Ruff

The term Ruff is actually a colloquial term for the cervical spine support, which is known as a specialist. Cervical spine stands for cervical spine and the task of a medical cervical collar is to support it after movement or whiplash trauma. This is to prevent further and serious injuries to the cervical spine by using a cervical spine support.

What is a ruff?

The Ruff is now known by many names. The most common names for these are neck tie, tie, stifneck (from the English for "stiff neck") and Cervical support.

A cervical collar is usually understood to be a plastic cuff that immobilizes the cervical spine (cervical spine). In addition, the ruff takes on a supporting function, which has a relieving effect on the cervical spine.

In the event of injury or trauma, this can be very important. Often this is the only way to avoid further damage and long-term consequences.

Shapes, types & types

Ruff are available today in a wide variety of types, types and shapes and thus for people of all ages and also for animals.

A baby can be given a suitable neck brace just as much as an adult or a dog. There are also variable and adjustable models that can be adapted to the length of the neck - because only in very few cases is a standardized ruff required. This is mostly used in less serious cases.

Otherwise, people today always resort to variable rails, if one is available. In addition, there are more flexible and less flexible models which, depending on the type, can cause partial to complete immobilization of the cervical spine. It depends on the type of injury.

By the way, the very soft foam frills are less intended for immobilization than for support. They are not referred to as a splint but as a pure cervical collar. So if you have to differentiate between two types, there are actual neck braces and neck splints.

Structure, function & mode of operation

In most cases it is the Ruff around a padded plastic collar, which is used to relieve the neck muscles. Depending on how the ruff is used, the foam is more or less flexible.

Overall, the length of the cervical collar can be adapted to the way the neck is handled, so that it lies close enough to the patient's neck without taking his breath away or constricting him too much. In most cases the cervical splint is closed in the neck. But there are also some models that can be locked on the side or in the front area.

Here again it depends on the type of injury and how long the splint should be worn. In particular, splints that have to be worn day and night are better padded than cervical braces, which are more intended for the short way from the accident site to the hospital.

These also immobilize the cervical spine to a greater extent than is the case with the soft foam frills. The latter are used for injuries that have to be cured over several days or weeks.

Medical & health benefits

A completely rigid one Ruff is used, for example, when a serious injury to the cervical spine is detected or it cannot be ruled out.

In these cases, the brace is used to make the cervical spine almost immobile and to support it, so that further injuries and damage are avoided. Any injuries will then be carefully examined in the hospital so that further treatment can be initiated.

The cervical spine is also immobilized by means of a cervical collar if it requires rest and immobility for healing. Here, however, soft foam collars are mostly used, which at most restrict freedom of movement and which support and relieve the cervical spine. This spares the muscles, vertebrae, tendons and also the tissue and injuries or overloads can heal.

Incidentally, cervical collars are now rarely used for healing purposes, as various studies have found that they often hinder rather than support the healing process.