Pompage is a manual technique typically used on the cervical spine. It acts on both muscular components of the joint as well as interapophyseal areas.
The technique consists of gradual, assisted vertebral tractions, which compress small intervertebral joints, stretch spinal ligaments and muscles and produce a widening of the intervertebral foramina.
There are many different types of pompage, and different types are applied to different muscle groups, however three stages generally apply to each type of this treatment.
1. Progressive tensioning of the segment
2. Tension maintenance
3. Gradual release of tension, that should last the same amount of time as the build-up