Can the U-shaped pillow necessary for travel and work protect the cervical vertebra?

U-shaped pillow is patented by 1929, also known as "inflatable travel pillow" and "travel artifact", which provides support for the head and neck and keeps them naturally stretched. After so many years, countless users have added various functions such as heating, deformation and inflation, and the basic shape has not been greatly adjusted. Mary Connor, director of the Musculoskeletal Care Center of Yale University and professor of orthopedics and rehabilitation, said that there is no clinical data showing that the U-shaped pillow can really reduce neck pressure or neck discomfort; Of course, it does not rule out that some consumers can really help them fall asleep and achieve the effect of relieving fatigue, but it depends on the way of use. Connor said that many travelers fall asleep in a very strange posture and worry about their necks when they wake up, which has a certain protective effect on their U-shaped pillows, but it depends on the way they use them.

Whether it can really support the neck, the ideal pillow should be to keep the head and neck aligned with the spine in a neutral position, so that you will not lean forward or backward too much and lean to one side; But there is only one kind of pillow, and it is difficult to satisfy everyone. Yu, deputy chief physician of the Department of Orthopaedics, Peking University First Hospital, told Sohu Health reporter that the evaluation of whether the U-shaped pillow is easy to use can only be said to vary from person to person.

Everyone's neck is different, but pillows cannot be customized. Some people don't wear it properly, so they need the strength of the neck to help them support and aggravate their fatigue. Some people have thick necks, oppressive feelings and poor breathing, which affects blood circulation. The softness of pillow material and surface material will also give people different feelings.

Yu said that to evaluate whether the U-shaped pillow really suits you, besides feeling comfortable, we should also pay attention to its influence on the cervical spine. The easiest way is to see if your shoulders can stick to the back of the chair when you are resting, so as to achieve the effect of average stress. If your shoulders can't fit, then this pillow will make you sit and relax, so you may feel more tired when you sit and sleep. Some people sleep on their stomachs on the plane, so it is also an option to use this pillow to hold their heads high.