An Easy Way to Stretch the Neck

One thing that makes a product great is easy-ability of use. This is why I like the Trac-Collar. Also, you can do it sitting up. If you're a multi-tasker like me, you can even read or watch tv if you like. Here's a video on how easy it is to do this kind of neck traction.

This type of neck stretcher can yield a lot of relief for someone who suffers from a herniated disc, bulging disc, spinal stenosis, degeneration of the spine or a pinched nerve in the neck.

 

 Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.

Additional Reading Resources:

• Herniated Disc in the Neck
• Neck Pain Relief: Neck Traction Devices that really work
• A closer look at neck traction
• I've been getting neck pain, What could it be?
• Using the trac collar in conjunction with the arc4life pillow for spinal stenosis

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Strain of the Upper Back…What Can I Do?

Upper Back Pain can be common in athletes
and for people who work on the computer

Upper back pain can be common with athletes who work out with weights (muscle strain), and for people who work on a computer or at a desk daily (poor posture). This can put stress on the upper back area causing pain, muscle spasms, tightness and an overall a feeling of discomfort.

One of the best things to do in this case is use a neck pillow. What you’ll notice, I’ll bet, is that even though the pain may be between the shoulder blades or up closer to the shoulder, it is made worse by moving your neck. Not only that your neck range of motion may be limited.

We need to align the neck as good as possible because nerves that exit between neck vertebrae mainly supply the upper back. For example- your trapezius muscle, which is a large muscle that covers a good portion of the back of the neck and upper back is mainly innervated by cervical nerves. What does this mean? Well, it tells us we need to keep the neck nerves free from pressure for the upper back to work like it should.

This is exactly what a neck pillow is designed to do. With arc4life's cervical traction pillow, not only does it align the neck but it also gives a gentle neck stretch opening up the nerve holes, and releasing more pressure.

So even if you have pain lower down, look to the neck spine for issues also. It may be the reason for your pain and has been going unnoticed.

Additonal Reading You May Find Interesting

• Neck Pain While at the Gym
• Arc4life’s Spine-Worx Posture system helps maintain spinal alignment!
• The Dreaded Hunchback - How to Correct That Area of Your Upper Back That Pops Out and Looks Funny!
• Arc4life's Cervical Traction Neck Pillow
• Which Neck Pillow is Right for Me
  Pain in the Upper Trapezius Muscle

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.




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True Neck Traction with the Pronex Pneumatic traction unit

REAL NECK TRACTION – USING THE PRONEX PNEUMATIC TRACTION DEVICE- UNDERSTANDING NECK TRACTION
To start there are 2 kinds of neck traction. One that essentially just stretches you. This would be like a neck brace or over the door device or an air bubble type around the neck. This is similar to someone pulling your head upwards.
Doing this does open up the IVF’s which are your intervertebral foramen where the nerve roots exit off The spinal cord and travel outward branching out to more nerves going to various parts of the body. This type of traction gives short term relief, opening up the nerve holds temporarily taking pressure off the nerves and reducing inflammation. This traction also helps hold the neck in place so it heals better in someone with a trauma who cannot move their neck.
The kind of neck traction most people need and should use is traction that gives a gentle stretch about also restores the curvature in the neck.
The Normal “C” curve of the neck allows for the proper IVF spacing (in other words- space for the nerve roots to exit without any pressure). Having the normal neck curvature helps keep pressure of the nerves long term. This way pain goes away and stays away.
The Pronex neck traction device is the top of the line real neck traction to restore the neck curvature and help get rid of neck pain and other unwanted symptoms of pressure on your neck nerves.
The vast majority of neck pain sufferers and even headache sufferers can benefit tremendously from the use of this type of traction. The normal curve of the cervical spine is a huge piece to the puzzle of staying healthy and removing neck pain and other related symptoms.
The posture pump 1000 is also very good at restoring the neck curvature and when combined with neck stretches and exercises and other natural pain relief methods and muscle relaxing. Check out the The Neck Pain Relief Kit for fast and long lasting relief.

Visit us online at Arc4life.com


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True Neck Traction - The Right Kind Of Neck Traction For Long Term Pain Relief

Many people get traction at a therapist’s office or do home traction. One kind of traction is where the neck basically only gets stretched. The other is where you get stretched but also it helps restore the neck curvature.

In the neck there should be a 40-60 degree C curvature. This is the best position for the neck spine because it leaves the spinal cord relaxed and all of the nerves can travel out of the back of the spine with no pressure or interference.

True neck traction is traction where the goal is to restore the cervical curvature because this can be a long term fix for nerve pressure and neck problems like pain and muscle tension.

