What is a potential benefit of reducing swelling through traction?

Reducing swelling through traction can indeed lead to decreased recovery time, which is why this choice is apt. When swelling is minimized, the body can better perform necessary healing and recovery processes. Swelling can impede circulation and restrict movement, which often leads to prolonged discomfort and a slower rehabilitation journey. By alleviating swelling, traction helps restore normal function quicker, allowing patients to engage more readily in therapeutic exercises and regain their regular activities sooner.

The other options, while they might seem related, do not directly correlate with the immediate effect of traction on swelling. Enhancing blood flow can occur indirectly as a result of reduced swelling, but that is not the primary aim or the most immediate benefit of traction. Improved muscle strength typically requires targeted exercises rather than solely focusing on swelling reduction. Increased joint mobility may also improve when swelling is addressed, but the direct link to reduced recovery time is more prominent, as healing becomes more efficient.