Benefits for the Practice

According to the survey, doctors felt that their practices had benefited on many levels. But not all "cervical pillows" are created equal.

"The pillows out in the market claiming to be 'cervical pillows' are often lacking in quality," said Lynn Knuth DC, of Arizona.

Dr. Kevin McClain of Missouri added: "I know the product and can offer them to patients without having to guess on one they bring in from a store."

Dr. Paul A. Moyse of Connecticut believes that the conversation regarding cervical pillows should be part of the office visit: "Many patients ask my advice and recommendation regarding choice of pillows, and I can provide them an option that they can use immediately, without shopping around."

Cervical pillows can also be a way to remind the patient of the benefits of chiropractic care. "Many of our patients have cervical problems that require appropriate support that the average commercial pillow does not provide. Making cervical pillows available keeps the patient mindful of our desire for their maximum improvement," said Vincent P. Lucido, DC, of Florida.

Recommendations Follow Successes

Generally speaking, the vast majority of DCs who offer cervical pillows to their patients are very pleased with the results. A whopping 97 percent would recommend that other DCs add cervical pillows to their practice.

All of this begs the question: Given the importance of head and neck position during sleep, should cervical pillows be recommended to every patient? In the case of auto accidents, some DCs believe that the answer is yes. Dr. Jaroslava Odvarko of Bettendorf, Iowa stated: "We test the patient to find out if they need [a] cervical pillow. I always use them for any car accident. It speeds up recovery."

The results of the survey show that approximately 30 percent of DCs recommend cervical pillows to at least half of their patients. Of those, 40 percent are successful in that at least half of their patients choose to purchase cervical pillows from them. Included in this figure are 2 percent of respondents who stated that "almost all" of their patients buy cervical pillows from them.

This information suggests that most doctors see cervical pillows as playing a role in the care and support of their patients. Whether they are appropriate for every patient is an individual clinical decision, but the benefits suggest that they should at least be a consideration.

Resource

1. Cervical Pillow Survey. MPA Media, completed Jan. 11, 2011.

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Click here for more information about Donald M. Petersen Jr., BS, HCD(hc), FICC(h), Publisher.