It is common, to say the least, to feel stiff in the neck or suffer from pain and soreness in all the prone muscles, tendons and joints in the neck region. The possible reasons for neck pain are many, and they include everything from poor posture to osteoarthritis, torticollis, wear and tear - and, in the worst cases, serious injuries such as whiplash.

Back on Track has developed several types of neck supports and collars that can help prevent neck pain - or provide relief and recovery if you're already suffering!

The therapeutic functional materials capture your body heat and return it back down into the tissues in the form of beneficial infrared energy (FIR). This can increase local blood flow and help keep muscles and joints supple and mobile.

Sudden or insidious neck pain

The neck is a tough and flexible, yet sensitive and fragile part of the body. It normally undergoes a lot of stressful twisting movements on a daily basis and also supports the head, which can weigh up to 5kg. It's a weight that puts a lot of strain on the neck vertebrae and surrounding muscles, especially if the position of the head creates an oblique or extra strain.

In the worst case scenario, a sudden and forceful toss of the head can result in a whiplash injury, which often results in long-term and difficult-to-treat pain. When violent forces tear at the muscles, tendons and vertebrae of the neck, a variety of severe symptoms can occur. The injuries are similar to those of a sprain - tissue tears, nerve damage and low-grade inflammation can cause pain that lasts for years.

However, for 'neck pain' - enough to negatively affect life - all it takes is exposure to poor posture, sedentary lifestyles, repetitive movements or incorrect loading. Unfortunately, our every day life creates such situations all the time, and they are almost impossible to avoid. And the problems have a tendency of sneaking up on us.

Common causes for insidious neck pain

The neck contains a variety of structures; vertebrae, discs, nerves, muscles and tendons, all of which can signal that something is wrong. Pain and discomfort in the neck can have many different causes, which in turn can be due to a number of different factors.

Static work, unfavourable posture and immobility result in muscle fibres not being stretched, making them short and stiff with poor blood flow.

Sore and stiff muscles can occur during and after working at a computer. These problems can be caused by overexertion, incorrect loading or even using the wrong muscle groups. This can be enough to cause a sudden onset of torticollis or some other condition impossible to ignore - and may require a lot of time, care and attention to resolve.

What can you do about a stiff and sore neck?

Back on Track's neck supports and braces can help alleviate the most common neck problems using the power of our textile technologies, Welltex® and Iontex®.

Our therapeutic functional materials contain minerals that have the ability to absorb and re-transmit infrared energy generated by body heat. Long-wave infrared energy (FIR) has a profound, favourable impact on biological tissues and is best known for stimulating blood flow and circulation. As blood flows through the tissues, it facilitates the healing process. The area is supplied with oxygen and waste products are transported away.

In addition, our foam-filled neck collars - soft or firm - offer relief to the vertebrae, tendons and muscles of the neck and throat. It can be relaxing to rest the neck structures and at the same time get some help to keep your head in a correct position. Good posture and good blood circulation together favour and speed up recovery.

Discover our products for your neck!