Neck Orthotic
Cervical Neck Orthotic
A cervical neck orthotic is a device that is made out of firm foam to help restore proper posture of the cervical spine.
A neck orthotic can be used to help reduce pain and headaches, loosen neck muscles and tension, improve postural stability, and aids in the recovery from a whiplash injury (such as a car accident).
Many people are hurting their postural curves from everyday activities such as, sitting at a desk all day, being on electronics, reading a book, poor posture, etc. It’s important to focus on having good posture and taking the time to take breaks and look up. The postural curve can also be damaged by injuries such as whiplash. Stretching and foam rolling are also beneficial to help loosen up and relieve some tension/soreness in the muscles.
The image on the above shows what a normal cervical spine should look like. A healthy cervical spine is “C” shaped. The natural curvature of the spine allows for the weight of the head to be balanced over the shoulders. When the cervical spine is in correct alignment, it allows the body to function properly by restricting nerve damage, absorbing shock, prevent muscle tension/soreness and early degeneration of the vertebrae and discs.
When looking at each picture (from left to right), the stages progress. The healthy “C” shape curve slowly goes away as the spacing between vertebrae disappears as the body tries to gain stability. Bone spurs start to show up (stage II) and progress into arthritic spurs. As the degeneration happens people begin to feel more symptoms such as chronic neck pain, frequent headaches, numbness and tingling into the arms, etc. Most people begin to notice the symptoms impacting their daily life more and more.
Luckily, using a neck orthotic for 10-20 minutes per day can help to prevent and/or reverse this process. The neck orthotic provides a firm structure for the neck to rest where the “C” shape is disoriented. It works by applying slight pressure while stretching the cervical spine and eases the tension in that area.
How to use the neck orthotic:
- Lay flat on your back and place the device under the neck as close to the shoulders as possible
- The side that is more sloped should be closest to your shoulders
- Allow the head to naturally fall back
- Start out laying there for 2 minutes and gradually increase the time as it becomes more comfortable
- Aim for around 10 minutes per day for the best results
- Do not lay on it for more than 20 minutes
- When getting up, be sure to keep the head level and roll to either side (left or right) and get up normally from there
- Avoid sitting straight up as it can put stress on the neck muscles
- Check with a doctor before using to make sure there aren’t any issues preventing you from using a neck orthotic (such as a disc issue or vertigo)
At your next chiropractor appointment, you can ask to try out the neck orthotic. We also have them available for purchase in the office.
