The cervical spine refers to the most superior portion of the vertebral column, between the cranium and the thoracic vertebra. The area consists of seven vertebrae, known as C1 to C7. This area of the spine is afforded less protection and can be vulnerable to injury?
If you suffer from neck pain, you may benefit from using a cervical pillow while you sleep. In this blog post, we will look closer at what is a cervical pillow. We will also examine its benefits and studies looking into its effectiveness in reducing symptoms of pain.
What Is a Cervical Pillow?
A cervical pillow, also known as a neck pillow, is so-called because it is designed to support the area of your backbone known as the cervical spine. A cervical pillow is designed to help maintain the body’s normal cervical curve while sleeping at night.
This correct alignment of the body’s muscles and ligaments allows them to properly relax and to prevent unnatural bending in the neck area. A cervical pillow can manage the symptoms of any existing neck pain and prevent new neck pain from developing.
There is a range of cervical pillows available today. The best type for you may depend on your usual sleeping position.
What Are the Benefits?
As an orthotic device, a cervical pillow is designed to align and support the neck area. It is useful in relieving spasms, removing minor tensions, and allow the natural cervical lordotic while you are asleep.
A cervical pillow can also be beneficial to reduce the following complaints:
- Stiffness or soreness
- Tension headaches
- Muscle and joint strains
- Whiplash injuries
- Temporomandibular disorders
- Morning hand stiffness
- Snoring
By maintaining your body’s natural alignment while you sleep, you can ward off neck pain and wake up feeling more relaxed. As noted above, there is a range of different cervical pillows available and you should try out a number in order to find the one that works best for you.
How Effective Are They?
A number of studies have been undertaken to look into the effectiveness of cervical pillows. One study from 2018 found that the use of cervical pillows, in tandem with physical therapy, can decrease the symptoms of neck pain for those experiencing cervical spondylosis.
Studies have also noted the importance of selecting a cervical pillow that is a good match in terms of its height. One 2016 study has highlighted how the height of a pillow is an important factor The height of your pillow will influence the best alignment of your spine while your sleep.
Explore here to learn more about what is a cervical pillow.
Discover the Benefits of a Cervical Pillow for Yourself
A cervical neck pillow is designed to support the area of your backbone known as the cervical spine while your sleep. If you support from neck pain or discomfort, then a cervical pillow may be the best solution for you.
Like this blog post on what is a cervical pillow? Be sure to check out our other interesting articles on our blog post today.