Traction where the head is simply stretched is a short term fix. Often the most common type is “overhead traction” or “over the door traction”. This is where some sort of harness is strapped onto your neck or head and there is a weight on the other end of the harness (usually over a door) creating the pull. Sometimes it’s done with small weights, or a water bag. This is similar to having someone gently pull upward on your head. It gives temporary relief.

By using true neck traction you can get relief that will last much longer. It has been said that any loss of the normal neck curvature is classified as a misalignment or subluxation of the spine. Any misalignment or subluxation puts pressure on nerves. Even a tiny misalignment can take away that nerve or those nerves’ ability to send the brains message to that particular part of the body.

This is why neck traction is often used by only people in pain and discomfort a lot of the time, but also used by people who show no symptoms of neck pain or soreness and the like.

A simple lateral x-ray of someone’s neck can show us what their neck curvature looks like.
Otherwise looking at one’s posture from the side can tell us a lot. The middle of the ear should approximately line up with the middle of the shoulder. A vertical line should be able to be drawn between these two points.

If it doesn’t line up then it’s another case of the dreaded “forward head posture”. If that head is protruded out forward there is a great chance there’s loss of some of the adequate neck curvature and alignment.


One day of working on the computer or reading with your head down most likely won’t change your neck curvature but prolonged poor posture or a whiplash type injury can.

Take the football quarterback example. The quarterback gets sacked, hit from behind as he was about to throw. His back arches back, his neck arches back, as he is hit at the torso level. Then his body is flung forward as the momentum and force of the tackler moves in that direction. His neck whips back, forward, and then back again as he hits the ground (“whiplash”). So the quarterback’s spine was completely contorted, but he gets up, brushes himself of, and his spine shifts back into place.

The body is pretty amazing! A lot of the time it will shift right back into alignment. Sometimes, however, the spine doesn’t go back into place and we now have a misalignment. This can be of solely one vertebra (back bone) or most often, a group of the segments or vertebrae of the spine.

With loss of the neck curve (cervical lordosis) it’s often a group of segments that are misaligned. Again, this can happen through some kind of trauma, like taking a hard tackle to getting rear ended in your car. And it doesn’t always take much force at all actually. The loss of neck curvature can also be due to poor postural habits over time. Things like working on a computer multiple hours a day without a break; or continuous reading with your head down; or long drives that are stressful, to give a few examples.

This is why neck traction is so often used now. It’s the best way to restore the neck alignment to what it should be. Correcting the curvature takes pressure of the nerves, reduces the inflammation, and relaxes the muscles. Neck traction not only helps people that have had trauma to the neck and clearly have sever neck pain, but it also helps prevent unwanted neck problems from arising.

Dr Matt Bellinger is a Chiropractor in Connecticut. He has written many articles on how to easily and naturaly relieve pain, and has helped hundred of patients in his clinic end their neck and back pain. He recommends specific pain relief and posture improving products at http://www.arc4life.com. Read more articles related to neck pain and cervical neck traction here. He recommends the Pronex Cervical Traction Unit for his patients home traction use. This neck traction device creates an even distraction in the anterior and posterior cervical discs while supporting the cervical curve. It is a lightweight, simple to use, pneumatic device that has revoultionized the at-home cervical traction unit.

Source: Ezine Articles: http://ezinearticles.com/?True-Neck-Traction---The-Right-Kind-Of-Neck-Traction-For-Long-Term-Pain-Relief&id=758533

A Deeper Look at Cervical Neck Traction Systems

What is the Difference between the Pronex Cervical traction Unit and the Posture Pump 1000?

Pronex Cervical Traction Unit
Summary
The Pronex Pneumatic Cervical Traction unit is special because it cradles the reclining patient's head and neck on two soft foam cushions. One cushion supports the occiput (base of the head) and the other rests against the upper trapezius (upper shoulder area). An air-inflated bellows between them and provides more than 20 lbs of continuously adjustable traction. As the bellows expands, it lifts the head upward supporting the cervical curve and maintaining an even distraction (stretch) in the anterior (front) and posterior (back) cervical discs. Patients have total control over the amount of traction applied. Squeezing an inflator bulb increases the pressure, a release knob gently reduces it. There's no strain on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Type of traction:
The Pronex Pneumatic Cervical tractin unit provides an even distraction in the anterior and posterior cervical discs

Amount of Pounds of Pressure that can Be Applied:
With the Pronex traction unit, An air-inflated bellows between them is capable of providing up to 35 lbs of continuously adjustable traction.
Sizes Available:
Regular, Large, X-Large
What are the Pronex Sizes: :

Regular	14" to 16" neck	Regular fits 65% of the general population and most women.
Large	17" to 18" neck	Large fits 33% of the general population and most men.
Wide	19" to 21" neck	Wide fits 2%. It is for patients with necks like football players.

