A portable traction device suitable for cervical traction powered by a pneumatic
cylinder. The portable traction device includes a support structure having a longitudinal
axis and a carriage slidable along a portion of the support structure parallel
to the longitudinal axis. The carriage including restraining mechanism for releasably
restraining a portion of a patient's body to the carriage. A pneumatic cylinder
includes a cylinder housing attached to the support structure. The cylinder housing
contains a piston and piston rod. The piston rod is attached to the carriage for
moving the carriage along the longitudinal axis relative to the support structure
when pressurized air is injected into the pneumatic cylinder. The piston has at
least one pressure activated seal extending circumferentially around the piston
for engagement with an inside surface of the cylinder housing. A bicycle-style
hand pump fluidly connected to the pneumatic cylinder is provided for injecting
pressurized air into the cylinder.
