| Pillows go back to ancient times and references can | | | | Many new types of materials are now used to |
| be found in Egyptian tombs as well as in Greek | | | | manufacture the modern pillow. They may include |
| Temples. They were used by the wealthy and in fact | | | | foam, rubber, foam that has an inbuilt "memory" and |
| were made of luxurious materials. The Chinese and | | | | conforms to the shape of the individual and then |
| Japanese also used pillows but they were often | | | | holds this shape. Some newer pillows such as the |
| made of a block of wood or stone. | | | | Back Vitalizer (a new Canadian invention) actually |
| We cannot imagine using these as they would be | | | | contains air in a polyurethane casing. |
| very uncomfortable. Over the centuries pillows were | | | | In our chiropractic office we offer a range of pillows |
| made from a linen case filled with feathers from birds. | | | | which have support for the head and neck as well as |
| These feathers could be hen's feathers but the | | | | supporting the upper back. The aim of these newer |
| wealthy filled their pillows with smaller and finer | | | | types of pillows is to prevent neck strain and upper |
| feathers such as swan and goose feathers. The | | | | trapezius muscles from being continually in spasm, |
| smaller the size of the feathers, the more | | | | resulting inchronic headaches and neck pain. |
| comfortable the pillow and the easier one could | | | | They come in a range of sizes and one can be found |
| "scrunch" it up around one's neck and shoulders. | | | | to suit both the smaller and the larger patient. The |
| In more recent times, chiropractic research has found | | | | ancient Egyptian and Greek as well as the ancient |
| that just the opposite type of pillow is required if we | | | | Chinese and Japanese who used blocks of wood and |
| are to avoid tight sore necks and headaches on | | | | stone would have woken up with severe headaches |
| waking each morning. This research has shown that | | | | and neck pain. |
| the older, softer pillows, do not provide the | | | | They would not recognize the wonderfully |
| necessary support to the head, neck and upper | | | | comfortable pillows that we are able to enjoy in our |
| thoracic spine. | | | | modern times. |
| These areas of the body are very important in our | | | | Ask your chiropractor for the right size and material |
| daily posture and need to be supported correctly | | | | to suit your neck. Smaller women may use a smaller |
| during the many hours that we sleep each night. In | | | | profile and even children are best to use a small |
| fact, we spend almost the same number of hours in | | | | version from 3-4 years onwards. You should avoid |
| bed as we do in the office! Imagine the c-shaped or | | | | sleeping on your stomach and turning your head to |
| concave curves of the neck. This curve, called a | | | | one side. If you are waking up with a stiff, sore |
| lordotic curve, needs maintaining and support, hence | | | | neck, think about how long you have had your pillow |
| the contoured or postural pillow that chiropractors | | | | and the relative height of it to the space between |
| recommend. | | | | your neck and shoulder. |