A Practical Guide On Neck Braces

Neck pain is an increasing health concern globally. With increased dependency on smartphones, laptops, and tablets, the prevalence of tech neck, muscle strain and sore muscles are substantial.

Thankfully, the neck posture brace is here for your rescue!

A neck brace, also defined as a cervical collar, is fundamentally used to offer support and stability to your cervical spine.

Several types of cervical collars are available to treat different neck conditions. Which one should you buy? What feature should you look for while purchasing your neck support collar?

Let’s find out!

Types Of Neck Support Braces

Soft and flexible neck braces

• These braces are great for postural support for your neck and head. These braces help maintain the correct position and stability of your neck and head to prevent muscle strain and postural aches.
• These soft and flexible neck braces don’t entirely immobilize your neck. However, they restrict any unnecessary or impactful neck and head movements.
• They support the weakened muscles to maintain the correct posture. Therefore soft and flexible braces alleviate neck pain and promote a normal spinal alignment.
• These neck braces are recommended for a few hours of regular usage.

Rigid Neck Support Collar

• Hard or rigid neck braces are made from molded plastic for maximum stability.
• These are medical-grade neck braces recommended for several types of neck injury and trauma.
• A rigid neck brace entirely restricts your head and neck motion, thus accelerating the healing process.
• A rigid neck collar is typically prescribed for post-surgical recovery, whiplash and trauma, recovery from severe neck or head injury, Cervical spondylosis, and degenerative neck diseases.
• This type of neck support collar generally has very specific sizing for every unique patient. The interior layer is designed with soft padding for comfort.

4 Efficient Ways To Make A Neck Brace More Comfortable

Improve Your Sitting And Standing Posture

Bad posture can affect the outcome of your neck brace therapy. Introduce additional support to improve your posture throughout the day for maximum benefits:

• Elevate the laptop screen to your every level.
• Introduce lumbar support for your lower back support.
• Place your keyboard in an ergonomic position to prevent hard movements and strain in your fingers and hand.
• Use support to place your feet on a flat surface. Your feet should be dangling mid-air. Or only your toes shouldn’t touch the ground.

Ensure Correct Sizing And Proper Fitting

To enjoy the maximum benefits from a neck brace, it must fit correctly and sit comfortably around your neck. The improper fitting can worsen your neck strain muscle injury and lead to more painful conditions.

A Loose neck brace might rub against your skin with motion resulting in blisters and sores.

Maintain Collar Hygiene

• A soiled neck posture brace can easily become a breeding ground for microbial organisms such as bacteria and fungi, leading to skin infections.
• Ensure to clean your collar every day before and after wearing it.
• Avoid using harsh cleansing agents such as bleach, detergent or any other strong chemical. These agents might react with your skin and cause irritation or local inflammation.

Before Wearing A Neck Brace, Ensure Your Skin Is Dry

Ensure your skin isn’t moist when wearing your neck support collar. Moist skin can cause bruising with repeated motion or encourage microbial growth. Both conditions can lead to skin irritation and infections.

Use a towel to dry your skin. Avoid using powders or heavy-oily moisturizers.

Benefits Of Wearing Neck Braces

Regularly wearing a neck brace for posture has the following benefits:

• Alleviates neck pain
• Promotes good posture
• Reduces the risk of neck injury from impactful movements
• Supports weakened muscles around your cervical spine
• Redistribution of excessive pressure from forwarding neck posture
• Prevents muscle soreness

FAQs on Neck Brace Usage

• How Long Should You Wear The Neck Support Collar For?

We recommend that you wear the neck brace for a few hours daily. Using the neck support collar consistently over several weeks can help you achieve your natural posture.

• What Size Should I Buy?

Follow manufacturer guidelines while purchasing your neck brace.

• When Should You Not Wear Neck Braces?

Neck braces are not recommended for usage while:

• Sleeping
• Taking a bath
• Driving