Everything That You Should Know About Cervical Pillows
A cervical pillow is a type of orthopedic pillow. Orthopedic pillows are designed to ensure proper body position when sleeping or lying down. There are many types of orthopedic pillows, each designed for a particular use or body part. Cervical pillows are designed to cradle the neck and head in the perfect sleeping position to reduce back and neck pain, and decrease snoring.
In this case, the term "cervical" pertains to the neck region, which makes sense since this type of pillow provides support and shape to the neck. The purpose of this support is to reduce stress and tension caused by improper sleeping position, which in turn will hopefully reduce pain you might be having in that region.
This orthopedic sleeping position is also said to open up the airways, which reduces snoring and the symptoms of sleep apnea. This will only work in the case of mild sleep apnea, and should not be used as the main treatment of this disorder, and of course, consult a physician before using the cervical neck pillow for sleep apnea.
Different Types of Cervical Pillows
As with most types of pillows, these come in a variety of materials, and shapes. One of the most popular types is the memory foam cervical pillow. This is because it's primary shape is perfect for this use, and the memory foam allows it to conform even further to the individual's shape while also providing ample support.
Another popular pillow is the Arc4Life Cervical Traction Neck Pillow. This pillow features a unique design that involves the head resting in a bowl-like region, while a "traction v" is said to pull the shoulders gently apart providing a reduction in stress in the lower neck and upper shoulder region. The pillow can also be inverted to be used as a traditional cervical support pillow without the traction.
The traditional shape of these pillows involves an elevated portion for proper neck support, which dips down to an area where the head can rest comfortably. The opposite side of the pillow will often have an elevated level of a different height, so the user can decide which side is best for their body shape and size. There many online resources that list best cervical pillow online, that makes easier for users to choose the one that suits them perfectly.
Alternatively, there are cervical neck roll pillows. These pillows are designed to be inserted in the pillow case in front of your normal pillow. This provides the neck support you're looking for, but is a less expensive alternative to the more expensive traditional pillows.
These pillows are made to provide relief to neck and back pain, but it's important not to just treat the symptom without finding out what is behind the symptom. If you have regular back or neck pain, it's obviously caused by something deeper than that which can be fixed by simply adjusting your sleeping position.
While a cervical pillow may reduce or perhaps even eliminate the pain, there is something underlying that pain that needs to be looked into and addressed by a physician.
