Selecting the Right Cervical Pillow
If you’re recovering from a neck injury, whiplash, or surgery, you may be hard-pressed to find a pillow that provides you with the right amount of support and comfort. Also, it may be the case that the pillow that you regularly use forces your neck into an odd position while sleeping, and that you’re suffering from a “stiff neck” as a consequence. A cervical pillow (also known as a “neck pillow”) will have special support for the neck to ensure that you sleep comfortably. And they’ll keep your neck in a neutral position, to reduce stress to a minimum.
We’ll see that there are a number of cervical pillows on the market. Some are for traveling, such as the U-shaped travel pillow. Others are best for people who like to sleep on their side, while others are best for people who sleep on their backs. There’s also a big difference between the pillow’s material and whether you’ll find it comfortable.
We’ll go through some of the most popular cervical pillows in the Best Reviews Guide list. There may be a bit of trial-and-error until you get the right pillow for your needs. Some of these pillows allow you to adjust the amount and positioning of the filling. Either way, it’s safe to say that there’s a cervical pillow that can get you much-needed relief!
FAQ
What is a cervical pillow?
A cervical pillow is meant to support the cervical vertebrae, the seven vertebrae in the neck. If you suffer from neck pain or stiffness, a cervical pillow can provide support for your neck when you sleep, so that you can sleep comfortably. And you won’t suffer from neck pain when you wake up in the morning!
What kind of conditions can a cervical pillow help?
A cervical pillow can help if you have suffered from whiplash or sleep apnea. It may not help for someone with back pain, but it could help for specific neck problems or headaches.
What’s the advantage of memory foam?
Memory foam becomes softer when you lie down on it, due to your body heat. It thus molds to the contours of your body. But, it also tends to trap your body’s warmth, which may make it feel uncomfortably warm. However, there are gel-infused and copper-infused memory foam pillows, which are supposed to diffuse heat from your body more effectively, so they don’t feel as hot.
Types of Cervical Pillows
Looking at the Best Reviews Guide list of the most popular cervical pillows, we see that they come in a number of shapes:
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Neck rolls: These are cylindrical pillows that go under your neck, but you can also use it just to prop up your head while reading in bed. An example is the AllSett Health Store’s Round Cervical Roll Pillow. You can also use it to support your lower back when sitting, or between your knees or to support your feet when lying down.
AllSett Health Store’s Round Cervical Roll Pillow
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D-core pillows: These have a D-shaped indentation in the middle for your head, and neck rolls around the indentation to support your neck. An example is the Core Products D-Core Cervical Support Pillow.
Core Products D-Core Cervical Support Pillow
Another variation on Core Product’s D-Core Pillow is their Tri-Core Cervical Support Pillow, with a triangular (or trapezoidal) depression in its center. The sides surrounding your head tend to be a bit firmer than in the D-Core model.
Core Product’s Tri-Core Cervical Support Pillow
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Standard contour pillows: These are also known as “wedge pillows”. These typically have a triangular shape and may have an indentation to support your head and neck. An example is the Epabo Contour Memory Foam Pillow.
Epabo Contour Memory Foam Pillow
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Horseshoe-shaped pillow: These are the familiar travel pillows, that keep your head from drooping to the side while trying to sleep on a flight or long bus ride. It can also protect your neck from a sudden jolt. An example is the Everlasting Comfort Memory Foam Travel Pillow.
Everlasting Comfort Memory Foam Travel Pillow
What reviewers say
Here are some customers’ impressions about the cervical pillow that they purchased:
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Pillow good for both side and back sleepers: The Core Products Tri-Core Cervical Support Pillow is suitable for both people who sleep on their sides and those who sleep on their backs. If you sleep on your side, rest your head and neck on the edge of the pillow. If you sleep on your back, place your head in the depression in the middle.
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Pillows that let you remove the filling: There are pillows which are designed so that you can remove filling according to the level of comfort that you desire. One customer removed some of the filler of the Eli & Elm Ultimate Side Sleeper Pillow, and then added it back after a week or so when he got used to it.
Important Features
Here are some tips to help you select the right cervical pillow:
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Selecting the right size pillow: You’ll see that the same model of cervical pillow will come in different sizes. The correct pillow size depends greatly on the build of your frame. For example, the Core Products Tri-Core Cervical Support Pillow comes in three sizes:
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Full-Size: This measures 24 x 16 x 5 inches, and is intended for adults.
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Midsize: This measures 22 x 15 x 4 inches, and is best for a mid-size person.
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Petite: This comes in 19 x 12 x 4 inches, and is for a child or someone with a small frame.
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Getting used to a new pillow: Many of these cervical pillows can be adjusted. You can either remove a piece of the memory foam filling, such as in the Epabo Contour Memory Foam Pillow, or you can knead and thin out the filling, as in the Core Products pillows. If it is still uncomfortable, the manufacturers recommend alternating between your current pillow and their orthopedic cervical pillow, until your spine assumes the correct curvature again.
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Care and laundering: Manufacturers of memory foam pillows say that you shouldn’t put a memory foam pillow in a washer or dryer. You may be able to machine-wash the removable pillow cover on the “Gentle” cycle, using cold water, and drying it on the “Low Heat” setting.
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Water-filled pillows: Although memory foam is designed to shape itself to the contours of your head and neck, there’s another surprising option that does the same. There are water-filled pillows that are effective in reducing the pain you may experience in the morning from holding your neck in an awkward position at night. And these water-filled pillows do a better job than a roll pillow or wedge pillow. An example is the Mediflow Water Pillow. You can add water according to the amount of firmness that you want.
Mediflow Water Pillow
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Sleep positions and the right cervical pillow: Which pillow you select can depend on whether you prefer to sleep on your back, side, or stomach.
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If you sleep on your back, they recommend using a roll or the wedge pillow, which has a flatter spot for your head.
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If you sleep on your side, you’ll want a contoured pillow to keep your head in line with your spine. An example is the Eli & Elm Ultimate Side Sleeper Pillow.
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Eli & Elm Ultimate Side Sleeper Pillow
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Sleeping on your stomach is considered the worst for neck pain sufferers, because it forces you to turn your head to the side, straining your neck. Perhaps you should only have a flat pillow underneath your abdomen, and no pillow for your neck at all. This is in order to keep your spine in a straight line.
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Final Verdict
We went through some of the options among cervical pillows that are designed to support your neck and head while sleeping. The choice you make will depend on whether you prefer to sleep on your back, side, or stomach, as well as what is the source of your neck problem. Sometimes, adjusting the pillow by thinning it out or and fluffing it up can be just what you need. Try out some of the Best Reviews Guide offerings of cervical pillows. One of them is bound to be able to provide you with relief!
