauge changes when you move. | Check your position and avoid unnecessary movement. |
| Force does not increase when pumping | Confirm the housing is set to PUMP and the hose is not pinched. |
| Force repeatedly falls in HOLD. | Stop treatment; inspect for visible hose damage or a loose connection and arrange support if unresolved. |
| Wedges or straps feel uncomfortable. | Release the force before refitting; obtain a clinician’s fit check if discomfort persists. |
| An adjustment knob will not turn farther. | Do not force it. |
| Pain increases, or dizziness, nausea, or another unusual reaction occurs. | Release immediately and seek medical guidance before further use. |
For a suspected equipment fault, describe what the gauge does in each control position when requesting support. For symptoms or uncertainty about treatment settings, contact the prescribing clinician.
Indications and reasons not to use traction
The Enovis-hosted user guide lists muscle tightness, headaches, joint stiffness, herniated discs, and nerve-root compression as potential indications under healthcare-provider direction. A listed condition does not establish that home traction is appropriate for you.
Its contraindications include acute or traumatic injury, rheumatoid arthritis, spinal or spinal-joint instability, spinal-cord compression, fracture, malignancy, infection or inflammatory disease, conditions aggravated by movement, structural disease from tumor or infection, vascular compromise, pregnancy, claustrophobia, cardiac or pulmonary problems, osteoporosis, and hiatus hernia. The guide also warns against use with known allergies to the device materials.
Review your medical history with your clinician before starting. For the complete warnings and illustrated instructions, consult the Saunders Cervical Traction User’s Guide.
Saunders home traction compared with clinical traction equipment
The useful distinction is how treatment is controlled and supervised. A home device lets a trained patient repeat an established prescription; clinic equipment supports clinician-operated treatment with more programming options.
| Setup consideration | Saunders Cervical Home Traction | Chattanooga Triton traction equipment |
|---|---|---|
| Typical operator | Patient following a clinician’s home instructions | Healthcare professional |
| Force control | Manual hand pump and gauge | Electronic traction controller |
| Intermittent treatment | Requires clinician-taught manual operation | Programmable modes depend on the selected system. |
| Positioning | Built-in cervical support and angle adjuster | Clinical table and appropriate positioning accessories |
| Main setup question | Can you reproduce the prescribed fit and settings? | Which system and accessories match the clinical treatment plan? |
Settings should not be transferred between devices without clinical guidance. Confirm the specific Triton model and configuration when comparing equipment; the home Saunders unit is a separate treatment system.
Common questions before treatment
How many pounds of Saunders cervical traction should I use?
Use the gauge reading your clinician prescribed. The device’s maximum capacity is not a starting dose or a treatment goal. If the prescribed setting becomes uncomfortable, release the force and request guidance.
How long should a session last, and can I use it every day?
Follow your prescribed duration and frequency. Do not extend a session, add extra sessions, or increase force because the previous treatment felt comfortable. Ask for revised instructions when your clinician changes the program.
Can I use the device on a bed?
The setup instructions call for a carpeted floor or another firm surface. Ask your clinician about a safe alternative if getting onto or off the floor is difficult; do not assume a soft mattress will provide equivalent support.
Should I feel pressure under my chin?
Saunders directs traction through the back of the head. If the wedges are contacting your jaw or you feel uncomfortable pressure, release the force and check placement with your clinician. Adding force will not correct a poor fit.
Where can I find device and ordering information?
Visit our Saunders cervical traction product page for the complete system and current ordering details. For other equipment instructions, browse our device manuals and setup guides.
