Saunders Cervical Traction Review: HomeTrac and TX Clevis Compared
Two of the most trusted cervical traction devices go head-to-head so you can find lasting neck pain relief at home.
The Saunders HomeTrac and TX Clevis are not interchangeable cervical traction options, the HomeTrac is a self-contained pneumatic home device applying up to 50 pounds toward the occiput, while the TX Clevis is a clinical attachment that expands an existing traction table's cervical capability, and choosing between them depends entirely on your setting and existing equipment.
- Cervical traction works best when force targets the occiput, keeping jaw structures completely unloaded, which older over-the-door devices fail to do reliably.
- HomeTrac at 50 Pounds: The HomeTrac applies up to 50 pounds of user-controlled pneumatic force while lying supine, which matches the force range used in physical therapy protocols.
- The TX Clevis is not a standalone device and only makes sense if you already have a compatible TX-series traction unit to attach it to.
- Bundled by Chattanooga: Chattanooga consistently includes Saunders cervical components in its own professional traction kits rather than developing equivalents, which is a practical endorsement worth noting.
- Home patients cleared for independent treatment suit the HomeTrac; clinicians expanding an existing traction setup will find the TX Clevis the more practical fit.
Where to start
Saunders Cervical Traction System with TX Clevis Attachment
Saunders Cervical HomeTrac Home Traction Device
Saunders Cervical Traction: A Brand Built Around One Problem
Saunders has spent decades doing one thing: mechanical traction. The brand does not manufacture massage chairs, foam rollers, or recovery boots. Its engineering focus has always been spinal decompression, and the cervical line is where that focus is most clearly expressed. For clinicians and patients who have tried generic traction devices and found them wanting, that specialization tends to matter.
The two Saunders cervical products that appear most frequently in clinical and home settings are the HomeTrac and the TX Clevis Attachment system. They are not competitors. They are built for different environments and different users, and understanding what separates them is more useful than comparing prices alone. Both are stocked in the traction equipment category at PPW, and both reflect what Saunders does consistently well: controlled, occiput-directed traction force with a clear mechanical rationale.
What Cervical Traction Actually Does, and Why the Occiput Matters
Cervical traction works by applying a distractive force along the longitudinal axis of the cervical spine, creating intervertebral separation that reduces disc pressure, stretches paraspinal musculature, and can temporarily widen the neural foramina. The research on cervical traction for radiculopathy is reasonably consistent: mechanical traction, applied at adequate force and duration, reduces nerve root compression symptoms more reliably than passive modalities like heat or ultrasound alone.
Where force is applied matters considerably. Older over-the-door traction devices pull at the chin and base of the skull indiscriminately, distributing load unevenly and often creating temporomandibular discomfort before any therapeutic benefit reaches the cervical vertebrae. Saunders specifically directs traction force toward the occiput, the base of the skull posterior to the ear, which keeps tension off the mandible and anterior neck structures. This is not a minor design choice. It is the reason Saunders devices are frequently recommended by physical therapists as a continuation of clinical treatment at home.
The angle of pull also matters. For decompression of the lower cervical segments (C5-C7, where most disc pathology occurs), a slight forward flexion of approximately 24 to 30 degrees is generally accepted to produce optimal posterior joint separation. Devices that allow the clinician or user to adjust pull angle are therefore more clinically versatile than those locked into one position.
The Saunders Cervical HomeTrac: Home Use Done Properly
The HomeTrac is a pneumatic, self-contained traction device designed to replicate, as closely as a home unit can, the traction applied in a clinical setting. The user lies supine on a flat surface, places the device under the head and neck, and inflates the air bladder using a hand pump. The traction force is applied toward the occiput, keeping the jaw entirely free of load. At $742.58, it sits at the upper end of the home traction market, and the build quality justifies that position.
One of its most important features is the force control. The user maintains total control of traction force at all times, and the device applies up to 50 pounds. For context, most physical therapy protocols for cervical disc herniation begin at 10 to 15 pounds and progress based on symptom response, rarely exceeding 30 pounds for home use. Having 50 pounds of capacity means the HomeTrac is not likely to become the limiting factor as a patient progresses through a clinical program. The device requires no assembly and ships ready to use in a deluxe carrying case, which also makes it practical for patients who travel or who are managing cervical symptoms across multiple locations.
