In a group of 35 patients with cervical painful syndromes due to degenerative changes the authors applied traction treatment together with pharmacological agents. The patients were chosen because of long-standing symptoms, frequent recurrences or poor therapeutic effects. Using Glisson's loop for traction applied to the cervical spine the authors obtained good results, i.e. shortening of the treatment time, and prolongation of improvement. The most frequent complication of this method was vertigo.