Neck braces are designed to give necessary support to the neck and surrounding muscles, effectively distributing pressure evenly across the cervical spine while reducing movements. This additional support helps to aid healing, alleviate pain, and reduce the risk of further injury. By applying external pressure and support to the neck, neck braces restrict excessive movement and decrease stress from the cervical spine. Here is an brief overview of the main functions of neck and back braces:
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Although back and neck braces serve as a valuable resource in alleviating neck discomfort and facilitating healing, it's important to acknowledge their inherent constraints:
Additional Treatments Often Required: When part of a well-rounded treatment plan, neck braces offer effective relief for temporary neck pain. However, they should not be seen as a cure-all for underlying health issues.
At Pain and Spine Specialists, our bracing specialists will carefully assess your condition and explain the advantages and potential drawbacks of hip braces as part of your treatment plan. Often, we integrate physical therapy and other interventions to ensure you receive the most beneficial outcome.
Neck braces are an effective solution for managing a range of neck issues, providing essential support, pain relief, and stability for individuals suffering from chronic or acute neck conditions. Here are some neck pain conditions that can see considerable improvement with the use of neck braces:
Cervical spondylosis causes discomfort and stiffness in the neck. Neck braces stabilize the cervical spine, relieving pressure and alleviating pain.
After neck surgery, neck braces can help support the neck during the recovery process for a neck injury. They restrict movements that could disrupt the healing process and ensure proper alignment.
People with whiplash injuries can benefit from wearing neck braces as they maintain neck alignment and reduce pressure on the muscles and ligaments. This reduction in pressure can significantly ease pain and discomfort.
Neck braces provide necessary support to the cervical spine, limiting motions that exacerbate the disc herniation.
Let's examine the three main categories of neck braces:
Choosing the appropriate neck brace depends on the severity of your condition, your lifestyle, and specific treatment goals.
Neck bracing provides key support and relief for various neck conditions, but it is not always the only solution. At Pain and Spine Specialists, we believe that neck braces are most effective when part of a wider treatment approach. This wider approach integrates complementary treatments to ensure optimal pain relief and recovery for our patients.
Here are some treatments that are often integrated in our treatment plans:
Injection therapies are a highly effective treatment for severe neck pain. By directly injecting medication into the affected area, these treatments significantly reduce inflammation and provide pain relief. Here are few options for neck pain relief:
For those struggling with chronic neck pain, advanced interventional procedures offer a solution when traditional treatments fall short. These cutting-edge methods deliver precise relief, making them an innovative option for managing persistent neck discomfort.
Spinal Cord Stimulation: An implanted device, utilized during spinal cord stimulation, delivers a gentle electric current to the spinal cord, effectively alleviating chronic pain.
Radiofrequency Ablation: Radiofrequency ablation employs heat produced by radio waves to precisely target and disrupt the transmission of pain signals to the brain by specific nerves.
Traditional methods continue to play a crucial role in alleviating neck pain. These methods can include:
Stop suffering from needless pain today. Discover relief with our neck braces and comprehensive pain management solutions to get back the comfort you deserve. Schedule a consultation now to find out if a neck brace is right for you and to plan your personalized pain relief strategy.
Cervical collars, also known as neck braces or C collars, are used to support your spinal cord and head. These collars are a common treatment option for neck injuries, neck surgeries, and some instances of neck pain.
There are different types of cervical collars. Which one you need will depend on your type of neck injury or the underlying cause of your neck pain.
Read on to learn more about the benefits of a cervical collar as well as the potential side effects, especially if it’s worn long-term. If you want tips on how to sleep or bathe with a cervical collar, we’ve got that covered, too.
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The purpose of a cervical collar is to support your neck and spinal cord, and to limit the movement of your neck and head. They’re typically meant for short-term use while you recover from an injury, surgery, or pain.
Some conditions that may require the use of a cervical collar include the following:
Cervical collars come in soft and hard varieties. Soft collars are usually made from materials such as felt, foam, or rubber. They fit snugly around your neck and sit below your jaw. Some doctors may prescribe them for temporary relief from moderate neck pain.
Soft collars are unlikely to help manage more serious neck injuries.
One study looked at the use of soft cervical collars on 50 patients with whiplash. They found that the soft collar reduced movement by an average of just over 17 percent. The researchers concluded that this wasn’t enough to provide adequate immobilization to have clinical benefits.
Hard collars are usually made from plexiglass or plastic. They restrict head rotation and side-to-side movement more than softer collars. They often have a chin support to allow the muscles in your neck to relax.
Hard neck braces are often prescribed for severe neck pain, spinal fractures, and trauma injuries.
Although cervical collars can help support and protect your neck in the short-term, research has shown that long-term use of a cervical collar may lead to weakening and stiffening of your neck muscles.
In cases of acute injury, this is largely unavoidable. However, if you’re dealing with moderate neck pain, you may want to minimize the amount of time you wear a collar or ask your doctor about alternative treatments.
In recent years, many medical professionals have discouraged the use of cervical collars for people dealing with a traumatic injury. This change of opinion is largely due to safety concerns and a lack of research showing that the use of cervical collars leads to beneficial health outcomes.
Some safety concerns with traumatic injury include potential breathing obstruction, increased brain pressure, and increased jugular blood pressure.
If you need to wear a cervical collar, your healthcare provider will likely give you specific instructions about what you should and shouldn’t do while wearing it.
In general, when wearing a cervical collar, it’s best to:
Here are a few tips for sleeping with a cervical collar:
It’s usually easier to take a bath rather than a shower when wearing a cervical collar.
You can bathe as you normally would, but it’s important to keep the cervical collar dry and out of the water. Placing plastic wrap around the collar may help to keep it dry.
If you do take a shower, you may find using a handheld shower nozzle will help to minimize neck bending and movement.
It’s important to wash your collar daily to prevent bacteria growth. Not cleaning your collar frequently can lead to skin irritation if bacteria is allowed to grow.
You can wash most soft collars in a sink with warm water and gentle soap, and then lay the collar out to dry. Don’t use harsh soaps, detergents, or bleach. These may cause a skin reaction.
You can clean hard collars by replacing dirty pads and rinsing the front and back panels.
When you put your cervical collar back on, it’s important that it fits properly. If the collar isn’t tight enough, it can cause your skin to rub, which could lead to pressure sores and irritation.
The length of time that you’ll need to wear a cervical collar depends on your specific condition.
For moderate neck pain that’s not caused by a sudden injury, it’s often recommended that you don’t wear a cervical collar for more than a week. Extended use of a collar can cause your neck muscles to stiffen and weaken.
If you’re wearing a cervical collar for serious neck pain or a sudden injury, talk with your doctor about how long you need to wear it.
Although a cervical collar may be a useful tool for short-term treatment, research has shown that wearing one for an extended period of time may lead to weakening and stiffening of the neck muscles.