Orthopedic collar: how to choose and wear it correctly

Shants collars can be used not only for the treatment of pathologies of the neck and cervical spine. These orthopedic devices can be an excellent measure to prevent the development of diseases (for example, for older people or people who sit most of the day).

In some cases, wearing a Shants neck brace is not enough and the doctor may prescribe the use of a Philadelphia-type collar for more thorough fixation of the spine. This professional neck brace is to be worn only as prescribed by a doctor.

Wearing a Philadelphia bandage is indicated for the following pathologies:

• postoperative period after interventions on the cervical spine;
• stable cervical fractures;
• cervical radiculopathy;
• displacement of the cervical vertebrae;
• excessive mobility of the cervical spine.

The design of the Philadelphia neck brace is a splint that rests on the patient’s shoulders. The upper part of the product supports the back of the head and lower jaw. As a result, this type of fixator prevents extension and flexion of the cervical spine, and displacement of the vertebrae becomes impossible.

The Philadelphia bandage consists of two parts - front and back. They are connected to each other using reliable fasteners. Most often, Velcro is used for these purposes. In addition, this model, similar to a neck corset, has a hole for installing a tracheostomy, since operations on this part of the spine are often accompanied by the installation of a tube into the trachea.

The Philadelphia neck brace does not interfere with examinations such as X-rays and MRIs. It is made of durable and lightweight material, which is polyurethane foam with hypoallergenic properties. It contains no latex. Thanks to this modern material, the weight of the orthopedic product does not exceed 120 grams, and it does not provoke fogging of the skin. It is comfortable to sleep and take a shower or bath.

There is another type of neck braces - inflatable

. These devices are used for preventive purposes only. A product of this type is a belt with air cavities, with clamps and a cap for inflation. The product reduces the load on the chin and chest due to the clamps present on the structure. A small mobile pump is used to inflate the bandage.

How to choose a neck brace?

When purchasing a neck brace, you should make sure that

that the model is suitable for a particular clinical case. That is why, before purchasing a particular model, you should consult your doctor. He will tell you in detail how to choose a Shants collar for an adult or child.

Wearing the Philadelphia bandage is prescribed exclusively by a doctor. Only a specialist can take correct measurements to select the appropriate orthopedic device of this type.

When purchasing an inflatable model of a cervical brace, you do not need to take measurements, since these designs are universal. You should pay attention only to who this model is designed for - for a child or for an adult.

The dimensions of the Shants neck brace can be removed independently. To do this, it is important to follow a number of simple rules.

Before purchasing a neck brace, you should make sure that it is made of hypoallergenic material that can be washed. This fact is indicated by the mark on the packaging - “hypoallergenic”. Be sure to check the functionality of the fasteners.

What effect does the collar have?

Using this properly selected device for an adult helps:

• limits rotation and neck turns;
• somewhat supports the head, reducing the load on the cervical spine;
• with muscular torticollis, it is able to correct the position of the head;
• normalizes blood circulation in the cervical spine;
• relieves pain;
• The product fits tightly to the neck, therefore it has a warming effect, which is very desirable after exercise or massage.

All this protects the neck and muscles from tension, helps strengthen damaged structures, creates the correct position of the head and neck, and also stops the formation of neurological complications.

How to determine the size of a neck brace?

To determine the dimensions when choosing a Shants collar, the following measurements are required using a centimeter tape:

1. neck height

   – calculate the distance between the middle of the clavicle and the extreme point of the lower jaw;

2. neck circumference

   – measured as neck circumference.

The resulting dimensions should be compared with the table provided by the neck brace manufacturer. The principles for determining sizes for Shants collars are the same for both children and adults.

Types of collars

There are several types of collars:

1. Inflatable bandage. It consists of a soft, elastic, fairly dense material; in the middle of its strips there is an inflatable mechanism. After its installation, the bandage is inflated with a rubber bulb. This device helps to stretch the cervical column, expands the interarticular space, and increases blood circulation.
2. Shants' inflatable soft collar directs the spine into the correct position, the vertebrae are slightly elongated, and the symptoms of osteochondrosis are noticeably reduced.
3. Hard bandage. This retainer consists of a metal or plastic insert. Used for injuries and injuries of the cervical spine. The rigid collar perfectly fixes the spinal column.

