Customer Reviews

Instapark® Brand New Cervical Neck Traction

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

I was skeptical that this would help the arthritis in my neck. I have had pain every day for 15 years. I purchased this and an over-the-door traction device at the same time. This is much easier to use for five minutes during the day. I can read or watch TV, though a bit uncomfortably, with it fully inflated. You can put a lot of upward pressure on your neck. At high pressure, it is uncomfortable under your chin and, of course, pushes your mouth closed. I find I get a wave of neck pain as I let the air out and then my neck feels better for the day. At high pressure, I think it makes my neck sore the next day, though, but that probably comes from overinflation. It is hard to judge when to stop inflating -- it feels good with quite a bit of pressure. I don't feel my neck, which is quite something, during use.

UPDATE 12/18/08 - After buying three different (similar) products that cost from $130-$20, this one is my favorite despite the leak. I can use it b/4 bed and if I doze off it deflates itself within 5 minutes, kind of an accidental safety feature. The smell is getting better too. If I could re-rate I would update to 4 stars. I will buy another if the leak gets to the point I cannot use it anymore.
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It did a great job of relieving my neck pain and functioned great the 1st 3 months with approximately 15 uses. It then started to leak. In addition, it has a strong rubber smell that did not bother me at first, then it got to be overpowering.

What is matter? it leaks air! When I just got it, it seems good. but after a week it began leaking air and totally not usable. I really feel upset!

There are two separate questions one might have about this device: "Is it well made?" and "Will it help my neck problem?"

As for the first, it seems to me that it is. It's made from a soft and comfortable velvet-like material, and when you compress the rubber bulb it inflates three rings to the point that it exerts a lot of pressure between your jaw and your shoulders. This can get uncomfortable, since it can feel like it's choking you if you have the velcro straps too tight or inflate it too much, in which case you just have to adjust it. Although I don't think it's likely to be dangerous even if you overinflate it, I found I had a "more is better" philosophy and just kept squeezing the bulb.

Some reviewers have said their units leaked. I haven't had that problem. If I do, I'll revise my review. [SEE BELOW]

As for whether it will help, obviously that depends on the source of the pain. I've found having a chiropractor traction my neck manually can be helpful to relieve pain that comes from misaligned vertebrae. Years ago, I purchased a traction device that you hang over a door; it has a bag you fill with water for a weight, which is attached to a line that runs through a pulley and attaches at the other end to a cloth cradle around your jaw, so that as the weight pulls down on the line, it pulls up on your neck. (Amazon sells these.) I found that device useless, because my body wouldn't relax enough to allow the device to separate my vertebrae; I felt like I was hanging myself and my body resisted it.

I don't have that problem with this device. It feels as though it isn't going to do any harm, and the pressure is gradually increased and you can easily control it, so my body lets it do what it's designed to do. While the collar is inflated I feel no pain at all. After I take it off, I usually feel some relief for some period of time. On the other hand, I still find that a skilled chiropractor who gives the head a firm, quick tug to extend the neck will be more effective where the problem is due to vertebrae alignment.

UPDATE: In case you think you may get lucky and get one that doesn't leak--good luck! I thought so, too! After about a week, I could hear the hiss and feel it start to deflate as soon as I stopped pumping. I can continue pumping to keep it tight, but as soon as I stop, it quickly becomes useless. I have no idea how one of the reviewers could say it leaks but it's still his/her favorite. I'm sending mine back.

Decently made or even better. I had a cheaper unit prior that eventually developed a leak plus it always choked me. All these inflatables will "choke" if pumped too tightly and that could even be dangerous cutting off blood supply but this newer one develops some good traction before excessive compression of your tissues. I've treated it relatively harshly falling asleep with it leaning my weight on it while sitting back and it's held up. I won't go into details my qulaifications but suffice to say I have some and am a firm believer in traction for spinal issues. If this fails I'd try to replace with same model.
Update - it too started leaking after about a year of off/on occasional and gentle use. Oh well......

I have had years of neck pain and tension and thought this would be a cheaper option than a chiropractor. The concept seems like it should work, but the construction is terrible. Right from the box the item leaked air and was unable to get even close to fully inflated before losing all of the air. At one point I pumped until my forearm became numb to see if the item would work if there was no leak. For the brief second it was fully inflated it didn't even come to my chin and was nothing more than a nuisance around my neck. If you have an average length neck this product will be of no help, even if you're lucky enough to get one without a leak. Mine is being returned as I write this.

My neck hurts on a daily basis and I have been debating on whether or not I should try one of the over-the-door traction units. When I saw this item I read that some reviewers had issues with it leaking air, but I thought that could be fixed with a repair kit (like an air mattress) and other reviewers said it still worked well for them. So I decided to try it, as some of the reviews for over-the-door traction were not great. I was so happy when it arrived & couldn't wait to try it out. The VERY first time I put it on my neck & inflated it, I didn't even get a chance to sit down before it began to deflate, rapidly I might add. I tried to inflate it a second time and I couldn't pump it fast enough to even get it to hold any air.

Also, the quality of the plastic parts on the pump itself are very cheap. Even if you could get it to inflate I am not sure it would be easy to get it to hold the air in using the cheesy plastic control that is part of the unit.

I would not recommend this to anyone, just a complete waste of time and money. I returned mine the next day after I received it. Guess I will look at some of the over-the-door units now...

After trying an over-the-door traction system with NO success (it was difficult for me to use and didn't fit me), I purchased this cervical traction product. It is easily usable, comfortable, and along with my chiropractor, massage therapist, & specific exercises, the product relieved my pinched nerve in no time. I continue to use it PRN & I am very happy with the results. I realize that not everything works for all people, but this one works for me!

I highly recommend the Instapark for cervical neck traction. I was injury in a car accident and have a bulging disk. This device has really helps remove the pain. The over-the-door versions seems more difficult to use, but with the Instapark, I can watch TV and use it anywhere...even if there is no door near by. I've had mine for over 1 month and it does not leak. I know you have to tighten the bulb otherwise it will leak some. I was worried about the other reviews indicating the leak problem, but when you consider the cost is only $24, I took a chance. And I am very glad I did!

I should have trusted the other reviews here. I'll never know if this works because it won't inflate (an insanely large leak). It was literally delivered by Fedex 5 minutes ago. . .

. . .and it's going back to Amazon on Monday. Was hoping this would help with neck pain, but this is a metaphorical "pain in the neck."

Looks like it should work (in theory). Materials feel like they are high quality. The quality control is apparently very bad at the manufacturer. Would it be too hard for the manufacturer to inflate these even once to see if they hold air?