Ligamentotaxis

We call you ready for this word? Yes.

Ligamentotaxis.

And what it does is it tightens up the ligaments and then they tighten and anything in between the ligaments, including discs, can maybe get kind of nudged back into position.

And maybe some of these manipulating clinicians are doing a form of ligamentotaxis.

Without that massive muscle envelope to create hydraulic pressure, traction wouldn’t seem to have the same compressive effect on the pieces.

That’s a great point, and it’s exactly where the concept of ligamentotaxis comes into play.

Ligamentotaxis.

Yes.

When you apply traction across a fracture that’s periarticular, meaning close to the joint, the tension isn’t acting on a huge muscle belly.

Traction.

Overcomes muscle spasm and restores length.

Ligamentotaxis.