Having tried on different models, you should know how to choose a Shants collar based on individual characteristics and its size will depend.

Benefit

Numerous versions of orthoses with their different functions and tasks help accident victims (adults and infants) regain full mobility of the spine. Orthoses help prevent the development of disease and pain. A significant benefit is an increased quality of life since the damage can be corrected with orthoses. As a result, joints, bones and tendons are released, so normal posture is restored. Pain and discomfort are also significantly reduced.

Pain

Especially in everyday life, the product brings great benefits to the patient. After severe injuries and accidents, orthoses play an important role. After a car accident, a collar can help prevent more serious injuries by supporting the neck in proper alignment. The use of orthoses is a prerequisite for the treatment of serious bone fractures.

It is not recommended to wear the splint while swimming in a pool, sea, lake or under a regular shower because the material may be damaged. Especially in salt water, many materials can deteriorate greatly. The position of the orthosis can be changed by the flow of water, which also poses a great risk to patients. If the orthopedic collar for infants does come into contact with salt water, you must immediately rinse it with clean water and allow it to air dry.

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It is not recommended to order or select a splint for an infant on your own. The wrong type, size and shape of the splint can significantly harm the newborn and cause complications of various etiologies. Incorrect treatment in this case is more dangerous than inaction. At the first signs of pathology, you need to contact a specialist so that he can prescribe effective treatment. The earlier treatment begins, the lower the risk of developing potentially life-threatening complications for the baby. Delayed therapy may cause consequences in the future (in adulthood).

How to make it yourself

To make a corset, you need to prepare a soft knitted fabric or one that contains a lot of elastic fibers, fixing Velcro, which should not be wider than 1 cm and longer than 5 cm, and a plastic container (can or bottle). First, measurements are taken. Then the fabric is cut out so that it has the shape of a rectangle no wider than 30 cm.

The length should not exceed 2 cm of the circumference of the neck area. The cut fabric is folded so as to obtain a roll with a size of 10 to 12 cm. Then a strip no wider than 2 cm is cut out of plastic. It should be smaller than the fabric blank and not so wide. The orthosis should be located above the area where the pain is localized.

From the reverse edge, from the central part of the collar, 1 cm of fabric is folded inwards at an angle, then a plastic blank is placed and the fold is sewn downwards along the edge. If the elongated part has already been made, the sides are processed, they are adjusted along the edges into the workpiece. Then you need to sew Velcro onto the bandage so that they do not injure the skin while wearing the corset.

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How to choose and wear correctly

You should accurately select the dimensions of this corset; if the retainer is selected incorrectly, it will not function normally. If the bandage is chosen incorrectly, the patient will experience symptoms such as muscle soreness and dizziness. The patient may also lose consciousness, feel sick and vomit. Only a doctor can help you choose the right bandage size.

Bandage for back pain

Before purchasing a product, you need to take some measurements:

• The head is fixed so that the external auditory canal is at the same level as the eyes.
• The space between the chin and the sternum area is measured with a tape.
• The parameter in centimeters is the required size of the retainer.

Before applying the corset, the head is held straight. In front, the mandibular zone is fixed with an orthosis; from below, emphasis should be placed on the clavicle zone. On the back side, the lower occipital area is held in place by a clamp.

Indications and contraindications for use

The main indication for the use of a splint collar is a variety of diseases of the cervical spine. In addition, this device can help in the prevention of a wide range of diseases of the cervical-collar area, which primarily affect office workers who spend a lot of time at the computer. The collar makes it possible to remove the load from the muscular frame of the neck and at the same time supports the head. In addition, it has a very gentle cervical massage effect and at the same time helps to ensure immobilization of the neck during the recovery process after injury.

All of the above determines the main indications for the use of an orthopedic collar. Thus, it has proven itself well in cases of osteochondrosis and moderate injuries of the cervical spine. Its use is recommended for myositis - in other words, muscle inflammation of various etiologies. Pediatricians recommend wearing a Shants collar to newborns if they have been diagnosed with symptoms of muscular torticollis. This device also helps to recover from injuries and surgical interventions, helps with postural disorders, spinal cord compression and neurological pain.

