5 Great Benefits Of Neck Braces

Ridhi Malhotra
3 min readAug 31, 2016

--

In a fast paced work environment, the daily commute back and forth to work can take a heavy toll on a person’s physical health. Due to a sedentary lifestyle many middle aged professionals often complain about severe neck pains at the end of a tiresome workday. No matter how many pillows are changed in the ensuing quest for relief, the pain just won’t go away. Alas, if they used a cervical collar things could be different. Very different. A cervical collar, commonly known as a neck brace, is a temporary medical device which supports a person’s neck after an injury by healing the pain and provides comfort and relief to the neck. It is predominantly used by emergency personnel, general physicians and people, especially working professionals who have had neck sprains, strains and traumatic head or neck injuries or other medical conditions. To get the maximum benefit and relief, it is very important to wear a neck brace properly. A good neck brace decreases motion and gives comfort to your neck at the same time. Here are some benefits of using neck braces aka cervical collars.

Relieves Neck Pain

Among the most prevalent health problems in India, one medical condition that often stands out is Neck pain. It is estimated that about 40–60% Indians experience neck pain at least once in their lifetime. Further, as many as one-fourth Indians are reportedly affected every year. Neck pain is a complex and subjective experience for most Indians with variegated musculoskeletal causes. About 90% of all neck pain problems are fostered by chronic strain, stress, and acute or repetitive neck injuries. Under the supervision of a trained doctor, cervical collars can be used for pain management and gaining instant relief. However, if a person is suffering from excessive neck pain, it is advisable they seek consultations from a doctor about wearing a neck brace to be prescribed an individual treatment plan and getting a correct assessment of neck pain.

Traumatic Neck or Head Injuries

A Neck brace or a cervical collar is usually worn after a very aggravated head or neck injury. It massively helps in stabilizing an injured person’s cervical area such as the spinal cord and skull, and also prevents the possibility of further injury. Moreover, a cervical support also acts as a remedy for decreasing the chances of spinal damage, paralysis, or even death!

Helps in Recovery

Cervical Collars are your best bet for fast recovery from a whiplash, traumatic head or neck injury or a spinal surgery. A Cervical collar quickly releases stress off the injured part of the body apart from immobilizing the injured areas. So much so, many doctors advise their patients to effectively wear this device until they are done with the healing process or treatment per se.

Therapeutic Usage and Remedy for Whiplash

As mentioned before, quite frequently in many cases, neck braces are put on to treat various spinal and neck medical conditions such as spinal cord misalignment, whiplash, strains and sprains. Out of these conditions, whiplash is the most common neck problem. The root cause of a whiplash is the infliction of damage unto the spinal tissues. It is an extremely traumatic injury in the cervical spine region caused by hyperflexion, hyperextension, or rotation injury. Apart from exercise and physical therapy for accelerating the recovery process, a doctor often advises the use of a soft cervical collar in conjunction with the aforesaid remedies to treat whiplashes.

Treats Cervical Radiculopathy

Cervical Radiculopathy is another ghastly disease that can be effectively cured by wearing a neck brace. It is a pathological process which involves nerve root that arises from spondylosis, disk herniation or tumor causing the nerve root avulsion. Common symptoms include a burning sensation in the neck, tingling, or even numbness! As is the case, tumors, disc herniation, and other physical traumas can culminate nerve damage that is the root cause of cervical radiculopathy. More and more physicians advise their patients to use cervical collars to successfully treat cervical radiculopathy along with due rest and bouts of light exercises. Anyone under duress can consult a general physician who specializes in spinal health to get accurate evaluation.

--

--