Arc 4 Life’s cervical linear traction neck pillow is different from the regular neck pillows you can buy in your local store or online. If you suffer from arthritis in the neck, a disc bulge, herniated disc or chronic neck pain, you may have been recommended to try this pillow.
Today I want to discuss the best way to use this neck pillow.
If you have been diagnosed with a loss of cervical curve, a loss of the cervical lordosis or a military neck- which means that you don’t have the proper c curve in your neck, then you may been recommended to try neck traction. Basically this is a stretching of the cervical muscles which can put the curve back into the cervical spine over time. You may be doing home traction or during your physical therapy sessions. Many patients do neck traction 3 times per week for about 15-20 minutes and use the cervical linear traction neck pillow at night. This neck pillow is designed to keep your head and neck in the proper position. In particular the part of the pillow with “V” provides the cervical traction.
If you sleep on your back, you will get the maximum traction that the pillow provides. When you sleep on your back, your neck should lie where the "V". This will provide a gentle stretch in your spine while you are sleeping. It is also a good idea to place a few pillows under your knees or a knee elevator, taking the pressure off of the lower back and making it more comfortable for sleeping.
Keep in mind that you may experience some soreness when you first use the pillow- you are changing the position that your head and neck are used and using different muscles. Soreness and pain can occur in the suboccipitals and cervical paraspinals during the first few uses.
Also, for some patients, the cervical linear traction neck pillow may be too large- its dimensions are 20”x26” and the height of the pillow without sleeping on it is about 4 inches. If you are less than 5 ft and weigh 110 lbs or less (or consider yourself petite framed) the pillow may be too large for you. On the other hand, if you are used to using a queen size pillow, the pillow may be fine. Consider the linear gravity neck pillow in the small size. If you are 6 ft or taller and need a larger pillow, good news! The Cervical traction neck pillow comes in a large size 21” x 33” -(www.neckpainreliefkit.com).
The cervical traction neck pillow does not come in a smaller size, although I know that Arc4life has tried multiple times. The contours and design does not allow for a smaller version of this pillow, although I know it would be most welcome if it was possible.
Please email me if you have additional questions about the cervical traction neck pillow.
Additional Resources:
- Frequently asked Questions about the Cervical Linear Traction Neck Pillow
- Optimal Posture for the Cervical Spine
- How to Choose the Best Neck Pillow
- DownLoadable E-Book: The Neck Pain Relief Kit
- 6 Ways to Improve Your Neck Posture