At the same time, despite the undoubted effectiveness of the orthopedic collar, there are a number of diseases for which its use is categorically not recommended. Thus, you should avoid using the Shants collar if you have any dermatological diseases in the shoulder and neck area. In addition, it is not suitable for patients with too severe a spinal injury or with significant spinal instability in the cervical region. In this case, other, much more difficult to use, means will be needed.

How to dress correctly

The middle part of the corset should be applied to the neck area in front. The bandage is wrapped in a circle. They fasten it under the occipital area with Velcro, fixing the neck, but not pinching it. To check how correctly the collar is worn, insert a finger between the corset and the skin. The Velcro strips should be centered on the back. It is required that the bandage fits tightly, but not tightly, around the neck. If the patient feels that he can easily tilt his head and turn it to the sides, then the bandage is not selected correctly.

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Before purchasing an orthosis, the length from the collarbone to the chin area is measured. Strong fixation of the bandage is unacceptable, otherwise it will be difficult for the person to breathe. If you use a corset together with medications, eat a balanced diet, and exercise, then pain and numbness will appear to a lesser extent. Microcirculation processes will also improve, and the patient’s general well-being will normalize.

Constantly wearing such a corset is not recommended, otherwise the muscles will atrophy. They wear it 2-3 hours a day. It is also mandatory to wear a bandage during gymnastics classes and when working in a job that involves sitting in one position for a long time. The corset is also used for chronic osteochondrosis, but it is advisable to wear it before falling asleep, then neck tension will be eliminated.

You should buy the product only in special stores or pharmacies.

You should not be in a horizontal position with such a corset, and it is also unacceptable to fall asleep with a collar.

How to properly put a collar on a child

Its positive effect depends on how correctly the retainer is put on. It is better to entrust the donning process to a professional, because he can do it correctly. But there are still a number of rules, following which you can put it on yourself.

Three rules for putting on a neck splint:

• The chin should be located in a special recess at the top of the tire.
• The fastening clasp should be located at the back and securely fix the product.
• A finger should be placed between the newborn's neck and the product.

The therapeutic effect of the Shants orthopedic collar

The support provided by the orthosis is not the only advantage provided by this collar. The therapeutic effect of the splint is achieved by:

1. Improves blood circulation in muscles, joints and, as a result, in the skull;
2. Relieving and eliminating muscle stiffness;
3. Reducing the pressure of the skull on the upper part of the spine;
4. Limitations of rotational, flexion-extension movements of the cervical spine and simultaneous unloading of muscles;
5. Thermal and massage effects;
6. Fixing and stabilizing the neck in the correct anatomical position;
7. Relieving muscles from spasms and overload.

Such a wide range of effects determines the rapid achievement of a therapeutic effect. The Shants orthopedic collar-orthosis, which you can buy on our store’s website, is the first thing doctors prescribe for any disorders of the cervical spine. Muscle strains, injuries, nerve tension, spasms, pain and discomfort in the neck - all these are indications for the use of Shants.

How long to wear the Shantsa splint?

The duration of wearing the Shants Splint is usually prescribed by your doctor and is based on your health condition, as well as the degree and severity of your illness. If, out of necessity, you have to sleep with a neck brace, it is recommended to use an orthopedic pillow, and if you periodically use a brace, wear it mainly when performing any physical activity. General therapy for using the collar ranges from one to six months.

Collar care

Shanza, like any other orthopedic product, requires care. This way you can extend the service life and preserve its therapeutic and prophylactic properties. When the collar becomes dirty, it should be washed with a light detergent. The water temperature should be low. Maximum - room. After washing, you must rinse the bandage thoroughly and dry it well in natural conditions. Do not use a radiator, electric dryer or any other drying device to dry the Shants, as this may deform the structure of the product.

The Shants orthopedic collar is an excellent tool that will quickly help you eliminate pain in the neck area and will be an excellent assistant in the fight against a wide range of diseases. Using the bandage in accordance with the doctor’s recommendations gives a positive therapeutic effect and provides the necessary muscle support. You can always buy a Shants collar in our Medtechnika Orthosalon store.