The user guide included with the HomeTrac addresses positioning, duration, and force progression. This matters because home traction without guidance is where things can go wrong. Poor cervical angle combined with excessive force is a reliable way to aggravate rather than relieve symptoms. For anyone transitioning from clinic to home care, working through that guide with a supervising clinician first is the appropriate starting point.
The Saunders TX Clevis Attachment: Clinical Traction at Home
The TX Clevis system is a different type of product. Rather than a standalone pneumatic device, it is designed to integrate with a mechanical traction unit, specifically a TX-series traction table setup, and delivers horizontal cervical traction by pulling at the base of the occiput. The Clevis attachment is the interface between the traction unit's cable and the cervical harness, and it performs a specific mechanical function: converting the linear pull of the unit into an occipital traction force that does not load the chin or anterior cervical structures.
At $559.99, the TX Clevis system is priced lower than the HomeTrac, but that number is somewhat misleading without context. The Clevis is not a complete traction solution on its own. It is a component that expands the cervical capability of a traction table setup. The Chattanooga TX Clinical Traction Unit, for instance, provides tension parameters from 0 to 200 pounds, a range that well exceeds what any home pneumatic device can produce. The Clevis is what allows that clinical-grade force to be delivered safely to the cervical spine.
This is relevant for chiropractors, physical therapists, or rehabilitation facilities that already have a TX unit and want to add cervical capability without purchasing a fully separate cervical traction device. It is also relevant for cervical traction patients who are transitioning from a purely lumbar setup and whose clinician has recommended adding cervical work to an existing protocol.
The horizontal traction it performs differs from the supine angle most home devices use. Horizontal cervical traction, where the patient is seated or reclined with the spine roughly parallel to the floor and pull applied along that axis, is considered by some practitioners to produce more consistent segmental distraction because gravity does not add a compressive variable. The research comparing horizontal to vertical or angled traction is not definitive, but clinician preference for horizontal traction in controlled settings is well documented.
Comparing the HomeTrac and TX Clevis Side by Side
Choosing between these two products is largely a question of setting and existing equipment rather than one being clinically superior to the other. Both pull at the occiput. Both are Saunders-engineered. The differences are in format, force range, and how they integrate with a broader traction setup.
| Model | Type | Setting | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saunders Cervical HomeTrac Home Traction Device |
Pneumatic, standalone | Home / travel | $742.58 |
| Saunders Cervical Traction System with TX Clevis Attachment |
Mechanical, unit-dependent | Clinical / facility | $559.99 |
 Chattanooga Traction Kit, TX Traction Unit, Quickwrap Belt, Saunders Cervical, knee bolster set |
Complete kit | Clinical | $6,482.35 |
 Saunders Lumbar HomeTrac Home Traction Device |
Pneumatic, standalone | Home / travel | $813.12 |
 Chattanooga Galaxy TTET300, 3 Section Hi-Lo Traction Table, Foot Bar Lift, 86.6 x 33.5 x 31.5", Black |
Hi-Lo traction table | Clinical | $6,169.95 |
 Chattanooga Galaxy TTET300, 3 Section Hi-Lo Traction Table, Foot Bar Lift, 86.6 x 33.5 x 31.5", Gray |
Hi-Lo traction table | Clinical | $6,169.95 |
The Chattanooga Galaxy table is worth noting here because it represents the infrastructure that surrounds a TX Clevis setup in a properly equipped clinic. The table itself is a three-section, height-adjustable unit measuring 86.6 by 33.5 inches, with a foot bar lift. Saunders notes that the traction unit and cervical traction unit for the Galaxy are optional and sold separately, which is consistent with how these systems are built out in practice: the table first, then the traction components added as clinical needs develop. The Clevis fits into that modular approach naturally.