• Most women of typical height, weight and neck size, 14" - 16" will be comfortable in a Regular. When in doubt, order the Large size.
  
• Most men of typical height, weight and neck size, 17" - 18", will be comfortable in a Large. When in doubt, order the Large size.
  
• An individual, man or woman, having large shoulders and neck, or having a "bull" or short neck, usually a neck size greater than 18", will likely be most comfortable using a Wide Pronex.

Do the devices allow for relaxation of the muscles around the temporomandibular joint and the posterior cervical region?
Yes
Indications for use:

• Pain or stiffness when moving neck
  
• Numbness in hand(s) or arm(s)
  
• Tingling in hand(s) or arms(s)
  
• Weakness in hand(s) or arms(s)
  
• Pain or numbness in shoulders
  
• Pain or numbness in chest
  
• Pain between shoulders
  
• Muscle spasms in neck or shoulders

For More Information:
Pronex Pneumatic Cervical Traction System


Pronex Cervical Traction System, Click here for more information

---

Cervical Traction Posture Pump 1000

Summary
The Posture Pump® Cervical Traction Posture Pump 1000 is a unique and simple looking device which can be inflated to extend and stretch the cervical spine. It can be localized low, mid or upper cervical spine. The Cervical Traction Posture Pump carefully lifts and separates the neck and back joints in a unique way. Traction, hanging devices, massage units, vibrators, special pillows and regular exercise cannot. Special expanding air cells angled into the spine activate the "bellows or sponge-like" function of the discs, producing a warm, relaxed feeling through the neck and back. Patented up and down motion reinforces the spine's natural "c" curve shape and promotes joint lubrication, joint nutrition, flexibility and the correct posture.
Amount of Pounds of Pressure that can Be Applied:
An air-inflated bellows between them is capable of providing up to 8 PSI
Sizes Available:
The Posture Pump Neck Traction Unit comes in only one Size
Do the devices allow for relaxation of the muscles around the temporomandibular joint and the posterior cervical region?
Yes
Do the devices allow for relaxation of the muscles around the temporomandibular joint and the posterior cervical region?
If you have TMJ weakness or pain, relocate the restraint into forward open slots and remove the chin restraints
For More Information:
Cervical Traction Posture Pump 1000

Posture Pump 1000 Information, Click Here for more information

Please consult with a medical professional prior to using any neck traction device

May/June Newsletter Arc4life.com

ARC4LIFE – HEALTHY SLEEP HEALTHY LIFE
May/ June 2007
In This Issue

1. Article- Mild brain injuries linked to sleep disorders
   
2. Inspirational Quote
   
3. Inspirational Story
   
4. Featured Product on Arc4life.com- Cervical Traction Posture Pump 1000 with $5 dollar discount code attached

Hello everyone! Welcome to Arc4Life’s Healthy Sleep- the online newsletter to help you with neck or back pain, proper posture, and sleeping comfortably. Get health tips for how to reduce pain, sleep better, and maintain a healthy spine.

1. Article - Mild brain injuries linked to sleep disorders
   NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Experiencing a mild traumatic brain injury may increase the risk of developing a sleep disorder, and a good portion of these appear to be based on disturbances in the body's normal circadian rhythm, according to the results of a new study.
   "As many as 40 to 65 percent of patients with minor traumatic brain injury complain of insomnia," Dr. L. Ayalon, of the University of California, San Diego, and colleagues write in the medical journal Neurology.
   In a small study of patients with minor traumatic brain injury, who were also suffering from insomnia, Ayalon's team found that about one third of the patients had circadian rhythm sleep disorders.
   The researchers examined the physiologic and behavioral characteristics related to circadian rhythm in 42 patients who sustained mild traumatic brain injuries and were having problems with insomnia.
   Circadian rhythm sleep disorders are disturbances in the 24-hour sleep and wake cycle, which may be related to abnormalities in neurological mechanisms or triggered by changes in an individual's schedule.
   The subjects underwent a variety of tests, including melatonin and temperature measurements, and imaging tests. They were also evaluated overnight in a sleep laboratory and completed a questionnaire to determine the time of day they felt the most awake, or their "circadian preference."
   Fifteen of the 42 patients (36 percent) were diagnosed with a circadian rhythm sleep disorder. Eight subjects had a delayed sleep phase syndrome and seven had an irregular sleep-wake pattern.
   All eight patients with delayed sleep phase syndrome had a 24-hour regular temperature rhythm, but only four patients with irregular sleep-wake patterns displayed a similar daily rhythm.
   Patients in the irregular sleep-wake pattern group also had a smaller range of 24-hour temperature rhythm compared with those in the delayed sleep phase syndrome group. The authors note that the patients described their wake-sleep patterns that fit the clinical diagnosis they received. For example, the majority of patients diagnosed with delayed sleep phase syndrome rated themselves as "definitely an evening type," usually an indication of delayed sleep phase syndrome, Ayalon's team reports.
   Conversely, patients diagnosed with an irregular sleep-wake pattern tended to classify themselves as "neither evening nor morning type," which "is most compatible with the irregular sleep-wake pattern, which lacks a clear circadian rhythm of sleep-wake cycle."
   SOURCE: Neurology, April 2007.
   
