How Does a Tens Unit Work on Muscle Spasm- Pain comes from electroechemical impulses relaying the pain message. A TENS unit interrupts this pathway. T.E.N.S stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. It is often used to treat low back pain and neck pain. Tens units use a low voltage electrical current to induce pain relief. Continue Reading Article
Neck Exercises- Learn effective neck stretches and strengthening exercises for the cervical spine
End Neck Pain by Improving Posture- How Proper Posture Improves Your Spine Relieving Nerve Pressure- How does posture have anything to do with neck pain?--Neck pain comes from pressure on the nerves. How does this happen?--Usually pressure from a misaligned neck spine. When your spine is misaligned (some call that subluxated) it does not move like it should and in turn creates inflammation in that area. Either out-of-alignment spinal vertebrae (spinal bones) put direst pressure on nerves or the inflammation, or built up degeneration causes the pressure. Continue Reading Article
How to Reduce the Chances of Getting A Stiff Neck- A Stiff Neck.... Horrible especially when you wake up in the morning and realize that it is going to be one painful day. You are stiff, your neck hurts, you cannot turn your head, even brushing your teeth hurts. We get questions about how to treat a stiff neck all the time. Continue Reading Article
How To Avoid Neck Pain While Doing Abs- If you do your Abdominal crunches correctly with proper form, there is no reason to suffer from neck pain or sore neck. One of the biggest mistakes that people make is that involve there neck muscles while doing these exercises- that is a NO-NO. Bringing your head and neck forward puts unnecessary pressure on the neck and it is not healthy. So when you do your abdominal crunch look at the ceiling.Continue Reading Article
If you do a quick search on amazon, you will find that in 2020 not only do we have a plethora of masks to buy, but we also have a unusually large variation of neck pillows on the market. Here is my go to pillow for neck pain and neck posture problems. Here is a great review from YOUTUBE that highlights the features of the arc4life traction pillow.
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The arc4life cervical linear traction neck pillow can help alleviate radiculopathy symptoms such as numbness and tingling, hand and finger weakness, neck pain, and shooting pains. Over and over again, I have seen patients do very well with this pillow, and that is why it is still popular from the year 2000 !
Happy Halloween 2020 from the Neck Pillow Queen 👑. The year 2020 will go down in the books as one of the most different years, especially on the holidays. My kids are very ready to trick or treat but how can they with covid 19 going on? Mom and Dad will figure this one out too.....
Anyone could see that the wind was a special wind this night, and the darkness took on a special feel because it was All Hallows' Eve. - Ray Bradbury
A normal neck curvature should look like a backward "C". This allows the holes on each side of the spine where the nerves exit to be fully open, uninhibited so there is no pressure. The nerves can than freely communicate to the brain with no interference. This also maintains the disc health between each spinal bone. An abnormal cervical curve means there is no curve (also known as military neck) or a reverse curve (also known as a cervical kyphosis).
Some people literally have a closet full of pillows. They could easily go into their closet and pull out one of many different types of pillows to sleep on. How about choosing between a feather pillow or a contoured orthopedic pillow? Which would be better for their neck curvature? Which would help them to sleep better? Which pillow would be more comfortable. Back in 2014, there was a small study that was help answer these specific questions.
In this study there were 10 men and 10 women, age range of 21-30 years old. They compared an orthopedic pillows (pillow a) vs two standard pillows - A feather pillow and a memory foam pillow (pillow b and pillow c)
Each participant was was asked to lay down on their back (in the supine position) with the 3 different pillows for 30 minutes each. The cervical curve, pillow temperature, and pillow comfort were measured.
Here is what the study found:
When looking at the cervical curve, the orthopedic pillow was significantly higher than that of the other 2 pillows.
The degree of temperature increase was significantly lower for the orthopedic pillow than for the memory foam and feather pillows.
The orthopedic pillow was more comfortable than the other 2 pillows (The visual analog scale (VAS) score was higher).
This study shows that pillow shape and content play an important role in cervical curve, pillow temperature, and pillow comfort and orthopedic pillow may be an optimal pillow for sleep quality. Yes, this was a small study- but it still shows that using a pillow that helps your neck curve is going to be better for sleep and better for comfort. What are some examples of orthopedic pillows?
