The Kentucky Kollar is a unique device for the treatment of conditions that produce abnormal neck curvatures.
Conditions producing abnormal lateral cervical curves result from abnormal muscle tone, where the neck muscles are contracted, often continuously. This can result in tightness or stiffness of the muscles. These conditions may be the result of spinal cord or brain damage to portions controlling voluntary motions. Therefore, the list of possible conditions that may benefit from use of the Kentucky Kollar are: brain damage from hypoxia (lack of oxygen), head and spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, as well as some metabolic diseases.
The abnormal tone produced may cause pain, impaired balance, and interfere with daily activities and rehabilitation, thus reducing the quality of life
Torticollis is a condition which therapists often employ the use of the Kentucky Kollar for treatment and rehabilitation. This condition causes a dystonia of the cervical spine; twisting the neck as the head becomes bent to one side and the chin to the other. Often, torticollis is idiopathic in nature (no known cause), it can be inherited (genetic), from damage to muscles of the nervous system (acquired), or present at birth (congenital) from head malpositioning in the uterus or prenatal damage to the blood supply and/or muscles of the neck.
According to a 2007 scientific article in the journal Parkinsonism and Related Disorders, about 1.2 million individuals who suffer from spasmotic torticollis and/or cervical dystonia in the United States. Less than half with either diagnoses reported receiving any treatment. The authors of the study indicate a possible under diagnosed and under treated condition, called for increased awareness.
Therapists and caregivers often notice the more force used to against the tone of Torticollis, the more force the natural response of the body will use to push back. The Kentucky Kollar is a restorative device, providing a therapeutic rehabilitative splinting using both static and dynamic forces for the reduction of neurological tone. This device permits the user to flex, then be brought back to a set point by the splint, offering muscular inhibition. This is a dynamic torticollis brace.
Any stretching and/or manipulation should only be done by a trained therapist. The Kentucky Kollar neck orthosis can be heat molded to provide passive stretching to the neck, starting with 30 minutes and progressing as needed. The goal is replacing therapist treatment with the brace treating up to six hours per session, providing low-load passive stretching.
The main component is thermoplastic, which is a very durable PVC alloy, great for resisting impact as well as gouging and scratching, while allowing it to be molded using a heat gun 20 times. This combined with its leaf-spring allowing the patient to flex, permits positioning into proper alignment in a progressive manner as determined by condition and response. It also employs a half inch of comfortable, open cell foam and fabric that permits air flow and moisture wicking.
The Kentucky Kollar is a Torticollis neck orthosis. It employs the code L0113. More information.