
With age, many older adults suffer from neck pain and are usually prescribed a cervical collar which is not a remedy; it is a medical accessory to manage a few health conditions that might lead to neck issues. Cervical spondylosis, neck surgery, stiffness, and pain in the neck can be managed with the aid of cervical collars. The latter broadly comes in 2 variants – the soft cervical collars and the hard variants.
The soft cervical collars
The softer variant is usually prescribed for mild conditions and worn for only a short duration of time. They are made of felt, foam, or rubber and sits more below the jaw.
The hard cervical collars
The harder variants are used to restrict head movements to help healing in severe conditions like trauma, or fracture in the spine.They are made from materials like plastic or plexiglass and are advised for long duration.
When sleeping with a collar, you need to take certain precautions, like the neck needs to be in a neutral position and while moving out of bed, you should not exert your neck while lifting yourself. You need to gently roll on to your side first, extend your legs across the rim of the bed to pull yourself out of the bed.
You should also ensure that you clean them regularly as sweat around the collar pads can cause skin irritation. Soak them in warm soapy water and do not rub them vigorously as you may distort the shape.
Whatever may be the case, cervical collars cannot be worn for too long periods. Longer than required periods of wear might lead to muscle stiffness and immobility too! Not all neck pains are treated with cervical collars as it is a little more from being a benign treatment only!
Read also: FAQ on cervical collars
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