Recently I became aware that of an Osteopathic doctor who recommends the arc4life cervical traction neck pillow to her patients. Many of her patients are coming in for neck pain, stiff neck, numbness and tingling and weakness in the upper extremity. She sees many patients who have a herniated disc, bulging disc or degeneration in their cervical spine. She has recommends patients use the pillow for a gentle neck stretch. This is how important it is to put the neck in alignment and free up the nerves. She instructions patient to lay on the pillow for 20 minutes at a time.
This is a great thing to do because you may prescribe someone neck traction to do at home but they may not do it because it is too painful or simply too cumbersome to do at home. Having them use the pillow for traction is one easy alternative to get used to stretching the neck muscles in this way. Furthermore, the patient will not be putting themselves in danger while stretching their neck spine. The cervical linear traction neck pillow lends itself for a gentle neck stretch that relieve a lot of neck pain, numbness and tingling.
There are other ways also to do neck traction without using the complicated over the door neck traction units or other fancy traction machines. For example you can lay on a soothe-a-ciser, or a wear a neck collar that stretches your neck
Why is this so important? Putting that curvature back in the neck is essential for relieving nerve pressure. When the normal curve is there the spinal cord is relaxed and the discs sit properly between each cervical vertebrae. This "C" curve also allows the holes on each side of the spine stay wide open for nerve roots to travel.
Additional Reading:
- Why the cervical traction neck pillow does a good job of stretching your neck
- What is cervical brachial syndrome?
- Neck pain constantly? Whats the best doctor recommended pillow
- A pillow choice for a bulging disc in the neck
- Relieving neck and shoulder pain
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