Occipital Release Tool 2.0 - Cervical Traction for Neck and Shoulder Pain Chiropractic Alignment Pivot Device for Trigger Point Therapy Headaches Migraine and Stress (Seafoam)

I have purchased at least a dozen tools to help with my neck pain. This one is the best one I’ve ever purchased! It’s the perfect stiffness to release tension without being too hard. It works great laying on my back as well as on my sides. 10/10 highly recommend

I was in an accident over 20 years ago, my car rolled over 5 times. Though I was fine, I began having pain in my neck and a hump because my neck vertebrae was affected and the curve to my neck was gone. I used to see a chiropractor, which I can't afford now, and she gave my a head device that I wore everyday with weights to try to realign my neck. I lost it some 10 years ago, after moving. When my neck pain began to give me migraines and tension headaches I thought I would check out Amazon and see if there was something for this issue I could purchase. I reviewed all the products for this issue and their reviews very carefully and decided to purchase this one. I received the product a few weeks ago and I am very happy with it. I use it 10 minutes at least per day. At first it was uncomfortable, but then after a bit the nodules numb out the area with the pain and release it. It really realigns my neck and, since I do it before bed, I have been sleeping better, also with less snoring. I find I am not waking up with a sore throat because I breathe through my nose all night, instead of feeling my sinses all shut down and having to breathe through my mouth. It is a lifesaver for me. My energy is better since I am sleeping better. I really love this product.

So this is a great tool for someone with neck / shoulder pain, tension headaches, etc. But, you do have to do a few things for it to work properly and it is a little limited. Anyone having issues with it working should YouTube "manual cervical traction." It shows how therapists do it by hand. First you need to place it under your skull (occiput) and let your head sink in. It might take a while, you might have to adjust a few times, but you want to get to where only the device is keeping your head up (no muscles). From there you can switch it up with the bolster to try to stretch the muscles a bit...but that's where it is limited. You can do little adjustments by rocking your head back and forth but it really needs the ability for traction. Once the muscles in the neck relax, it's good to give the muscles traction by pulling back on the occiput (bade of skull) and stretching the tight muscles. If you try with this device, it just slides. Maybe I'll try to set up a spot where I pin it to an exercise mat so it will allow to do slight pulls. Otherwise, this is A GREAT device because I don't know many therapists that know this or use it because it puts a lot of strain on their finger tips. Now I can do this for asking as I need and hit the trigger points when and where I want. Update: I've found I can do some traction if I push/pull my body with my heels. It's not ideal, but it gets the job done.

I have tried a lot of neck products, including the one with curve thats so popular (which I returned). This one relieves my neck pain and tightness better than anything else on the market. My only complaint is that it is slippery and does not stay in place on the floor (carpeting, maybe I need a stickier surface). I have to hold it in place with my hands to get the traction effect while using or else it slips down to the center of my neck. I am going to keep anyway because it works so well but hopefully they improve the design in the future

The product itself seems sturdy and well built however there is a strong odor when you first get it. Not sure how long it may take to off gas

I had an accident about 15 years ago that left me with tension in my upper back and neck issues. This product is so helpful with my pain. First of all it has a piece on the bottom that is easily removed so you can use it at two different heights. Depending on my pain levels it varies as to which height I need it at. It also is quite firm but not hard. The tool takes up very little space and can easily be stored in a closet or under a bed or couch. I currently use this on a daily basis. I don't believe it is curing my injury but it is definitely making the injury easier to live with.

Molding of the "fingers" seem to be too smooth and the nodes, or those insertion points, are not positioned correctly or built up enough to be very effective for me. Head slides off on lowest setting. The high position is a game of neck aerobics, up and down, left and right, and it just doesn't line up to get the correct placement. Difficult to relax neck into neutral; shouldn't have to put neck in flexion to feel the right spots. Maybe the contour of the base is part of the problem. Mainly, I think the shaping and placement of the fingers are just poorly designed and they are painful since it's nearly a continuous line of pressure without much graduation. Seemed like laying against sticks. Did not feel good! It gave me such a headache! Moving my head around on two tennis balls in a sock was better for me than this. The tool should be preferred over tennis balls to just lay back without having to do neck gymnastics, and the tennis balls don't palpate quite right in the way a physical therapist would place their fingers, or the way this tool should be placed for suboccipital release. Returning the item. I'm a petite female with a very small neck and weak neck muscles and lots of tension. Maybe the device would function adequatly for another body type. My physical therapist has an unknown brand that does the job and will try to source it for me. On that one, I could use both low and high position to get different levels and laying back into it was one simple movement and exactly right and no need to fidget. I actually said, 'Ah, that's pressure in all the right spots, that's exactly what I needed!" Additional note because I found it to be very strange - my tool came scented! It smells like candy! Someone else said it smells like scratch and sniff! I don't know if it's from a residue on the bottom or a coating all around or something built into the material.

Like any tool, there is a learning curve here. I appreciate the ability to have two separate "heights." Its a great tool for releasing tension in the back of the neck.