Keep in mind that an orthopedic pillow can be more difficult to adjust too than a feather pillow or a flat. Your neck is not going to be used the contours on a pillow like this. Often times sleeping on a pillow like this for the whole night is not recommended. It is better to start of slowly: start with 5-10 minutes of sleeping on a new contoured neck pillow, then little by little keep increasing the time on the pillow. If you do wake with neck soreness or stiffness, do gentle neck exercises in the morning. Use a hot pack if needed as well.
Remember we sleep about 1/3rd of our lives. Doing it the best we can is imperative to live our lives to the fullest and healthiest. Why not support your cervical curve and be comfortable while you sleep.
Well, its 2020. Another decade has literally started, and this one has started with a bang. Covid-19 Pandemic has affected every corner of our life. Cooking, going to the store, going to work, sleeping, relaxing, travelling- literally all aspects of our normal have been impacted. What will happen after its over? Will it ever be really over? Much to chew about. Well we have time on our hands now.
How about sleeping for you? Are you sleeping well, and are you waking up feeling rested. If you are not I don't blame you. I am sure a number of factors, stress being #1 are affecting you.
This article is dedicated to showing you the top 10 pillows on the online market right now. I say online, because we cannot go to the store these days easily and try out a new pillow. Here are the TOP 10 Pillows that work, along with the positives and negatives for each to help you make the best decision for the best sleeping pillow.
The Arc4life Traction Pillow This pillow is great for side and back sleeping. It not only supports your neck, but it also gently stretches or "tractions" your neck, allowing for neck pain relief from disc issues in the neck: herniated disc, bulging disc, arthritis, degeneration, pinched nerve in the neck and numbness and tingling. The Arc4life Traction Pillow comes in small, medium and large. Positive: Because it comes in 3 sizes you can get the right fit for your head and neck. Also it is made in the USA. Negative: For some patients, there can be an adjustment period to using the pillow.
The TriCore Support PillowThe Tricore support neck pillow is another fiber filled pillow that is made in the United States by a great company: Core Products. This is another cervical support pillow that allows you to have the right curve in your neck while you are sleeping on your side or your back. This pillow comes in a petite, midsize and a standard size. Positive: The curves on this pillow allow you to have correct spinal curvature when you are sleeping. This neck pillow cradles and supports your neck well. Negative: The fiber in this pillow is densely packed in thereby creating a pillow that can be perceived as very firm to many patients. There may be an adjustment period to using this pillow. Also, its a fiber pillow and it will break down after a while.
EPABO Contoured Memory Foam Neck Pillow:
Here is a memory foam neck pillow that provides support. It does not squish down like other memory foam pillows. If you have acute or chronic neck pain, the Epabo pillow is ideal for you. Positive: The special shape of this pillow provides ideal neck support and comfort, especially if you have ongoing neck pain. Negative: Some patients may feel that the height of this memory foam pillow is not enough.
An Adjustable Memory Foam- Fiber Neck Pillow: This adjustable pillow has two components in it. Fiber and shredded memory foam. There is a convenient zipper that allows material to be added and to removed: effectively making this pillow firm or soft. For someone with acute or chronic pain, you can easily adjust to where you want your pillow height to be. Positive: The pillow fluffs up easily and washes easily as well. Negative: May take a while for you to figure out how much filling you really need and what is comfortable for you.
U Shaped Contoured Body Pillow:
This fiber filled U or L shaped pillow looks somewhat like a candy cane ! It's shape allows you to sleep on your side more easily than others. The filling is also softer, thereby the adjustment period is going to less, in terms of one getting used to sleeping.Positive: Great for patients with any existing shoulder pain or ear pain; Skewed more for side sleepers. Also, great for pregnant patients. Negative: The pillow dimensions are 22"x 17", which may not be big enough for some patients. Some patients just need a bigger pillow size.
