Archive for ‘Pillow materials’

Coccyx Cushion

By , 21 January, 2011, No Comment

Orthopedic pillows for a difficult area.
If you suffer from tail-bone or coccyx injury known as coccydynia, it can be extremely painful and it may debilitate you from carrying on with your normal activities. Coccyx is the area in the lower spine and it is easily aggravated. Due to its position healing processes in this area are very slow.

Anatomy of the coccyx

As there is no immediate treatment or fix for this problem, it is only possible to provide symptom relief by supporting the area with coccyx cushions and giving it time to repair itself in a natural manner.
Coccyx cushion is used to eliminate pressure from your coccyx or tailbone and to provide a natural posture by realigning the spine. This cushion is especially useful for driving as it can be used as a car seat cushion to alleviate pressure on the lower spinal discs and tailbone as you drive long distances.
These pillows are designed to prevent back pain and relieve pressure with its unique design where a wedge is specifically cut out where your tailbone rests. This cushion has a seat wedge that offers the right sitting position by tipping your pelvis forward.
There are orthopedic pillows and coccyx cushions available to help you sit for long periods of time in your living room, office, car, boat or stadium without straining your tailbone and spinal discs.
The cushion comes with a seat wedge cut in a unique manner that relieves pressure in the coccyx area.
There are many types, shapes, materials and sizes of coccyx cushions available and you can choose one depending on your specific requirement.

Example of coccyx cushion

Memory foam coccyx cushion is made of visco-elastic memory foam. This type of foam has greater density than normal foams and there provides excellent contouring. Coccyx cushions made of memory foam exactly shapes and molds to your body shape providing maximum comfort. Being sensitive to temperature, memory foam coccyx cushions regain their shape instantly. They are durable and long lasting and provide enhanced continued comfort.

Coccyx cushions are also made of firm foam that is resilient and lesser in density. It offers good comfort when used in combination with padded seats.

Gel coccyx cushions use a layer of foam with a gel cushion. The soft gel portion is useful in pressure and weight distribution and the foam portion offers great stability.

The air coccyx cushion on the other hand comes with a layer of air that helps reduce pressure. This cushion can be made firm or soft by adjusting the amount of air. Air cushions are ideal for short term use and are the most portable cushion types.
Ring cushions come in a different shape. They help reduce pain in the coccyx resulting from symptoms such as bruising, enlarged prostrates and hemorrhoids.
You can choose the size and shape of the cushion depending on your comfort. Relieve stress on your coccyx area and be seated comfortably for a long period of time with the help of high quality coccyx cushions.

Orthopedic pillow. Materials overview.

By , 16 February, 2010, No Comment

Choosing the right material

When it comes to orthopedic pillows the choice of materials is very important. Asthma and allergies sufferers should approach with caution to the classic goose feather pillows  (not orthopedic indeed), comfortable for some but not quite washable and easily colonized by mites.

Standard foam pillows are more hygienic and therefore useful for those suffering from allergic rhinitis however they can result too hot during the summer and may not suit people with neck conditions due to their great rigidity. A good compromise between comfort and hygiene is represented by latex pillows, they are washable and mite-proof however they can still result too rigid for someone.
Microfiber pillows are modern and comfortable. Thanks to the special weaving mesh they allow the redistribution of weights so that they fit the natural curvature of the cervical region. The system is similar to that of a latex mattress that can change the points of pressure to follow the forms of head and neck. In some cases these fibers are equipped with the so-called “anti-mite system”. These synthetic materials are specially designed to repel dust mites, giving more hygienic and restful sleep to those suffering from allergic problems.

Memory foam pillow

Finally the most advanced material on the market is known as memory foam. These pillows, made of a specially designed gel or foam latex, are able to change their shape absorbing the heat emanated by the person using it, moreover they record it for a few seconds, hence memory. When you turn while sleeping, the “memory” is lost in a few seconds and the pillow adapts itself to the new position immediately, so that the pillow fits the head and neck and not vice versa.
Another type of dynamic pillow is the water pillow which conforms to the shape of the head thanks to a special water container within the pillow.
Natural and organic pillows are also very popular, they are usually made with beans or cereals. The presence of biological material helps to make the pillow relaxing and eco-friendly, it is also very cool during the summer.
There isn’t therefore an ideal and universal solution for everyone, the preference of one type over another is purely personal. In general, depending on the products currently available, the best pillow has the following features: easily washable and hypoallergenic, on the top of this, the choice must be dictated by one’s special pain/conditions or sleeping habit. As I will illustrate in the next articles each sleeping habit or pain can be associated to its optimal orthopedic pillow.