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In this controlled prospective study of the Auto-traction method for the treatment of lumbago-sciatica, 82 patients were randomly allocated to either treatment with Auto-traction for up to three 1-hour sessions in 1 week, or they were given a corset and advised to rest. The orthopaedic surgeons participating in the study worked at six different hospitals and all had limited experience of the Auto-traction method obtained during a 1-week course. All patients were clinically evaluated by an independent observer who also performed the follow-up examinations 1 and 3 weeks after the treatment sessions. In addition a 3-month follow-up was performed by letter. The Auto-traction method gave prompt relief of pain and a normalizing of the SLR test more often than treatment with only a corset and rest. The difference between the two treatment groups was statistically significant. The immediate difference noted between the treatment groups had decreased slightly at 3 weeks but was still statistically significant at this time.