The Arc4life Linear Gravity Neck Pillow: Here is a simplistic fiber filled pillow that provides two neck support rolls. I like this pillow because the cylindrical rolls on this pillow allow you to have optimal cervical support while you are sleeping. Positive: The linear gravity pillow comes in 3 sizes: Small, medium and large. Negative: There may be an adjustment period to using this pillow. Start with 10 minutes and work your way up to sleeping through the night.
Memory Foam Twist Pillow:
This Memory foam pillow has a unique ability to twist into whatever shape you need. You could use it as a u shaped pillow, a roll pillow, under the knees pillows, and even behind the low back. You can either use this kind of pillow on your recliner anytime you want to nap, or keep it in your car or next to your luggage: It is easy to travel with. Positive: A multi-purpose pillow that can be easily cleaned and traveled with. Also, this memory foam twist pillow comes with a silk sleep mask and noise reducing ear plugs so you can us to really help you relax. Negative: You may not be able to use this as a regular pillow when you are at your destination, but great for travel.
The Dog Bones Pillow:
This little pillow can be used in multiple different ways. The specially designed dog bones pillow shape supports your head and neck in proper alignment. This pillow allows you to have the proper c curve when you are sleeping. One bonus is that you can use this little pillow on a favorite recliner and poof- you have good neck support as well. The dimensions of this pillow are 14.5"x 6.5". Positive: You can pull out stuffing as you need it, making this little pillow conveniently adjustable. Negative: For some patients this pillow just proves to be too firm and thick.
CPAP Pillow:
I included this CPAP pillow because it can be used by regular users as well, not just cpap users. This pillow has special indentations for your cpap machine. Positive: The fiber that this pillow is made from is very soft, and still the pillow is very supportive. Negative: There may be an adjustment period to using this pillow and you may have to experiment in depth on what the right position for your sleep and for your cpap machine is.
Mkicesky Contour Memory Foam Sleeping Pillow:
If you are looking for a pillow where there may not be a long adjustment period AND you can sleep on your side comfortable, check out this contoured memory foam pillow. The height of this pillow allows for your shoulder to clear comfortably when you are on your side. The middle portion holds your head and neck position. Positive: Very comfortable when you lay your head and neck on the pillow in side position. Negative: Some patients have noticed that there is very little give when you press on the pillow, making it very firm to sleep on from the get go. Also again, there may be an adjustment period of 1-2 weeks before getting completely comfortable on this pillow.
Well, the kids are back in school. Every morning one of my most important tasks is packing the kids lunch and back pack. Making sure they have a balanced lunch and snacks and water to drink. I am also making sure that the backpack is not to heavy, as this can be overlooked very easily. One important tip about backpack weight: The backpack should weigh no more than 5% to 10% of your child's weight. Put them on a scale and check it.
Making sure your child's backpack is optimal for your child is Important
Children's posture is very important as they are growing up. Watching how they walk, what they are lifting, how they are using their devices, how and what they are sleeping on- are all important aspects to pay attention too.
My 7 year old son, for example sleeps on a smaller sized pillow. This particular pillow comes in medium and large sizes too. But a standard size pillow is usually 24x17 in dimensions and would be too large for him. It would push his head up and cause forward head carriage. This will create an unhealthy posture. Better comfort and support leads to better sleep.
No longer a novelty in today's society, a simple airplane trip can be under an hour or many hours for international destinations. Regardless, you want to be able to relax when you are finally seated and on your way. Having a neck pillow specifically for the plane can make a big difference. You can sleep and relax. You can avoid neck strain and discomfort. You can avoid the dreaded "kink in the neck".
These type of travel pillows are easy to travel with and you can twist them to a U shape, a log. They can be used for not just neck support. You can us them under your knees and behind your back for support. They are small enough to be used on an airplane but also simple enough to pack. Because they are made from memory foam, they are super comfortable and easy to adjust too.
A Pillow to definitely consider next time you are packing your suitcase.
🌠🌠🌠 (3/5 stars) I gave this traction pillow a shot for 18 months, and can't tell you it's worth it.
