Back Support Pillows – An Orthopedic Solution to Back Pain
The ancient healers used to say that our health depends directly on the straightness and flexibility of our spine. Being the ‘core’ of our physical body, the spinal column has to be properly protected in order to ensure a correct functionality of our brain and our internal organs.
Nowadays, many people have lost an essential part of their health-related awareness, including the necessity of keeping their spine in a correct posture, no matter if they walk, sit or sleep. Usually, we remember that we have a back only when it starts hurting.
Sitting for many hours in the same position – for example, at your desk in front of the computer – can gradually lead to slouching, which will inevitably cause back pain and stiffness. Unfortunately, we can’t quit our jobs simply to keep our spine from getting hurt. However, there is a compromise: the back support pillows. Also called backrest pillows, lumbar support pillows or pillows for back pain, these orthopedic devices have an ergonomic shape that naturally supports the healthy curvature of your spine.
You will find many types of orthopedic backrest pillows on the market. Each of them is especially designed to meet some specific needs. Some back pillows are created for car or airplane use, others are appropriate for the office, some are good for reading in bed while others will help you have a relaxed sleep without waking up in the morning with sore and stiff back muscles.
A quality backrest pillow made from a firm material that matches the natural curvature of the spine will not only help you to get rid of tension-related back pain. At the same time, it will gradually correct your posture, reducing the instances of back-related problems.
Let’s make a quick review of the most popular types of back orthopedic pillows.
The lower back support pillow or the lumbar pillow is designed to support the inward curve of the lumbar area. Have you noticed that when you sit in a chair or armchair (or in your car), a gap appears between your lower back and the surface of the chair? This happens because common chairs are not made to support the natural shape of your lower back. If you sit in such a position for several hours (which occurs inevitably to all office workers) you’ll start experiencing tension and pain in your legs and lumbar area. A lumbar support pillow has a rectangular shape with a thick middle region which will fill the gap between your spine and the chair. This way, when you sit in a car or at your desk, this pillow will absorb the forces of gravity that can gradually deform your backbone, offering you comfort and protection.
Lumbar support orthopedic pillows are available in many shapes, designs and materials: simple lumbar backrests that can be attached to a chair by an elastic strap; lumbar rolls that can be placed behind the specific spot in the spine which needs more support; or full contoured back supports (they can be attached to the spine of the chair as well) with a full-length ergonomic shape which maintains the curvature of your entire back.
The wedge orthopedic pillow is shaped like a triangle and can be used in a variety of ways: for sleeping (it’s especially helpful in preventing GERD), for reading in bed, watching TV, elevating the seat of a chair or knee support.
The memory foam back support pillows are made from a heat sensitive material that has the capacity of taking the contours of your body, thus offering you an increased sense of comfort. Memory foam pillows differ in sizes, shapes and designs. They have in common only the material from which they are made. Actually, you can encounter lumbar pillows, wedge pillows, donut pillows and many other types of orthopedic pillows made from memory foam.
The donut pillows are shaped like a donut. They should be placed on the seat of a chair. The hole (or depression) in the center helps reducing the pressure on the tailbone (the coccyx) – reason for these devices to be also called coccyx cushions. This type or orthopedic pillows is useful for people who have suffered from a coccyx injury or for pregnant women. You can find on the market inflatable coccyx cushions which are easy to carry around during travels.
The magnetic back support pillows are usually shaped like a half roll, being made from foam. They have a magnet insert that emits a bio-north magnetic line. Specialists consider that this feature allows such pillows to ease the pain caused by muscle strain or herniated discs.
The mesh back supports are basically back support cushions made from mesh instead of fiber or foam. Such supports allow the air to circulate between the back of the user and the chair, being extremely suitable for hot environments.
The inflatable back support pillows can vary in shape and size, having in common the fact that they can be inflated whenever necessary, which makes them extremely portable.
The back support pillows with arms provide extra comfort while resting in bed, especially when holding a book or a magazine. Besides keeping your back in a comfortable position, they also reduce the tension in your arms.
The V shaped backrest pillows can be used both as reading/watching TV pillows and maternity pillows. They will cradle your back and neck whenever you relax in bed or on the couch with a book. They can also be fitted around the front of a breastfeeding mother, being an excellent alternative for nursing pillows.
If you’re wondering about the price of an orthopedic pillow for back pain, the good news is that these devices are usually affordable. For as little as $30 you can find good quality lumbar rolls or supports, the price going up as the back pillows become more sophisticated (reaching $100-$200 for full-back support cushions).
