Neck supports

Neck supports (sometimes called braces) fall into two categories.

• Those that support the neck when active (e.g. standing, sitting or moving around) i.e. collars.
• Those that support the neck when at rest (normally when lying down), i.e. pillows and cushions.

Neck collar

Neck collars can be worn for a number of reasons, the most common of which are to support the head after suffering a trauma like whiplash, neck discomfort or a stiff neck. They can also be worn, or may be prescribed, for arthritis, a slipped disk, neck muscle spasms or any other problem connected with the muscles of the neck or the upper spine.

What a neck collar does is support the head in an upright position and this prevents it from twisting or turning. This can be very beneficial after a neck injury where it is important to allow the muscles to recover and to immobilise the head to prevent further trauma. Many whiplash injuries do not manifest themselves immediately, but over the hours or days following the accident.

When in use the collar simply does what the stabilising muscles of the neck would do with the added benefit of holding the head in a fixed position. The top of the collar is soft and padded which makes it comfortable to wear.

Neck collars come in different sizes and normally have two important measurements.

The first is the height of the collar and this is determined by measuring the distance from the underside of the ear to the collar bone. This measurement is typically classed as shallow through to extra deep and will range from 70mm to 100mm in increments.

The second measure determines the fitting around the neck and this is a simple circumference measurement. This measurement ranges from short to long in incremental jumps.

There are different combinations of these two measurements and it is possible to get collars that fall outside of these standard sizings.

Different collars

Neck collars all do the same thing, but the design, appearance, fitting and degree of support can vary between models. Some are completely rigid whilst others are classed as semi-rigid.

A standard collar is often covered in fabric with the internal support structure (typically polystyrene beads) covered up. This type of collar can usually be washed.

However, some of the more expensive collars allow the plastic frame, which appears on the outside, to be a visible feature. When this is the case the construction of the collar becomes obvious and the cushioning and padding is only used on the inside. Some of these collars have designs that include ventilation, give an extra purchase of the collar on the chest and provide a better fitting around the chin and jaw line.

Most plastic collars will have Velcro (hook and loop) fastenings and soft foam to make fitting, removal and overall comfort key features.

Back to Orthopedic supports, braces and cushions for joints and muscles.

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