   
   
2. Inspirational Quote
   
   “The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.”- e. e. cummings
   
   
3. Inspirational Story
   A Million Dollar Lesson by: Petey Parker, Heart At Work
   A cab driver taught me a million dollar lesson in customer satisfaction and expectation. Motivational speakers charge thousands of dollars to impart his kind of training to corporate executives and staff. It cost me a $12 taxi ride.
   I had flown into Dallas for the sole purpose of calling on a client. Time was of the essence and my plan included a quick turnaround trip from and back to the airport. A spotless cab pulled up. The driver rushed to open the passenger door for me and made sure I was comfortably seated before he closed the door. As he got in the driver's seat, he mentioned that the neatly folded Wall Street Journal next to me was for my use. He then showed me several tapes and asked me what type of music I would enjoy. Well! I looked around for a "Candid Camera!" Wouldn't you? I could not believe the service I was receiving! I took the opportunity to say, "Obviously you take great pride in your work. You must have a story to tell."
   "You bet," he replied, "I used to be in Corporate America. But I got tired of thinking my best would never be good enough. I decided to find my niche in life where I could feel proud of being the best I could be. I knew I would never be a rocket scientist, but I love driving cars, being of service and feeling like I have done a full day's work and done it well. I evaluate my personal assets and... wham! I became a cab driver. One thing I know for sure, to be good in my business I could simply just meet the expectations of my passengers. But, to be GREAT in my business, I have to EXCEED the customer's expectations! I like both the sound and the return of being 'great' better than just getting by on 'average'"
   Did I tip him big time? You bet! Corporate America's loss is the traveling folk's friend!
   
4. Featured Product - The Cervical Traction Posture Pump 1000
   
   
   
   Cervical Traction Posture Pump 1000
   
   How does the Cervical Traction Posture Pump 1000 WORK ?
   
   The Cervical Traction Posture Pump 1000carefully lifts and separates the neck and back joints in a unique way. Traction, hanging devices, massage units, vibrators, special pillows and regular exercise cannot. Special expanding air cells angled into the spine activate the "bellows or sponge-like" function of the discs, producing a warm, relaxed feeling through the neck and back. Patented up and down motion reinforces the spine's natural "c" curve shape and promotes joint lubrication, joint nutrition, flexibility and the correct posture.
   
   Who Does the Cervical Traction Posture Pump benefit ?
   Anyone who works on the computer for long periods. These people carry a forward Head Carriage which puts a lot of pressure on the cervical spine. It is the the most common cause of neck and upper back fatigue and tension. It is for anyone who drives a great deal and has to deal with the stress of driving for long periods. Also for anyone who is constantly in a Forward-Flexed Position. These foward flexed head postions force the natural curve out of the neck and promote poor posture. Side-Flexed Neck Positions also can cause stiffness and spasm. Especially when you fall asleep on the couch. Finally for any person who spends a lot of time on the telephone.
   
   
   Read more about the Cervical Traction Posture pump by Clicking here
   
   
   Special Discount: $5.00 use code: 5offPP (expires June 15th, 2007). Go to Arc4life to order your Cervical Traction Posture Pump 1000 today
   

"I first used the posture pump at a chiropractic office. I onlylused it 2 times per week and noticed an improvement in my posture. My head was more in line with my body instead of being forward. As a physical therapist, I think this pump is a good way to restore the normal curve we should have in our necks. I have used it with one patient at my office so far who had significant decrease in pain"

Jodee, 2/18/2007

That's all for this month's newsletter
Sleep Tight!
Dr. Matt
Arc4life.com
Email us at Arc4life.com