Using a cervical collar for any type of neck injury which results from some kind of road accident, sport activity or sudden impact on the neck. During the injury, a person experiences a sharp pain or discomfort while performing a small movement.
It affects the daily comfort of the individual. Usually doctors recommend a cervical collar to the patient so they can get relief from this constant neck pain.
Nowadays we have seen the advancement in the designs of neck collars which provides more comfort and support from the previous ones. However, many people lack the knowledge about the new features of the neck collar.
Therefore in this blog we will talk about what a cervical collar is, why modern cervical collar designs are better than old ones, key features of modern design and how choosing the right collar helps you to get an idea about modern designs and aids in selecting the right soft cervical collar for your neck injury.
What is Cervical Collar?
A cervical collar is a medical device which is made in such a manner that it provides constant support to the neck area while also helps in reducing the unwanted neck movement by immobilizing the cervical spine.
These pair well with medicines and promote faster healing. These collars provide eyelets and breathable fabric that make it comfortable for wearing it for a longer period of time and prevent the user from any kind of skin irritation.
Why are Modern Designs better?
This era has seen a betterment in the designs of neck collars. Previous collars often caused discomfort to the user whenever they were worn for a longer period of time due to lack of ventilation, limited adjustability and heavier materials.
But the modern designs are now much focused on the both comfort and effectiveness of the collar. New collars are made from light weight materials, breathable fabric, contoured design and adjustable straps to adjust according to our preference that provide more comfort and support to the neck while doing daily activities than the previous designs.
Key Features
Modern design comes with some key features that make it more comfortable for wearing it for a longer time. These are some key features:
Contoured Design
Previous designs are not molded to match neck shape that makes it uncomfortable for wearing it for a long period of time and would not provide support to the user throughout the day.
While the new design’s main feature is its ergonomic design, which is molded in such a way that it matches with the natural shape of the neck and jaw that makes it comfortable for wearing for an extended period of time and provides support throughout the day.
Lightweight Materials
Old neck collars are formed from heavy weight materials that increase the risk of unwanted stress on the neck and jaw areas that can further increase the pain.
New designs are designed with lightweight materials that help in reducing the extra strain on the neck and jaw area while providing the proper support.
Breathable Fabric
The old collars are not being made from breathable fabric that increases the risk of skin irritation, rashes and discomfort that makes it unsuitable for wearing it for longer periods of time.
A new design is made from the breathable fabric and has eyelets in the collar that helps maintain the proper air circulation beneath the collar that helps prevent discomfort and skin irritation.
Adjustable Fit
Earlier neck collars do not have any adjustability in their neck collar and follows one size fits all theory which is very wrong as some people find it hard to get the perfect fit neck collar and they end up purchasing wrong size collars that cause discomfort or other problems.
While new designs come with adjustable straps that help the user to adjust as per their preference and provides the maximum comfort to them.
Easy Maintenance
Old designs do not come with washable covers that make it hard for the user to maintain the hygiene of the collar and can cause skin irritation.
New designs come with washable covers that help the user to regularly clean the collar to keep good hygiene of the collar and prevent any kind of skin irritation.
Selecting the Right Collar
Consider these following points while choosing the right soft cervical collar:
- First and foremost is to select the right size neck collar.
- It should come with a breathable fabric and eyelets in it to prevent skin irritation.
- A collar should come with adjustable straps and ergonomic design.
- The fabric of the collar should be skin friendly and have a washable cover to maintain the hygiene.
Wrapping Up
Usually people opt for a cervical collar whenever they are going through any neck injury because during the injury even a small movement triggers a sharp pain or ache in the neck.
So a neck collar helps in reducing the unnecessary movement by immobilizing the cervical spine while also providing constant support to the neck.
But earlier designs of the neck collar have various side effects that make it uncomfortable for wearing it for a longer period of time. However with advancements in technology new designs offer more comfort and medical effectiveness than the old ones.
Having a knowledge about why modern designs are better, key features that makes modern design more comfortable like ergonomic design, breathable fabric, lightweight material and some points to select the right collar helps the user to get an idea of new designs and helps them to pick the right collar so that they can experience more comfort and support during their healing journey.