How Saunders Cervical Sets Appear in Clinical Kits
One of the clearest endorsements of Saunders cervical engineering is how consistently its cervical traction set appears bundled inside larger Chattanooga clinical packages. The Chattanooga Traction Kit that includes the TX Traction Unit incorporates the Saunders Cervical Traction Set alongside the QuickWrap DTS Belt Set and a Knee Bolster Set. The Chattanooga Triton DTS with Advanced Accessory Package does the same. Chattanooga builds its own complete traction systems and still chooses to include Saunders cervical components rather than develop an equivalent in-house.
That pattern is informative for anyone evaluating the brand. In clinical equipment procurement, what gets bundled reflects what practitioners actually request. The Saunders cervical set's inclusion across multiple Chattanooga packages suggests a practical consensus among clinicians: for cervical traction applied in a DTS-style environment, the Saunders design is the preferred interface. Understanding what to look for before committing to a traction machine helps explain why that preference is well-founded rather than purely brand-driven.
The QuickWrap DTS Belt Set included in these kits handles pelvic and lumbar applications up to 300 pounds. The knee bolster set addresses body positioning, which affects the lumbar curve and, indirectly, the tension distribution along the full spine during treatment. These components work together, and the Saunders cervical set is the element that makes the kit useful for upper-spine pathology as well as lumbar cases.
Who Each Device Actually Suits
For a patient who has been receiving in-clinic cervical traction and whose therapist has cleared them to continue treatment at home, the HomeTrac is the appropriate choice. It is self-contained, requires no external unit, applies up to 50 pounds with user-controlled force, and arrives ready to use. The carrying case makes compliance easier, particularly for patients whose schedules do not allow a fixed daily treatment window at home. The device costs more than most over-the-door alternatives, but the clinical legitimacy of the design justifies the difference. A generic traction pillow that costs $40 is not doing the same thing.
The TX Clevis Attachment suits a different buyer: a clinician or facility that already operates TX-series traction equipment and wants to extend cervical capability to that setup. It also suits practitioners setting up a complete traction environment from scratch who want to build around a clinical-grade traction unit rather than a consumer device. For those users, understanding whether a home or clinical-grade setup is appropriate for their patient population is worth working through before purchasing.
There is a third category worth acknowledging: patients with both cervical and lumbar involvement. In that case, looking at the Saunders Lumbar HomeTrac alongside the Cervical HomeTrac makes sense. The lumbar device operates on similar principles, applying traction to the lumbar region using a pneumatic mechanism, and having both devices available means a patient can manage their full spinal complaint at home without returning to clinic for every treatment session.
Build Quality, Longevity, and What the Price Reflects
Saunders products are not built to a price point. The HomeTrac's pneumatic bladder, pump mechanism, and occipital cradle are designed for repeated clinical-level use, not occasional gentle stretching. Patients who use traction devices seriously, meaning daily or near-daily sessions at therapeutic force levels, will find the build quality holds up in a way that cheaper alternatives do not. The carrying case is practical evidence of this: it is a deluxe case, not a drawstring bag, which suggests the device is expected to be transported regularly without damage.
The TX Clevis attachment is a precision mechanical component. Its function depends on reliable force transmission and consistent fit to the traction unit's cable interface. These are not specifications where tolerance matters only a little. A poorly manufactured clevis that introduces friction or inconsistent load transfer undermines the accuracy of the traction unit it connects to. Saunders' consistent appearance in Chattanooga's professional packages is partly a reflection of this mechanical reliability.
For clinicians evaluating which cervical traction device fits a given clinical environment, these build considerations matter as much as the headline specifications. A device that needs replacement every 18 months is not cost-effective at any price point.
Situating Cervical Traction Within a Full Spinal Protocol
Most patients presenting with cervical radiculopathy or disc pathology do not have an exclusively cervical problem. Thoracic stiffness, lumbar disc changes, and altered movement patterns across the full spine are common comorbidities. This means a practitioner recommending cervical traction is often doing so as part of a broader program rather than as a standalone intervention. Understanding how cervical traction fits into a multiregional approach helps explain why Saunders offers distinct cervical and lumbar home devices rather than a combined product.
