Abstract: A portable device for placing a part of the body in traction comprises a pair of flexible bands (10, 11) having anchoring means (12, 14) at opposed ends to tightly secure the flexible bands (10, 11) around the body. The device also comprises a number of biasing means (18, 19, 21, 22) received in aligned pockets (16, 17) in the flexible bands (10, 11). Each biasing means comprises a slide housing (18), a slide member (22) and a spring (21) which biases the slide member (22) from the slide housing (18). In use, when the flexible bands (10, 11) are tightly secured around the torso at spaced apart locations the biasing force of the biasing means (18, 19, 21, 22) is distributed around the torso at the spaced locations to place the section of the body between the flexible bands (10, 11) in traction.