Memory Foam Cervical Pillow for Neck Pain

The neck in medical terms is called the Cervical Spine. It starts from the base of the skull & through a series of seven vertebral segments (bones) connects to the upper back.

It has an intricate structure & stresses placed on it through trauma or day to day activities, put it at risk for developing painful conditions, such as:
Cervical disc disease, Cervical herniated disc, Cervical stenosis, Cervical osteoarthritis, muscle strain resulting in a painful/stiff neck.

Neck pain is fairly common these days specially with a lot of us spending many hours a day on computers/tablets/mobile phones etc Using this technology requires static positions & intricate wrist/hand use. If the positioning of your joints is incorrect, which it mostly is and the activity is sustained for hours- it results in tense neck-shoulder muscles & early degeneration.

The type of Neck pillow you use, appropriate height of your computer screen & awareness of neck posture are important factors to maintain healthy alignment.

People with stiff, worse painful necks know well that it is not easy to find the right neck pillow. Some pillows feel too soft offering no support & some feel too hard not supporting the shape of the neck. Some cervical pillows are too thick feeling like they make the neck bent up & some are too thin causing the neck to hang backwards. None of these situations are good for the neck. The neck needs to be aligned in its neutral position on the pillow. This means it shouldn't be bent up or bent backwards or even to one side. It should be in line with the rest of the spine.

The width of the support varies from one person to another, as it also does while lying straight or on your side. The gap between your neck and the bed is more on the side than while lying straight on your back. This means that the pillow will have to be thicker for lying on the side. Best pillows for side sleepers are those that adequately support the neck, holding it in line with the rest of the spine, not allowing it to sag downwards.

Memory foam is a material used for neck pillows - it is firm & takes shape of the spine. It is highly recommended for spine care & is widely used. Memory foam cervical pillows can be flat shaped just as regular pillows or Contoured with one side thicker for extra width & support. Contoured pillows are considered best pillows for side sleepers.

The shape of this neck pillow helps to hold and support the natural inward curve of your neck. This is instrumental in better neck alignment & so lesser stiffness/pain off an unsupported position all through the night.

Cervical Spondylosis, Cervical Disc Disease, Cervical muscle sprain/strain are all conditions in which a Memory Foam Cervical Pillow would be very useful.

Which is the best Cervical Pillow?

Many of us suffer neck pain.

In this computing age, there is increasingly more stress on the smaller joints of the hands & the neck. Constant, repetitive use of different types of keypads, handling mobile phones & tablets - increases stress in the neck, shoulders & arms. Knots & tension in the upper shoulder muscles is very common.

Invariably you hear someone say 'I think I slept incorrectly & my neck is sore'! This does happen a lot because we are not aware which pillow suits our neck and which doesn't. One important change-able factor for neck pain is the use of a good Cervical Pillow.

Your head & neck is resting on a pillow for 8 hours every night. This fairly static position has an effect on how your neck feels when you wake up first thing in the morning. If your neck feels stiff and tight, one of the things to check is your pillow. Which Neck Pillow you use is important. If it is soft & filled with feathers or too firm full of cotton- this could well be the problem. The shape of your neck should be firmly supported by your Neck Pillow.

Firm is key- not too soft, not too hard. Also a material that takes the shape of your neck is great because it does not allow your neck to sink into it or nor does it pose resistance by being hard and having no give.

A Cervical Pillow has 2 important features that facilitate spinal health. One is the material it is made of & two is its shape. Both factors are crucial for good support & restful sleep. It is made of Memory foam which is firm & has a give which allows the neck to form its shape on the pillow. Pillows are shaped straight flat or contoured- this facilitates maintenance of the natural inward curve of the neck. A Contoured neck pillow is considered the best pillow for side sleepers as it covers the larger gap that is created between the neck and the bed while resting on the side.

Check & change your pillow - one of the easiest lifestyle changes that go a long way!

Neck pain or Cervical Pain

Neck pain (or Cervical Pain) is a common medical condition, with two-thirds of the population having neck pain at some point in their lives. Joint disruption in the neck creates pain, as doe’s joint disruption in the upper back. Neck pain may also arise from many other physical and emotional health problems. Pain can come from a number of disorders and diseases of any tissues in the neck, such as degenerative disc disease, neck strain, whiplash, a herniated disc, or a pinched nerve.

Symptoms of Neck pain is commonly associated with dull aching. Sometimes pain in the neck is worsened with movement of the neck. Other symptoms include numbness, tingling, tenderness, sharp shooting pain, fullness, difficulty swallowing, pulsations, swishing sounds in the head, dizziness or lightheadedness, and gland swelling.

Neck Pain Treatment depends on its precise cause. Treatment options include rest, heat/ice applications, traction, soft collar, traction, physical therapy (ultrasound, massage, manipulation), local injections of cortisone , topical anesthetic creams, topical pain patches, muscle relaxants, analgesics, and surgical procedures. Exercises: In the active part of physical therapy, your therapist will teach you various exercises to work on your flexibility, strength, stability, and range of motion (how easily your joints move). Your physical therapy program is individualized, taking into consideration your health and history. Your exercises may not be suitable for another person with neck pain.

Types of orthopedic pillows:

1) Cervical pillow : A sleep pillow with a curved design that adapts to head, neck and shoulder contour for back sleepers and side sleepers. Relieves neck pain,frozen shoulder, stiff neck and headaches. Helps release breathing airways to reduce snoring and sleep apnea symptoms.

2) Neck pillow or travel pillow: Pillow designed as a horseshoe for the neck contour to be use in the office and mostly on board, therefore it receives the name of travel pillow since they are mostly used by travelers to keep their neck straight while sleeping sitting up

3) Pillows and Mattress made of Memory Foam, a heat sensitive material that can acquire the shape of the body lying upon it. It may or may not recover its original shape immediately when the body is removed from the pillow.

To prevent neck pain you should take good care of your body and practice healthy habits

• Reduce your stress and tension
• Sit and stand properly
• Exercise both your neck and body regularly 
• Attain and maintain a healthy weight
• Stop smoking
• Eat healthy and get enough calcium
• Lift heavy items safely
• Wear a seat belt
• Use proper sports equipment