Neck Hammock

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What is The Neck Hammock?

The Neck Hammock is a head sling device designed to relieve neck pain.

More than half of US adults experience some form of muscle or bone pain, while about 14% of these individuals report neck pain.

Fortunately, cases often resolve on their own though many can experience related symptoms for years. Your neck pain may vary regarding the duration, severity, and the underlying cause of your symptoms.

With so much variability, finding a solution can be challenging.

Conservatively, traditional management often includes bracing, stretching and strengthening physical therapy, or over the counter pain medications. More serious cases may even require invasive measures like steroid injections or even surgery.

The Neck Hammock claims to offer another option. According to their site, you can stretch your neck muscles with daily use of their portable sling.

In this article, we’ll help you answer this question by reviewing the available scientific support for the Neck Hammock.

How Does the Neck Hammock Work?

The Neck Hammock works through the principle of cervical traction.

Whereas compressive forces (gravity, for example) bring your vertebrae together, traction works in the opposite direction to promote space between them.

According to their site, this method will:

• Relax and stretch neck muscles
• Promote blood flow
• Release pinched nerves
• Reduce bulging discs
• Alleviate pressure

The Neck Hammock claims that you can experience these benefits in 10-minutes or less by following a few simple steps:

1. Secure strap loop around a doorknob, in the door jamb, or around a pole or post.
2. Pull the strap tight and attach the bungee strap
3. Wrap the hammock around the base of your head, close your eyes, and relax.

There are a few things to note when your head is in the hammock. First, it should rest 2-4 inches off the ground. The higher it is off the ground, the greater the stretch.

Next, the Neck Hammock suggests “listening” to your body. If your neck is uncomfortable, move your body closer to the door to reduce the tension. If your pain increases or you get a headache, discontinue use.

Lastly, start at 10-minutes and work your way up. For the most relief, you may require 2-3 15-minute sessions daily.

Is There Any Scientific Support?

Though portable slings like the Neck Hammock seem to be gaining popularity, the idea of cervical traction is not a new one. This method of pain relief has been well-studied, though direct comparisons are challenging as there are so many forms of tractions.

Nonetheless, we’ll highlight some studies to help you determine if there is any merit to the Neck Hammock’s claims.

A 1995 review of 3 trials concluded that study designs were too poor to form a valid recommendation for the use of cervical traction.

These findings were corroborated in a 2006 review that included 10 trials. Only one was considered to be of high quality. Thus they found support for the use of traction was inconclusive as many of the available studies had research design flaws.

A recent review of 5 randomized studies, cervical traction significantly improved pain in the short and intermediate-term in patients with inflamed cervical nerves.

Another study compared a portable head sling that applied traction through 10-12lbs of added resistance.

Patients with arthritis that were randomized to treatment with the traction device and physical therapy experienced a greater improvement in pain when compared to those that had physical therapy alone. These findings were not statistically significant, however.

Despite mixed results, traction is a popular means of treating various sources of neck pain. In a 2017 survey of physical therapists, more than ¾ of those who responded reported regularly using this method of treatment.

The true benefits remain unclear, though the Neck Hammock may be advantageous when used in conjunction with the other available forms of pain relief.

Is the Neck Hammock Safe?

The Neck Hammock is an FDA approved medical device and is generally safe to use. This does not mean that it is ideal for everyone, however.

Though adverse events were previously reported in just 2% of those receiving cervical traction, the risk may be greater in certain individuals.

Use can be dangerous for children or in those with more serious sources of neck pain like spinal instability, infection, arthritis, or neck tumors.

Also, traction is not intended to replace other methods of management like exercise, postural education, or joint mobilization, but rather to supplement these interventions.

As the source of your neck pain can be related to a serious underlying medical condition, you should work with a doctor to identify the cause before taking treatment measures into your own hands.

The Neck Hammock Cost

The Neck Hammock retails for $79.99, though it is currently available for $49.99 through their site, as well as at Amazon. You’ll save on shipping with the latter as it is prime eligible.

According to the Neck Hammock website, they’ll back your purchase with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.

If you’re unsatisfied, simply email support at service@neckhammock.com and provide your order number within 30-days.

Next, you will be emailed a free UPS shipping label. Re-package your Neck Hammock and leave your return shipment at any UPS drop-off location.

Available Alternatives

Cervical traction is not a recent phenomenon. Thus, there are many similarly designed portable slings available for purchase.

You can compare the different products at sites like Amazon.

Though some of the designs differ, traction devices most similar to the Neck Hammock seem to range from $20 - $50.

An even more cost-effective option would be using a towel you have lying around the house. Follow these easy steps to transform an ordinary towel into a cervical traction device.

The Bottom Line

While support for the Neck Hammock is mixed, the upside is achieving neck pain relief with a relatively inexpensive and simple treatment option.

Over 800 users rate the Neck Hammock 4-stars at Amazon. Nearly 60% of reviews were 5-star; happy customers report immediate relief or success where other treatment options failed.

Multiple users that were unhappy with the product reported the buckle breaking causing the stretched bungee strap to “slingshot” directly into their eye/face.

Though this seems to be a rare occurrence, it is another potential cause of harm. The use of the sling may also pose a risk in those with more serious sources of neck pain.

Make sure you work with a doctor to first identify the cause of your symptoms to determine if the Neck Hammock is a safe and effective management option.