C-COLLAR: THE FRIENDLY FOE!

Were you so tired last week you forgot to correct your positions? From slouching in your chair to sitting properly?

It is understandable; however if you want to keep the Doctors and Physiotherapists away, you must choose to adhere to these programs.

This week is another time to add more years to your body. Read on to find out how…

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When the use of an intervention is not known, abuse is inevitable.

This singular statement is why we would ask the question - “what do you think you know about the ‘use of cervical collar (C-collar)?’” Perhaps nothing, perhaps you sell it or you administer it to patients; or perhaps you merely see people flaunting the use of the collar while driving or at work. 

That is fair enough.

However, we must address the fact that the use of cervical collar (C-collar) is sometimes not the best means of treatment for individuals with neck pain. We could as well tag it as having a placebo effect, but the fact remains that when worn by an individual with neck pain - it relieves the patient. 

Remember when we were younger and our parents told us a lie to please us? Well, depending on the scenario, for that moment or a few hours later, we feel relieved and happy - until we realize that we were lied to. This is similar to what the C-Collar does to many people; it lies to us. We could rain insults at it and dispose of it because of this; but we tell you, it lied to you for a reason – to make you feel good and happy. 

To cap it, know that C-collars may make you feel better, but will not cure you. 

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Probably wondering why people still use it…

In case we are planning to march forward to yank it off the necks of our parents or relatives, hold on…there is no need. 

Take a deep breath and think about the individuals you have seen on neck collars - do they really need it? 

The appropriate response to this is tricky because while some people genuinely need it, some others are on the verge of endangering themselves to complications from C-collar. We simply need to understand that for some neck conditions, it is paramount to healing; while for others, there is absolutely no need. If needed at all, with physiotherapy interventions - which is what we need to address.

The major reason many people have neck pains and tend to result to C-collar is: bad posture 

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Once again, the issue of posture being the root of many problems comes into play…

Before we continue reading this post, let us take a few seconds break - bend our necks down, up, face the left side, the right side, and finally try to let our ears touch our shoulders. That's all. We needed to relieve ourselves of the accumulating stress we are putting on our necks.

We did that because we know that many of us reading this post have assumed a particular position - perhaps with our heads bent down looking/pressing our phones furiously. Hence, we have forgotten that we are putting a lot of stress on the neck and structures around it - thereby resulting in neck pain. Although neck pain is a subjective experience, it remains complex with a variety of musculoskeletal causes. To be more specific, almost 85% of all neck pain results from acute or repetitive neck injuries or chronic stresses and strain. Check out one of our  previous posts that addressed this. 

Does this then mean that for every neck pain the go to treatment is to procure a C-collar?

An absolute NO! Because neck collars are legitly needed for some neck pain treatments.

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The lie we never knew about…

If C-collar is not the go to treatment, what then is the go to treatment? 

Let us know what you think about in the comment section, but until next week, let our minds roam around with this question - 

What is the way forward?

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to be continued…

Remember: 

• Sit properly

• Stand properly

• Pick up objects with your knees, and keep the Doctors/Physiotherapists away.