Pros: 1. well manufactured 2. fair amount of traction 3. can be made better by using firmer pillows underneath
Cons: 1. can't distinguish which side I'm using once protection cover and pillow case are on. 2. traction should be on both sides. 3. lack of head support
Overall, I'd recommend getting a firm pillow and using a dog bone or cervical roll underneath. The dog 🐶 bones that are currently sold on Amazon though may be too thick, and the velour type of covering may be too warm. I can't say buy or don't buy the pillow. I wanted to give an unbiased review weighing the pros and cons which equal themselves out. If the price was lower, I'd say it's worth it, but for the price the pillow needs some redesigning so the user can differentiate between both sides, while also giving more head support.
Finally, I'd like to say I get the concept of trying to replicate traction you receive from the chiropractor, but for me I prefer to go to the chiropractor and use the hand pump type or just use a firm pillow and place something like a dog bone, towel or gel type of cervical roll underneath your neck.
- Louis
Dear Louis,
I truly appreciate your input and honest review. While I am glad to see that you were satisfied with this pillow for 18 months, we never like to see a dissatisfied customer, even after well over a year of faithfully using our pillow every night. As a small family owned business we work tirelessly to ensure all of our customers are happy, whether they bought from us 30 days ago or well over 18 months in your case.......
Consider a different type of composition for the fill. Polyester fiber fill is one of the most comfortable materials for a neck pillow.
Arc4life uses a special type of polyester fiber fill that is hand rolled into each pillow, not machine blown in like some others. Essentially this pillow is hand sewn and stuffed. This makes a huge difference in how you accommodate this pillow. By adding a lot more fiber you can make the pillow last longer but it will make the pillow much more firm. We have made a firm version of the pillow for individuals who want that.
The Traction V side offers gentle neck traction or stretching. We have not had any customers say that they cannot distinguish this traction side from the other side of the pillow, even with a pillow cover or a pillow case. If your pillow has lost support, that may have been the case.
The opposite side is the support side of the pillow. This is cylindrical roll pillow that also offers superior neck support for your cervical spine whether you sleep on your side or on your back.
You make a good point that the traction should be on both sides. Yes, that could work. However, it was discovered that it seemed to work much better on one side only. The pillow is made so that you get support for your neck but also you get neck traction. Also, some patients who are having neck pain with shooting pains, or numbness and tingling have a very sensitive neck. Everything hurts them, no matter what position they lie in. Ideally, the traction side of the pillow is going to be therapeutically beneficial for them, but they may not be able to initially able to handle this. The solution is to start by using the support side or the neck roll part of the pillow.
Finally, Louis you make an excellent point regarding cervical traction. That is the purpose of the pillow, but we are not trying to replicate an actual cervical traction device. Arc4life recommends that patient’s use the traction device during the day, and use the pillow at night 🌃.
I also prefer to go the chiropractor to get my neck and back aligned. I totally agree with you. But using the arc4life traction pillow at night, and using a traction device during the day can help you hold your chiropractic adjustments better. Many chiropractors recommend using a cervical support pillow anyways, and the Arc4life traction pillow is an excellent choice. In fact, we have many chiropractors who sell these pillows in their offices. They can fit their patients for the right size of pillow and show them how to correctly use it as well.
Also doing neck traction using a neck roll or a cervical roll under your neck is a great place to start traction. Moving on to an actual traction unit (such as a posture pump, pronex, saunders traction unit) - there are many on the market today) is a more advanced way of stretching your neck, for sure. The pillow helps with the neck roll as well as the actual traction advanced traction devices. Arc4life always recommends that you learn how to properly use these traction devices from your health professional first, as this makes a huge difference.
Hope this helps you out Louis. Thank you again for your review of the Arc4life Traction Pillow.
A Quick Synopsis Of the Arc4life Linear Gravity Support Pillow
Align Your head and neck correctly with this pillow: - Get Rid of Stiff Neck, Achiness and Stress in the Cervical Spine - Eliminate stress in your neck, shoulders and upper back. - Help reduce the pain associated with Fibromyalgia - Great for patients suffering with neck arthritis, cervical degeneration and cervical spondylosis. - Comes in 3 sizes: Small (20x15), Medium (24x17)and Large (28x17) - Order the pillow based on your 1) height and 2) weight 3) Preference for a smaller or larger pillow 4) What you are used to using- a smaller pillow or a larger pillow. Many patients order a pillow based on their mattress size - we do not recommend this. - Made in the USA. No FOAM, FIBER or RUBBER in this pillow
The Arc4life Linear Gravity Pillow Has 2 sides to it: Two Neck Rolls. One firmer, one softer and gentler.
