Interview with Dr. Steven Sudell, Jr., President and CEO of The Neck Hammock, Inc., about Innovative Neck Pain Relief

Lifestyle - Interview

by Beren Dere

The Neck Hammock was designed by Dr. Steven Sudell, Jr. in Santa Monica, CA. When the work started in 2016 is completed after all tests and approvals, he unveiled his efficient solution for the neck pain. The Neck Hammock was featured on the Dr.Oz Show as one of the best health finds of 2018. I talked to Dr. Steven Sudell, Jr., President and CEO of The Neck Hammock, Inc., about Innovative Neck Pain Relief.

The Neck Hammock, Inc.

Dr. Steve, could you please tell us about your background and health industry experiences?

My name is Dr. Steve Sudell. I am a doctor of physical therapy and I specialize in working with high-intensity athletes on mobility, strength, and post-injury physical therapy. I worked with professional athletes such as the Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars as an athletic trainer and I have also maintained the fact that I’m a competitive athlete my entire life and I’ve been practicing in lifestyle for about the last eight years.

How did you decide to design The Neck Hammock? Who or what inspired you?

I’ve always been very curious about how I can make things better. The Neck Hammock is actually my third invention. I’ve made two other inventions prior to this trying to again make a better mousetrap. How can I improve a system, how could I reduce falls with the elderly, and then with the Neck Hammock, I saw that there’s a huge need for something that people could use at home, that was both effective, affordable and convenient. As a physical therapist, I’ve seen a gradual uptick in patients complaining of neck pain, I could treat them at the gym, but there was nothing I could give them to use at home. All of the at-home products were either cheaply designed and ineffective or were expensive, big, and bulky. So one day I was working out, tweaked my neck, and wanted to give myself cervical traction so I grabbed a band wrapped it around a pole and the back of my head and 10 minutes later, my neck pain was gone. I knew that I was onto something, but my biggest challenges were making it comfortable, portable, and affordable. Two years later, here we are. The thing is that I can do the best that I can as a clinician while I’m seeing that person. But the truth of the matter is that the majority of their day is spent not in my clinic. So I wanted to create a product that they could use to supplement our services and potentially could allow them to improve their spinal hygiene, flexibility and reduce their pain without even seeing me.

Could you tell us about The Neck Hammock? How can 10 minutes a day change our life quality?

The Neck Hammock is a simple, portable, FDA-approved medical device that attaches to any door, rail, or pole and promises to provide professional-grade neck pain relief in ten minutes or less. The Neck Hammock accomplishes this using mechanical cervical traction which boosts circulation and promotes proper alignment of the cervical spine potentially leading to additional benefits like boosted energy, reduced stress, improved sleep quality, and better posture.

The Neck Hammock, Inc.

What are the features of The Neck Hammock?

The Neck Hammock is the only at-home cervical traction and neck pain relief device that checks off all of these:

AFFORDABLE. Costs hundreds of dollars less than the closest competitor that creates an equal amount of cervical traction (Saunders cervical traction unit MSRP $300+).

PORTABLE. Store in your sock drawer at home or luggage while on the road. Fits in most small-medium size handbags.

COMFORTABLE. No chin strap = no TMJ issues. The medical grade padding comfortably molds to the users head eliminating the need for a chin strap.

CUSTOMIZABLE. Want more tension? Scoot further away from the door. Too much tension? Move to a position that feels just right.

EFFECTIVE. The cervical traction strength delivers up to 40 lbs of tension which is the max amount of tension recommended for usage. Any amount of force beyond that becomes counterproductive.

CLEVER DESIGN. Allows a range of motion and strengthening exercises to be performed while using the Neck Hammock. Excellent tool for healthcare clinicians to give their patients exercises to do at home. NONE of the competitors can do that!

EASY TO SETUP. Simply wrap the strap around the doorknob, lie down and relax. It's that simple!

Is it suitable for all age groups and do we need any doctor review before use?

For most age groups, yes, however, the Neck Hammock is not suitable for individuals under the age of 16.

Though the Neck Hammock is generally safe to use, if you have any current medical condition or had one in the past which you think may be or is a contraindication to cervical traction or if you have undergone any cervical spine surgery (e.g. cervical fusion / ACDF), I recommend to first consult with your MD before trying or using it to make sure you are fit and safe to use our product. Once you get a green light, then you're good to go!

Neck Hammock was featured on the Dr.Oz Show as one of the best health finds of 2018. What can The Neck Hammock changes in its users' life?

It is the ability to relax at the comfort and convenience of your home from a long busy day which in time, would promote better sleep habit and improve one's overall mood throughout the day. That way you can be more active and productive on-the-go! I'm sure we can all agree that having neck pain is terrible and can slow us down.

WWE STAR BECKY LYNCH (@BECKYLYNCHWWE)

The Neck Hammock has been using by many professional athletes. Could you share some of the professional athletes' comments about The Neck Hammock?

Fantastic! I immediately wanted to fall asleep. It opened up my neck in ways I didn’t know were possible. The little bit of stiffness I had was gone. I will definitely be taking this on the road with me!" -WWE STAR BECKY LYNCH (@BECKYLYNCHWWE)

JACKIE PEREZ (@JACKIE585)

"This is amazing! So comfortable and relaxing."—JACKIE PEREZ (@JACKIE585) WWE

Pro Wrestler, Sheamus, actually made a Youtube video on how he uses the Neck Hammock to rehab his neck: https://youtu.be/kKNzzLaBcOw

Social media has played such a crucial role in the health products market. How do you use social media for Neck Hammock? What social media platforms do you prefer?

Social media has been crucial to our success. We have such a demonstrable product, when people see it, they get it, and if they don’t buy it then, they will definitely remember seeing it when their neck acts up. Instagram and Facebook have been great platforms for us. Twitter, not as much.

The Neck Hammock, Inc.

How can our readers buy The Neck Hammock? Do you offer worldwide shipping? How many years of guarantee do you offer?

They can buy the Neck Hammock on our website at www.neckhammock.com. We also sell on Amazon but they should be careful and be mindful of the counterfeit listings / cheap knockoffs as there are several of them on the marketplace. Yes, we take and ship orders to over 50 countries worldwide and we offer an industry leading 10-year international warranty with the proof of purchase. If it breaks, we replace it!

What is next for you?

We are in the process of launching Neck Hammock 2.0 on Kickstarter end of summer, with the addition of 4-6 other products that will not only improve the overall Neck Hammock experience but also address other areas of the body.

Anything you would like to add that I haven’t asked?

I think what separates our company apart from others, is our mission statement. We genuinely care about helping people. When they have pain, we feel it is our job to create an affordable, effective solution that doesn’t involve drugs or surgery. When all is said and done, we would like to say that we did our part, in creating a healthier, happier world.

Thank you Dr.Steven.

For more information, please visit website of The Neck Hammock

This interview was conducted in a Question-and-Answer format. The answers were checked for grammar and punctuation and published without any additional editing. Wednesday, July 25, 2018. All photos are the property of their respective owners.