What are Products that Compliment my Traction Neck Pillow?

The arc4life cervical linear traction neck pillow is great for helping with neck pain. The neck roll helps to improve the neck curve but doing neck traction will help even more. Therefore, some kind of true neck traction will compliment. I would recommend a neck stretcher called the posture pump 1000. This works to get that curve back but will help you do it sooner.I like this particular neck stretcher because it is comfortable, it helps to get the c curve back into the neck and its user friendly for home use.

Another good compliment is a hot and cold pack. I would use heat before traction or when you get up in the morning. This helps to loosen things before traction. Periodically post traction you may have some soreness because of increased inflammation; ice works best at this point.

A third complimentary treatment is biofreeze gel. This pain relief gel will also help to warm and relax a sore area of muscle. You can use this before, after, or during tractioning.

Lastly, Formula 303 acts as an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever. The great thing is that it is all natural...

You may also be recommended exercises or stretches that can help as well. You don't need a product to do these, although, eventually you can use resistance bands for added resistance.

Additional Reading:

• Different types of neck stretchers that work with the traction pillow
• One way to use the traction v side of the arc4life pillow
• A Posture Corrector that Works Under your clothes
• What To Do for A Stiff Neck
• What does a herniated disc look and feel like?

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief. Bookmark this on Delicious Stumble It!

A Common exercise for Forward Head Posture.

Head Retraction Exercises are Easy To Do
And Help with Forward Head Posture

The most common exercise for forward head carriage or a posture showing us an anterior head and neck is head retractions. A great thing about this exercise is that you can do it almost anywhere at any time.

First off, how do we do it?

You are going to slide your head backwards as if on a track. Gently glide it back to the normal position. You can use your finger to guide your heard.

Do Not:
Tilt you head up, bring the head and chin down, or move the whole body.

What To Do:
Slide the whole head back, hold for 5 seconds, and relax. Repeat for 10 repetitions, gradually increasing this each day.

You can do it in front of the mirror, which may help.

As you can imagine, you can do this standing, seated, or laying down.
Eventually you can even add some resistance. We'll go over that next time.

Additional Reading:

• A pillow for forward head posture
• Choose the Best Neck Pillow for Neck pain
• Can FHP cause neck pain?
• Home Treatment for Military neck
• Neck Stretch for Pinched Nerve in the Neck Symptoms

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief. Bookmark this on Delicious Stumble It!

I have been Diagnosed With a Military Neck? What can you Suggest for home treatment?

A Military Neck basically means that you have a straightening of the cervical curve in your neck. Meaning that normally you should have a "C" shaped spinal curve if one was to look at you from the side profile on an x-ray. This also affects the discs in the spine. The fluid is forced out of the disc when the vertebrae are pushed forward.  When the neck loses this C shape that is normal, they call it is a military spine. A straightening of the cervical curve has occurred.

How can this happen? Well it is not an overnight occurrence. It happens very gradually over time- often taking months or years. It can happen from such things as:

• being at a computer desk for many hours
• spinal injury that involved hyper extension
• a whiplash type of accident
• having a slouched posture when walking or sitting
• sleeping on a pillow that is too high to too low

A military neck can be the cause of neck stiffness, aching and pain.

So what can help with this condition of the neck? Two things I am going to suggest: a special pillow and a device to help stretch your neck in the right direction. Your plan of action will be to use the traction device during the day for 10-15 min at a time and use a special pillow at night. Alongside with this, doing postural exercises will also be beneficial.

A specialized pillow with contours will help you get the proper curve in the spine. At first sleeping on such a pillow can be painful and cause soreness. However overtime it will help your neck and also you will sleep better with proper posture. One example is the arc4life traction pillow. For a more firmer pillow choice, the tri-core pillow is also great ( I would recommend the gentle version of this neck pillow).

A traction device to help you get the curve back in the neck is the posture pump 1000. This traction device stretches your neck in the C Curved shape. You can get upwards of 20 lbs of pressure with this traction unit. You have a lay down while you do this. Not only does the traction unit help to get the proper curvature in the spine, it also helps to hydrate the discs as well. Here is a video showing you how to use the posture pump hydrating the discs and helping you get rid of the military neck:



Off course we always suggest at arc4life that you have your cervical spine checked by a doctor to make sure you are cleared for neck traction. A proper consultation, examination and x-rays can help determine what your spine looks like.  These are suggestions for treatment of a militatry neck, but keep in mind there are contra-indications to doing neck traction as well. So check with your Doctor first. 

Additional Reading Resources

• Having a Pinched Nerve in the Neck..What a Pain in the Neck
• How the arc4life traction pillow can help you get the curve in the your c spine
• Understanding how the posture pump 1000 hydrates your discs
• The Different Types of Neck Traction Recommended by Doctors
• How having good neck posture helps you neck pain

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief. Bookmark this on Delicious Stumble It!