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If you’re suffering from shoulder pain and you’ve tried every trick in the book, you might want to try an actual dedicated pain relief pillow made especially for those who suffer from shoulder pain. The MedCline Shoulder Relief System is a pillow system that can help alleviate shoulder pain so you can get a good night’s sleep. But does it actually work? Let’s find out.
Medcline Shoulder Relief System Review and Performance Test Results
Pros
- Comes in different sizes depending on your height
- Made out out high-grade positive resistance gel foam (for the wedge) and shredded memory foam (for the body pillow)
- Covers are removable and machine-washable
- Pressure relieving
Cons
- Choosing the wrong size may result in less pressure relief
- Can be heat retentive
- Slight off-gassing
Just like everything here on our website (and channel!), we ran the MedCline Shoulder Relief System through a series of performance tests to see if it works as it says it does.
MedCline calls it a system because it is made up of 3 separate components that work together to help alleviate shoulder pain caused by rotator cuff injuries, arthritis/bursitis, tendonitis, nerve damage, general shoulder pain or simply just by your arm falling asleep at night. Needless to say, this system mostly works for those who sleep predominantly on their sides ( or those recommended to sleep on their sides).
Let’s see how it holds up on our performance tests.
Pressure relief
Since the system comes in three parts you actually would get three different comfort levels with the MedCline Shoulder Relief System.
The positioning wedge and the arm pocket are both responsive while also giving you enough support so as not to place any pressure on your shoulders whether you sleep on your right side or your left side.
The body pillow itself is made up of shredded memory foam which can offer maximum pressure relief where you need it the most.
Cooling
Although pillows, in general, don’t really contribute much to a person sleeping hot, body pillows such as what’s included in the MedCline Shoulder Relief System can sometimes affect the temperature of your bed – especially if you sleep on a bed that’s made from traditional memory foam.
The body pillow of the MedCline Shoulder Relief System is made up of shredded memory foam that has not been infused with any sort of cooling gel or any other cooling component such as copper and although we didn’t really feel too hot when we tried the sleep system out, we can see how it can potentially be a problem for those who tend to sleep extremely hot. We recommend hot sleepers to opt for a more cooling pillow.
Construction
We found the MedCline Shoulder Relief System to be very well-made down to the tiny little details like stitching.
Each component is made up of premium, high quality foam that’s CertiPUR-US certified. They each come with an individual cover that’s removable and machine-washable which we appreciate since most wedge and body pillows don’t really come with a removable cover making them so hard to clean.
Each pillow fits together perfectly and stays in place where you want it to be no matter how much you move around.
And of course, setting up the system is very straightforward – much like legos or building blocks, you just need to put all the parts in place.
Sleeping positions
Since the MedCline Shoulder Relief System was specifically made for shoulder relief, you can only really sleep on your sides when you use it.
You can’t really sleep on your back on the MedCline Shoulder Relief System (well, you technically can but it will be pretty uncomfortable and may strain your neck and upper back) and you definitely cannot sleep on your stomach on it.
Spinal alignment
When used correctly, the MedCline Shoulder Relief System can help you with proper spinal alignment but you need to make sure that you get the correct size for your height.
Value for money
For a pillow (or a couple of pillows really) the MedCline Shoulder Relief System is pretty pricey but then again what pain relief system that actually works isn’t?
All of MedCline’s sleep systems were developed by a team of doctors and are actually classed as 1 medical devices.
Shipping
MedCline does not offer free shipping for any of their products although they do offer a discounted rate for customers in Hawaii and Alaska.
Return policy
MedCline offers a 30-day return policy for their Shoulder Relief System.
MedCline recommends a minimum of 2-4 weeks of trying out the Shoulder Relief System so your body can acclimatize and conform to the pillow.
If you do decide to return it, you must do so within the 30 day period and not a day more. You need to contact MedCline’s customer service team via email to initiate the return process.
Once the item has been returned and received by MedCline, you will get a full refund minus a $25 return fee to the original mode of payment you used when you purchased the product.
Warranty
MedCline offers a 1 year warranty for all of their pillow systems.
About MedCline
Founded by Dr. Carl Merscher, a retired physician and former UCSD medical professor, the MedCline sleep systems were developed because Dr. Merscher suffered from GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) and needed respite and relief from it especially when sleeping.
Starting with a GERD relief sleep system, Medcline branched out to also offer their shoulder relief system as well as pregnancy pillows and therapeutic pillows.
Headquartered in San Diego, California, MedCline products fall under the Amenity Health company.
Contact MedCline Customer Service
You can contact MedCline customer service through phone, email or through the chat function on their official website.
- Website – www.medcline.com
- Phone – 800-610-1607
- Email – support@medcline.com
Other pillows to consider
If the MedCline Shoulder Relief System does not really sound like your cup of tea, you might want to consider these other alternatives.
Yana Side Sleeper Dream Pillow
Made from premium shredded gel memory foam, the Yana Side Sleeper Dream pillow hugs and cradles your body providing a sleep experience akin to sleeping on a cloud, especially when coupled with a memory foam mattress.
Unlike the MedCline Shoulder Relief System though, the Yana Dream pillow comes as one huge body pillow that you mold and fold into a shape that best suits your preferred sleeping style.
Nuzzle
If you want something more cooling and a lot more high-tech than the MedCline Shoulder Relief System, you might want to check out the Nuzzle pillow.
Filled with not foam, or cotton fill but thousands of nano coil fibers, the Nuzzle pillow offers a zero gravity sleep experience that’s unlike any other. While the Nuzzle pillow might not have different components, it IS adjustable and you can add or take out as much of the fill as you would like to get your desired firmness level.
Mediflow Water Pillow
Touted as the world’s first water pillow (yes, just like waterbeds), the Mediflow Water pillow is geared towards those who have experienced head or neck injuries.
Supportive and pressure relieving just like the Medcline Shoulder Relief System, the Mediflow Water pillow eases pressure and helps relieve pain from the head up to the upper back.
Additional resources: Learn More About MedCline
Where to buy MedCline Shoulder Relief System
You can buy the MedCline Shoulder Relief System from a couple of different retailers but the best place to buy it is from their official website.
You can also find MedCline products on Amazon and Target.
Conclusion
The MedCline Shoulder Relief System is geared towards those who suffer from chronic or acute neck and shoulder pain who need the extra support as well as pain and pressure relief.
While the MedCline Shoulder Relief System works well (as it should), it is crucial that you ensure to choose the right size option based on your height as choosing one that’s too big or too small for you may result in the product not working for you.
How We Rate Pillows
There are many different types of pillows. In general, we rate pillows by 6 standards:
- Firmness and Support
- Loft & Adjustability
- Hypoallergenic
- Hygiene
- Comfort
- Structural integrity & Durability
View our full rating process for pillows.
Michelline loves nothing more than a cozy bed, with a stack of books at her side. She loves getting lost when she travels, can bake an entire British afternoon tea from scratch, is obsessed with all things analogue and does calligraphy on the side. She currently suffers from mild insomnia and is more than happy to be your guinea pig, so you won’t have to go through all the trouble of finding out what works best for you.
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