The mechanics of pelvic traction differ substantially from cervical traction, and the two are not interchangeable. Pelvic traction addresses lumbar and lumbosacral pathology using a belt-based system that anchors at the pelvis, while cervical traction targets the upper spine through occipital distraction. Both share the underlying principle of mechanical decompression, but the vectors, patient positioning, and force requirements differ enough that separate devices are appropriate. For patients managing both regions, building a home protocol around discrete cervical and lumbar devices, each used at the correct force and angle for its target segment, is more precise than any combined approach currently on the market.
For practitioners considering a full-clinic traction setup, the Chattanooga Galaxy Hi-Lo table with optional TX and cervical traction units represents the complete clinical infrastructure. The Saunders cervical components then serve as the home extension of that same treatment approach, allowing consistency across clinical and home environments. Research consistently shows that treatment adherence improves when home devices replicate the clinical experience closely. The HomeTrac's design is specifically oriented toward that continuity, and the documented benefits of spinal traction are most reliably achieved when the home protocol mirrors what was established in clinic.
Final Assessment: Two Good Products for Two Different Situations
The Saunders Cervical HomeTrac and the TX Clevis Attachment represent genuinely different tools. The HomeTrac is one of the strongest home cervical traction options on the market: self-contained, clinically credible, well-constructed, and capable of producing the force levels that matter therapeutically. The TX Clevis is a precision clinical component that expands the cervical range of an existing traction unit setup, and its consistent inclusion in Chattanooga's professional bundles is a meaningful signal of its practical value.
Neither product is trying to do what the other does, and neither should be evaluated as if it were. The HomeTrac is the right choice for home care. The TX Clevis belongs in a clinical or semi-clinical environment that already has the traction infrastructure to support it. For anyone building out a practice or transitioning a patient from clinic to home traction, both products have a legitimate role in that continuum.
PPW carries both as part of a broader range of Saunders and Chattanooga traction products. For anyone working through the full range of options available, the complete selection of traction equipment provides a useful overview of where these two products sit relative to the clinical kits, lumbar devices, and table systems that surround them.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Saunders HomeTrac suitable for home use without a clinical background?▾
Yes, and it is specifically designed for that purpose. It ships fully assembled in a carrying case with a user guide covering positioning, force, and progression. That said, home traction without any clinical input is where errors happen, so working through the setup with a physical therapist at least once before going solo is genuinely worthwhile.
Are there conditions where cervical traction should not be used?▾
Several, including cervical instability, vertebral artery disease, osteoporosis, and acute fracture. These are not rare edge cases, so confirming appropriateness with a qualified clinician before starting any home traction program is the right first step, not an afterthought.
What does the HomeTrac cost and what does that price include?▾
The Saunders Cervical HomeTrac is priced at $742.58. That includes the device itself, a deluxe carrying case, and a user guide. No assembly is required, so it is ready to use as soon as you open the case.
How do you set up and use the HomeTrac?▾
You lie supine on a flat surface, position the device under your head and neck, and inflate the air bladder with the hand pump to build traction force. The device directs force toward the occiput, keeping the jaw completely free of load. The included user guide covers angle, duration, and how to progress force over time.
What does it cost to run the HomeTrac on an ongoing basis?▾
There are no recurring consumable costs. The pneumatic system is self-contained and hand-powered, so there is no electricity involved and no replacement parts that require regular purchasing. Occasional inspection of the air bladder and pump mechanism for wear is sensible over time.
What maintenance does the HomeTrac require?▾
Saunders does not publish a formal maintenance schedule for the HomeTrac. Practically, keeping the contact surfaces clean, checking the air bladder for any slow leaks, and storing it in the included carrying case to protect it from compression damage are the steps most users follow.
How much traction force does the HomeTrac apply, and is that enough for most users?▾
The HomeTrac applies up to 50 pounds of force, and the user controls that force at all times. Most physical therapy protocols for cervical disc issues start at 10 to 15 pounds and rarely exceed 30 pounds for home use, so 50 pounds of capacity gives you plenty of room to progress without the device becoming the limiting factor.
What is the most common mistake people make with cervical traction devices?▾
Applying too much force too quickly, and getting the cervical angle wrong. Poor neck angle combined with excessive force reliably aggravates symptoms rather than relieving them. The HomeTrac's user guide addresses both, and pairing it with clinical supervision during the early phase of a home program is the practical way to avoid setting yourself back.
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