NECK SUPPORT PILLOWS - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY

Background: Special neck support pillows claiming to improve rest and reduce neck pain are currently being advertised. Objective: To test wh ether neck pillows have any positive effect on neck pain and quality o f sleep compared with usual pillows and, if so, to find the optimal ch aracteristics of such a pillow. Methods: Thirty-seven hospital employe es and 18 neck patients were asked to test six neck pillows with diffe rent shapes and consistency randomly over the course of 3 wk, to grade them according to comfort and to describe the characteristics of an i deal pillow. Results: Thirty-six of 55 persons found the pillows posit ively affected sleep and 27 of 42 found that they positively affected neck pain. The ideal pillow should be soft and not too high, should pr ovide neck support and should be allergy-tested and washable. The pill ow that included two firmer supporting cores for neck lordosis receive d the best rating. Conclusion: A neck pillow with good shape and consi stency and with firm support for cervical lordosis can be recommended as a part of treatment for neck pain.