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My neck curves the wrong way. It's as if it was installed backwards, but my head faces forwards. I can thank my many car accidents from trashing my lower cervical discs. As a result, I get bad neck pain now and then. I ordered a simple inflatable traction device off Amazon, liked it, and didn't think about it until the Amazon 'bot asked for a review. So I wrote one. Here it is: (my Amazon pen name is Holly or Aikidokaratefan).
5.0 out of 5 stars Inflatable neck traction device, January 30, 2010
By Holly "aikidokaratefan" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
I ordered this because I have chronic, intermittent neck pain. I've got 2 degenerated (flattened) discs. I knew that stretching my neck manually helps, so I figured that using a simple traction device would give relief.
There are much more expensive ones available, but I wanted a reasonably priced, but effective one.
This model works just fine for me. It's easy to put on. You have the open side facing in the front, and attach with the velcro fasteners.
If you're a little careless, you might criss-cross the velcro tabs and fasten it crooked, but you'd know right away, because it would be cockeyed like buttoning a sweater crooked.
There is a bulb attached to the inflatable mechanism, which looks and feels like a blood pressure cuff. After you fasten the thing on, you tighten the screw on the bulb and start pumping. You pump until your neck is stretched enough so that you get relief. If you pump it up too much, your head won't pop off, but your lower jaw will start to hurt from the pressure. If that happens, just release the screw valve on the bulb-pumping mechanism until you get the right comfort level.
If you're a woman (or a cross-dressing guy who wears makeup), and have foundation on your jaw/neck, it would rub off on the fabric. No tragedy, just fyi.
Once you've got it pumped up to the right pressure, and you've been wearing it for about 15-30 minutes, you'll probably start getting a little itchy. It starts feeling a little scratchy and hot. At that point, I just took it off. By then, I had pretty good relief.
The instructions warn you not to sleep with it on, which is kind of funny, but they just want to be cautious. I used mine sitting up, or semi-reclining while watching a movie. I guess the company doesn't want you to pump it up too hard, fall asleep and choke yourself, earning a Darwin award.
Just for laughs, watch your face in the mirror as you pump this thing up. It scrunches up your skin and underlying tissue, so that you look like a basset hound. You won't want to run off to the store wearing this thing, just use it at home. My family cracked up when I first put this on.
Summary: Effectiveness: 8.5/10 Comfort: 7/10 Value for price: 9.5/10 Overall, definitely 2 thumbs up.
My rave is this: I liked the product, and I like a marketplace that invites consumer feedback.