Abstract: A lumbar traction apparatus for applying traction to the back of a patient includes a frame structure, a winch support structure extending above the frame structure, a winch assembly having a hand crank mounted on the winch support structure, two harnesses for wrapping around the torso of the patient, tensioning cords extending from the winch assembly each to one of the two harnesses, so that rotating the hand crank on the winch assembly gathers both of these cords and thereby pulls the harnesses apart to create traction in the back of the patient. The frame structure preferably includes a connecting segment, a first arm segment substantially perpendicular and joined to the connecting segment, and a second arm segment substantially perpendicular and joined to the connecting segment and spaced apart from the first arm segment. The connecting segment is preferably formed of two telescoping portions for convenient assembly and disassembly of the frame structure for transport and storage.