Adequate rest and sleep are crucial for our wellness. They influence both our physical and mental health. But what do you do when your neck or backache is so intense that it disturbs your sleep? You turn to orthopedic pillows for help.
However, choosing the wrong one will not only result in you still being tired and aching, but it can also make your condition worse. So, how do you choose the best cervical pillows?
Various factors need to be considered before deciding on a specific purchase. Our guide explains them in detail, so keep scrolling to learn how to make an informed choice.
What Is a Cervical Pillow?
A cervical, or neck support pillow, keeps your neck in a neutral position. It lifts it to a proper height while you sleep on your back or side, keeping it aligned with your spine.
Neck Pain and Sleep
The neck is a delicate part of the body that can get hurt easily. Up to 50% of middle-aged people suffer from neck pain. It can be caused by injuries, arthritis, working sedentary jobs, and so on.
Neck pain and stiffness can make sleep incredibly uncomfortable, and irregular sleep can further influence our overall health quality. The best cervical neck pillows can help alleviate some (or all) of that unpleasantness.
Benefits of a Cervical Pillow
There are many reasons you should switch to an ergonomic pillow, but the most common ones include:
- Pain relief. A cervical pillow provides support to areas that need it the most. It’ll help ease your headache, reduce muscle cramping and neck stiffness, alleviate neck and back pain, and improve your sleep quality.
- Improved posture. Since cervical contour pillows provide excellent support, they’ll prevent you from developing bad posture.
- Greater comfort. The majority of such pillows are far more comfortable than traditional ones because they’re specially designed to conform to your body’s shape.
- Better overall health. As we mentioned, poor or insufficient sleep influences your health. Sleeping on a pillow tailored to your needs will help boost your health.
What to Consider when Choosing the Best Cervical Pillow
Purchasing a pillow is typically not a decision people overthink. The majority simply goes for fluffiness and softness, not realizing how many issues sleeping on the wrong pillow can cause.
To get the best cervical neck pillow for you and your family, focus on the following aspects.
Pillow Loft
The height (loft) of the pillow will determine the angle at which your head will rest compared to your spine. If too high or too low, a pillow can put your neck at an unnatural angle, consequently straining it and causing you discomfort.
So, when choosing the best contour neck pillow, consider the size of your head and shoulder width. If you’re unsure which size would suit you the most, opt for a pillow with an adjustable loft.
Support
Besides keeping your neck properly aligned with your spine, an excellent cervical pillow should provide your head and neck with sufficient support. Cervical pillows usually contour the neck nicely and leave no space unsupported, but it’s always a good idea to try out a given pillow first (if you can) to be sure.
Firmness
A pillow’s firmness is essential for determining where your head will rest. It mainly depends on the weight of your head, pillow loft, and your sleeping position.
The best cervical pillow for a side sleeper should be thick and firm to keep the neck at a comfortable, natural angle. On the other hand, back sleepers should go for a medium-firm pillow to support their neck but let the head rest. Finally, stomach sleepers should choose a thin pillow to prevent their neck from straining.
Pressure Relief
The best cervical support pillow should contour the neck, alleviating pressure points, and take the strain off the neck. A pillow of appropriate shape and size for your sleeping position and body will provide adequate pressure relief and ease aches.
Shape
Cervical pillows come in different shapes: curved, contour, trapeze centered, v-shaped, pillows with wedge extensions, etc. The shape you opt for will mostly depend on your personal preference. However, make sure it supports your neck and provides relief. Also, don’t forget to check user reviews to see if a given pillow changes shape over time.
Resilience and Durability
We’re all aware that one pillow won’t last you forever. But you want it to last as long as possible and give you your money’s worth. The shelf life depends on the pillow’s overall quality. The quality of the material and stuffing density will significantly influence the life of your pillow.
The best cervical pillows usually come with a warranty that lasts a couple of years, or a good return (and replacement) policy. To avoid buying another cervical pillow in a couple of months, try to choose a company that offers a satisfaction guarantee or a generous warranty.
Materials
Cervical pillows are usually made from latex, foam, memory foam, or polyester fiber. They all have their pros and cons, the details of which you can usually get acquainted with by reading user reviews online.
Whichever product you decide to get, make sure it’s high-quality to ensure it’ll last long.
Cervical Pillow Reviews
Selecting a pillow is a very individual thing since each person has their own preferences and needs. So it’s unrealistic to expect someone else to tell you what exactly is best for you.
However, customer reviews can often reveal what you can expect from a certain company and their pillows. Go through forums and independent reviews, like ours, to determine what people who have tested a specific product think about it. You can also discover a lot about companies and their behavior toward customers.
Price-to-Quality Ratio
Affordable doesn’t automatically translate to poor quality, and it also goes the other way around. Buying the best contour pillow doesn’t have to break your bank. Sure, prices can vary depending on the material type, quality, and overall design. Just make sure that the pillow you choose provides you with what’s promised.