What are cervical collars used for?

The purpose of a cervical collar is to support your neck and spinal cord, and to limit the movement of your neck and head. They’re typically meant for short-term use while you recover from an injury, surgery, or pain.

Some conditions that may require the use of a cervical collar include the following:

• Whiplash and trauma. If you’ve been in a car accident or sustained some other kind of injury, like a fall, a cervical collar may protect your neck and prevent further injury.
• Neck surgery. A cervical collar helps to prevent injury after surgery by limiting rotation, as well as side-to-side and back and forth movements.
• Nerve compression. Cervical collars are occasionally used to reduce pressure on the nerves in the neck.
• Cervical spondylosis. A cervical collar may cause temporary relief from pain caused by cervical spondylosis — an age-related condition that’s caused by wear and tear of cartilage and bones in the neck.
• General neck pain or stiffness. A cervical collar may help to take some strain off your neck muscles.

#Tips for wearing a cervical collar

If you need to wear a cervical collar, your healthcare provider will likely give you specific instructions about what you should and shouldn’t do while wearing it.

In general, when wearing a cervical collar, it’s best to:

• Move instead of resting or sitting too much. Gentle movement, like walking, can help prevent your neck muscles from stiffening up. Stiff muscles may prolong your recovery.
• Focus on good posture. Try not to slouch or hunch over. Keep your back straight, shoulders back, head straight with your ears positioned over your shoulders.
• Avoid sitting in soft, low chairs. This can affect your posture and put extra pressure on your neck.
• Avoid lifting or carrying anything heavy. Also avoid strenuous activity, like running, or other high-impact movement.
• Leave your collar on at all times, except when cleaning it or as directed by your healthcare provider.

#How to sleep with a cervical collar

Here are a few tips for sleeping with a cervical collar:

• Make sure your mattress offers good support. A mattress that’s too soft may not give your neck the support you need.
• Try to keep your neck in a neutral position, not bent forward, backward, or to the side.
• Don’t sleep in a twisted position. Try to keep your neck aligned with your body.
• Try sleeping on your back with a thin pillow. Using extra pillows can put extra pressure on your neck.
• To get out of bed, first roll gently onto your side. Then, swing your legs over the side of the bed and push up with your arms.

#How to bathe with a cervical collar

It’s usually easier to take a bath rather than a shower when wearing a cervical collar.

You can bathe as you normally would, but it’s important to keep the cervical collar dry and out of the water. Placing plastic wrap around the collar may help to keep it dry.

If you do take a shower, you may find using a handheld shower nozzle will help to minimize neck bending and movement.

#How to clean a cervical collar

It’s important to wash your collar daily to prevent bacteria growth. Not cleaning your collar frequently can lead to skin irritation if bacteria is allowed to grow.

You can wash most soft collars in a sink with warm water and gentle soap, and then lay the collar out to dry. Don’t use harsh soaps, detergents, or bleach. These may cause a skin reaction.

You can clean hard collars by replacing dirty pads and rinsing the front and back panels.

When you put your cervical collar back on, it’s important that it fits properly. If the collar isn’t tight enough, it can cause your skin to rub, which could lead to pressure sores and irritation.

• Stabilizes the neck and immobilizes the cervical spine
• Restricts cervical spine flexion, extension and rotation
• No hard, bony reinforcement, improves patient comfort. Particularly recommended for geriatric patients and for prolonged use.
• Anatomical design, provides uniform support to the mandible, better fitting and enhanced comfort. Bullet Point
• Perforated collar body improves ventilation, comfort and compliance.