Beginner’s Guide: How to Wear a Neck Brace Correctly

Have you hurt your neck recently? Or suffered trauma from whiplash? If so, a cervical collar is what you need as your companion. This amazing instrument helps to support the neck and spine and restricts head movement until the wound is fully healed.

As bleak as the neck pain may seem, a neck brace that is soft and adjustable can take your neck pain and discomfort away. It also relieves headaches caused by strains and sprains. You can get one neck brace from medical product manufacturers online and experience the utmost comfort during painful moments.

Make sure to wear your neck collar in the right way and follow the instructions of your doctor. Clean your neck brace daily and take extra care when you are engaged in day-to-day activities.

There are 3 ways that help you wear the neck brace in an appropriate way. Let’s discuss it in detail:

1. Practice removing neck brace

Before you get discharged from the doctor’s clinic, practice putting it on and removing it. Repeat this process as many times as you need to master it. Practice brace handling in front of the mirror or any person sitting in front of you so you know you are on the right track.

● When you are back to a sitting position, take a moment to feel the brace’s straps with your fingers. Make yourself familiar with exactly where each strap is.

● Get hold of a single strap at a time and apply gentle force until it releases. Keep repeating this process until all the straps are undone.

● Now, when all the straps are underdone. Put your hand on each side of the brace and pull upwards. Stay still and slowly disconnect the brace from your neck.

● As and when your doctor allows, take off the brace gently. Keep your neck straight and undo the straps. Though you want to move while in the sitting position, try to minimize your body movements by keeping the chin level up.

2. Putting the neck brace on

Make sure you hold your neck still while lying on the bed. The back panel of the brace should be in the middle of the space underneath your neck.

● Now, undo the side straps of the brace and move it along your chest. Keep at it until the top part of the brace touches your chin.

● If the location of the neck collar against your neck doesn’t feel comfortable, pull it and try again until it feels right.

● Attach the 2 pieces of your neck brace together. Continue with each of the straps until the brace is reattached nicely.

● Replace the brace when the doctor asks you to. By sitting on the chair, place the back of the brace in the center of your neck. Until the neck brace is back to its proper position, tighten the one strap at a time.

3. Living normally with a neck brace on

Your doctor would tell you how many days you put it on and also how many hours per day you’d need to wear the brace. Not wearing the brace consistently can slow down your recovery process.

● It is imperative to use a specialty pillow to limit neck movement at night. Some people even sleep in recliners to give the neck more support and stability. Experiment with sleeping and pillow positions and find out what works right for you.

● When you need to shave, it is best to lie down on the floor and shave while keeping the head straight.

● Have at least 2 sets of pads for your brace to regularly replace and clean pads. Gently pull the soiled pads from the inside of the brace. Attach the new set of pads to your brace and reposition it around your neck. Rinse off the soiled pads with warm water and repeat the process every day.

Final words,

Although it is a little challenging to put on the neck brace because of its restrictive nature. In this post, we have tried to simplify it as much as possible. We hope you find this information useful when you sit down to wear a neck brace. On top of that, always follow your doctor’s instructions to experience positive results from wearing a cervical collar.