The Arc4life Gravity Pillow Comes in a Small Size:
The Arc4life Gravity Neck Pillow comes in a smaller size with dimensions of 20" x 15". This is important for three reasons. First it accommodates patients who want a smaller pillow. They might just like to sleep on a smaller pillow that is not so high up and they also might physically need a smaller pillow. For example a petite framed woman who is 5"0 and weighs 100 lbs. She might need a pillow that fits her head and neck well. The small arc4life gravity pillow is great for that. Secondly, this particular is neck pillow is great for teens and kids. If you want your child to have an ergonomically correct pillow to sleep with, this contoured neck pillow will fit them and allow them to sleep with a naturally aligned head and neck. Finally, this pillow makes a great travel pillow. Customers want to be able to sleep when they go away from their own beds - here is a pillow that can fit into carry on luggage.
Sleep Easily on Your Side with This Pillow
Sleeping on your side is easily accommodated with the Arc4life Linear Gravity Pillow. This pillow works to align your head and neck . It takes pressure off of the spinal column this allowing the muscles in your neck to relax.
Sleeping On Your Back with the Arc4life Gravity Support Pillow
Sleep on Your Back with This Pillow
The Arc4life Linear Gravity Pillow will cradle your neck and head while at the same time giving you needed support in the cervical spine. In turn this keeps your breathing passages open. This When you are relaxed with you sleep, you can also get rid of neck tension, aches and stress.
This is a very common question that we receive on this blog, the Neck Pillow Queen. In particular we get this about our fiber pillows, such as the arc4life cervical linear traction neck pillows, arc4life linear gravity neck pillows and the tri core orthopedic neck pillows.
I know that what most people want to hear is their pillow will last them "forever". Unfortunately, this is not the case, especially when it comes to a fiber stuffed pillow.
In the specific case of the arc4life traction neck pillow and the arc4life linear gravity pillow- there is no shelf life. It could last you a few months, it could last you a few years. All of arc4life pillows are created here in the USA. The pillows are made from a special fiber called gar-netted fiber and are hand stuffed and rolled into each and every pillow. Most other fiber filled pillows use a machine to blow in the fiber. The pillows are not overstuffed. Therefore, the fibers will break down over time. If the pillows were stuffed more, then they would last longer. One prime example of that is the Tri Core orthopedic neck support pillow (this pillow contains fiber that is blown in by a machine). The fiber in these pillows is stuffed to the maximum. There are even two versions of this pillow (gentle and firm) and both them are quite firm. If you were to put your finger on the pillow, there would be a small amount of give. Compare this to the arc4life traction neck pillow or the arc4life linear gravity neck pillow there is more give to these pillows. They are not overstuffed and we don't consider them a firm pillow. The way we would describe them would be in between: not firm like a foam pillow, and not soft like a feather pillow. They are in between.
One the reasons that the arc4life neck pillow are not overstuffed is because they are created specifically to help you through a neck condition. Many of the customers and patients that order our pillow have neck pain, stiff neck, a bulging disc, a herniated disc, arthritis or disc degeneration in their neck. They have been recommended by their health professional to order an orthopedic pillow that has contours. The traction pillow works particularly well because it gently stretches the cervical spine, while at the same time allowing for optimal neck alignment.
In the particular case of the arc4life traction pillow there is a Firm Side and there is a softer side. The V traction side is the firmer side and the neck roll or support side is the softer side. Even though we distinguish between these two sides as being firm and soft, overall this fiber filled pillow is not as firm as other pillows on the market.
Because the fiber is not packed in, the fibers will break down faster than a more firmer pillow. As mentioned above the tri core pillow is another fiber pillow that will last you a lot longer than the arc4life pillow.
If you are looking for softer pillow to start with, try the arc4life natural alignment pillow.
