The use of a balancing opposing force during traction, when a strong continuous pull is applied to a limb so that broken bones can be kept in alignment during healing. To arrange that traction on a limb by weights and pulleys does not pull the patient out of bed, countertraction is often produced by applying tension to metal pins temporarily inserted into the opposite end of the bone.
The application of traction so the force opposes the traction already established; used in reducing fractures and assisting with surgical dissection.