TikToker Shows That We Might Have Been Using Neck Pillows Wrongly

As one frequent-flying writer from The Atlantic puts it, there isn’t a pillow that’s as useless as the U-shaped travel neck pillow before proceeding to rant against the pillow in her more than 1,000-word article.

However, it has been revealed that perhaps it isn’t the fact that the U-shaped travel neck pillow is “no good”; we’re just using it wrong.

How’s that for food for thought!

Handy life hack from a famous American comedian

 

@preacherlawsonif you fly a lot i got you! #NeckPillow #Flying #Plane #comfortable #Pillowfight #JustAddBriskZero #AerieREAL #GetCrocd♬ original sound – PreacherLawson

Preacher Lawson, is an American comedian who’s most famous for making all the way to the Finals on the 12^th season of America’s Got Talent and 5^th on America’s Got Talent: The Champions.

He recently revealed on his TikTok channel that most people are using the U-shaped neck pillow wrong.

According to Preacher, the U-shaped travel pillow is supposed to provide support to the chin (to stop your head from drooping after falling asleep) and not the neck.

The neck is supposed to be supported by the chair you’re sitting on instead.

That said, personally, whenever I use a U-shaped neck pillow to sleep in a car or a plane, I’ll turn it into a C-shape and sleep with my head on the side, either left or right, whichever’s more comfortable.

That might end up being another handy life hack for you as well – you’re welcome

The Sleep Doctor approves of this life hack

Although Preacher isn’t an orthopaedic doctor and is merely speaking from his own experience, his handy life hack is actually supported by an actual celebrity doctor, Dr Michael Breus or The Sleep Doctor as he’s known to the people in the US.

In an interview with the travel reporter from News.com.au, Dr Breus said, “And one thing I tell my clients is that if you have a [U-shaped] neck pillow, turn it around so the bottom of the U is under your chin.”

“That’s because your head tends to bob which will wake you up, and by rotating the pillow it stops your head from bobbing.”

A professor of orthopaedics and rehabilitation and the director of the Center for Musculoskeletal Care at Yale, Mary O’Connor, was also quoted as saying that, “I’m unaware that there is any clinical data that shows they’re effective in reducing neck strain or neck discomfort.”

“However, many of us who travel have experienced falling asleep with our neck in a weird position and it bothering us thereafter. So, I think they can be helpful, but that depends on how they’re used and whether they support the neck,” she added.

Did you know?

The U-shaped neck pillow was originally invented and patented by Elizabeth Millson of Melrose, New York, back in 1928.

However, it was originally designed for use in the bath.

Featured Image: puhhha/ Shutterstock.com, TikTok (@preacherlawson)