Can you Wash a Fiber Pillows in the Washing Machine?
Yes, technically you can but we do not recommend it. Washing your pillow in the washing machine will further break down the fibers. Also, if you do not subsequently dry the pillow well, you are creating a potential mold or bacteria problem.
Many people do wash their pillows in the washing machine. If you do a quick Google search, you will find a way to do this. Just keep in mind that you will lose some support from the pillow.
What is the Best Way to Keep Your Arc4life Pillow and Other Fiber Pillows Lasting Longer?
To start with get a dust cover with the fiber pillows. A dust cover with a zipper allows mold, bacterial, pollen, pet hairs and other particles out of your pillow. Use a regular pillow case over your dust cover for further protection.
Another way to clean your fiber pillow is to spot clean the pillow. If you have a stain on your pillow, use some detergent or even something as simple as Ivory soap to spot clean the area. Use soap and then rub with clean water. Let the pillow dry well.
Tired of having a closet full of neck pillows? Well I write quite extensively about pillows and let me tell you I have heard this comment many times - people are sick and tired of ordering the wrong pillow. They try one, it doesn't work - they move on, and ching ching - they order a new one ! The pillows all end up in the closet or their pet uses the pillow as a sleeping bed.
Do you have a Closet Full of Pillows?
Here are some factors to consider to ordering successfully the right pillow the first time:
Size Matters It is important, especially in the case of THIS neck pillow, to order the right size. One example is the Linear Gravity Neck Pillow which comes in 3 sizes: Small, Medium and Large. Too many customers are ordering this neck pillow because of their mattress size. So for example, they sleep on a king size bed every night. They automatically assume that they should order the large pillow. Same goes for the medium pillow. They order the medium because they sleep on a queen size mattress. Arc4life recommends that you order based on your OWN height and weight and frame. Don't be afraid to contact the pillow company to choose the best size.
What is the level of firmness with the Pillow? For the majority of users, a firm pillow is not the answer. So when ordering a pillow check to see if the pillow comes in a gentle or firm version. For example, the tricore pillow comes in a "gentle" and firm. If you are not sure, order the gentle - it will be easier to get used to.
What is the pillow composed of ? Polyester fiber fill? Water? Foam? Check the materials the pillow is made out of. For some people, for example, they are allergic to latex. Some people are very sensitive to the odor given off by a memory foam pillow, and literally cannot get used to it. Check the composition of the pillow.
Does the Pillow have instructions on how to use it? If the pillow comes with instructions, read them. This is important. The Arc4life traction pillow for example comes with an 8 page booklet on how to use the pillow. For example, Arc4life recommends that you sleep on the support of the pillow to start. It is easier to get adjusted too.
Is There an Adjustment Period? This is often the case with many cervical support pillows. For some customers they can sleep on a new pillow the entire night with no problems whatsoever. For others they have a lot of sensitivity or pain in their neck. For example, pre existing neck or shoulder pain, muscle spasms or trigger points - they may need to slowly adjust to a new pillows contours . 5-10 minutes the first night, an additional 5-10 minutes the next night etc.
What is the purpose of you ordering a new pillow? This is a great question, that actually you should ask yourself before you hit BUY. Are you having neck surgery in 30 days and need a recovery pillow? Are you looking to stretch your neck because you have a herniated disc? Are you looking to replace your old pillow? If your old pillow worked for you, order the same pillow. Are you have arthritis pain in your neck? Do you have bad posture because you have a desk job and are constantly looking at the the computer? Think about purpose, before you buy.
When in doubt of how to use or even WHICH pillow to buys, contact the pillow company. Email them, facebook them, there are often multiple ways to get in touch in this technical day of ours. Heck, its better than owning a closet full of pillows.
With all the neck pillows on the market today touting so many different things - I want to highlight just 5 for you that give you optimal neck support. This time, instead of pictures I will provide quick videos of each neck pillow that show you what makes it such a great support pillow that allows for correct neck alignment while sleeping. With all of these neck pillows, you can have a "c" curve in your neck while you sleep. All of these pillows are great for side and back sleeping.
