Neck Pain Relief * Headache Relief * Backache Relief Naturally

HOW TO USE THE SOS Download Complete Booklet (17.7mb pdf)
Dr Nelson's S.O.S. is designed to simulate a pair of cupped hands performing Sub Occipital Traction, a technique that cradles the head and takes up the tension to create 'Traction' in the neck and Sub Occipital region. The 'Ridge' is the fingertips that would pull up under the base of the head, the two prominences at the other end represent the two mounds formed by the base of the thumbs.
The S.O.S. can be used ANYWHERE on your back and neck to create traction, massage and or inhibition, for the relief of headache, neck pain and back ache.
The instructions below are general, each person can refine their technique with Dr Nelson by email and there is a video that ships with each order.

Headache, Migraine and Neck pain relief
with the S.O.S. on a Couch

Watch Video Broadband Dial Up

Shoulder and Back pain relief with
the S.O.S. in a Chair

Watch Video Broadband Dial Up

CLICK ON IMAGES BELOW TO ENLARGE

Image 1 - Lying on the floor or along a couch, place the fingertip ridge just under the base of the head– find the boney prominence at the back, centre and bottom of your head and “hook” that over the S.O.S. ridge (This is the Occipital protuberance and the ridge of the S.O.S. needs to be as high as that prominence). Make sure the head is NOT resting in the palm section when you start – there should be a good 3 – 4cms gap between the back of your head and the floor (Palm section) of the S.O.S.
When you feel that there is good support for your head AND a good sense of traction, just relax, do some deep breathing and let your neck “lengthen”.

After 5 – 10 minutes you will probably give a spontaneous “sigh” and then feel the head “sinking” back over the ridge – let this happen it is NOT the head "tipping backwards", but the neck "lengthening" and allowing the head to sink and settle over the ridge of the S.O.S. - Keeping the head slightly flexed throughout this time. Push your toes away from you to exaggerate the traction slightly and then let the head sink some more. After 15 – 20 minutes your head will have settled comfortably into the palm section of the S.O.S. and the technique is complete. There is NO force required, just relaxing and letting gravity work FOR you.

Use the S.O.S. for 15 – 20 minutes at a time only. Have more sessions in a day but do not go over this time frame as you may stir yourself up for a day or two – like after a heavy massage session.

DO NOT fall ASLEEP on the S.O.S. – IT IS NOT a PILLOW! - set a timer if needed!

Place the S.O.S. “anyway round” Some bigger heads cause the S.O.S. to “Tip Up” in this position – if so, turn it around so that the ridge is still under the base of the head – BUT the palm section is lying under the Neck and not the Head (The video shows this quite well).Basically, whatever “Gets At It”.

Image 2 - Slump in the chair a little to “Focus” the upper back onto the S.O.S. Push your pelvis towards the front of the chair to aid this. Rotate your arm to help Focus the S.O.S. onto the painful site. Notice the S.O.S. can be placed either Across the spine(to get at both sides at once) or, Alongside the spine to work the Ribs and those Deep Muscles like the Rhomboids – which feature in many pain syndromes of the Thoracic spine and shoulder girdle.

 



Image 3 & 4 - Notice the S.O.S.’s curves are such that you can make the unit fit the Arches of your spine, allowing you to be more specific and potent with its use. For the shoulder region, place the fingertip ridge across the spine with the palm section towards the floor – when working from the lower Ribs into the Lumbar spine, place the S.O.S. the opposite way around – with the palm section uppermost. (You can see what I mean if you enlarge the lower 2 photos)

You can bring BOTH the fingertip ridge and the two rear prominences into use, pushing and pulling against the two areas. The Ribs and Intercostal muscles can be reached easily with this position. The lower in the spine you work – bring your pelvis more towards the back of the chair.




Image 5
- You can see the S.O.S. “The Other Way Round” in this photo – this IS the most potent position for work on your neck pain. It is a massage position – NOT the lying position described with the first photo! Be VERY GENTLE! Using the S.O.S. is NOT an EXERCISE, it is a Relaxation session. When you want to get that “Deep Massage” Effect, you should have had a few sessions on the S.O.S. first, otherwise you may feel a little sore and bruised the next day – like a strong massage session, it will settle in a day or two.
For the neck, gently roll the head from side to side and tipping Forwards. Try NOT to tip the head back over the ridge in a vigorous way – the neck can compact tipping it back over the ridge and this is OPPOSITE what we want to achieve.
Shuffle your body up and down to get at all the neck and after a few sessions you will really have the hang of it and the relief you can achieve is …….ASTOUNDING!

 

 

 









 

 



Things NOT TO DO!

Use the S.O.S. for 15 – 20 minutes at a time only. Have more sessions in the day but do not go over this time frame as you may stir yourself up for a day or two – like after a heavy massage session.

DO NOT fall ASLEEP on the S.O.S. – IT IS NOT a PILLOW! - set a timer if needed!

When in the lying position Have the head in a “Flexed” position with the head tipped slightly forward and the chin ever so slightly tucked in, this is most desirable. (see image 1 above)

Do NOT let the head drop back over the ridge for an extended period of time – the neck needs to feel like it is in traction the head slightly nodded forwards - Flexed.

The movement you make should be gentle! – It is not an exercise it is a relaxation session.

 

   
Photos by: Alex T.

Instructions for Spasmodic Torticollis sufferers using the SOS (pdf 45kb)

The S.O.S. is SIMPLE and EASY to use but, it can take sometime to understand the "depth" of the S.O.S. Use it in between painful episodes as you will get to know your back or neck in a normal condition - when it flares up, you will have learnt where the main areas of strain are to work on for relief - you will find sites of tenderness and restriction that may not be in the area of your spine that experiences symptoms, these are a primary part of the "symptom picture" and need to be worked on for long lasting relief.

These tender spots are not tender bone - as bone does NOT register pain....the tenderness is from the strain that the Ligaments are under. Working on these areas with the S.O.S. will help break up the restriction by applying specific motion and stimulating the blood supply.



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CONTRA-INDICATIONS:
For any headache outside usual symptoms that comes on quickly and is quite severe or headaches that get progressively worse, consult your Doctor. Headaches can be the first signs of serious illness. Anyone with a raised intra cranial pressure should consult their Doctor or physiotherapist first before using!