What are Orthopedic Pillows?
An orthopedic pillow is simply a support that is designed to relieve pain or stress on some portion of your body or your entire body. Simply put they must provide some sort of therapeutic value to be labeled orthopedic.
Unlike regular foam or feather sleeping pillows, they are made from materials that are less easily crushed and reshaped by simple use. Some are even filled with water. They come in a variety of shapes, wedges, horseshoes, doughnut, and even some look like the upper portion of a chair. The shape depends on what part of the body they are made to help.
Cervical
Cervical or contour pillows are designed to adapt to the head neck and shoulders providing support for these areas and helping to relieve neck pain, headaches, and frozen shoulders.
They usually come in two styles. The wedge which starts narrow at the bottom and is wider at the top. It provides support for the neck and head, and elevates the top of the body slightly making breathing easier.
The second of these cervical head supports is either circular looking a bit like a doughnut or longer. Both versions have an indention for the head and a slightly raised area that supports the neck.
These orthopedic supports are especially helpful for people who suffer from chronic neck pain and need the extra support that the raised part lends to the neck.
Travel
Travel pillows are horseshoe in shape and are designed to keep the neck straight when sleeping in an upright position, such as when traveling by car or bus. They are considered 'orthopedic' because they support the neck, keeping it from falling to the side, and thus preventing possible injury to soft tissue of the neck.
Lumbar
They are designed to give support to the lower lumbar region of the back. They are generally wedged shaped and can be designed to support just the lower back or the the entire back.
Reading pillows are specially designed to support the back while sitting up in bed. They relieve strain on the back while reading or watching television in bed.
Knee
They come in two basic shapes. The first is an hourglass or bone shaped orthopedic knee support that you can place between your knees while sleeping on your side and helps keep the body properly aligned.
The second kind of knee pillow looks a bit like a ramp and is designed to keep the legs elevated thus improving the flow of blood in the body. People suffering from edema find that this type reduces ankle and feet swelling.
Body
They are designed to give support to the entire body, particularly the neck, lower back and shoulders. They usually conform to your bodies shape which allows support for the indented parts of the body that are most likely to suffer strain while sleeping.
All orthopedic pillows are designed to provide for a painless sleep and better rest. Choosing one that is right for you is an individual decision.
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