Stretching Rack – History, What Is It All About

The stretching rack was and still is the epitome of pain, humiliation and utmost helplessness. The device had been used in the medieval era (in Europe) as a tool to obtain confessions from pagans, witches, enemy of the king/queens and about some of other terrible “crimes” they would have committed.

The stretching rack was such a gruesome torturous tool, that often the mere mention of it was enough to make people give the information or confession they were asked to give. The stretching rack was a wooden bench, which had rollers at both ends where hands (wrists) and legs (ankles) were tied in a spread-eagled fashion.

Often the tortured person had little or no clothes on them leaving them totally exposed and vulnerable to the glare of the torturer and other spectators who witnessed the ghastly spectacle. The person thus tied, would be stretched ever so slowly with the help of pulleys until the whole joints were dislocated, tendons and ligaments torn, and bones broken with loud and sickening popping noises.

If the results required were not forthcoming, the torture would continue until the limbs would be literally torn off the torso. The stretching rack was used in a scientifically precise manner, with the torturer being trained to extend the agony to as long as he would want it to last. The prisoner could be kept alive for days in agonizing pain, until the confessing or giving information would seem the only passport out.

The predecessor of the stretching rack is a wonderful device called the Hippocratic bench, which was used for medical purposes. Actually, a certain amount of tension applied to the ligaments and joints actually give relief for a number of chronic aches, including backaches. This was actively used in ancient times to provide medical relief by stretching limbs until the pain is cured.

We find a stretching rack in the modern times of today, as well – the name is VAX-D or Vertebral Axial Decompression. This a stretching device controlled with the help of computers, where a certain amount of pressure is applied to the spinal column to provide decompression of the lumbar spine. This treatment is excellent for herniated discs, sciatica and any other degenerative disc diseases.

As you can see, we have the pictures of two completely opposite effects on human beings - one destructive and murderous, while the other comfort-giving and caring. It all depends upon what you want to dwell upon. The stretching rack as a torture device has been banned forever – nonetheless, imagine how many millions of people died have such a horrible death. It is time to use it for the good of the people.