Neck Pillows: A key to long term neck pain relief

Poor neck posture resulting from pillows that lack proper support may cause snoring, headaches, insomnia, numbness in the arms and hands and neck pain or stiffness. Since we spend about one third of our life sleeping, a considerable part of an acute and chronic neck pain management strategy should include neck pillows.

In Advances in Physiotherapy, Volume 8, Number 3, September 2006, it is indicated that supportive neck pillows are widely used in patients with neck pain to reduce pain and get better quality of sleep. They noted "A specially selected and individually tested pillow with good shape, comfort and support to the neck lordosis can reduce neck pain and headache and give a better sleep quality."

According to a study in the Journal of Rheumatology 1994; 21(8):1520–1526, after 18 months of using neck pillows, 84% of 60 people tested achieved clinically important neck pain relief. A study conducted at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine on adults with chronic neck pain found water pillows helped reduce morning pain levels, increased pain relief, and improved quality of sleep.

According to Jackson R. The Cervical Syndrome. 4th ed IL, a neck roll pillow restores the normal neck posture while supporting the head and neck, and decreases neck pain and discomfort while sleeping. A study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 1998; 21(2):89–93, found clinically significant benefits with a neck roll shaped pillow in people with chronic neck pain.

A German study in Rehabilitation (Stuttg) 1999; 38(3):170–176 showed significant reduction of pain intensity and sleep disorders in patients who used a neck pillow. They concluded that patients suffering from chronic neck and arm pain can be reduced by using neck pillows. Furthermore, a study in Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research 1999; 3(2):1–4 subjects experiencing chronic neck pain revealed that the group using a neck pillow experienced statistical improvement in pain reduction.

The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association 2004; 48(1):20-28 noted that compared to standard pillows, an experimental neck pillow proved to be effective in reducing daily morning neck pain and weekly neck disability index scores in a group of chronic neck pain sufferers.

Neck Pillows provide important critical support of the neck during sleep. Many standard pillows often lose their support with time. Biomechanically, neck pillows offer support to inflamed areas of the neck and the normal relationship between the head, neck and upper back which can work to correct poor neck posture and allow injured parts to heal without stress.

Evidence-based research is confirming clinical data that the use of cervical pillows can aid in the treatment of cervical spine disorders. Clinical evidence indicates that neck pillows are used for many conditions such as: neck pain, headaches, neck-arm syndromes, disk problems, osteoarthritis, whiplash neck injuries and insomnia.