What Is The Point Of A Neck Pillow?

There’s really nothing worse than spending an extended amount of time in an airplane seat, a car seat, or a desk chair and then realizing that over the course of several hours, your neck has developed a serious ache and that standing up causes excruciating pain.  Unfortunately, this is a reality for so many people who either travel regularly or sit in uncomfortable office chairs for hours at a time.  

The world today is designed for quick results, not comfort or ease, and this can have an impact on us as we go about life trying to figure out how to make time for ourselves and how to fix the issues we feel we’re having.  Here at Everlasting Comfort, we’re dedicated to providing you with the opportunities you need to feel better no matter what you’re up to.

In this article, let’s explore all the different ways you can discover comfort and better posture, what a neck pillow is, and what it does to help you throughout your day.

What Causes Neck Pain?

neck pain

Neck pain is really one of the most common complaints that people have after sitting in one position for an extended period of time, second only to back pain.  Neck pain is usually caused by poor posture, whether it’s leaning over a laptop computer or hunching over a workstation, but there are several other common causes as well.  Here are just a few:

  • Muscle strain: Neck pain is most commonly caused by muscle strains in your neck and upper back. Overuse can trigger these strains, as well as bad posture.  Even minor things, like reading in bed at a bad angle or gritting your teeth together for a while, can strain your neck muscles.
  • Worn joints: Every joint and muscle in your body is subject to wear and tear over time.  As the cartilage deteriorates, bone spurs can form, which affect the motion of your joints and can cause serious pain.
  • Poor sleeping position: If you are not aware of your sleep position or your sleeping posture is causing you pain, consider changing it up.  Sleeping the wrong way, straining your neck with too much or not enough elevation, or just putting too much pressure on certain angles can cause problems over time, even though it feels like personal preference. Back sleepers and side sleepers are usually ok, although they could do with some extra support, while stomach sleepers might need to overhaul the way that they sleep, because it commonly leads to a stiff neck.
  • Exercise: Depending on how much stretching you do while exercising, believe it or not, exercise can cause muscle strains or spasms in your neck, which will cause aches and pain over time as well.  Make sure that you stretch well before and after working out!
  • Carrying large bags, purses, or weights: If you carry things often, whether for travel, for convenience, or for your job, make sure that your carry posture is correct, and this will lessen your chronic neck pain over time.

What Can You Do About Neck Pain?

The solutions to neck pain vary directly depending on the kind of neck pain you have, how severe it is, and what causes it.

For example, if your neck pain is basic and situational, rather than being symptomatic of something more long-term, there are simple ways you can resolve that issue.  You can improve your posture, add some neck support to your chair or your bed, and you can work on stretching better before and after any activity or any long periods of sitting still.    

However, if you have made these adjustments or if you fear that your neck pain will be too much for you to handle, you may have to see a doctor.  Consult a doctor if you experience any of the following:

  • Severe neck pain with no apparent cause: this can be indicative of serious problems and can even be a precursor to stroke
  • Lump in your neck
  • Swollen glands or lymph nodes
  • Pain that radiates from your neck down through your arms or legs
  • Inability to move your chin down to your chest
  • Any situation where symptoms of neck pain caused by regular activity lead to pain that lasts over a week.  Even situational neck pain can cause serious problems over time if the symptoms last for a while, so make sure that you check with a doctor if they last for any particular length of time.

If the pain you are experiencing is not symptomatic of any more serious issues, you may just need to make some lifestyle changes or minor adjustments to your daily routine that may help you in the future when it comes to neck pain or discomfort.

What Is A Neck Pillow, Anyway?

neck pillow

Neck pillows are a perfect addition to any chair or situation that is causing you neck pain.  However, before you buy one, you might want to know exactly what you’re spending your hard-earned money on.  

Neck pillows are cushions designed to find the perfect position for your head so that you can get some sleep, stay focused on a long day at work, or just improve your overall posture.  Some travel neck pillows are specifically designed for carry-on use on airplanes, while others are designed to improve your posture in bed.  However, the general idea is the same.

Neck pillows’ main purpose is to keep your neck at a level and an angle that reduces strain on your neck and back muscles and allows you to alleviate pain caused by poor posture.  Their ergonomic design provides much more cervical support than a traditional pillow, and their positioning is adjustable depending on your needs for a good night of sleep.

What Materials Make A Good Neck Pillow?

Here at Everlasting Comfort, we design our neck pillows with only premium ingredients for your comfort.  Our travel pillows are made from 100% memory foam with zero additives. In addition, the memory foam in our pillows is completely heat-responsive, which allows it to mold perfectly to your neck and head for maximum comfort and firm support while you rest your head back in a long car ride, on a plane trip, or just in the office. These are much more effective than inflatable support pillows, as these are prone to popping. They're even better than regular pillows, because this type of pillow can help to control where your head falls so you don't get a stiff neck.

If you’re looking for a memory foam pillow to support your posture while you’re sleeping, our half-moon shaped bolster pillow is the best pillow for your nighttime routine.  Also made with 100% memory foam, this product has an ergonomic curve that’s created to alleviate pain all over the body, including pain relief in your lower back, lumbar area, your cervical spine, hips, legs, and knees.  Its orthopedic structure contours perfectly to your body due to its construction materials, providing you with all the support you need for maximum sleep quality.

Another thing to be on the lookout for when selecting a good pillow is whether or not they are easily washable.  Simple care of your posture support products is essential, and that’s why all of Everlasting Comfort’s neck support pillows come with a soft, breathable cover that is easily removable and is machine washable so you can make sure your neck pillow is fresh and clean when you're getting some shut-eye.  

Other Solutions To Neck Pain

Sometimes, neck pain can be a result of posture that doesn’t really even involve your neck at all.  In that case, it’s important to check out other parts of your posture and consider your body as a whole to make sure that you’re sitting comfortably in the best way possible.  

In light of that, sometimes, it’s a good idea to check out other products that support your posture, like seat cushions and back cushions that you can combine with a neck pillow in order to support your overall body.  

If you work in an office space where your chair is provided for you by the office manager or someone else that you work for, you might not be able to just purchase your own.  And, even if you could, who wants to spend $300 on an office chair with good ergonomics when you could just transform your current one into a comfortable chair with some simple memory foam cushions!  

The more that you are consciously aware of how you are sitting, the less neck and back pain you will experience.  Make sure that you are sitting slightly leaned back, with your legs uncrossed and your ankles slightly forward of your knees to keep your spine aligned well.   

In Summary

Posture can be a difficult thing to keep track of, and it can be really hard to identify the causes of random pains in places like your neck and your back.  However, with the inventions of cushions like the neck pillow, it is possible to improve your posture and how you feel by simply adding a neck pillow to your current chair.  

Because our neck pillows are constructed with comfort in mind and designed for maximum posture support, they are some of the best investments you can make into your enjoyment of your workspace, your comfort over a long trip, or just your general posture.  Just make sure that you visit a healthcare professional if your pain does not improve or go away after a few days.  

Sources:

  1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/neck-pain/symptoms 
  2. https://www.healthline.com/symptom/neck-pain#causes 
  3. https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/why-does-my-neck-hurt#1 

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