How many of us these have heard of “tech neck”?
Most of us know that prolonged use of our devices can cause slouching posture and neck pain, whether it be our mobile phones or from sitting at our computer.
But, can technology also be used to help?
The cervical spine, or neck, has a normal shape that many of us can slowly lose or damage over time. This may be attributed to the gradual buildup of things like injuries, poor posture and the accumulation of hours spent sitting, which may even begin in childhood with all the time we spend seated through our primary and high school years.
This shape is referred to as a neck curve and is important for a variety of reasons. This curve not only acts as a shock absorber and helps support the weight of the head, but it keeps the spine stable, prevents injuries and allows the neck to move freely through a normal range of motion. If this normal curve is lost or becomes abnormal in shape it may be linked to an early onset of arthritis and may negatively affect the ligaments, muscles, bones, nerves, and the spinal cord and cause symptoms.
What is a normal neck supposed to look like?
From the side view, our neck should have a curve that looks a bit like the shape of the brackets symbol your keyboard, and the technical term for this is called a lordosis.
When we are looking at the neck from the side, a curve that measures at about 40 degrees is ideal.
If this curve is lost or damaged, the medical condition is known as forward head posture.
So how do I restore my normal neck curve?
There are thousands of products and devices available to treat neck pain and headaches, and to help restore the normal neck curve. It’s interesting however, that out of all of these products, there appears to be only one that has some research to back up its effectiveness. [1-6] This technology is called Denneroll.
A deceptively simple, pillow-like device, the Cervical & Thoracic Denneroll orthopaedic devices are engineered with curves, angles and ridges extrapolated from evidence-based BioPhysics and cutting edge 3D modelling.
Interestingly, Cervical and Thoracic Denneroll technology appears to be specifically designed to help with neck pain and headaches by restoring the normal neck curve, and helping flatten out the start of a hump in the upper back. [1-6] Unlike other products out there, the Denneroll technology isn't a one size-fits all system, instead there are different sizes and customisable placements of the Cervical and Thoracic units to help account for each individual’s’ body type, flexibility, and location of problems.
So how do I use Dennerol Technology?
This video illustrates how to use Dennerol Technology and with instructions to make it easy.
So, if you are suffering with headaches or neck pain, using technology like Dennerol, combined with hands-on treatment, may be the solution for you. Talk to your health professional today.
Reference:
1.Addition of a Sagittal Cervical Posture Corrective Orthotic Device to a Multimodal Rehabilitation Program Improves Short- and Long-Term Outcomes in Patients With Discogenic Cervical Radiculopathy. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2016 Dec;97(12):2034-2044.
2.Demonstration of Autonomic Nervous Function and Cervical Sensorimotor Control After Cervical Lordosis Rehabilitation: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Athletic Training - Feb 2021
3.The effect of normalizing the sagittal cervical configuration on dizziness, neck pain, and cervicocephalic kinesthetic sensibility: a 1-year randomized controlled study Ibrahim M. European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine 2017 February;53(1):57-71
4.Does improvement towards a normal cervical sagittal configuration aid in the management of cervical myofascial pain syndrome: a 1- year randomized controlled trial. Moustafa et al. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
5.Increase in cerebral blood flow indicated by increased cerebral arterial area and pixel intensity on brain magnetic resonance angiogram following correction of cervical lordosis. Brain Circ. 2019 Jan-Mar; 5(1): 19–26.
6.Does restoration of sagittal cervical alignment improve cervicogenic headache pain and disability: A 2-year pilot randomized controlled trial. Heliyon Volume 7, Issue 3, March 2021, e06467